Hey everyone,
Just to be clear...this is Cameron's mom and I will be updating his blog for the next two years. I hope to share his mission with you, and also keep a journal of letters and pictures that I can print at the end of his mission. I'm starting this blog with the talk he gave in our ward before he left on his mission. He's a great son and I love this missionary.
Hello, I'm Cameron Penner and in about a week I'm flying off
to Madrid to serve a mission. I really couldn't be more excited. I was asked to
speak on spreading the light of the gospel to the world. In the month of
december, the church has been promoting the Light the World campaign for the
Christmas season. On mormon.org...
"In an increasingly dark world, we can be a bright light to those around
us and a shining example of Christlike love.”
“Opportunities to shine surround us each day,” President Thomas S. Monson
teaches. “As we follow the example of the Savior, ours will be the opportunity
to be a light in the lives of others, whether they be our own family members
and friends, our co-workers, mere acquaintances, or total strangers.”
When I think of the best examples of people that show
Christlike love in my life, a few people come to mind. Firstly, my parents who
I've gotta say did a phenomenal job raising me as well as the rest of my
brothers. I don't say it nearly enough but I'm truly thankful for them and what
they've taught me as ive grown up. Im not entirely sure how, but they really
make the whole ‘having six boys’ thing look easy. Another person that comes to
my mind is my Grandma Penner. She was without a doubt the most kind and
selfless person I have ever known. She was always looking to help people and
never turned down the opportunity to serve others. I honestly don't think the
word no was in her vocabulary when it came with to lending a helping hand. She
always had a positive mindset as well. She taught me to always service and I'll
always be grateful for that. I miss her
a lot but know she's up there proud of my decision to serve the Lord.
It then goes on to say on mormon.org, This holiday season, follow the Savior’s
example and look for ways to be a light to those around you. As you do so, the
light you share will reflect back and brighten your own life.
Join us in December and let your light shine in 25 ways for 25 days."
It then lists the dates of December 1 through 25 with a small way someone can
emulate Christ and spread his love for each day. The first day is a worldwide
day of service and encourages those participating to perform an act of service,
big or small. It could be something as simple as holding a door for someone or
helping with the dishes. The other short tasks are really simple too and they
are all in the same format. They say something like 'Jesus did this thing and
so can you' and proceeds to list an example of how you can. For example on the
3rd of December it says "Jesus helped others see and so can you" and
the example is pointing out a virtue you see in someone else that they might
not be aware of. The act of service on the 7th is to donate food to a food bank
to emulate Christ because he fed the hungry. The campaign as a whole is
designed to just make the world a little bit better than it is now and
Christmas, the season of giving, is the perfect time to do that. I remember
going on social media on the day that the challenge was for everyone to share a
scripture and seeing so many different friends and family posting their
favorite scriptures. Claire Ashcroft just to pick on her a little bit posted I
think 4 different scriptures because she couldn't possibly pick just one. It
was really refreshing and warmed my heart to see the words of prophets and the
Lord on Facebook and Twitter for the day
I'd like to compare this campaign to my mission. The goal of missionary work
and Light The World are really similar. They both aim to spread the light of
the gospel. As I prepare to leave I now realize this more than ever. In the
story of Christ’s birth in the bible, angels appear to shepherds tending their
flocks and say to them “I bring you good tidings of great joy.” I'll be doing
the same thing on my mission by delivering the message of the gospel to those
that need to hear it.
My brother Jordan is currently serving
his mission in Cape Verde off the coast of Africa. I can learn a lot from him
and I'm really grateful for the example he has set. The scripture that he chose
for his plaque is one of my favorites and applies to this spreading the light
concept perfectly. It's d&c 50 24-25 and it says " 24 That which is of
God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth
more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.
25 And again, verily I say unto you, and
I say it that you may know the truth, that you may chase darkness from among
you;" it'll be my duty as a missionary to receive God's light and
broadcast it to the rest of the world. I know Jordans done an excellent job at
doing this and has touched the lives of many.
A couple months ago I was studying in preach my gospel and came across a series
of questions. It says to Take a few moments and think about your final day in
the mission field. When that day comes:
What do you want to say you have done as a missionary?
At that point I wasn't thinking about a lot about this and more of what I was
going to do while in the field. It really helped me to see it in a different
way. As I was pondering my answer one of my favorite talks, We are All
enlisted, by Elder Holland came to my mind. In it, he says
“This is a life-and-death contest we are in, young men, so I
am going to get in your face a little, nose to nose, with just enough fire in
my voice to singe your eyebrows a little—the way coaches do when the game is
close and victory means everything. And with the game on the line, what this
coach is telling you is that to play in this match, some of you have to be more
morally clean than you now are. In this battle between good and evil, you
cannot play for the adversary whenever temptation comes along and then expect
to suit up for the Savior at temple and mission time as if nothing has
happened. That, my young friends, you cannot do. God will not be mocked.
So we have a dilemma tonight, you and I. It is that there
are thousands of Aaronic Priesthood–age young men already on the records of
this Church who constitute our pool of candidates for future missionary
service. But the challenge is to have those deacons, teachers, and priests stay
active enough and worthy enough to be ordained elders and serve as
missionaries. So we need young men already on the team to stay on it and stop
dribbling out of bounds just when we need you to get in the game and play your
hearts out! In almost all athletic contests of which I know, there are lines
drawn on the floor or the field within which every participant must stay in
order to compete. Well, the Lord has drawn lines of worthiness for those called
to labor with Him in this work.”
So going back to that first question: What do i want to say as ive done as a
missionary? I took Elder Holland’s sports analogy and formed an answer. I
realized that I want to do All that I can. I want to be able to say that I left
it all out in the field. That throughout the duration of the game, through the
highs and lows, that i always gave 100%. That I couldn't have done any more
than I did. The biggest thing for me is I don't want to come back with any sort
of regret.
The second question asks What do you want to have become?
Almost instantly i thought that i simply wanted to be stronger in the gospel.
Yes the mission is all about teaching others but that in no way stops you from
learning more about yourself and strengthening your own testimony. The way I
like to look at my mission is seeing all the potential I have to change the
lives of many by spreading the light of the gospel to them, but as the great
philosopher Brother Stone once said “potential means you haven't done anything
yet.” So in preparing to leave, I've done my best to ensure that I can live up
to all of this potential and accomplish all that I am able to.
The last question is What differences would you want others to notice in you?
I want others to be able to tell that I served a mission just by looking at me.
There are a lot of RMs that I know that are like that like Matt Moser or
Jeremiah poti for example. And this is in no way a bad thing. There was just a
certain light about them that was and still is noticeable to all. Both of them
seemed to be happier in general when they got back. Missionaries leave and come
back as the same person, just upgraded I guess is the best way to put it
I really can't wait to serve the people of Madrid and have
the time of my life while I'm out. I’d like to close by bearing my testimony...
(He spoke from the heart at this point, and I do have it recorded but I won't be typing it here. I hope that you will follow this blog and read his testimony as he shares it throughout his mission.)
Here are some pictures before he left...
