I
want to share some of the things that led me to making this decision. My hope is that it will possibly help those
of you who are making the decision yourself and that anyone else who reads this
might take something from it. So here we
go!
1. The Promptings
In
eight different talks our beloved Prophet, Thomas S. Monson, tells us to
“never, never postpone a prompting from the Lord.” How right he is. A few months ago serving a mission crossed my
mind. I thought about the idea for a while but then I pushed it aside. I had
honestly felt peace in my heart about staying home or going, so I decided I was just going to stay and finish
school. But then just recently, the
thought of a mission entered my mind again. To be honest I wasn’t exactly
accepting of the idea, I thought about it but I continued to push it aside.
It
turns out this wasn’t just a thought in my mind but a prompting of the Spirit.
I was doing the wrong thing in ignoring it. However, when I put my will aside and realized this was the
Lord talking to me and it was His
will, I began to more prayerfully consider serving a full-time mission. Later
that week, I saw the quote from President Monson that I previously stated and I
knew that I had made the right decision to begin praying with pure intent to
find an answer.
2. Prayer
When I began to
pray about serving a mission I wasn’t receiving any answers. Looking back now I
realize the reason I wasn’t was because of the hardness in my own heart. I was truly scared because I didn’t necessarily
want the answer that told me to go and serve.
After a little while I understood that every fear I had about leaving
demonstrated lack of faith in my Savior. I was concerned about leaving family
who ‘needed me’, leaving and missing the opportunity to date and find my
special someone, serving somewhere where my health might disable me, and not
having enough knowledge of the church to truly tell people about it and bring
them unto Christ… the list goes on and on.
Putting
all my fears aside I prayed that I might find peace. The more I prayed the more
I understood that these weren’t really necessary fears at all. All I had to do
was trust in my Heavenly Father and my loving brother and Savior Jesus Christ.
When I finally came to this realization I was able to really listen to the
answer I was given. Not many prayers
later I knew I was supposed to serve but I also knew that my Father in Heaven
would take care of all of the things I was worried about.
Prayer
is a way to talk to the person who loves us most and let Him calm our
fears. Through prayer any question can
be answered we just have to have faith in God’s timing.
3. Scripture Study
Recently
as I have read the scriptures, I have found myself not even noticing the time
again for hours. I have found an amazing
love for the scriptures and they have truly changed my life, especially the
Book of Mormon. As I read, I find
answers to my questions. I have found
many verses in my reading lately that have described serving a mission for The
Lord. It is simply just another
confirmation to me that this is what I need to be preparing for. A lot of my answers were found in Alma
29. My favorite part is Alma 29: 9-10. It says, “I know
that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of
myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is
my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some
soul to repentance; and this is my joy.
And behold, when I see many of my brethren truly penitent, and coming to
the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy; then do I remember what
the Lord has done for me, yea, even that he hath heard my prayer; yea, then do
I remember his merciful arm which he extended towards me.”
Go
into your scripture study truly prepared to feast on the words. Also before you begin reading, pray and ask
The Lord the questions you have in your life.
I promise you it is not a coincidence when you begin reading and certain
verses or words stand out to you. This
is The Lord’s way of speaking directly to you and helping you through your
mortal journey. Take advantage of the
answers that you have right in front of you… read and then really listen. He is speaking to you!
4. Priesthood Blessings
The priesthood is
one of the most amazing gifts that The Lord has placed on this earth. It’s so wonderful that Joseph Smith has been
able to restore that for us today. I
received my patriarchal blessing less than a year ago. It is a blessing from your Heavenly Father
directly to you as an individual. It
helps to guide and direct your life.
After reading and studying my own, I knew a mission was the pathway
being provided for me and that I should take that opportunity.
My
patriarchal blessing wasn’t the only blessing to give me answers. After quite a while of wondering if a mission
was the right decision for me, I was given a wonderful blessing by a worthy and
spiritually in-tune priesthood holder.
Through that blessing, I was able to hear that my calling was to
serve. I cannot describe to you how
great it felt to hear that answer come from my loving Father in Heaven through
one of His sons. Pay attention to the
words spoken to you in blessings, they will guide you and heal you.
5. Humbleness
Humbling
myself was a HUGE step to understanding what The Lord’s will was. I was going through some hard times this past
summer and I went into my room, sat on the floor and truly cried. I poured my heart out to my Heavenly Father,
telling him my worries, struggles and fears.
The next morning I woke up with so much peace in my heart and from then
on, I humbled myself and trusted in Him more than ever before. I KNEW my Heavenly Father loved me because He
was there for me that night. He made it
possible to change my life almost overnight and my faith grew so much. Because I was shown what it is to be humble
and feel a change in my life, I have a desire to help others feel that same
thing… thus, a mission.
If
you haven’t spent time like that with your Heavenly Father, I encourage you to
do so. Find a way to OUT LOUD speak to
Him, cry to Him, whatever it may be. He
will listen and I promise you, your
life will be changed for the better and you will come to know the mercy and
love of your Father.
6. The Big Change
Another reason I
have chosen to serve a mission is because of the change and happiness the
gospel has brought to my life and the life of those around me. I have had the opportunity to watch close
friends come unto Christ as well as feel the change in myself as I came back to
Christ. He really is our Savior and He
loves us no matter how far away we get.
If we can humble ourselves so that we may change to become His again, we
will find ultimate happiness. Change is
GOOD. Understanding the love that our
Savior has for us will help us make positive changes in our lives.
The
choices we make right now are guaranteed to affect the lives of our prosperity
and isn’t that such a cool thought? That
is why a mission and serving The Lord in general is so important to me. I want my children to have the spirit in
their lives and be able to pass on that joy forever.
7. The Atonement of Jesus Christ
One
of the biggest reasons I have decided on serving a mission is the Atonement of
Jesus Christ. Our Savior did something
SO wonderful for us. He died so that we
might be able to live and be forgiven. After
6+ years of being an inactive member, I was able to repent and return to the
gospel that now fills my heart. This was
possible because of a Savior who loves me and loves you so much. If I can bring even a little bit of the happiness I’m feeling into the life of someone
else, I will be satisfied.
Another
way I look at this is, the Savior made the ultimate sacrifice for me, so why
can’t I spend a short period of time in my life to fully serve Him? He loved me enough to give up everything and
I love Him enough to share His gospel for the short time He is asking me
for. John 21:17 says, “He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of
Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him a third time,
Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord thou knowest all things; thou
knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.”
Even
as members, we are asked to feed His sheep.
I hope that on my mission I can have that opportunity and that until
then, I will find ways to share the gospel around me to those who might be
searching for it. I truly love my Savior
and I am blessed to have the gift and opportunity to serve a mission in the
near future. I am so excited and so
grateful for the love and support I am receiving from many of you! Thanks for reading this post and have an
amazing day! <3
What a wonderful, uplifting, spiritual, inspirational read! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete