When young men and young women go out to serve missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (a faith often inadvertently referred to as the Mormon Church), they are religious ambassadors who present a message that brings purpose and peace. When these missionaries return home, they are equipped with specific skills and talents that help them connect and communicate with others. Many former Mormon missionaries use their missionary skills (in addition to formal education and training) to serve the United States as ambassadors to other countries.
What Makes Mormon Missionaries Good Ambassadors?
Mormon missionaries make great ambassadors because they’ve been ambassadors before. The message they share on Mormon missions is somewhat different than that of an international ambassador, but the overall basics are the same.
While serving missions, they learn how to approach strangers and talk to them candidly. They learn how to connect with people and how to share and stand up for what they believe. The social and communications skills that they learn in the field help to prepare them for the rest of their lives. (more…)
The 2014 Winter Olympics begin in Sochi, Russia, in just a couple of short weeks. Tyler Anderson, a luger who’s been training for the Olympics almost his entire adolescence, decided to table his Olympic ambitions to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (a faith often inadvertently referred to as the Mormon Church). Why would someone with so much athletic talent give up a chance to compete in the Olympics? The answer is simple: Tyler felt he was needed elsewhere.[1]
Think about what it feels like to come home after a long day. Think about that relaxation you feel as you enjoy a hot shower and climb in a comfy bed with clean sheets. Now think about how you would feel if you didn’t have a bed, a shower, a home. Refugees from around the world come to the United States with practically nothing. The US has programs in place to help refugees start a life here, but the stipends given those refugees aren’t enough to cover all the costs of starting over from scratch. That’s where the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints comes in (this faith is often inadvertently referred to as the Mormon Church).
Deseret Manufacturing, a company owned by The Church of Jesus Christ, donates beds and bedding to refugees settling in Utah. Deseret Manufacturing works together with Salt Lake City’s Catholic Community Services, the International Rescue Committee, the Refugee Immigrant Center – Asian Association of Utah, and the Utah Department of Workforce Services refugee office.[1]
It’s January, and the internet is swimming in articles and blog posts about resolutions, goals, and change. These resolutions are often pretty standard: get in shape, save money, find a new job, try something new. Those goals aren’t bad, and if you’re committed to them, can actually be really good for you, but they aren’t the only ones you should consider as you dive into the new year. When you sit down to make goals for the new year, think about what you want to be and not just about what you want to do. Here are some ideas for resolutions you can make that will bring you closer to the Savior.
1. Seek out someone in need
Seeking out those in need can mean assisting the homeless, or stopping for that friend who needs someone to talk to. Resolve to be more aware of those around you and more attuned to the ways you can serve. Throughout Christ’s ministry, He was constantly aware of those who needed help, and He always served where He was needed. This year, let’s make a goal of being where we need to be and acting on those generous thoughts that cross our minds. Let’s serve in that wonderful way that the Savior did.
I had the good fortune to interview filmmaker Adam White today. Adam is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often inadvertently called the Mormon Church). He wrote and directed the feature film Inspired Guns premiering in Utah, January 24, 2014.
What happens when two [Mormon] missionaries get mistaken for mafia?
The inspiration for Inspired Guns came while Adam served as a Mormon missionary in Argentina. People congregated in the town plazas, and the missionaries talked to people there. Adam said that since missionaries always wore suits, Argentines often mistook him and his companion (missionaries are assigned to work in twos) as CIA agents. Repeatedly being mistaken for CIA, FBI, or some other agency, sparked the concept for Inspired Guns, which Adam thought would be entertaining and funny. (more…)
Mormon missionaries make great ambassadors because they’ve been ambassadors before. The message they share on Mormon missions is somewhat different than that of an international ambassador, but the overall basics are the same.
