“My Fear Disappeared,” New Era, June 2020, 6–7
My Fear Disappeared
In the morning I was leaving for Central America. “But what if I don’t understand the language?” I thought. “And what if I can’t share what I feel?”
Illustration by Dani Jones
I vividly remember my last night in the missionary training center. Six of us were leaving the next morning for Guatemala and El Salvador. Even though my experience at the MTC had gone well, that night I let fear get hold of me. “What if I don’t understand what the people are saying?” I thought. “What if I can’t say the words I need to say when the time comes to share what I feel?”
Looking up at the ceiling from my bunk bed, I received the impression that I needed to read from the Book of Mormon, specifically from Moroni 8. A little more than 14 months earlier I had joined the Church. As I had studied with the missionaries, one of the teachings that made a significant impression on me was that little children are innocent and not born in sin. I turned to Moroni 8:11, where Mormon clearly states this principle.
Reading the words that had helped me realize the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon before my baptism calmed me once again. Then I read on, and something truly inspiring happened. Mormon’s words in Moroni 8:16–17 spoke directly to me:
“Behold, I speak with boldness, having authority from God; and I fear not what man can do; for perfect love casteth out all fear. And I am filled with charity, which is everlasting love.”
The answer to my fears was simple: Love the people and your fear will go away! With that realization, my confidence was rekindled. I boarded the plane the next morning with anticipation. And when I arrived, I found that Mormon’s words had taught me a true gospel principle that night. As I began to meet people for the first time, I would say in my heart, “I love you and I care about you.” As I felt compassion for them, any feelings of fear would vanish and be replaced by charity and kindness.
That doesn’t mean that there weren’t times when I didn’t understand the language. (Once I accidentally referred to someone we were teaching as a lizard!) But people would simply laugh and help me to know what to say the next time. They also showed charity and kindness, and that made it easier for me to find the right way to share the feelings of my heart about the Savior, about the Restoration, and about the Church.
How grateful I am for the message I received by reading in the Book of Mormon that night. I found that, indeed, perfect love does cast out fear. (See also 1 John 4:18.)The author lives in Utah, USA.