ON MAY 15, 1991, I entered the Missionary Training Center (MTC) in Provo, Utah, to begin my 8-week missionary and language training.
I had been assigned to serve in Bordeaux, France, and I was anxious to go there.
I had taken French my freshman through junior years of high school, but because of my less-than-stellar grades, my teacher didn’t think that I should continue with French.
Now there I was at the MTC for a crash course in French.
After the first day, we had surpassed everything that I had learned in high school French.
I was part of a district (group) of missionaries between 19 and 21 years old, preparing for full-time missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which would last for about 24 months.
As the days went on, I started to thirst for knowledge; both for the French language and for the gospel.
Jesus taught, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”
The prophet Moroni taught, to read scriptures and sincerely ponder them in our hearts, “with real intent, having faith in Christ, (and) He will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.”
I was being taught by the power of the Holy Ghost.
It was like a spiritual greenhouse.
My wife would tell you that, at times, I am not patient. And by, “at times,” I mean most of the time!
At the MTC, we would pray in French, sing hymns in French, speak in French, and read the scriptures in French.
I kept a little notebook in my shirt pocket with all of the verb conjugations and I would study them while waiting in the lunch line at the cafeteria.
Instead of counting sheep before falling asleep each night, I would practice counting to 100 in French. “Un, deux, trois …”
However, I was getting frustrated that I was not picking up French as fast as some of the other missionaries.
After arriving in France, we were each assigned a more experienced companion and they were to be our trainer.
I was sent to La Rochelle, a beautiful, historic port town off the Atlantic coast.
I wanted to immediately be able to speak perfect French the day I stepped off the plane.
I also wanted a deep understanding of the gospel and scriptures.
However, God’s timing works a little differently.
The prophet Nephi taught, “Thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more.”
For two years, I was focused on seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit so that I could share the gospel of Jesus Christ in the French language with anyone who was willing to listen.
I met many wonderful people from France and from far off nations.
I did learn French and still speak it fairly well today.
I have learned from the scriptures, by daily reading. I have strived to learn as much as I can about the gospel of Jesus Christ.
It didn’t come after watching some sort of “How to speak French in 5 minutes” YouTube video, or a 3-minute TikTok video titled, “Everything you need to know about the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
It has all come through much study, line upon line, precept upon precept. Here a little and there a little.
Nephi taught that we should “Feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.”
God wants to teach us all truth through The Holy Ghost.
I’ve learned that it’s worth investing the necessary time for the things that matter most.
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Issues of Faith is a rotating column by religious leaders on the North Olympic Peninsula. Bishop Jason Bringhurst is the leader of the Mount Pleasant Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Port Angeles. His email is jasonbring@gmail.com.
