Elder Boyd K. Packer (1924-2015) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles described the sight of the oxen as follows:[i] Contest:
Several teams of oxen with heavy wooden yokes raced side by side. The wooden sled had the weight of a cement block, and initially he weighed 10,000 pounds (4,500 kilograms). The objective was for the oxen to move the sled 3 feet (1 meter).
I noticed a very similar pair of very large, bony blue-gray animals. Of course, I loved it because it was large. But the big blue cow wasn’t there either. Two small, nondescript animals, not very similar in size, moved the sled all three times.
The Big Blues were bigger and stronger than the other teams, and they were the right size. However, the calves had better teamwork and coordination. They yoked together. Both animals jerked forward at the exact same time, the force moving the load. “And we find that size and strength alone are not enough.” Teamwork is also required. ” (Regional Representative Seminar, April 3, 1975)
How well are we “yoked together equally” with our missionary or eternal friends? What have we done or what are we doing to be a team?
In some ways, it’s easy to team up as a fellow missionary. For example, we can be united by getting up on time, eating together, studying together, leaving the house on time, and following the mission rules together. Alternatively, they may come from a different country, speak a different language, have grown up in a different culture, have been in the church for generations or are newly converted, have different educational experiences, different work experiences, etc. It may take more effort to put aside differences. , to name a few examples.
As eternal friends, we work together to live out the gospel of Jesus Christ and keep our covenants, working together to meet expectations, meet expectations, and focus our lives on what matters most. . As missionaries and as husband and wife, we combine our talents, experiences, and gifts as we learn together, grow together, and serve together. As we pull our burdens, we can find the joy of being “equally yoked together.”
Adapting to missionary life It explains the demands of life and the demands of missionary work. It’s about learning challenging material, getting along with people, following the rules and meeting expectations, and leaving your comfort zone. It also lists our resources to meet those needs. The Holy Ghost, learning new skills, planning, praying, learning how to eat and exercise, using the scriptures, applying the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and supporting others. That’s it. Our companions can be our closest support.
May the Lord continue to bless us as we strive to bear the yoke equally as we gather Israel on both sides of the veil.
[i] From https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2017-04-0019-boyd-k-packer-equally-yoked-together-regional-representatives-seminar-april-1975?lang= April 30, 2024 day acquisition engineering
