On Dec. 4, the Political Affairs Society and the College of Language and Letters hosted Sister Jean Bingham, who served as the 17th General Relief Society President from 2017 to 2022, and Brother Bruce Bingham, her husband, to talk with students about their time serving as Government Relations Representatives for the Church.

Sister and Brother Bingham served a mission as Government Relations Representatives for two years. They worked at the Brussels office of European Union and International Affairs Offices.

During their mission, they had opportunities to meet and host events for ambassadors and participate in conferences on behalf of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

As they shared their experiences at the forum, there was a reoccurring theme throughout their presentation - students can be representatives in Rexburg by actively choosing and building trust.

Actively choosing

When men and women serve missions, internationally or state-side, they learn how to represent Jesus Christ while interacting with non-members and members. However, something changes sometimes when missionaries return home. They slip into old habits and become more casual.

On the mission, we actively choose to do better, whether that is waking up at 6 a.m. and exercising, talking to everyone or trying our best to speak kindly to our companion. We do this so we can better accomplish our missionary purpose to find, teach and baptize. However, when we return home, do we actively choose to serve others or do we just wait for opportunities to approach us?

Seeking opportunities to serve people means noticing the quiet, the lonely and the overwhelmed. Brother Bingham calls it “Looking out for those on the fringe.”

When we see someone who is hurt, we go to them. If someone sits alone at an activity, we invite them. We do our best to strengthen others. My mission president once shared that sometimes we will be receivers of light; however, most times we will be givers. We should be seeking moments when we can love others, listen and share with one another.

“We all have talents,” said Danny Ricks, religion professor. “So, if we’re shy and quiet then we should find someone who is shy and quiet and sit with them in silence”

Cassidy Sadler, an accounting major, returned home from her mission early due to mental health issues. Upon returning, she felt ashamed.

“It’s expected to finish your mission, so when I didn’t, I expect people to assume the worst,” said Sadler.

On her first Sunday back, she hoped that she would not be judged yet was unexpectedly embraced with love.

Two years later, a friend serving a mission reached out to Sadler, sharing concerns about returning early from a mission. Her friend felt it was a burden to make the decision to return early. Sadler was able to draw on her own past experience and help the missionary make the decision to return early and serve a service mission.  

“It was good to see how my experience with something horrible could help someone else on their mission,” Sadler said.

Wherever we go, there is always someone who could use our light, but we must actively choose to seek those who need our comfort. Otherwise, we are just waiting and hardly anything will happen.

Building trust

Scottish author and poet George MacDonald wrote in The Marquis of Lossie: “To be trusted is a greater compliment than to be loved.”

President David O. McKay would often quote this to missionaries. While we like to receive love, it’s more heartbreaking when someone we trusted breaks our trust. Think of a couple where one partner shattered their trust; rebuilding that bond is a long and difficult process.

Building trust with people starts in the apartment, class and church.

Sister Bingham shared that it takes a while to develop trust with people, so the best way to build that is to step into their shoes.

“Sometimes when we look at people, we assume,” said Sister Bingham. “But when we think to ourselves, ‘I can learn something,’ that is the real key.”

Peyton Stoddard, a communications major, started a new job as a lead at the ticket office after two semesters of working as an usher. She struggled with the other student lead who was training her.

“We had different leadership styles,” said Stoddard. “I tended to lead by example, while his style was to lead by instruction.”

Initially, Stoddard thought that modeling good behavior would encourage accountability. However, after a few events of things happening that shouldn’t, she realized that she would be a better leader by being clear and direct.

Stepping back, Stoddard could see that her trainer knew what he was doing and could make good decisions for the team. She described the experience as stressful but gained empathy.

This empathy has improved her family relationships by helping her understand that her siblings are navigating through different stages of life. She is able to step outside herself and support them.

Being a disciple of Jesus Christ starts with small and intentional choices. Whether it’s in Europe working with ambassadors, on a mission or even in Rexburg, the Savior calls us to look for those on the fringe and live with integrity.