Setting apart

Elder AJ Durrant

Setting Apart by

His Father, Pres. Mario Durrant

12 August 2013

            Alexander Jesse Durrant, by the power of the Melchizedek priesthood which we hold, we lay our hands upon your head and set you apart as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to serve for the period of the next 24 months in the Ecuador Quito mission, and AJ, we give you a blessing.

            As we send you forth on this mission call from the prophet of God, we bless you that you will have all the abilities, strength and direction from our Father in Heaven that you will need in this experience, that you will be able to seek your Father in Heaven in prayer during the challenges that you face, and you will receive answers and guidance.  We bless you that you will know of our Father in Heaven’s love for you and for His children as you begin to do work in this missionary labor that you will begin to feel and understand how Father in Heaven sees us as His children and our potential, that you will begin to see it in yourself, in your companions and in the people you teach and interact with, and the joy that it will bring to you to feel this love will encompass you and  make this experience more sweet than anything you have experienced in your life. 

We bless you to be faithful and to be obedient to the commandments of God and to the rules of your mission.  We bless you to gain from each of your companions and from your mission president those teachings and qualities which our Father in Heaven desires you to learn.  There is a reason for each change—area or companion for you that will be important in your progress. 

We bless you with deep understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ and with a knowledge and a testimony of  the Book of Mormon and the power that it has to change the lives of His children.  We bless you to understand the power of the Holy Ghost and the guidance that he brings, and we bless you to know how to walk by personal revelation and each day to seek the guidance from the Spirit from our Father in Heaven and do the best you can. 

Remember the Lord expects of you only the best that you can do, but He does expect the best that you can do, and He will take care of the rest.  He knows you.  He knows your strengths and your weaknesses, your gifts and your talents, and loves you dearly for your willingness and your worthiness to serve a mission. Know of the support of your family during this experience and of our deep love for you.  We are so grateful for your example and bless you with the knowledge of the deep support that you have at home.

 AJ, we bless you that this experience will set a deep foundation for the rest of your life on which to build, and that through this experience the blessings you will gain throughout the rest of your life will be immeasurable and innumerable, that you will never be able to fully measure the impact this experience has on your life. 

Remember these blessings as you go forth, especially during discouraging and difficult times, to rely upon our Father in Heaven, for He will be there for you, and never leave you alone.  These things we bless you with and send you forth on this mission in the holy and sacred name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

 Those in the circle:  Pres. Mario Durrant, Don Durrant, Scott Durrant, and Bishop Roger MannThose present:  Karla, Audrey, Ian, Alicia and Isaac Durrant; Peggy Durrant, Karen, Brett and Sam Durrant; Aaron, Corinne, Landon Taylor and Hannah Tewes; Laurie and Joshua Kulikowski