So. I think I have some explaining to do.
FIRST off. I'll explain the blog. This blog is for me, my
posterity... and if you feel so inclined-- you. :)
I want to keep blog entries of just my whole
mission experience now, up until I leave, and then my sister, Amber,
will post things while I'm gone.
My intention for writing in a blog is keep a record of all
the spiritual experiences I have, where I've been, the things I've
learned, and who the Lord has put in my path to teach. I want to remember
EVERYTHING. I sure hope you feel the spirit as you read.
While I'm at the beginning I want to share how I came to
the decision to serve :) Its super personal-- as is most things that
I'll probably write about.
*sooo. I use a lot of smiley faces... you'll get
over it :)*
*also. I can't spell to save my life-- its the hair ;)*
okay. So lets take it back to April of my senior year. I am
sitting, with no makeup and my hair like crap, in seminary at 5:45. in the
morning. We were talking about the upcoming April conference and my teacher
challenged us to have something we wanted answered in conference, and to pray
about that. I thought it was genius, I had done it in the past and knew
whole heartedly it worked. So fast forward to October (2012). I was
thinking hard about what I wanted to gain from conference, and I couldnt think
of ANYTHING for the longest time. So... I chose a small principle that I wanted
to work on and asked to get further understanding on it, since I didn't have
life changing question. yet.
So let me just paint the picture of
Saturday conference.
This conference we didn't turn on the TV and watch
conference as a family, which wasn't all THAT weird because we haven't done
that for the last few conferences. So we all take
an iPod iPhone iPad TV computer...
or whatever, and watched it alone. Which is nice anyway... cuz then you can pee
whenever you need to ;) So this conference I got my phone while I was laying in
bed and I went to the Mormon Channel App on my phone and started listening. It
was the first session, and President Monson started off the meeting. This is
the talk he gave. I'm sure most of you are aware :) haha
_________________________________________________________________
BY PRESIDENT THOMAS S. MONSON
As far as I can see, every seat is filled—except for a few
right there in the back. There is room for improvement. This is a
courtesy to those who might be just a bit tardy, because of the traffic, to
find a seat when they come. This is a great day—conference day. We have heard a
beautiful choir sing magnificent music. Every time I hear the choir or hear the
organ or hear the piano, I think of my mother, who said, “I love all the
acclaim that has been given you, all the degrees you have obtained, and all the
work you have done. My only regret is that you did not stay with the piano.”
Thanks, Mother. I wish I had.
How good it is, my brothers and sisters, to welcome you to
the 182nd Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints.
Since we met six months ago, three new temples have been
dedicated, and one temple has been rededicated. In May, it was my privilege to
dedicate the beautiful Kansas City Missouri Temple and to attend the cultural
celebration associated with it. I will mention that celebration in greater
detail in my remarks tomorrow morning.
In June, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf dedicated the
long-awaited temple in Manaus, Brazil, and in early September, President
Henry B. Eyring rededicated the newly refurbished temple in Buenos Aires,
Argentina, a temple which I had the privilege to dedicate nearly 27 years ago.
Just two weeks ago, President Boyd K. Packer dedicated the lovely Brigham
City Temple in the hometown where he was born and raised.
As I have indicated previously, no Church-built facility is
more important than a temple, and we are pleased to have 139 temples in
operation throughout the world, with 27 more announced or under construction.
We are grateful for these sacred edifices and the blessings they bring into our
lives.
This morning I am pleased to announce two additional
temples, which in coming months and years will be built in the following
locations: Tucson, Arizona, and Arequipa, Peru. Details concerning these
temples will be provided in the future as necessary permits and approvals are
obtained.
Brothers and sisters, I now turn to another matter—namely,
missionary service.
For some time the First Presidency and the Quorum of the
Twelve Apostles have allowed young men from certain countries to serve at the
age of 18 when they are worthy, able, have graduated from high school, and have
expressed a sincere desire to serve. This has been a country-specific policy
and has allowed thousands of young men to serve honorable missions and also
fulfill required military obligations and educational opportunities.
Our experience with these 18-year-old missionaries has been
positive. Their mission presidents report that they are obedient, faithful,
mature, and serve just as competently as do the older missionaries who serve in
the same missions. Their faithfulness, obedience, and maturity have caused us
to desire the same option of earlier missionary service for all young
men, regardless of the country from which they come.
I am pleased to announce that effective immediately all
worthy and able young men who have graduated from high school or its
equivalent, regardless of where they live, will have the option of being
recommended for missionary service beginning at the age of 18, instead of age
19. I am not suggesting that all young men will—or should—serve at this earlier
age. Rather, based on individual circumstances as well as upon a determination
by priesthood leaders, this option is now available.
As we have prayerfully pondered the age at which young men
may begin their missionary service, we have also given consideration to the age
at which a young woman might serve. Today I am pleased to announce that able,
worthy young women who have the desire to serve may be recommended for
missionary service beginning at age 19, instead of age 21.
We affirm that missionary work is a priesthood duty—and we
encourage all young men who are worthy and who are physically able and mentally
capable to respond to the call to serve. Many young women also serve, but they
are not under the same mandate to serve as are the young men. We assure the
young sisters of the Church, however, that they make a valuable contribution as
missionaries, and we welcome their service.
We continue to need many more senior couples. As your
circumstances allow, as you are eligible for retirement, and as your health
permits, I encourage you to make yourselves available for full-time missionary
service. Both husband and wife will have a greater joy as they together serve
our Father’s children.
Now, my brothers and sisters, may we listen attentively to
the messages which will be presented during the next two days, that we may feel
the Spirit of the Lord and gain the knowledge He would desire for us. That this
may be our experience I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Official Web site of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints
© 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All Rights Reserved
_________________________________________________________________
This HUGE news for the Church. Boys used to be able to go on
missions at 19, now it is 18.
Girls used to be able to go at 21, now it is
NINETEEEEN!
:) now to proceed with my story. i was laying in my bed listening and the prophet says that the age of male missionaries is now 18 and i start BAWWWWLING! then a few seconds later he starts talking about female missionaries, and before he mentions an age change i could feel it
coming. and i started bawling even harder. like. so
hard you would have thought my mom just died. i could barely breathe. so i
finished the talk and downstairs to see if my dad hear of
the good news, and he started listening too late and missed the first
talk, but never rewinded. but while i was telling my dad about
the announcement i could barely talk i was crying so hard.
i felt the spirit so strong.
So for the next like 8 talks i could barely focus. I started
thinking about how this would change my life forever! i started thinking about
what i would do about school, money, boys, marriage...My mind was ALLLLL over
the place all day long. I really just couldnt focus to the rest of that days
conference. but let me reassure you, i NOW had something life changing to pray
about... haha! the whole weekend of conference i talked to my mom about
the pros of cons of going, or not going, and what to do with school and the whole
bit. and my dad told me that he would pay for half of my mission if i decided
to go. both were supportive of my decision, whatever i would decide.
I was really really stressed with the education thing, and extremely stressed
with how it would affect my dating life. But the more I prayed about
it the more i felt confident about going. the weirdest thing was without my
conscious knowledge i started talking about a mission with words like
"when i go" "when i get back" and things like that.
The next, and final determining factor was when i was invited to
a special mission prep. they held a special mission
prep specifically
for people in my age group. and they had my bishop talk
about the logistics of the paperwork and such. and while i was there
i felt the spirit so strongly. The class was nothing other then "click
here on this website to learn about this, and this how they decide where you
are going..." nothing about the fireside was trying to convince
anyone to go, it was just logistics, but I felt the biggest "at
ease" feeling i have ever felt and I just started crying... i went up
to my bishop right after the meeting and told him, with tears
streaming down my face "im going on a mission" and he gave
me a huge hug, and told me the steps to starting my papers. so that night, at
9pm i set up an appointment to meet with him the next sunday.
Though there are many different things, like I mentioned
before... boys, education, employment that will be left behind, I know
without a doubt that if I go with the right attitude I will be an instrument in
the Lord's hands. The Lord has since helped each of those situations work out
the ways that they need to, so that I can do what I am suppose to.
I have been blessed with being able to not have to reapply
to BYUI, I have been blessed with people that have been able to give me short
term employment in order to save up. There are countless upon countless
tender mercies that have happened to allow me to go. I have no other desire at
this point. Waiting 17.5 weeks from the time that I got my call til I leave has
been hard for me. It is teaching me a lot of patience, and allowing me to
prepare myself that much more. I have always had a desire to serve others, and
share the gospel. I am not ashamed of what I believe and there is a huge part
of me that wishes it was socially acceptable to stand on a roof top and teach
what I know to be true. :)
Sometimes I sincerely wonder why the Lord blesses me as much
as he has. I cant't wait to turn around and share the wealth of knowledge that
I will continue to gain over the next 18 months. Some people have big birthdays
when they turn 16, or 18-- but mine is 19. I want more than anything to teach
people that don't know there is a man, their Father, who loves them more than
anything. I want to tell them that there is sacred Book called the Book of
Mormon that is ANOTHER testament of the Savior on this earth. Our Heavenly
Father wants nothing more for us than to be happy. I can't wait to tell people
that.
