BYUtv, in conjunction with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has a new documentary series about 8 missionaries serving in the San Diego, CA mission. It provides a touching, if sometimes superficial, look at the lives of these missionaries. Missions are not easy. They are happy years but also years full of discouragement and difficulty. A mission is a time to try to help others come unto Christ but it is also a time when the missionary experiences a lot of growth. Missions are maturing more than just about any other experience a young woman or young man could be doing at that time. That maturity comes through a solemn, covenant responsibility, one that is weighty but lifting at the same time. I remember clearly how I felt when I was released as a full-time missionary more than 10 years ago. As my Stake President released me through the laying on of hands, I felt a weight lift off me. It was a bittersweet moment – a time of relief over the loss of that burden but also a twinge of regret over the loss of that blessing. I almost felt like sighing with relief and crying with remorse. Missions are beautiful experiences – times to focus on little but helping others follow the Savior. They are also times to really start to learn what being a disciple of Christ entails.
As for the show The District, there’s only one episode out so far so I am looking forward to the next one. Watch the first episode below.