Brad Wilcox - Raising Ourselves to the Bar

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Wilcox, Brad.

Raising ourselves to the bar : practical advice and encouragement for the next generation of missionaries and their parents / Brad Wilcox, Russell Wilcox.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN-13: 978-1-59038-793-1 (pbk.)

1. Missionaries. I. Wilcox, Russell. II. Title.

BV2091.W55 2007

266.9332dc22 2007017586

Printed in the United States of America

Sheridan Books, Chelsea, MI

10987654321

To avoid embarrassing the wonderful missionaries who have permitted me to quote them, actual names of the sisters and elders have been changed or not otherwise provided.

To the missionaries of the Chile Santiago East Mission and

To President and Sister Lindon J. Robison of the Spain Mlaga Mission (20042007)

Foreword

Much has been said in recent years about raising the bar for missionaries, and it is obvious that the increased attention on producing better-prepared, more worthy missionaries has had a positive effect. With the introduction of the inspired missionary guide Preach My Gospel, most missions in the Church are reporting an increase in productivity even though many are operating with a complement of fewer missionaries. In October general conference in 2002, Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve said, What we need now is the greatest generation of missionaries in the history of the Church. In an effort to help, my son Russell and I have produced one more book on missionary service.

We find ourselves in a rather unique position to produce this manuscript since we served simultaneously: Russell in Mlaga, Spain, and I as mission president in Santiago, Chile, where I served with the rest of the family. Russell and I experienced firsthand the declining number of missionaries in both of those missions. Due to the smaller number of missionaries, we saw sectors close and many needs go unmet. There are perhaps several reasons why fewer missionaries are being called. For one, the demographics of the Church have changed, and LDS families typically are not as large as they once were. It is clear that the pool of prospective missionaries is smaller than it used to be. Nevertheless, we cant help but feel that there are more young people swimming around in that pool who could successfully serve if all of us (including the prospective missionaries) would do just a little bit more to help them qualify and prepare.

We know the rewards of serving missions. We have seen countless blessings and miracles in our own lives as well as in the lives of others. We cant even imagine life without the relationships, capabilities, perspectives, and testimonies that resulted from our missions. That is what we want for othersmany, many others.

In each chapter we share our combined insights and experiences on themes selected from Preach My Gospel. Then I share what my wife and I tried to do to prepare Russell before his mission. Next, Russell shares his response. Finally, we have prepared keys for actionspecific suggested tasks that can be completed for, with, and by young people as they prepare. We hope the ideas and experiences offered will provide positive affirmation for most, instruction for some, and motivation for all.

When Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve was directing the work in Chile, he said on several occasions, The bar is not an obstacle to get over, but a vision to reach for.

Gospel standards remain the same. Expectations for missionaries are clearly delineated in scriptures and in directions from our prophet leaders. The bar is set. It is now time for more of us to meet the standards and expectations by raising ourselves to the bar.

Notes

M. Russell Ballard, The Greatest Generation of Missionaries, Ensign, November 2002, 47.

M. Russell Ballard, One More, Ensign, May 2005, 71.

Acknowledgments

We appreciate Chris Schoebinger at Deseret Book who approached us about writing this book and encouraged the idea of a father-son collaboration. We are also grateful to Richard Peterson, Shauna Gibby, and Laurie Cook, who all worked so skillfully to turn our manuscript into a published book.

My wife, Debi, always acts as our greatest supporter as well as our first editor. She can see past the coal and find the diamonds. We also appreciate Wendee, Whitney, and David Wilcox for their feedback and encouragement.

We are grateful for the input of Ray T. Wilcox in the beginning of this project. He passed away when we were about halfway through. We were sad to go back to the pages where we had written about this great man and put the sentences in past tense. However, we feel deep gratitude for the Savior, the temple, and our knowledge of the plan of salvation, which allowed Grandpas passing, though difficult, to be a peaceful and spiritual next step. From Tahiti to Ethiopia and Utah to Georgia, he was always a dedicated missionary.

Val C. Wilcox and Leroy and Mary Lois Gunnell have also offered great experience and expertise as they edited the manuscript. Others who provided valuable assistance were Eliot and Susan Wilcox and Tara Oberg. We also acknowledge the love and support of Trish Green, who became Russells fiance just one week after the final manuscript was submitted.

Thanks also to Roger and Moana Wilcox, Chris and Cheryl Wilcox, Rick and Kim McCloskey, Kay Davenport, Doug and Kristy Gunnell, John and Kim Bytheway, Kenneth and Kathy Cope, and Bob and Helen Wells. They, along with many other family members and friends, did much to allow us to be able to serve our missions.

It is a joy for me to serve as a member of the Mission Presidents Advisory Committee. Many of the discussions in our meetings have prompted and shaped ideas in this book. Russell and I gratefully acknowledge the chair, Elder Wayne S. Peterson of the Seventy, and other members of the committee: Stephen B. Allen (Arizona Tempe), Robert P. Swensen (Brazil Curitiba), and Peter B. Rawlins of the Missionary Department; Robert L. Bauman (California Oakland), Edwin C. Biddulph (Philippines Bacolod), Wynn R. Dewsnup (Utah Ogden), Timothy S. Evans (Mexico Monterrey West), Michael J. Glauser (Georgia Atlanta), Kevin L. Ludlow (Washington Spokane), Steven J. Lund (Georgia Atlanta), Christopher B. Munday (England Birmingham), Russell T. Osguthorpe (South Dakota Rapid City), Phillip G. Pulsipher (Micronesia Guam), Scott G. Waldram (DR Congo Kinshasa), and Stephen R. Covey (Dublin Ireland).