These past 2 weeks have been an amazing journey for sure. I have come to a decision that has taken a lot of prayer, fasting, and support. My decision was to serve a mission. I'm an a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and I have such a strong testimony that this gospel I'm a part of is the true gospel and that it only can lead to happiness. I was baptized when I was 8, and had my younger siblings sealed to my family & I when I was 12. I've grown up in this religion all my life, and I am so beyond happy with this religion.
In October 2012 President Thomas S. Monson made an announcement that all worthy 18 year old boys and 19 girls would have the opportunity of serving a mission for our church. It used to be 19 year old boys and 21 one year old girls! When I heard this announcement I was so mad. This meant everyone was going to be leaving and that people were going to expect ME to serve a mission. I made it known to a lot of people that I would NOT be going and had NO intentions of going. I know what you're thinking, but just keep reading.
Winter semester of my senior year of high school rolled around and all my friends were getting their mission calls. I informed everyone that I would not be going and that I would be here when they got back from their missions. All these girls in my grade were talking about how they were so excited to go on missions and they couldn't wait to work hard and wake up early and work work work. I didn't understand the hype.
Graduation from high school then came, and I was leaving on a 15 day road trip across the United States with 80 seniors my age. It was a church/American history tour called Origination. On this trip about 90% of the boys had mission calls, and a couple girls had received theirs too. I realized while sitting on this bus that all my friends were going to be leaving in the next month or 2. I asked myself, "should I start praying if I should go?" I starting praying and soon after got my answer. We got to the first testimony meeting of the trip and I got up to share. I immediately knew from that moment that I needed to go. It wasn't anything I said that made me go, it was how I felt sharing what I believe with everyone else. The feeling was so overwhelming.
As we kept going on this trip I had confirmation after confirmation saying I should go. We stopped at an amusement park on the way there called "Cedar Point". I went on one of the roller coasters at the end of this visit and ended up hurting my ear super bad. The next day when we were in Washington DC I was in immense pain when I woke up that morning. I was talking to my friend at breakfast and asking her what I should do. She insisted I get a blessing, and that it wouldn't hurt to get one. I was being stubborn, but then proceeded to ask Austin Hammond for a blessing. During the blessing I started crying, not because of the pain I was in, but because I got to see 3 young men use their priesthood authority to help me. All 3 young men had their mission calls and were already serving. I knew that this church was undeniably true.
At the end of the trip we stopped at the Sacred Grove. The place where Joseph Smith had the first vision where Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father told him to not join any of the churches but to restore the gospel. I had 3 chapters left in the Book of Mormon when I got to this grove. I finished the Book of Mormon while sitting on a bench in the middle of the grove while rain fell. I was expecting an answer so strong just to hit me. It didn't. The only thing I felt was calmness. That was all I needed. I then proceeded to get back on the bus, and I told my friend, "I'm going on a mission".
Fast forward to college and now, I went to submit my papers last Tuesday. But instead of everything going perfectly the Stake President informed me that I had some medical work that had not been reviewed. He said this could take up to 9 weeks for it to be all done. I was crying and felt so sad that I wouldn't be getting my call any time soon. The next morning I woke up to see I had a text from the Stake President. He said my medical forms were clear and that I could submit my papers on Tuesday!
I am so excited to get my call and to see where I'll be serving. I know wherever I go is where the Lord wants me to go, and where I need to go. I'm so excited to preach to the people and to share MY testimony of this gospel. I can't wait for those hard days out in the field and those trying moments with my companion. I'm so excited to learn and edify my learning of the Book of Mormon. I know this church is true because I wouldn't be leaving friends, sodalicious, and boys if it wasn't. To learn more about what I believe, visit lds.org .
