in England!

October 2012 marked an historic event for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Lord made a promise to the Prophet Joseph Smith saying "I will hasten my work in it's time" (D&C 88:73). Well that time has come! At the fall General Conference in 2012 President Thomas S. Monson announced that the age for missionaries to be eligible to serve would now be lowered; 18 for young men and 19 for young women. This inspired news could not have brought on a more enthusiastic push towards hastening the Lord's work.

 

I wish I could say that I knew right when the announcement was made that I was supposed to go and serve, but my answer didn't come that easily. It didn't even come as a simple whisper "yes" to my heart. No, it was more like a giant Texas-sized boot to kick me out the door and on my way to starting this journey.

 

I had felt a heavy weight drop on my shoulders after this announcement was made because I was 19 and could go asap! I had never really thought of the idea of a mission before and so I didn't really have an answer to those who asked me if I was going to go. My heart and mind said different things and well, it seemed like even they couldn't give a straight answer! And so I tentatively said I would go. I didn't truly understand what a powerful work this was nor what an incredible commitment it would be.

 

A few months passed and I started to doubt my choice; that maybe I wasn't supposed to serve. Maybe I only said yes because it seemed as though that was what I should do.I knew it wasn't a bad decision by any means at all, but possibly it wasn't what the Lord had in mind for me. And boy was I wrong to think that I knew what the Lord wanted me to do. And so I once again changed my mind and decided to forgo the mission and finish my schooling. I thought that was going to be my final answer.

 

Throughout this process I had prayed and prayed to know what to do, but I never felt a push in either direction. So I thought that had meant that it really didn't matter which direction I took. But for the first 6 months of the year 2013 I felt restless when it came to my decision to stay home. And that's when I began to really think about the decision to serve and what it would mean.

 

My younger sister, Alexa, was attending BYU in Provo and so for the 4 of July I traveled down to visit her. I attended her ward there on campus and well, it began almost like every other Sunday. I felt peaceful and was ready to feel the spirit and hear the messages that had been prepared.

 

Just as the opening hymn began to play I felt completely overwhelmed with emotion. I couldn't even think straight. I couldn't really think at all. At least not my own thoughts. There was just one thing on my mind and the feeling in my heart was so strong. The words came to mind "You are going to serve a mission" and they were said with such a power that there was no denying their divine origin.

 

And so, the Lord had answered my prayers and I began understanding the importance of this decision. It isn't about how a mission will fit into my life. It's about "how can I change my life to continually serve the Lord?" It isn't about "is serving a mission really for me?" It's about "how can I be an instrument in the Lord's hand to serve His children?" It isn't about "is this something that I'm interested in doing?" it's about asking "what more can I do to serve thee?"

 

You see, I was asking all of the wrong questions.

 

D&C 4:3 "Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work"

 

I am so blessed to have the knowledge that being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has given me. I wake up every day knowing that I have an eternal family and that I have a Heavenly Father and Savior who love me more than I could ever comprehend. I want to share what I know and my love and happiness with all who I come into contact with and I cannot wait to serve the people in Manchester England!

 

 

Love,

Maddie