THE LILIES OF THE FIELD (MOM):

Dear Elder Cosby,

  . . . Wow, already preparing talks in French!  Remember what your mission president's letter to you said:   "You are one of a select few called to accept the challenge of learning two languages, both French and Tahitian.  Through your faith and diligence you will be blessed and will be able to learn both French and Tahitian so that you will be able to fulfill this special calling."

Last Conference, Elder Anderson said : "The stories of Jesus can be like a rushing wind across the embers of faith . . . "  as he referred to this song:  Tell Me the Stories of Jesus I love to hear: Scenes I would ask him to tell me if he were here.  Scenes by the wayside, tales of the Sea, stories of Jesus, tell them to me."   As you speak frequently about Jesus Christ, seek to know more about him, and open the scriptures to read of Him, your faith in Him will increase and you will have greater power to do the things you need to do and learn the things you need to learn.  As Jesus traveled with his disciples the "scenes by the wayside" they saw  were sheep and goats, vineyards, trees, and wildflowers like we see here in Texas in the spring after it rains.  Christ called the flowers that spring up from bulbs naturally in the Holy Land the "liles of the field." He spoke of  his days traveling as a missionary, referring to his disciples and companions as friends and calling up this imagery of the "lilies of the field" in the Doctrine and Covenants as He sent out missionaries of these latter-days:

Become even as my friends in days when I was with them, traveling to preach the gospel in my power . . . Behold, I send you out to prove the world, and the laborer is worthy of his hire.  And any man that shall go and preach this gospel of the kingdom, and fail not to continue faithful in all things, shall not be weary in mind, neither darkened, neither in body, limb, nor joint; and a hair of his head shall not fall to the ground unnoticed.  And they shall not go humgry, neither athirst.   For consider the lilies of the field, how they grow, they toil not, neither do they spin, and the kingdoms of the world, in all their glory, are not arrayed like one of these.  For your Father, who is in heaven, knoweth that you have need of all these things.  Therefore, let the morrow take thought for the things of itself.  Neither take ye thought beforehand what ye shall say; but treasure up the words of life, and it shall be given you in the very hour that portion that shall be meted unto every man . . . this commandment is unto all the faithful who are called of God in the church unto the ministry . . . that goeth forth to proclaim this gospel of the kingdom.  Behold, I send you out to reprove the world of all their unrighteous deeds and to teach them of a judgment which is to come.  And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face, I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up . . . "  Doctrine and Covenants 84:77-88

Our Heavenly Father will care for his children as they humbly exercise faith in him.    He will especially care for his missionaries that go out into the world to gather His children.  You will be given words in the very hour you need them that you have diligently treasured up. So now is a great time of "treasuring up" for you.   Remember the lilies of the field.  You are my beloved son.

 I love you . . .   Mom