Max's Landing Talk

Max's shared about serving in the Chandler service mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He wrote what he read and gave the talk in Church on June 11, 2023. I'm so proud of him.

 

Elder Maxwell Q. Reynolds Landing talk

(New Beginnings and New Journeys)

Hello, Brothers and sisters. I am happy to be with you today to share with you about my service mission and what I have learned. I have a lot of wonderful experiences but most of them have come from spending time serving with and for other people. I have found that as I serve I come close with others and they become family. Family loves one another and loving one another comes through following divine responsibilities. It also comes through sacrifice through undeviating service to our God The Eternal Father. You may ask, why is God our Eternal Father?

 Quoted from Elder Neal A Maxwell.”If there were no eternal truths, to what principles would mortals look for guidance? If not accountable to God, to whom are we ultimately accountable? Furthermore, if nothing is ever really wrong, then no one is ever really responsible. If there are no fixed boundaries, then there cannot be any excesses. Why should we be surprised, then, at so many disturbing outcomes, including the lack of community, when every man does that which is “right in his own eyes” (Judges.Judges. 17:6; Judges. 21:25) and seeks not the righteousness of the Lord but instead walks “in his own way”? (D&C 1:16).” Closed quote to add to this quote with a scripture, proverbs chp 21 v2 says “ every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the lord pondereth the hearts" in contrast the eyes of faith would have us following the Lord. Stated from Alma chapter 32:40 “…thus if we will not nourish the word, looking forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof ye cannot have the fruit thereof. Simply put you cannot have the results you hope for if we do not fulfill the divine responsibilities. According to Hebrews 12:9 God is the father of our spirits. With that there is an Eternal Family and we have come down from God to serve and to be tested so we can return to live with our Loving Heavenly Father. Elder Neal A. Maxwell states “Let us strive here and now to take especial care of our families as Jesus did of His, “even the family of all the earth” (2 Ne. 2:20). Closed quote.  God has also sent his beloved son to die for our sins to help us get past sin. John 3:16 says “For God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life”. Service missionaries are about showing God's love with those that we come in contact with. 

“Our purpose is to help others come unto Christ by serving them as the Savior would, we serve voluntarily in charitable organizations, church functions and within the community we minister in his name to the one just as he did expressing his loving kindness.” 

The service sites that I have had the privilege of serving with have been Midwest Food Bank, Gilbert Temple Grounds, Mesa DI, and TCSM social media center. Midwest Food Bank was a great service location. I was scanning receipts, checks on Tuesdays through Fridays at 9 to noon along with other activities such as taping boxes. We had to check every box to make sure it was taped tightly on both sides and filled all the way with the product for the satisfaction of the one who receives it. I sealed bags with a sealer, I have also learned to fill bags, label bags, print off labels, operate a pallet jack and operate a pallet shrink machine. While I served at the Midwest Food bank I was blessed to work with Skipper and hear his awesome compliments and see his good work ethic, Eric was always friendly and gave everyone hugs. There were many others that I felt had become family. 

 Gilbert Temple Grounds on Mondays we do trash and weed runs called blessing runs, leaf blow sidewalk, mope sidewalk, concrete walls and benches. We plant seasonal flowers in the fall and spring. We also do tree rings. Also prune tree suckers, seed pods and for shape. The grounds keeper Brother Rudd was an inspiration with his friendly personality, he taught me the importance of work and gardening and the value of loving others. 

Mesa DI was a great service location serving there from June 2021 to September 2021 while I was there I worked in small as is in the back and soon after I worked in the front sorting clothing in the mens and children department. In September, I felt the need to change service locations and stop working at the Mesa DI. I loved working there, but felt a need to change it soon. Within a month after I changed my service location I realized why I felt the need to change. My mother and I were in a freaky car accident on October 29. She broke her arm and was not able to take me to any of my locations. Funny, my mom had a costume to go with Halloween. I had to ride my bike or walk. Mesa DI would have been too far to walk or ride my bike.  It’s a blessing that I acted on that feeling to change locations. 

Tempe chandler service mission social media center we pushed out content involving ask seek and ye shall find that is published on youtube I helped script and participate in the production as well as write scripts for others. Unfortunately, the media center disbanded due to missionaries pressing forward.  

As a Service missionary I got to be a part of other service project activities like Feed My Starving Children nonprofit, participate in a missionary concert, and serve the homeless. All were awesome activities that promoted the service God wanted us to bring to others.The service missionaries became family. I have been blessed with so many wonderful missionary friends. Our relationships will last a lifetime. 

During my service mission I was given the opportunity to be in the USA Special Olympics games in Orlando, Florida. While there I wore my name tag to let others know I am the hands of the Lord and that I want to serve him. I loved sharing with others why I am wearing a name tag for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints. 

There were many opportunities to feel the spirit while in Orlando. When I was on the block ready to swim the 100 freestyle I felt weak and could not breath. I could not understand why, but I prayed for strength. When the Special Olympics found that I had covid I was shocked and they had me stay in a hotel room by myself. but with the help of the Lord I got through. 

The final words I would like to add is that Family is always around you, The church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints is a family centered church, it does not matter where you serve and whether or not it is proselytizing, all that matters is that you serve. Never forget that when your loved ones pass it is not the end, they will always be with you.

May this bring peace to you and your soul.  

In the name of Jesus Christ Amen   

Elder Reynolds Two Years Mission

 

Wow! It’s been six months since I posted on Max’s blog.  Max has been busy serving at the Midwest Food Bank and the Gilbert Temple grounds. Plus, attending evening meetings including on Sundays. At the Midwest Food bank, he has served over 740 hours. He has made thousands of boxes for food to be shipped off to other places and countries. He has bagged Cheese Its and other foods. He sealed bags and helped scan papers. He served at the Media Center on Wednesday evenings. Max has grown so much in the past six months. He has learned to iron his own shirts, wash loads of laundry (even learned how to sort them out), make his bed, and clean the bathroom. He has learned to cook food and has become independent. Never did I think when he was three-years-old, 10 years old or even 14 years old he would have the life he has now. He has friends, interests, hobbies and goals.  

I have told him several times never to let your autism stop you from your dreams. Don’t let it hold you back. Max and I have had discussions about how everyone has something that makes them feel like they’re not capable with doing what they want. I shared with him how even I, who is blind in one eye, deaf in one ear and now live with an arm that is not completely functionable. It might be harder and take more time to reach the goals, but never ever let a disability stand in the way of success. When we were blessed with Max and realized he had special needs, I was determined to not let his disability limit his potential of what he is capable of and his progression. 

  I have pushed Max and I mean pushed him to strive to achieve even the smallest of goals.

 I told myself many times that he is capable and can reach goals. 

My eyes water every time I think of him as a small child and look at him now. He is kind, compassionate, friendly, trustworthy and is loyal to those that he loves. He has bloomed into a wonderful young man who has a dream to someday have a family of his own. That last sentence I never thought I would write about Max. Never did I dream he would be able to be a husband and a father. I look at how he has grown and believe some young lady will be lucky to have him as a husband years down the road. He wants to educate himself like his siblings did so he can provide for his future family.

 I am going to post lots of pictures of his mission.

 I’ll try to put descriptions below the pictures so you know what it is about.

I even went and served with him at the Midwest Food Bank and at the Gilbert Temple grounds planting flowers. I came home both times ready for a nap because it was not easy work. 

I am proud of Elder Max Reynolds

 I am honored to be Max’s mother.

Max reading his mission call. 

I videoed his talk he gave in church.  

Below is the name tag he wore for two years and four days. 

Once a month the service missionaries would go to the Mesa and Gilbert temple.

     Elder Reynolds ready to give service.

Midwest Food Bank 

Media Center

Gilbert Temple grounds

After working in the hot sun on Temple grounds. 

 Elder Reynolds planted these flowers. 

                                               

 Elder Reynolds last day serving at the Gilbert Temple.

Max in the Press On Band

                                        

Mission Christmas Party

 

Max had a fun Christmas party with his mission. He had to bring an exchange gift. He got the idea to take five different size boxes and wrapped a gift in the smallest one and then put it in the next box were he would put another gift. It took us hours to wrap them one after the other. The person that got his gift got to also read a scripture Max had written with each box they opened.

 It was a clever idea.

A Sunday mission meeting, his mission leader is holding the cookie.