Returned With Honor!

(Elder Mumford is released from his 2 year missionary service, by President Shafer; and received a copy of the following letter, from the Mission President.)

Dear President Shafer,

Elder Martin D. Mumford returns to his family, having served a highly successful mission in the Tokyo Kanto area of Japan. Elder Mumford has truly been a great missionary. He has served in 6 different areas of the mission and has had 12 different companions. Elder Mumford was district leader in both the Kunitachi and Koiwa Districts. He was a great motivator of of other missionaries.

During his mission, Elder Mumford served as as a trainer to a new missionary-Elder Remington. This is our most demanding and most important position and one we only give to our very best missionaries. As a trainer, he was outstanding. As a trainer, he taught by both his example and his teaching. Indeed, he was very effective. If only we would have had more missionaries like Elder Mumford.

I have heard Elder Mumford bear his testimony in both English and Japanese and have listened to him read from the Book of Mormon in both English and Japanese. He is very fluent in the Japanese language. Because of his hard work, he has become very proficient in both reading and speaking this difficult language.

Elder Mumford has been a missionary everyone loves to be around. He has a quiet and humble, yet powerful spirit that endears him to both other missionaries and the members and he has also been one of the hardest workers in our mission. Because he has been exact in keeping the mission rules, because he has worked so hard and because he speaks Japanese so well, the members have loved him wherever he has gone. Elder Mumford is talented, works hard, and gives all he has to serve the Lord. He is capable of doing and becoming anything he sets his mind to do. He has learned how to serve faithfully and well and will be a great blessing to the Church wherever he goes.

I believe he has laid a foundation for the rest of his life, and will be a wonderful husband and father. We thank Elder Mumford for his contributions to our Mission.

As Elder Mumford returns to your stake, I recommend him for Church service. He will be an active instrument in bringing success. May the Lord's blessings be upon you and your stake.

Warmest Regards,

President W. Steve Albrecht.

President- Japan Tokyo Mission

(Click on certificate to enlarge.)