Christ ‘Minds the Gap’ Between Missionaries’ Callings, Capabilities, Says President Camille N. Johnson

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By Joel Randall, Church News

While riding the London, England, subway several years ago, President Camille N. Johnson noticed a voice over the loudspeaker whenever approaching a stop: “Mind the gap.” Along with that voice came to her a spiritual impression: “He minds the gap.”

“The Savior ‘minds the gap’ between my capacity and what He has called me to do,” she told training missionaries on Tuesday, February 11. “I know He will do the same for you.”

Speaking at the Provo Missionary Training Center, the Relief Society General President acknowledged the missionaries may see a gap between who they are now and the disciples of Christ they are working to become.

“I testify that the Savior will mind your gap. He doesn’t make up the difference; He makes all the difference.”

Strengthening a Personal Relationship With Christ

In the Book of Mormon, the prophet Nephi declares, “I glory in my Jesus, for he hath redeemed my soul” (2 Nephi 33:6).

“Nephi had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ,” said President Johnson. “He knew Him to be the one who had redeemed his soul.”

She continued: “That’s precisely the kind of relationship I want with my Redeemer. And I am committed to working for it. Will you commit to work for that kind of personal relationship with Jesus Christ?”

Missionaries can strengthen this personal relationship as they partake of the sacrament, act as the Savior’s hands, study the Book of Mormon and honor temple covenants. In short, it comes as they live the doctrine of Christ, learn of Him and make and keep sacred covenants.

“Sisters and elders, as you strengthen your personal relationship with the Savior, I know He will mind the gap for you.” As they do all they can to be effective missionaries, they can “trust the Savior to mind the gap. He stands with open arms and wants to help you.”

Minding the Gap of Inadequacy

As a newly called leader of the Peru Arequipa Mission in 2016 with her husband, Douglas, President Johnson struggled with the Spanish language. “I really had to rely upon my Savior as I did something hard, uncomfortable and a bit overwhelming,” she said.

The solution? She read the Book of Mormon in Spanish each of the three years they served. And her personal relationship with Christ was strengthened and deepened as a result.

“Spanish didn’t roll beautifully off my tongue, but the Savior did mind the gap. I was blessed with the ability to communicate to my missionaries my love for them and my testimony of the Book of Mormon. I was blessed with exactly what I needed to fulfill my responsibilities as a mission leader.”

President Johnson felt a similar inadequacy when called as Primary General President and later Relief Society General President, having never held the role in local wards or stakes. Yet, recognizing the call came from a Prophet of God, she put her trust in Christ and her covenants and got to work.

“Work hard and trust Him,” she invited. “Keep your covenants and develop Christlike attributes, including love, and He will bless you with His healing, strengthening power.”

‘That Is When We Saw Mission Miracles’

Missionaries who study, ponder and teach from the Book of Mormon daily are blessed, promised President Johnson.

When she and her husband presided over the Arequipa mission, the missionaries had been baptizing between 50 and 100 people a month. In July 2018, the goal was set to baptize 150.

“A grand goal, for sure, but our missionaries were all in,” President Johnson said. The mission made personal sacrifices. Missionaries studied the Book of Mormon every day and aimed to use the book in each contact and every lesson.

President Johnson noted President Russell M. Nelson’s 2017 teaching that “the truths of the Book of Mormon have the power to heal, comfort, restore, succor, strengthen, console and cheer our souls.”

Because of this power, the missionaries baptized 151 of God’s children that month.

“When they used the Book of Mormon as their main source for teaching the restored gospel, that is when we saw mission miracles,” said President Johnson. “I think that is because, as a mission, we came to know the Savior better and experienced His love.”

What Missionaries Were Saying

Elder Dalan Stokes from Salem, Utah, assigned to the Arizona Phoenix Mission, learned more profoundly that missionaries draw upon the Savior’s power to accomplish His work. “Everything in this gospel is centered on our Savior, Jesus Christ, and through His priesthood power — which He so willingly gives us — anything is possible.”

Sister Mikell Willie from Hooper, Utah, assigned to the Pennsylvania Philadelphia Mission, gained greater witness that Christ turns weakness into strength. “That just shows how important the Savior is to this work, because it’s not us; it’s all Him.”

Elder Ryner Swanson from Laguna Beach, California, assigned to the Kenya Nairobi East Mission, said he learned that “I shouldn’t be afraid to give my all to the Savior and go all in to help the people that I’m serving.”

Sister Cheyenne Cole from Bountiful, Utah, assigned to the Texas Houston South Mission, was encouraged to hear that the Savior gives missionaries greater capacity to fulfill their callings. “I know that I can’t serve this mission without Jesus Christ, and I know that if I do what I’m supposed to do, He will mind that gap.”

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