As you live each day to the very best of your ability recognizing that the Lord is with you, it will give you increased faith, hope and courage.  You will begin to see that He is carrying us through the difficult times and hard lessons we are learning.  We have received his promise that He will bear His servants up as on eagles wings. 

The Lord said, "And again, I say unto you that it is my will that my servant Sis Cope should continue preaching in the Nebraska Omaha Mission, in the spirit of meekness, confessing me before the world; and I will bear him/her up on eagles' wings; and he/she shall beget glory and honor to himself and unto my name.” D&C 124:18

The image of eagles' wings can be very powerful as you consider your mission experience.  Think about how young eagles learn how to fly. Eagles build their nests high on the edge of steep cliffs.  When their offspring are old enough, the adult eagle coaxes them to the edge of the nest and gently pushes them into the canyon, where there is nothing to support their wings but the air.  For these eaglets, the thrill of soaring begins with the fear of falling.  Eagles seem to know that until they discover their wings in this way, there is no purpose in their lives outside the nest.  Until they soar, they cannot and will not understand the privilege it is to be born an eagle.  That push over the cliff is a true act of love.

In similar manner, as we serve our missions, we are learning to fly on our own for the first time.  It may feel as if we are being pushed out of the nest over the top of steep cliffs and are expected to fly.  We too begin the thrill of soaring with the fear of falling.  As we test our wings for the first time, we feel awkward, inadequate, and often discouraged.  But as we exercise our faith by acting and take courage by believing, we begin to soar. We will realize what a privilege it is to be born a missionary and a disciple of Christ.  The push over the cliff for us is equally an act of love by a kind and wise Heavenly Father, who knows what we need to become.  He will mold us and tutor us and stretch us until we become what he needs us to become.

I invite each of you to take courage.  Let your faith overcome  your fear.  Let hope permeate your thoughts.  Let "Confessing Him before the world" and His guiding hand be the air under your wings that will allow you to soar.

We  love you.

President Gardner