thank you all for coming.
Let me tell you, the road to a mission is not an easy one. It’s full of
paperwork, doctor visits, shopping, and definitely ups and downs. I don’t
like to publicly admit that I’ve ever been wrong, but it does occasionally
happen: when I was younger, I was certain that there was no way on earth
that anybody could ever entice me to serve a mission. Well, look at me
now. All I can say is never say never.
I’ve been called to serve in the Argentina Cordoba mission. I’ve
been told that the people are friendly, it gets pretty hot and humid there,
and I’ll likely be eating a lot of beef. That sounds like a pretty good deal to
me!
I leave for the Provo MTC on Wednesday to learn Spanish as well as
learn more about how to actually teach the gospel. I got my call in April, so
it’s high time I get out of here and get to work, in my opinion.
So enough about that now I’d like to talk more about the gospel and
why it is so important to have faith in our Savior, Jesus Christ.
First, I’d like to discuss Faith. In the Bible, in the book of Hebrews,
chapter 11, verse one, it says “Now faith is the substance of things hoped2
for, the evidence of things not seen”. To me, that seemed a WORK little
hazy, but in the Book of Mormon, Alma 32:21 sheds further light on the
subject: “And now as I said concerning faithfaith is not to have a perfect
knowledge of things wherefore if ye have faith, ye hope for things which
are not seen which are true”. If we had a perfect knowledge of things we’re
required to have faith in for salvation, there wouldn’t be a point in having
faith.
Now I think that we can all agree that not one of us is perfect. We
make mistakes. It’s truly a part of life that we have to use our agency to
make a wrong decision; to mess up, and then learn from it and try to be
better. For me, this process can sometimes get discouraging. It
sometimes seems like I’d like myself so much better if I were just perfect
and never messed up or was wrong. This would, however, cheat me of the
opportunity to learn and grow from my experiences and keep me from
having the empathy and compassion towards other that is necessary for
growth.
We can all take comfort in the knowledge that Christ was perfect and
that he paid the price for all of our wrongs, all of our fears, doubts, pains3
and sadness. He was the only one who could suffer that we might not
suffer, and live again so that we can have the opportunity to live again.
Our Heavenly Father loves us each individually and so deeply that He
was willing to sacrifice His perfect son in our behalf, that He might pay the
debt of our sins and that we might return and live with our Father again for
all eternity if we believe in his name.
What it comes down to is thiswe need our Savior. To take care of
all of the things that make us feel wronged, for all of the things we feel
aren’t fair, for the hurtful words, the sorrows, the heartache, the frustration,
the anger, and of course our sins. We need help overcoming all of these
things, and there is hope in our Savior and faith on His name to help us
through them. In return, we have to be humble and obedient. We must act
on our faithfaith is something that leads one to action. If there isn’t an
action, there isn’t true faith. Take prayer for example: Prayer is a very
conscious decision to communicate with Heavenly Father, and it shows
that you have enough faith that He is there to talk to Him. When you pray,
you also show that you have enough faith to believe that He hears your
prayers and cares about you. I’m here to tell you that He does hear your
prayers, He loves each of you so very much, and He answers.4
Having faith is never easyThere must needs be opposition in all
things. However, having faith is rewarding and it leads to an even stronger
faith as you continue to do those actions that prove your faith.
One of my favorite stories of faith and missionary work happened a
long, long time ago: Once upon a time, Rhoda Kay was a very successful
dressmaker in England. She owned her own shop, which was unusual for
the time. One day she was blessed to meet the missionaries, and she
knew the truthfulness of the things she had heard. Rhoda’s family was very
against the church, however, she knew that it was something worth having
and something that would bless her life, so she was baptized and
consequently disowned by her family. They would no longer even talk to
her. That to me would be the ultimate sacrifice, and I would hope that I
could be so faithful. After her baptizm, Rhoda decided to move to Utah to
join the saints in Zion. She made it known to her family that she was
packing up her things and leaving on the next boat in the hopes that they
would come to see her off one last time and at least say goodbye. The
day of her departure came, and she waited anxiously to see a familiar
face. When it was obvious that no one had come to see her, and that she
had truly been forsaken by her family, she was so distraught, she fainted.5
Lo and behold, a young missionary on his way to Utah to rejoin his family
noticed her, and she fell right into his arms.
What a pleasant surprise to regain consciousness and look up at a
handsome and concerned young man. They made it back to Utah, and
their paths crossed again. They would eventually be married and become
my great, great grandparents.
Good things can happen if we’re faithful, and the Lord puts us in the
right place at the right time because he has a plan for each of us.
My grandfather is a convert to the church as well. He met the
missionaries when he was young and they taught his family. Of all of his
siblings, the message stuck with only a few, but he remained faithful. He
decided to go on a Service Mission for the church. He lived in Washington
at the time, and he was sent to work on the Mendon church house (that’s
the brown one in the center of town). As a missionary, and someone who
worked on the church, he was often invited to the bishop’s house for
dinner. During those dinners, he developed a little, or should I say a
massive crush on the bishop’s daughter Vicky. He was drafted into the
navy, and had other adventures, but he was eventually able to marry that
cute little lady, and they’ve lived happily ever after.6
Now it might sound like I’m expecting to find true love in Argentina...I
certainly wouldn’t complain :) Stranger things have happened. But really, I
am so thankful for all of those missionaries who set in motion all of these
events so that I could be where I am today.
In the Bible Dictionary, under the heading of Faith, it says that “faith is
kindled by hearing the testimony of those who have faith”. This statement
is supported by the Bible: Romans 10:1417 reads, “How then shall they
call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in
him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a
preacher? And how shall they preach except they be sent? as it is written,
how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace and
bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel.
For Esaias saith, Lord who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh
by hearing and hearing by the word of God”.
Each of us can stand up and bear our testimonies. It’s scary, believe
me. But even if it doesn’t do the person you are trying to tell any good for
whatever reason, it proves to yourself that you have faith. It can be your
action that proves your faith.7
As I go on my mission, it’ll be my job very specifically to testify of the
goodness of the Savior and bear testimony of the truthfulness of the
gospel. It’s a pretty huge calling, but I am so excited for the opportunity.
And now is the perfect time to leave you with my testimony:
I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints is the true
church of God, and that the Priesthood Authority to act in Christ’s name
and perform miracles has been restored to the Earth. I know that the Book
of Mormon is additional light and knowledge given to us for our benefit and
for us to learn more about Christ. I know this because I read the Book of
Mormon, and I took the promise of Moroni to heart. It reads in Moroni
10:45,
“And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye
would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things
are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having
faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the
Holy Ghost.
And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all
things.”8
I prayed, and I received my answer. I know that Joseph Smith was a
true prophet and he was able to translate this sacred book through the
power of the Holy Ghost and according to God’s will. I am so thankful for
the sacrifices he made and those sacrifices of the early Saints to leave
their families and travel far and wide to preach the gospel.
I have a huge testimony of Temples, and I am thankful for the
opportunity which we have to attend one that is so close to us; it has
become such a special part of my life. I testify that through the eternal
ordinances that take place there in the temple, Families can be together
Forever and I am so thankful for that blessing. I am thankful for the
strength and protection and hope that temples offer.
I know that Jesus Christ, my beloved Savior, suffered and died for
me, that I might live with my Father in Heaven again someday. President
Thomas S. Monson is our living prophet, and he leads and guides the
church according to revelation that he receives. I know that we are all
entitled to our own personal revelation, and it was through this blessing that
I was able to decide that I wanted to serve a mission and know that it was
the right thing for me to do.9
Our Heavenly Father has a plan for each of us and I know that he
puts us in the right place at the right time. He knows what we need to make
us happy. On the last day of July, I was having a pretty hard day. I was
feeling pretty depressed that I was going to have to leave, and I didn’t feel
very prepared, and I felt like I was about to enter an entirely foreign world
and I didn’t know I was going to do about it. I had an assignment from my
YSA ward to run a few of the birthday candy bars around to people.
Because I was having a hard day, I sort of dragged my feet a little bit, but I
knew that I needed to get it done, so Boston and I set out on an adventure
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