There’s a common saying among returned missionaries that their missions were the best two years of their life. I even thought that once. I no longer do however. It was a good experience ?\u00a2\u201a\u00c7\u00a8\u201a\u00c4\u00f9 valuable even ?\u00a2\u201a\u00c7\u00a8\u201a\u00c4\u00f9 and probably ranks as the better two years of my life.<\/p>\n
I have to say though that in the more than 12 years I have been home, I have had more valuable experiences than any mission experience.<\/p>\n
No experience with any mission companion comes close to equating with kneeling with Mary across the wedding altar nearly 12 years ago when we were married.<\/p>\n
No convert experience compares with being part of the birth of my three children.<\/p>\n
I’ve learned more regarding how the Church operates as a two-time elders quorum president and serving under a bishop and stake mission president than I ever did from any priesthood leader on my mission.<\/p>\n
The poverty I experienced on my mission was nothing close to the poverty we experienced when we first moved to Lethbridge.<\/p>\n
The trials I had on my mission pale in comparison to the faith-shaking experiences I have had since then.<\/p>\n
Do I consider my mission the best two years of my life? No.<\/p>\n
Would I go back and do it all again? Yes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"