Message from Sister Barlow
It was so fun gathering together with you at zone conferences this week! You were taught well by President Barlow and your zone leadership teams. The principles they discussed (acting in greater faith, having a proactive mindset, controlling the controllables, becoming a more consecrated missionary) are all things that will bless your mission and your life well after your mission. We loved the goals and accountability you set in zone councils and look forward to seeing what you can do together.
We are also excited to spend the next three weeks celebrating President Nelson’s 100th birthday!
The other day while on a run, I was listening to the Restoration Proclamation on repeat to help me memorize it and I had an impression of the Spirit. I felt that if our missionaries will really take the time to invest in studying and memorizing this sacred document, they will be be able to teach their future families these truths with greater clarity and power. These truths are the foundation of everything we do in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Please give your best effort to memorizing every last word. There is no downside!
Claim every promised blessing from our prophet when he says, “We live in this unique and exciting time when the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ continues to unfold. I would encourage each of you to study, ponder, and teach from the bicentennial proclamation of the Restoration, introduced at the April 2020 general conference. Teach it often to your missionaries. There is power in its declarations. It proclaims truths concerning the Godhead, the Atonement of Jesus Christ, the First Vision, the organization of the Lord’s Church, the restoration of priesthood authority, the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, and modern-day prophets. The more your missionaries understand about these fundamental gospel truths, the more their own testimonies will grow —which of course will help them teach and testify with greater power.”
Have a great week! We love you,
Sister Barlow
Message from President Barlow
212 Degrees
One of my favorite things to do as a dad was drop our kids off at school. The drive to school became an important time to connect, learn about things they were worried about, and talk about what was going on in their life.
As they would get out of the car and head into school, I would always leave them with a one-line thought from dad to encourage them that day. Things like, “Do what is right, let the consequence follow!” “Be the change you want to see in the world today!” “You are always prettier when you smile!”
My favorite one-liner was, “Have a 212 day!”
212 degrees Fahrenheit is the temperature where water turns from a liquid state to a gas state. At 211 degrees, it is really just hot water. But at 212 degrees, everything changes, the water begins to boil, and the water changes to steam. Steam is one of the most efficient and widely used energy sources for power. It can be used to power trains or to turn turbines that create electricity. Moving water just one degree – from 211 degrees to 212 degrees – unleashes a lot of power. That one extra degree makes all the difference.
In life and in missionary work, a little extra effort can make all the difference. But making extra effort requires a proactive mindset…using your agency in powerful, proactive ways. Having this mindset will help you to act in greater faith. One of the best areas to apply this extra effort is in your obedience to the commandments and the standards we’ve been given by prophets in Missionary Standards for Disciples of Jesus Christ.
I think it is important to note that there is an exactness to this principle. The change doesn’t happen at 210 degrees…not 211 degrees…it takes exactly 212 degrees for this change to happen. Similarly, your
effort to be exactly obedient can bring great changes to your mission and life. I love a principle taught in the story of the Army of Helaman. When Helaman described these 2,000 young men, he said, “Yea, and they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them” (Alma 57:21). Their efforts to be exactly obedient was a statement of their faith. And “according to their faith it was done unto them”, or they received the blessings they needed.
When our life lacks this exactness, and we treat things lightly (usually because of some form of unbelief), D&C 84:54 describes what can occur. “And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received.” Treating things lightly can cause us to lose faith, and thus lose power.
President Nelson said it best: “Obedience brings success; exact obedience brings miracles.”
As you think about being a more consecrated missionary, remember the number 212. A little extra effort…a little more exactness…can bring about big changes in your mission. That extra effort can bring a lot of power. Making that commitment will be worth it. .
I share with you the same encouragement I’ve given my kids literally hundreds of times: “Have a 212 day!”
Sister Barlow and I love you! Let us know if there is anything you need.
Barlows in TKM 