"My sheep hear my voice... and they follow me" (John 10:27) - Week 8

This last week it was my turn to lead the discussion in Sunday School for our LDS Service Member Group. The lesson was on Joseph Smith’s wrongful imprisonment in Liberty Jail and the revelations he received at that time. It was a good reminder for me of enduring well despite challenges, and that all these challenging experiences are for my good and help me come closer to God; a price I am willing to pay. 

It also reminded me of how helpless and powerless Joseph must have felt, and then the Lord gives him a revelation on how His power really works: through gentleness, kindness, love and charity, and virtue. These principles bring the power of the Priesthood to life, and we can see their influence. It helps me while I am feeling somewhat powerless on the other side of the world when my family is going through challenges. I sincerely appreciate all the friends and family who have been there to support and show charity to my family in my absence.

I have been privileged to become familiar with a young Soldier here who was introduced to the Church by some miraculous experiences, and a special group of friends he came to know, just before his deployment. He started the missionary lessons before deploying, and I was able to coordinate with Church Headquarters for him to continue those lessons online with the missionaries back home. 

I have been sitting in on the lessons with him, and I have watched as he has stood and born his testimony in Church of the things he knows to be true so far, and the things he is still working on gaining a testimony of. He even volunteered to give the talk in church today and did an amazing job! It is obvious that The Lord has prepared him to receive the Gospel at this time in his life. I see the excitement in him as he continues to hunger and thirst for the words of Christ which have brought so much joy into his life when, previously, he was looking for it in the wrong places.

The local Church Ward invited us to a Halloween party yesterday, and he wanted to go, so the two of us went and met the local Bishop. I wanted to introduce them because the bishop here will oversee this young man’s baptismal interview and ordinance. We had a great time playing games with the local families here that are from at least 10 different countries. 

As we drove back to our installation, we discussed some of his questions regarding prophets, gaining a witness of true principles, and learning to understand the Spirit. His talk today was on the difference between doubts and questions. He bore a sincere testimony of his desire to choose to believe, and how he had already had the chance to defend his faith against doubters.

I have met many people in the last couple of months who are listening to The Shepherd and doing their best to follow Him. I am honored to follow Him myself, and I am loving the experience of seeing Him gather His sheep “from the four corners of the earth, even as many as will believe in [him] and hearken to [his] voice.” (D&C 33:6) I hope I can continue to be a part of the gathering in some way.

In His Service,
CH John Critchfield

"...The Lord Looketh on the Heart" (1 Samuel 16:7) - Week 7

This week I had the privilege of traveling to another military installation about two hours away from where I am stationed, with the mission of providing services to a small group of Latter-Day Saints there and finding a new Group Leader to recommend to the local Stake President for sustaining. The day before traveling was kind of a hard day, with heavy thoughts and emotions, and I could recognize at the time that Satan was trying to derail me from completing my mission with the companionship of The Spirit. Seeing it that way helped me endure well with the power of God, as I prayed earnestly for His help to endure well and prepare for this mission.

So, my Chaplain Assistant and I drove out there (which looked like a barren desert with a few tents by the way, no vegetation whatsoever, and reminded me of Tatooine from Star Wars).

I met the local Chaplain there, and he was very happy to see me because he wanted to make sure the LDS group was taken care of as well. It turns out they had a Group Leader for the last couple of months who had just left, and they did not have another identified yet, so Military Relations at Church Headquarters asked me to help them identify someone. 

I read 1 Samuel 16 a couple of times in preparation, because that is when the Lord sent Samuel to Bethlehem to identify the next king of Israel, who ended up being David. I showed up early and got set up in a small building they usually meet in. As I started talking to the few members who trickled in before we got started, all the while I kept praying in my heart, “Lord, who do you want to be the next Group Leader?” There was only six who showed up, one of whom was an investigator. 

As I helped lead them in the hymns, blessed the sacrament, and then gave a talk on “Enduring to the End,” I kept wondering who The Lord wanted. I knew I wouldn’t get some lightning bolt from heaven or direct message like Samuel did. I kept looking at each of the priesthood holders there, and repeated their names in my mind, which I had just learned moments earlier. One particular person’s name kept popping into my mind.

As we were cleaning up after the service, I gave a priesthood blessing to one of the soldiers who had requested it. I remember blessing him to search for the Gift of the Spirit that he most needed to help him endure at this time, to be faithful to his covenants, and the Lord would bless him with what he needed. (I love giving priesthood blessings by the way, because I get a little glimpse of the way the Lord feels toward each of these precious sons and daughters of His. I am filled with love each time I do).

Then one person offered to help me put away the materials we were using for the service, and it was him whose name kept coming to my mind. In the storage room I stopped and told him, “I have been sent here with a request from Salt Lake to identify someone who could be recommended as the next Group Leader. As I have prayed and pondered, The Lord keeps giving me your name. I believe He wants you to serve as the next Group Leader here. Would you be willing to accept this call if it is extended?” He seemed a bit surprised but agreed. I spent some time educating him on what those responsibilities would entail, where to find more information, and reassured him I would help him, as would The Lord. I reminded him of what President Monson used to say, “Whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies.” He has since been approved and is now serving his first Sunday as the Group Leader there.

That night I was able to get together with a few other members of our group back on my installation to watch The Chosen TV series. We reserved a tent with a projector every Sunday evening to watch episodes and talk about it as kind of a Family Home Evening. One of the guys there was talking about some of his PTSD (in the context of how despite Mary Magdalene’s past, The Lord healed her by casting out evil spirits from her). He said he had been to counselors before, and never would again because of his past experience with the last one. I kind of pulled him aside as we were leaving and said “Hey, if you ever want to talk, as a Chaplain I’m here to listen.” 

We walked back home together, and he began to pour out his heart to me. We sat on a bench as he shared his story and began to weep. I thanked him for sharing his story with me and assured him that God is aware of his past, loves him still, and connected how his past trauma has helped him to help others already. I reassured him that God has a plan for him and can use him and his past to bring light into other’s lives. I also reminded him that when he holds up that light for others, it also illuminates his own path. I made sure he had my information for further contact as he thanked me several times.

I know The Lord was able to use me as an instrument in His hands that day. I also know that Satan knew I would have some spiritual experiences and tried to take my ability to feel the companionship of the Holy Ghost. I also know that The Lord is more powerful and can deliver us from evil influences, and in the case of my new friend, even when evil things happen to us, He can use all things together for the good of those who love Him. 

The Lord knew the heart of that Soldier, and that he was trying his best despite such awful things that have happened to him. He knew the heart of that Soldier whom He had prepared to be the next Group Leader. He also knows my heart and how I want so much to be an instrument in His hands whenever he needs me, despite my weaknesses. He knows your heart too, and can be there for you whenever you let Him in.  

In His Service,
CH John Critchfield

"For thus shall my church be called..." - Week 6

After reflecting on the Come Follow Me lesson this week in Doctrine and Covenants section 115, and how the name of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was emphasized again in General Conference, I felt inspired to spread the message more in my life and current responsibilities. I had a good conversation with my Religious Affairs Specialist (they used to be called Chaplain Assistants) who happens to be an ordained pastor for the Church of The Nazarene. I shared with him why we emphasize the true name of the Church: that it is doctrinally important to us to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ, He is the center of our worship, and we do not want to remove His name from what matters most to us. He has respectfully emphasized the name of our church ever since that conversation, instead of using the nickname “Mormon” or “LDS.”

I attended a training with all the other Chaplain teams here in the area and someone brought up a question about “religious accommodation for Mormons.” I raised my hand and said, “I can speak to the needs of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints…” and proceeded to answer the question. My Religious Affairs Specialist looked at me and smiled a big grin. He knew I was gently correcting the nickname.

I spoke to the head Chaplain of our Installation to describe these very principles and emailed him the story on the Church Newsroom page about using the appropriate name of the Church (Style Guide — The Name of the Church (churchofjesuschrist.org). He agreed to change the name from “LDS” or “Latter-Day Saint” services to reflect the full name of the Church by our chapel and on all the signs around post. I helped to create a local Facebook page for the Service Member Group here and added a QR Code to the signs with our updated Church logo so people could scan the code and see what services and activities we have going on.

I have faith in President Nelson’s message to us:

“If we do our best to restore the correct name of the Lord’s Church, He whose church this is, will pour down His power and blessings upon the heads of the Latter-day Saints, the likes of which we have never seen. We will have the knowledge and power of God to help us take the blessings of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people and to prepare the world for the Second Coming of the Lord.” (Russell M. Nelson, General Conference address: "The Correct Name of the Church," October 2018 (churchofjesuschrist.org)

I thank all my friends and associates in advance who read this weekly update and may not be members of the same faith, but show kindness and respect to us, for helping to advocate for the correct name of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In His Service,
CH John Critchfield

General Conference - Week 5

Thanks to advances in technology, I didn’t have to stay up in the middle of the night to watch General Conference, because the sessions were immediately available online so I could watch them the next day. What an amazing experience to gather with the LDS group here and watch one of the sessions at the chapel in the desert!

I loved President Dallin H. Oaks’ talk describing the importance of gathering with people of faith to worship, and how he encouraged people of all faiths to do so regularly. I felt some guidance in my responsibilities here as a Chaplain on how to help encourage other people from all belief systems to do the same. People mistakenly think they can be spiritual and not religious and that is good enough. I like the way Brad Wilcox puts it: 

Being spiritual is easy to do if we lived alone on a mountain somewhere, but we don’t live alone. We live with and around people, and religion is the application of spirituality with others. When your child makes a bad choice or someone cuts you off on the freeway, you don’t need spirituality, you need religion! Only in organized religion can we receive the ordinances of salvation and exaltation, come together to build each other, hold ourselves accountable to the application of spirituality, and put together resources with commitment, consecration, and sacrifice to help others in our community and world. (Get in the Lifeboat: Finding Safety in the Church, Liahona July 2021).

Just imagine all the good that Sister Eubank and Bishop Budge described we have accomplished collectively in the last year and a half during COVID. That is only possible because of organized religion. Their messages also inspired me in how they described sacrifice – “To make holy;” how sacrifice is less about what we are giving up and more of what we are giving to the Lord. I sometimes catch myself thinking about the things I have given up to be here away from my family. But then I remind myself of those inspiring words, and what I am sacrificing for the Lord right now, and how I can consecrate myself to Him. Or, as Sister Eubank put it, “We can be the answer to other people’s prayers… I pray He’ll use me.”

I loved Elder Rasband’s message about “The things of my soul.” What were the 3 items you added to your list? I added: Be humble, Be grateful in all things, Keep trying: His grace is sufficient.

President Nelson’s message Sunday morning was also very inspiring. I’m not sure if I heard it or felt it through the Spirit, but the number of times the word “power” was used in his message was astounding and emphasizing. I am learning to access the Lord’s power through His covenants, even though I am thousands of miles from the nearest temple. As I reflect on the covenants I have made and the meaning, purpose, perspective, and power they provide in my life, especially during this time, I stand in awe and wonder.

This is also the time of year we usually gather to participate in our annual Chaplain Conference at Temple Square and the Church Office Building. I have been able to participate similarly in those proceedings as they have been recorded and available the next day. There were some phenomenal presentations on Religiosity and Mental Health in the rising generation, the Doctrine of Christ in 2 Nephi 31, Women of the Bible, Why King James Version language in the Book of Mormon both helps stand as a witness of Christ and clarifies doctrine, Ministering with Compassion, and Receiving Revelation. Elder Uchtdorf was the final speaker of the Chaplain Conference, but I haven’t gotten to his message yet.

I am so grateful that we live in the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times, where the keys are restored to the earth, and righteousness and truth from heaven are sweeping the earth as with a flood (Moses 7:62). We have living Prophets and Apostles and other church leaders who teach with power and authority and guide us in these latter days. I know that this is the restored Church of Jesus Christ. He is at its head and guides this Church. It is evident in the Spirit which testifies of the truths we hear from our leaders during each Conference. I hope you have felt it too, and that together we are willing to make commitments to improve each day with this guidance to prepare for the Lord’s Second Coming.

In His Service,
Chaplain John Critchfield

"That Thy Name May Be Upon Them..." (D&C 109:22) - Week 4

As I mentioned last week, I am still learning my new responsibilities in my new position, and I appreciate the prayers of all those who have been praying for me. I am feeling more reassurance from the Lord through the Spirit that everything will be okay, and this is for my learning and experience. I am sure one day I will look back and understand why the Lord put me in this position and how it helped prepare me for other things He wants me to do.

At the same time, there are many great opportunities to serve and participate here and now. Since I last wrote, I was able to attend the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints service-member group here for the first time. It was wonderful to gather with the Saints and worship together as we are all far away from home. I met an excited investigator there who had been introduced to the Church by his new friends back home and started the missionary lessons just before deploying here. As we had lunch together after the service, I asked him to tell me his story and I was honored to hear it. 

As I listened, I felt inspired to share with him how happy he seemed to be as the Spirit has obviously led him here at this time in his life for a reason. I encouraged him to journal his experience and he had already started doing so! Now, he desires to be baptized and has been reading the Book of Mormon regularly. I connected him with the missionaries through the Church Military Relations department so they could finish the teaching process and help him prepare for baptism. 

I encouraged him as he continues to be taught by the missionaries, to do more than just learn information (although that is important too, since knowledge is a key to salvation); but to allow the Spirit to manifest the truth of the things he learns with each principle. I told him how the Spirit, who testifies of these truths to his heart and mind, will help him as he continues his journey; because there will come challenges and difficulties that having those written experiences will help him to endure well, because he will remember the spirit in which it was manifested to him. 

He later told me that all the things we had discussed, and even the counsel I gave, was exactly what he was journaling about this morning and was wondering about himself. I testified that there are no coincidences when the Spirit is obviously guiding us. I am excited for him to enter into the covenant of baptism, to be willing to take upon him the name of Jesus Christ, and to become a new creature in Him.

I was also privileged this week to take four LDS Soldiers off the military installation to meet with an LDS group from the local community who was having an activity. This was the first time any of them had been off the installation (because of COVID restrictions and security) and some of them had been here 8 months! We played ultimate frisbee and had lunch together with some amazing people from very diverse backgrounds. I met a new convert from Fiji, a local investigator, a man from Africa, a man from Chile, another from the Philippines, another from India who also served a mission in India, and others who were from the U.S. 

It is amazing how we can be from so many different parts of the world and can come together in fellowship and wholesome recreational activities. I felt an immediate bond with these brothers who had made covenants to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ, even though some of us didn’t even speak the same language. We got to see some of the local town sites and landmarks that were remarkable. I am grateful for the opportunity to get to know more of the local culture, and to gather with others who are willing to bear the name of Jesus Christ, especially when we are the minority here.

In His Service,
CH John Critchfield