Parable of the Missionary Tag

Continually seeking to come prepared
With a growing testimony warm to share
The Elder searched, pondered, and prayed
And thought of the life changes he had made

But...not an impression would start
Questioning, he put a hand to his heart
Truly he believed he was called to teach
Yet...there was something more just out of reach

Looking down and feeling sad
He chanced to look at his tag
No longer did he go by his first name
Given after a relative with the same

Here it read- Elder... a position of respect
He stared knowing there was more to reflect
A thought came, then, as a parable
Of how to teach the first principle

His name and priesthood were in white
Surrounded by the black of night
And this was truly how he felt
Tears of gratitude freely spilt

He was on a mission to stand out
And do the Lord's work as he went about
Giving hope to those seeking in darkness
The joy he felt...for another to harness

Then recognizing the true source
Of this new parable...of course
For it was written in bold and ever bright
There, as though holding him up...was JESUS CHRIST

Based on the parable I heard at our special
Green Valley Stake conference
with Elder L. Tom Perry present

I wrote the poem then asked the missionaries if they new his name. One day there was a knock at my door and Elder Spreckle said I have something for you. The name tag! Elder Orgill, the author of the poem had been transferred to my ward!

It came to him out of a challenge-
each missionary was to ponder and come up with a
parable from their lives.

In the above picture, he is on the left.