The spiritual experiences that I’ve had that helped me make the decision to serve a mission.
Good morning brothers and sisters!
It’s
so wonderful to be with you all today. I am so grateful for the chance I get to
share some of my thoughts, feelings, my testimony and my love for this
beautiful gospel this morning with you all!
As I
have been preparing for this next step I have felt an overwhelming amount of
love and support from so many of you, but especially from my Savior Jesus
Christ. I know that He has been with me every step of the way, and will
continue to be by my side as I go out and serve.
Already
almost five months have passed since I received my mission call to serve in the
Australia Sydney Mission. I am just as excited today as I was then. When I
first received my mission call I immediately felt the spiritual confirmation
that Australia was exactly where the Lord wanted me to be.
I have been asked to speak about the
spiritual experiences that I’ve had that helped me make the decision to serve a
mission!
I
have been pondering a lot about what really made me decide to serve a mission! Trying
to get my thoughts organized!
For
those of you who don’t know, a mission was never a part of my plan growing up.
I never thought about it, and never really had a desire to. It seemed so far away
and for me it always seemed like it was made for people older than me.
This
past year I have had a lot of change, and faced the unknown. I moved away from
home last September and went off to school at BYUI without knowing anyone or
anything really about my new surroundings, but I think all of this change
really did humble me and it allowed me to exercise faith, rely, and put ALL of
my trust in my Savior, Jesus Christ.
Elder
Bruce D. Porter of the Seventy taught, "A broken heart is an eternal attribute of godliness. When our hearts are broken, we are completely open to the Spirit of God and recognize our dependence on Him for all that we have and all that we are. Like malleable clay, in hands of the skilled potter, the brokenhearted can be molded and shaped in the hands of the Master."
I feel like he describes what happened to me.
At
school I was now surrounded by roommates, and new friends who either were
returned missionaries, or soon to be missionaries. I had friends already out
serving, friends who were just leaving, and I had a sister who was also out in
the mission field at the time.
It
wasn’t till then while all of this was happening that I really started to think
“is a mission for me?”
The
beginning of the miracle was that I stopped and ASKED God in prayer WITH a
humble heart.
The
answer did not come all at once. There was not a single event. Instead it was
more a series of events that allowed me to recognize the answer to my prayer.
Brothers
and sisters, God answers our prayers.
I
wanted to share with you all some short experiences that helped me receive the answer
to my prayer:
I can
remember a specific time while in a dance practice sitting off to the side with
the sweetest girl who had just got back from her mission in Peru. She started
asking me if I had ever thought about a mission. She bore testimony to me at
that moment that the mission was the best decision for her. I’d heard that a
thousand times from other returned missionaries, but for some reason it
impacted me more this time.
Later
on in church meetings, specifically a stake conference, the whole meeting was
about missionary work! Before hearing the words from the speakers, I felt
inadequate to serve a mission, because I felt like I lacked preparation. One
speaker said, a desire to serve a mission, IS ENOUGH. At that moment the spirit
confirmed to me that I am qualified for the work, and that my desire IS ENOUGH.
D&C
section 4 verse 3 says, “If ye have desires to serve God, ye are called to the
work.” Verse 5 goes on to say, “and faith, hope, charity, and love, with an eye
single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work.”
Later
on, I got to go to the homecoming of a missionary who had served with my
sister. After she had given her talk, the Bishop stood up and said that if any 18
year olds in the congregation have a desire to serve, THEY SHOULD GO. I felt
the spiritual confirmation that his words were meant specifically for me.
Finally
though, it all came together for me during a visit to the temple. My most
powerful and peaceful confirmations come during temple visits. For thanksgiving
last year I was in Utah with some roommates and we wanted to go to the temple
at least once while being there. We went to the Bountiful, Utah temple one
evening, but got there a little later than expected. We walked in and a temple
worker told us, we were too late to participate in temple work, but we could
sit in the front room and just enjoy the peace that comes from the temple. I
remember him specifically telling us that, “a trip to the temple is never
wasted.” And I can testify of that. The experiences that I had in that front
room that night are a big part of the reason why I am standing in front of you
today.
I know that temples are where we can feel
closest to our Father in Heaven, and our Savior Jesus Christ. The feelings that
I experienced in that front room confirmed to me clearly that I needed to serve
a mission. In that moment I felt no more fear, and no more feelings of
inadequacy. Instead I felt an overwhelming amount of love for my Savior, and
for His gospel. I want others to experience this same joy that the gospel of
Jesus Christ brings.
Following
my experience in the Bountiful temple, I began the process of preparing for a
mission! In doing so, I’ve realized that although I hadn’t previously planned to
serve a mission, Heavenly Father has been giving me opportunities to learn and
prepare throughout my entire life.
I’ve
had good parents who have taught me to have high moral standards and that when
I make mistakes, I should not give up on trying to be my best self and to face
challenges “un jour a la fois”, one day at a time.
Each
of my siblings has been an amazing example to me.
Alex sets
an example for me of Christ-like attributes. He’s a patient teacher,
courageous, and honors his mother and father. He has taught me to set high
goals and to persevere when things are tough. He’s independent and well
organized. When I first left home to go to school, I’d call him for help with
meal planning. He even gave me instructions on what to buy at the grocery
store. He literally wrote me lists!
Karl
has taught me to put God first and to be kind to every single person. He is an
excellent Husband and Father. When he was a missionary in Houston he sent me a
t-shirt that said “Stay Free.” With it was a letter that I hold dear. He wrote that true freedom comes from obeying
the commandments.
Sarah
has taught me to have faith and an eternal perspective. She’s been my most supportive friend. Last Fall, as she was serving a mission in
Montreal, Sarah wrote me the following as I was leaving for university: “Your
friends will soon change, where you live will change, and you’ll have to figure
out what to do. But one thing that won’t
ever change is that you always have Christ on your side. Lean on Him to be your constant.
Growing
up I had wonderful leaders and teachers at Church who loved me and who continue
to love me. They inspired me to be a righteous young woman and to remember that
I’m a daughter of God with great potential.
Youth
Conferences and events strengthened my testimony. When I was 14, while on Trek,
I remember for the first time feeling that I knew for myself that the Church
was true. After a week in the woods, I came home, showered, and went straight
to EFY where those feelings were again confirmed. Two summers ago I was able join with the
youth from our stake to participate in Moroni’s Quest. Over the course of several days, different
stories from the Book of Mormon were recreated. One of the most powerful
experiences I had during that week was when the visit of the Savior to the Americas
was portrayed.
The
Spirit was so strong and it was as if in that moment I could not doubt the love
I have for my Savior. I could not doubt the happiness that this Gospel really
does bring. Being able to see Christ’s arms extended towards me made me
appreciate His sacrifice. During that moment, all I wanted to say to Him was,
“Thank you! Thank you for giving your life and paying the price, so that my
mistakes could we washed away. Thank you for bearing my burdens. Thank you for
being at my side though hard times. Thank you for being a friend. Thank you for
everything you’ve given me.” My love for the Savior grew immensely on Moroni’s
Quest.
Experiences
I had growing up and dancing have provided me with lessons that will be very valuable
as I serve a mission. I learned I can do hard things and that these are
achieved because of consistent disciplined effort. I learned to work with
others and to trust my teammates and to cheer each other on. I learned, creativity,
self-confidence, focus, and resilience.
Another
huge help in the preparation has been my friends that have been placed along my
path, whether that is at school, at dance, at church, at university, everywhere
really.
Earlier this summer as my Dad and I drove home
after I finished school, we were listening to music. The song, “Angels Among
Us” by Alabama came on. The lyrics go as follows:
“I was walkin' home from school
On a cold winter day,
Took a short cut through the woods
And I lost my way.
It was getting' late, and I was scared and alone.
Then a kind old man took my hand, and led me home.
Mama couldn't see him,
But he was standing there,
And I knew in my heart
He was the answer to my prayer.
Oh, I believe there are Angels Among Us,
Sent down to us from somewhere up above.
They come to you and me in our darkest hours
To show us how to live
To teach us how to give
To guide us with a light of love.
When life held troubled times
And had me down on my knees
There's always been someone
To come along and comfort me
A kind word from a stranger
To lend a helping hand
A phone call from a friend
Just to say I understand
Now ain't it kind of funny
At the dark end of the road
Someone light the way with just a single ray of
hope.
Oh, I believe there are Angels Among Us,
They wear so many faces,
Show up in the strangest places
And grace us with their mercies in our time of
need.
Oh, I believe there are Angels Among Us”
As the song ended my Dad turned down the music and
asked me who have been my angels this past year?
I was overcome with emotion as I described to my
dad a few of the angels God sent into my life.
One of the first people I met, became a very close
friend. We could not be more different, but somehow we just clicked. She always
showed me kindness, was always willing to help me out, cheer me on, and cheer
me up! She was only a year older than me, but she was full of wisdom and
offered the best advice. My first semester away from home would have been so
much more difficult without her.
Through my second and third semesters, another
close friend and I were inseparable. We called each other, our pre-mission
companions. She is currently serving in Florida. We shared an apartment, went
grocery shopping together, cooked together, had almost every class together, and
so we would study the material together. We studied our scriptures together,
attended the temple several times a week together, and did not go to bed unless
we prayed together. She was a light and inspired me to be the best I could be.
Another thing this friend and I did was sit in
the very front row at BYUI devotionals every Tuesday. There we hear from
different church leaders, or faculty from the University who would share
inspiring messages. One week one of them talked about angels. He said, “You
never know when you may be an angel to someone in need. There may be a time
where it’s a life or death situation. Or it may be as simple as acting on a
prompting to express a kind word or short visit with someone struggling with
life. The world needs angels and our Heavenly Father fulfills His eternal
mission sometimes with immortal beings, but most often with mortal people like
those of us in this room.”
A similar quote reminds us that, “our prayers our
answered by angels. Seen and unseen, in the form of friends, family, and loved
ones who have passed on.”
As I continued my conversation with my dad, we
concluded that there have been angels, both seen and unseen, throughout my
whole life, and many of my angels are here in this room today!
Elder Jeffery R. Holland said, “My beloved brothers
and sisters, I testify of angels, both the heavenly and the mortal kind. In
doing so I am testifying that God never leaves us alone, never leaves us
unaided in the challenges that we face. “[N]or will he, so long as time shall
last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man [or woman or child]
upon the face thereof to be saved.” On occasions, global or personal, we may
feel we are distanced from God, shut out from heaven, lost, alone in dark and
dreary places. Often enough that distress can be of our own making, but even
then the Father of us all is watching and assisting. And always there are those
angels who come and go all around us, seen and unseen, known and unknown,
mortal and immortal.”
I hope I can be an angel to someone in need as I
serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Despite
the spiritual confirmation I had that night in the temple, and despite these
wonderful moments where I have been able to see God’s hand in my life, I still
have a lot to learn. Feelings of self-doubt still come from time to time, and
my emotions vary from excitement to nervousness.
I
have found that for me, the best way to eliminate these negative feelings, is
to return to the temple, OFTEN. I know this is a pattern that I want to follow
all my life. The temple is where I feel closest to my Heavenly Father and my Savior Jesus Christ. When I go I am reminded of His plan, and His mercy, and
His love for me and for all of His children. Some of the blessings promised to
those who attend the temple regularly are:
1. You will feel the spirit
often and see God’s hand in your life
2. You will feel peace
3. You will feel God’s power
4. You will learn words of
wisdom
5. You will have a clear mind
6. You will learn to draw upon
His priesthood power
7. The Lord will provide
miracles
8. You will be blessed in all
aspects of your life
I
love the temple. I know from experience that as we make temple attendance a
priority, we will see the powerful blessings in our lives.
Brothers
and sisters if it has been a while since you’ve been to the temple, I encourage
you to return and to go regularly. When you do, take note of the changes that
will happen in your life. One of the things promised to us is that we will be
blessed in ALL aspects of our life! Can any of us afford to walk away from that
opportunity?
The
Lord wants to bless us in all aspects of our lives. My sister Sarah shared with
me one of her favorite scripture stories from the Book of Ether in the Book of
Mormon. Chapter 6 describes the Jaredites journey across the sea towards the
Promised Land. Their barges were tossed and thrown through the waves. Verse 5
says, “The Lord God caused that their should be a furious wind blowing upon the
face of the waters, towards the Promised Land.” They faced many hardships and
challenges, but verse 8 says, “The wind did NEVER cease to blow towards the
Promised Land.” In other words, God was guiding them and pushing them towards
their destination. He does the same in our lives.
In
the most recent General Conference Elder Budge said, “As difficult as it is to
understand, especially at the times in our lives when the headwinds are strong,
and the seas are turbulent, we can take comfort in knowing that God is His
infinite goodness, is ALWAYS blowing us towards home.”
I find
comfort in knowing that Heavenly Father has been in my life all along. Although
I may have not always been the daughter he wants me to be, He has led me to
where I am today. I have seen His hand in the details of my life. He has placed
me in certain situations, surrounded me with certain people, and has given me countless
opportunities to grow closer to Him.
I
want to share my testimony that I KNOW:
He knows each one of us personally, He is
aware of us, He has never left our side, nor will He ever. His influence is
always pushing us towards home.
Book
of Mormon
Savior
Plan
of Happiness
Atonement
Restoration,
Joseph Smith
President
Nelson
The
gospel of Jesus Christ brings me so much peace and happiness, and because of
that I want to invite others to learn of Him and come unto Him.
I am
so humbled to know that I will be able to represent Christ as I go out and
serve the people of Australia.
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
