Contributed by: Ann Quotation
Elder Gordon B. Hinckley said: "My heart
goes out to the missionary who does not receive regular mail from home. Generally a letter
once a week is a good rule. But on the other hand, too much mail can be damaging to a
missionary’s morale. To be effective a missionary has to move away from home; so the
kind of mail he receives will make a vast difference in what he does and how he feels.
Letters that set forth the problems at home, that dwell on the difficulties, hurt the
morale of the missionary. Wise letter writers will be sure to state their positive
feelings—how proud they are to have a missionary in the field, how the Lord is
blessing them because of his work in the ministry. Such letters bless the life of a
missionary" (Brian Kelly, "A Visit with Gordon B. Hinckley about Missionary
Work," New Era, June 1973, p. 32).
Survey
Questions
1. Question:
While you were in the mission field, whom did you enjoy receiving letters from?
2. Question:
In letters from home, what subjects did you most want to hear about?
3. Question:
What kinds of letters helped you most?
4. Question:
What letters did you find depressing or unwelcome?
5. Question:
How often should a casual friend write?
6. Question:
What letters did you find unwelcome from that special young woman or young man at home?
7. Question:
If your special friend at home found his or her feelings for you changing, what would
you want your friend to do?
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