Stories: The Blue Binder
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“It All Began With the Blue Binder”
Japanese language liahona
February 2004
When Elder Robert Haneda Ericson from Utah, a full time missionary serving in the Japan Tokyo North Mission was serving in Kiryu City, Gunma prefecture he was deeply pondering the subject of Baptism. He thought, “How can I meet people who want to learn about God.” One evening when he had been pondering that question he had a dream. A blue binder appeared in the dream, and he heard a voice say “there are names in this book”. When he awoke he searched his apartment, but he couldn’t find a binder like the one that appeared in his dream.
Soon afterwards he was transferred to the Adachi Ward in Tokyo where he discovered several binders that contained lists of members and investigators that had been taught by missionaries in the past. Blue, every one of the binders was BLUE! He says, “It was just like I saw in the dream!” Elder Ericson decided to visit all of the people listed in the binders. Some of the people listed in those binders would be baptized later on.
Elder Ericson, who served 8 months in the Adachi Ward, is now serving in the Togane Ward in Chiba prefecture. He says, “Over a six month period while I was in the Adachi ward I visited about 450 families. The people we visited were really a diverse group of people. There were people who just did not want to see us. There were others who were really pleased to be visited, and still others even phoned to say that they wanted to return to church. There were some who gradually returned to church, and some who immediately started coming to church again. There were those who quit coming because they didn’t get along with other people; and others who quit coming due to conflicts with their work schedule. But all were wonderful people.” No matter who they were visiting, Elder Ericson and his companion were filled with excitement while they went about their work.
When asked how many people he was able to build a close relationship with, Elder Ericson started counting with his fingers and after a short time his face rose and he said “45 people”, then he paused and corrected himself, “more than 50 people.” Of course not all of them have returned to church, but he said with a joyful smile, “that’s the number of people who seem ready to come back to church soon.”
When he was serving in the Adachi Ward about 60% of his proselyting time was spent visiting church members. That was also a challenge from the mission president. Elder Ericson says, “It is a blessing to visit members who are estranged from the church. Through visiting inactive members we were able to meet people who were prepared by Heavenly Father, and sometimes were able to meet non-members who were prepared also.”
It was a special experience serving in the Adachi Ward. Elder Ericson says, “Church members really helped. The Bishop and Relief Society President really devoted themselves to helping. After their regular meetings were finished on the third Sunday of every month, the members of the Adachi Ward all participated in going out to see members who needed to be visited. We were really surprised at how hard they worked at it. (It’s said that through the cooperation of members and missionaries 24 people have returned to church – normal attendance in the ward in May of 2003 was about 60) That is a great activity, not just for the missionaries, but for the members too. Through that activity we got acquainted with many people.”
Elder Ericson says, “I was very surprised that so many members in the Togane Ward are helping too. When we can do the proselyting activities that we want to it’s a wonderful happy feeling.”
Of course Elder Ericson also has had some disappointments. He says, “We’re disappointed when we visit people and they refuse to see us. Sometimes we feel that it would have been better to not even have visited. But, after we have had that kind of experience, unexpected blessings often follow. Because of the blessings we receive I am encouraged to persevere and work harder. With the members help we meet good people and it seems to build and the good feelings we experience become even greater. Sometimes when we have been treated coolly by a lot of people, the next day we’ll be blessed because one of those people will have decided to come to church. Those times I’ll be surprised to realize that I have become stronger than before in various ways.”
Elder Ericson said that the happiest moment for missionaries is “when people experience the influence of the Holy Ghost and their eyes sparkle.” He then says, “People who have experienced the influence of the Holy Ghost don’t easily lose their faith and enthusiasm for the gospel. Right now the numbers of people who are returning to church are increasing, but they will be even more active than they were before. They think “Why was I baptized?”, or “Why did I need to get baptized?”, and their faith becomes even stronger than it was before. Through my mission experiences I have had the opportunity of seeing various people remember God once again and become more serious about their faith.”
Of course, even missionaries hesitate to approach people who may reject them. Elder Ericson says, “However, through repeated visits some people will have a change of heart and think about the church again. Some members may have imagined to themselves that, “God doesn’t love me” and then strayed away from the church. The people who have been the most help to those individuals are the Bishop and members of the Ward. There are many less active members in the Adachi Ward who have been encouraged and strengthened in their faith through the efforts of the Bishop. People who come back to church are soon recognized by the Bishop who invites them to his office where they are given a warm welcome. We frequently witnessed the members of the ward give a very warm welcome to those less active people for whom we opened the doors to their returning to church.”
Elder Ericson shrugged his shoulders and said that sometimes people who have been away from the missionaries and members come back and throw out teasing philosophical and logical questions. Elder Ericson laughs and says, “Sometimes we are asked questions that we just cannot answer. There are some people who ask questions for which there just aren’t any answers. Speaking honestly, there are times we don’t even understand what they are asking.” He then goes on to say, “A very interesting thing is - when most people feel love they soon quit asking those meaningless questions. Because they aren’t really sincere in asking those meaningless questions, they are just giving the members and missionaries a hard time. At first some people come asking hard questions, but as the conversation continues the feeling changes, they begin to feel the spirit, and then their attitude and questions change. In the end they realize the meaningless nature of their questions and they answer the questions themselves. In fact, there are many parts of the gospel that cannot be explained with just words, and can only be understood through faith.”
Elder Ericson says, “When people feel that they are loved, then they begin to change.” This is a principle that Elder Ericson learned through many of his experiences.
Elder Ericson is thankful that his final assignment may be in the Togane Ward. He says, “In the Togane Ward the Bishop is the teacher of the English Conversation Class.” (Note: In Japan the missionaries frequently teach English conversation classes as a service and proselyting activity). “About half of the people who attend the class are members, and about all we teach is pronunciation. The bulk of the teaching load is carried by the members. When the members are involved and helping, the missionaries are really happy”, say’s Elder Ericson proudly.
Elder Ericson and his companion Elder Cutler are now visiting the members in the Togane Ward. He was just transferred to Togane, but he has already visited more than half of the members. He says, “The mission president has challenged us to visit and serve all the members, whether active or estranged from the church. Even active members are sometimes depressed, so when we visit them we share a short scripture or our testimony with them. It doesn’t matter because every one of them – active or less active - is a member of the church.”
As a missionary Elder Ericson’s first priority is to preach the gospel and baptize, but then he says, “I think it’s very important for the members to remember the covenants they made at baptism. When they do that, then they remember the feelings that they had when they were baptized. That’s almost as important as the feelings they had when they were baptized.” Elder Ericson is making the effort to visit more members in order to help even a few more realize the opportunity to have that experience.
Elder Ericson and his companion aren’t wasting any time in the Togane Ward, working from morning to night. As he thoughtfully touches his nametag, Elder Ericson says, “Missionaries have rules that they have to obey. Sometimes we may even think that they are a little strict. But when they feel strict, it is a happy moment because it reminds me that I am a missionary. Am I strange?” Elder Ericson who is strict with himself, but kind and sweet with others, found another binder in the Togane Ward just like the one he saw in his dream, and continues to visit members with his companion to find the people who are waiting for the gospel.
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