Prayer

Caleb is an incredible example of bravery and being true to yourself. This week was the first week we've attended church since he came home. Caleb stood up and bore his testimony to the crowd, the most brave thing he could possibly do. 

He said he was mildly terrified to be up there, but that he wanted to let people know he came home early from his mission. He said that he struggled a lot with depression and decided the best thing to do was to come home for now. He bore testimony of prayer and scripture study. He told about how they pray all the time in the MTC and that he has continued that practice at home. 

Many people welcomed and embraced us all after the meeting. He made a strong impression and was welcomed with open arms; people were kind and amazed at his strength. This is more than I could have hoped for and I'm so grateful. 

Set Apart from the World

Being Set Apart

“The setting apart is an established practice in the Church and men and women are ‘set apart’ to special responsibility, in ecclesiastical, quorum, and auxiliary positions. …

“To some folk the setting apart seems a perfunctory act while others anticipate it eagerly, absorb every word of it, and let their lives be lifted thereby.

“The setting apart may be taken literally; it is a setting apart from sin, apart from the carnal; apart from everything which is crude, low, vicious, cheap, or vulgar; set apart from the world to a higher [plane] of thought and activity. The blessing is conditional upon faithful performance.”

President Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985), The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball (1982), 478.

The few days after the mission farewell were very difficult for me as a Mom. For some reason, I had a lot of fear, doubt, and anxiety. I kept thinking that I should be feeling the spirit, but I was so fearful. I don't know if Caleb was feeling this way, but I can tell you the exact moment it left and I was filled with peace. 

Caleb was set apart as a missionary on November 12, 2016. It was Tuesday evening at 8:00 p.m. Caleb went into the Stake presidents office for a final chat while we waited in a larger conference room. After several minutes, and just before he joined us in the conference room, I felt an impressive peace wash over me and I could feel the spirit rush into my soul. Elder Figgins later told me that they had been praying together. 

He then joined us in the room and after the members of the stake presidency all gave a few words of advice, he was given a blessing. Todd and I agree that this was a powerful moment in our lives. That is the best word I can think of to describe what it felt like. It was powerful. My son was officially a full time missionary, set apart from the world and blessed by his Father in heaven. Powerful. 

This same spirit and peace followed us home and has been present in my soul since he left. Maybe this is what they mean when people say the family of a missionary is blessed. 

More in being set apart:

https://www.lds.org/ensign/2010/06/called-and-set-apart-to-serve?lang=eng