Ciao!
I'm glad I am not the only one who is really busy. This week has blended together; nothing spectacular has happened this week. We did the usual go to class learn the language and teach “investigators” in the language.
We have three investigators, Giosue just had the Restoration lesson again to repair the damage of the first lesson. It went really well. I think that he is gaining a testimony in the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. Next week we are teaching the Plan of Salvation and will ask him to be baptized when he knows these things are true.
Our second investigator is Susana, She has also had the Restoration lesson and it went well and we will be inviting her to be baptized next lesson after Plan of Salvation as well.
Our last investigator is Angela. She is my favorite investigator so far. She is such a golden investigator, however our last lesson did not go great in my eyes. We planned to teach her about the Atonement and the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and when we asked her if she had read 2 Nephi 31, she told us she had. So I asked her if she had any questions and she told us something we weren't expecting. She told us that she has had 3 children and one of them has passed away. After she told us that I knew that she needed to hear about the Plan of Salvation. She proceeded to ask if we do infant baptism and Anziano Berg had her read in the Book of Mormon: Moroni 8, about infant baptism. 10. Behold I say unto you that this thing shall ye teach – repentance and baptism unto those who are accountable and capable of committing sin; yea teach parents that they must repent and be baptized, and humble themselves as little children, and that they shall all be saved with their little children. 11. And their little children need no repentance, neither baptism. Behold baptism is unto repentance to the fulfilling the commandments unto the remission of sins. 12. But little children are alive in Christ, even from the foundation of the world; if not so, God is a partial God, and also a changeable God, and a respecter of persons; for how many little children have died without baptism. 13. Wherefore, if little children could not be saved without baptism, then these must have gone to an endless hell. 19. Little children cannot repent; wherefore, it is awful wickedness to deny the pure mercies of God unto them, for they are alive in him because of his mercy. 20. And he that saith little children need baptism denieth the mercies of Christ and setteth at naught the atonement of him and the power of his redemption. But after she had read the verses, he continued with the lesson. I cut him off mid-sentence because we were not addressing her need. So, I did the only thing I could think of doing, which was to tell her that the next time we return we will teach her how she can be with her child again. She said that would be great and we proceeded with the lesson on baptism. It was a great lesson but it was a “fail” at addressing the needs of our investigators. It felt to me, kind of like a Kinder Egg Surprise only the egg was empty. There was no 'Surprise!' or gift of knowledge that helped her come closer to Christ; it was just a lesson. We will be teaching her about the Plan of Salvation next week and I am really looking forward to it. She has agreed to get baptized when she knows these things are true. Just to clarify, our investigators are our teachers; they act as investigators that they had taught while on their missions.
I talked with Sorella Urban, our teacher who is Angela, about the lesson and I told her how I thought it went and what I thought we did wrong and how I thought it should have gone and she agreed with me. I told her that I felt like we didn't teach her, but we just taught a standard lesson to a person. That does not work- each person is unique and, so too, are the lessons. You can have the same principles taught in a lesson, but expressed a different way to meet the needs of the investigators. I told her that I felt it was a great lesson but we didn't address Angela's concern enough. Sorella Urban thanked me for telling her that we would teach her the Plan of Salvation next time during the lesson. She said it was good because it showed I cared. I was really concerned during the lesson, because if I had have been the investigator I would have felt hurt. I had just told two people who I don't know really well that I lost a child and they act like 'Oh thats too bad; so this is Baptism'. But I did as much as I could to connect baptism to her child. I told her it is through faith in Jesus Christ and His atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end, that we can live with God and that she can live with her child again.
Even though that experience wasn't fun, I am thankful because it made me realize that it's not just some person, this person has concerns and needs and it is our job to find them and administer like the Savior would. I like teaching Angela for some reason I just connect with her a lot and can't wait to teach her again - to show her the love that Jesus has to offer.
Io so che il vangelo di Gesù Cristo è speranza eterna. Io so che Joesph Smith era un profetà di Dio e che Joseph Smith ha avuto la potere di Dio. Anche, grazie l'Espiazione di Gesù Cristo possiamo tornare a Dio e possiamo avere famiglia eterna. Io so che le persone in Italia dove il vangelo di Dio e voule famiglia eterna. Io so che Gesù Cristo vive e Dio ci ama. Io so che Dio si ama il persone in Italia.
I saw Sister Orth 10 days ago but haven't seen her since. Also I saw Sister Felhauer last Wednesday. I made the Canadian flag out of gummy fish on an Elders bed because we have a friendly feud about Canada. So I left him a gift on his bed, ha-ha. We did Matrix pictures last P-Day and they turned out well. That’s about all that really happened this week.
Oh and John 8:12 (Then spake Jesus again unto them saying, I am the light of the world:he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.) is what I would like on the plaque also if he can (Tutti persone possono ascotare il vangelo di Gesù Cristo!) I look forward to finding out more about what has been going on next week.
Sincerely Anziano Luening
Dear Dad,
Ciao, Sto bene. La MTC is loco. Io so che non parla Italiano. Pero io parlo Italiano, Anziano Russel M Nelson viene la MTC, it was cool. I will be kind and speak in English now.
I didn't have to have my ear operated on, but I have another appointment. Now my middle finger on my left hand feels like the tendon or nerve is stretching when I go to pick something up or put pressure on it. I had it checked out, and was just told me to take Ibuprofine. I was like, wow! Now my left leg above the ankle is really sore; when I touch it feels like the bone is bruised. I also became really sick on Sunday. I had a fever, cold, congested nose, sore throat, cough, headache and I was super tired because I couldn't fall asleep. I received a blessing, and now I just have a cold.
I had a really terrible lesson with an investigator yesterday. It made me super depressed, but we joined the choir and sang and it cheered me up a lot. We sang “Come Thou Fount of Many Blessings”, It was "sick", and like I said before Elder Nelson came and gave a talk. It was good, but I connected with his wife's talk more. Anyway, I will send more to Mom.
Dear Mom and Dad,
It has been going well. the past two weeks have been up and down like crazy. Sorella B. went home because of health issues, but she is planning on coming back out, so we are really hopeful that she will. I believe she will. Our district was pretty crushed when we found out about it, but we have recovered a bit.
Italian was going pretty well, but then I had a terrible lesson in Italian yesterday and it destroyed my happiness. I was really depressed and the Sorelle asked the Anziani to join the choir so we did and boy it lifted my spirit so much. It was so much fun.
Elder Russel M. Nelson came and he gave a good talk, but his wife’s stuck out to me a lot. She talked about how there are people on the other side of the veil praying for us to find their posterity so that they can do the temple work for them, and that all we need to do is pray for guidance. It was strong! The Spirit hit me so hard and testified to me that it was true that not only deceased members but also the spirits in the pre-mortal existence are praying for our success so that they will be able to enjoy the blessings of the Church.
Other than that, the week hasn't been that exciting, except I am killing it at four Square. I am becoming very good! The ball hit my square and I had to run to reach the ball before it bounced again and I did spin where I hit the ball and got someone else out! It was sick! It is basically, Italians, Romanians and a few other missionaries that play four Square. Our sisters are starting become good at four square too. Sorella W. said she is kind of afraid of how into the game I am. I was banned from four square one day because I accidentally dove for the ball twice. No diving is allowed, so a gym worker told me that I couldn't play for the rest of the day. I saw it coming. But I am learning not to dive.
Sorella J. received a blessing today. She has been sick on and off for two weeks now and she might have to have blood work done.
I became really sick on Sunday and need to be restocked on some of the mrdications and a few other items. I need sore throat/cough drops; those really good Equate cold medicine night and day; some sinus/congestion medicine would be good, and I need some razor blades, I have one left they are Schick 5 hydro blades. I think that is about it. And my notebook that you need to find is white with a bunch of letters on it and the word notebook in different colour letters.
I was sharing my medicine with another Elder who has been suffering with an aggressive cold for a week. Then he got me sick! I ended u[p with it worse than he did, but mine became much better after I receiced a blessing. I had a headache, cold, congested nose, sore throat, cough, and I had a massive fever/chills so I was walking in 24 degree weather with the outer lining of my winter jacket on. It sucked but luckily I became sick on Sunday, so I napped for 3 hours because I only had 2 hours of sleep that night. I am doing much better now.
We have 3 new 'investigators' Fratello C. is Gesues, Sorella F. was Patrizia but Patrizia is being baptised so she is now Susana. Sorella U. is now Angela. It is crazy.
It is crazy busy and I don't get much sleep. I am 157 pounds with my suit on and I have no clue how that happened! I run like crazy and I don't eat too much. So I need to start working out more so it just turns to muscle. The dress socks you got me indent my leg it looks so weird.
Anyway, I am thinking of you all. The district keeps me from being homesick, since they are pretty much family now. We talk about everything with each other. It has been pretty awesome. Oh, before I forget, if you can also send like 2 pairs of P-Day socks that would be awesome - preferably non-ankle socks, and also I need like 3-4 more of those shoe refreshener’s. I’m all out!
Anyway thanks for the emails and I love you .
Love Anziano Luening
1:50 PM Hey Dad, Man, it has been crazy busy! This week has been sick! The flight wasn't too bad, but the airport busted one of the zippers off of the front pouch of my big luggage. The main compartment is still intact. The Spirit is so strong here, it is awesome. We watched “Characters of Christ” by Elder Bednar! You should watch it - just search in Google “BYU Speakers” and look for it. The MTC is crazy busy. We have like no free time. 11.5 hours are for lessons/study; 2 hours is for eating and 1 hour for exercise; .5 hours planning for tomorrow; 1 hour for companion study, so for the 16 hours a day we are always busy. Wednesdays are P-days. I LOVE my district they are so awesome. We gave a Sorella in our district a blessing of Comfort on Saturday. Love, Anziano Luening
2:31 PM
Hi Mom,
So, my first week has been crazy. I need an SOS package. I think I forgot my notebook with addresses in it in the car. I forgot my camera cord that plugs in my wall. I don't have service pants, the work jeans.
My schedule has been a mess so far. I had a gym period at 6:00AM when it was supposed to be personal gym time (meaning no gym was open). We had a service project on a P-Day which goes against the white handbook. I keep on waking up around 4:30 or 5:00 AM, then falling back to sleep at 6:00 AM for a half hour. It sucks!
The MTC is awesome - my Branch President and his wife are another mom and dad, pretty much. They are so awesome! My companion is Anziano Berg, He is awesome. We are so similar. He is from Red Deer, Alberta. What are the chances my companion would be Canadian! We have quite a bit in common. He is a sick juggler.
Italian is Crazy!!! They just throw you into the language and you learn to swim on your own. The teacher, Fratello Cena (Fretello is Brother) speaks Italian 99% of the time and it was very difficult to understand him. He is from Italy. Anziano Roe is District Leader and Anziano Stewart is his companion. We have, like, no free time, so it was weird when P-Day came because then we felt like slothful servants of the Lord. I haven't got homesick yet. We gave a Sorella a blessing of Comfort because she got a serious case of homesickness.
I LOVE my district - they are awesome! Sorella Walch, Jarvis, Bott, Killpack and Carter are awesome. There are 5 branches of Italian missionaries in our district (including ours) and 2 Romanian Branches.
I will be sending home some gifts I would like you to engrave for people. And I sent you a card today. The mail gets checked every day here so don't forget you can use “Dear Elder” anytime you want – hint, hint, nudge, nudge. Ha-ha, anyways, my ITA-MIL code got changed to 0611. We leave a day early; how awesome is that!
My leg has an indent in it from the socks - it looks so weird. I had to buy some antibiotics because I have a cyst in my earlobe, so on Monday they are putting freezing in my ear and removing the cyst. I will have a stitch or two in my ear for a day or two. Anyways, I am trying to keep up here in the MTC and I am trying to write in my journal.
So on the second day we got an 'investigator' (She is a teacher in the MTC) She only communicates in Italian to us and she doesn't 'understand' English. It has been difficult to teach her but I had some cool spiritual experiences. Our first lesson we taught her about what the Spirit feels like (Galatians 5:9?) and that it testifies of truth, and that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. Our second lesson was on something I can't remember. For our third lesson we had planned to teach about prophets because we were gearing up for the Book of Mormon. But, then she asked what the Plan of Salvation that is mentioned in the Introduction of the Book Of Mormon was, so we scrapped our notes and I free-styled it in broken Italian. I just told her "il piano di selvezza was riguardo eterno Famiglia e Gesu Cristo soffrenza per mia peccatti, Anziano Berg's peccati and lei peccati. Perche Gesu Cristo ame il tutte persone di terra.” I apologized because I was having A "Dificile tiempo" haha and that we would teach her more tomorrow. So we taught a great lesson about the atonement and we are getting her more involved in the lessons. Yesterday we taught the whole restoration in 20 minutes and it was awesome. Tomorrow is the last day to teach her, so we are teaching her about Baptism and Priesthood Authority and inviting her to be baptized (She is posing as a Catholic from Ecuador.) If I don't know the Italian word, I say it in Spanish and she looks at me blankly. Then I say after the lesson that when we are gone she should understand Spanish, ha-ha!
Try to find the talk titled, “Character of Christ” by Elder Bednar. It will be on the BYU Devotional Speaker website, find it watch it and tag it to my blog if you want. It has changed my life and perspective about everything, especially my mission!
Anyways, “peace out” - I am almost out of time. Miss you guys. Keep on having fun.
Love, Anziano Luening
4:50 PM
Hello!
Doing laundry right now! I am on a computer with no time limit, but I will be quick. I get an hour every Wednesday to e-mail.
Anyways, I miss you guys and love you! Ha-ha, sorry for the terrible good-bye, Mom, but I was ready to go.
You guys should send me a letter every day on “Dear Elder” just so when the Sorelle get mail I do too! J Anyways, hope you guys are doing well, and weren't freaking out about not getting e-mails on Monday.
Love, Anziano Luening
Man today has been pretty sick. I've been just chilling with the other Elders and waiting for the internet to work. It was really funny, the other two Elder's were waiting forever for their internet and mine worked before theirs. They had to wait five minutes longer than me. Mom you can't visit me on my mission before I'm even gone to the MTC! Any ways, P-day is going to be sick today, we are playing basketball with Nelson Missionaries and it should be fun. Miss you guys like crazy. Ha-Ha =)
Hello Brothers and Sisters. For my farewell talk I am going to be talking about the decision to serve a mission and the spirit that comes with it. This decision to serve a mission was a difficult one to make, not because I didn’t want to serve a mission but because of the influences of life. This decision though hard can be easier when the decision is made in your youth.
Young men, and women if you make the decision to serve a mission now it is going to be hard, BUT then when the time draws nearer to start your mission papers and submit them. And then doubts start going through your head like I don’t think I know enough or I’m not sure if this is for me. THINK BACK TO THE TIME WHEN YOU MADE THIS DECISION AND THOSE DOUBTS WILL LEAVE.
I speak from personal experience. I made the decision to serve a mission when I was fourteen. I went out on splits with the missionaries and Colten all the time. When I was fourteen nobody listened to us, and I got to see just how hard it was going to be. But the Elder who was with me, Elder Sowchuck always told me do not be discouraged when they refuse, because you will find the person who needs this message. Last July I was thinking a lot about my mission and whether I should serve or not and why I even wanted to serve a mission, and one day near the end of July my answer came to me, I should serve a mission, I wanted to serve a mission but not because that’s what my parents wanted or because it is a priesthood duty, but because I love the Lord and people need what I have to say. They need to know that the Lord loves them and that they can be with their loved ones for eternity. There were many more reasons flooding to me of why I wanted to serve a mission.
The desire to serve a mission is a wonderful feeling and I will share a couple that I have had. When I got my answer to why I should serve, as the reasons were flooding to me I was overcome with this burning desire and the motivation that I needed to carry me through to do it. Another time was General Conference, President Monsons now famous announcement of the missionary age changes. Not many of you now that I wasn’t there. I wasn’t able to attend that session of general conference, BUT the Lord always sends a messenger and this messenger came in the form of Cody Sloot. Cody came to Tim Hortons to tell me that the mission age had been lowered and when he told me the news I wanted to just shake his hand, leap over the counter and shout praise and I almost did haha but a coworker told me to get to work. But once more this overwhelming burning desire to spread the gospel was being testified to me by the Holy Ghost. I felt like I had the power of Heavenly Father with me. The most important time I had this feeling was when my call came, now some of you know that I HAD BEEN DILIGENTLY CHECKING THAT MAILBOX FOR 2 OR 3 WEEKS EVERYDAY and not just once a day three or four times every day, and you know what happened! haha my mom got to it before I did, I got home checked the mailbox of course and went inside disappointed and there it was on the TABLE, I was so excited. My call had finally arrived, but then came the dreaded line ‘we have to wait until tonight to open it so that everyone can be there and listen to it’.
After what seemed like forever, the time came. When you put your papers in don’t be thinking I don’t want to go to this place or I hate this food, weather, and so on, because now the secret is revealed, heavenly father sometimes will send you to that place, because it will be hard and it will teach you humility. So just keep thinking I will go where the Lord wants me to go and when you read that place you feel what I felt.
As I was reading my call the spirit inside me was burning stronger and stronger until finally I said where I was going and the desire to serve was just too much and I wanted to be set apart the next day enter the MTC and begin my mission. There was just one problem. Heavenly Father felt like testing my patience, or lack of it because I don’t enter the MTC until May 01, I had received my call around January fourth.
But I would try and work a way around that. I had created a brilliant fail proof plan the next day haha. My plan was simple, I would write a letter to Mission Headquarters, The MTC, Milan Mission Headquarters and the stake president all requesting that I was needed right away and that I was able, willing, and ready to serve. Also I called the bishop to request that he notify the stake president, I was going to call the stake president also to make sure that he got notified that I wanted to be requested earlier and I PHONED, actually phoned the Salt Lake Mission Headquarters and told them that I wanted to serve now, they told me talk to your stake president. Now these letters never got written but I almost wrote them. However, when I spoke to Bishop Redekop and explained my plan and its purpose and goal he was very kind and proceeded to thwart my fail proof plan in one question. What if you got sent somewhere else? I said ‘That wouldn’t happen (Sounding all confident) Would it (worried)’ and then I digested that in my mind and Bishop Redekop simply replied ‘I don’t know it might, do you really want to risk it.’ And so I learned a valuable lesson that night that I am sure I will always remember. The Lord knows best and he knows when, where and why you are needed at a place at a certain time and had I tampered with that It would have an effect on me, and the prospective person looking for the gospel. I know that I am meant to be in the Italian Milan Mission and that my entrance is planned for a reason on May 01.
Every decision you make has a consequence good or bad, being the youngest I got to see and make lots of decisions with good or bad consequences. But the best decision I ever made was to serve as a missionary for two years and I look at the changes that happened in my brother Christopher and I can’t wait to be like that. If you get a desire to serve a mission, hold onto that desire and pray about it then if the answer comes in any way that you should serve, then commit to it or the thought will leave and become difficult to make.
While I was preparing my talk I typed into the search engine lds decision to serve a mission. I figured Heavenly Father would help me and to my delight I found a talk titled ‘Missions, Only You Can Decide’ the talk is given by Devin Durant in the April 1984 General Conference he said some really good things but this is what I will share quote “Many of the obstacles we face are those within our own minds. For just a minute I want to talk directly to you—just you. You who might say, ‘I have this girlfriend’; or, ‘I’ve got a good job and a car’; or, ‘I’ve never been good at schoolwork, and I know I could never memorize scriptures and all those discussions’; or, ‘I can’t talk to people who I don’t even know’; or, ‘I couldn’t be obedient to all the rules missionaries follow’; or, ‘I don’t really know the Church is true, so how could I tell others about it?’ To those who have such thoughts and feelings: if you don’t now have a testimony, you can gain one on a mission. Your girlfriend will be all right. You can learn the scriptures and discussions well enough to be effective. You’ll have the courage you need to talk to strangers. You can be obedient. You can do it.” End quote.
I am going to share some things which might help you feel that desire to serve, and if you feel the desire pray about it and think about this true story I am about to share. A 19year old didn’t know whether or not he wanted to serve a mission but one night changed his life forever, he had a vision of the past from heavenly father. He was in the preexistence and he was rejoicing because he was being born into a family who was active in the church, in his excitement he noticed one of his best friends who was sad and upset, he turned to him and asked ‘whats wrong’ his friend replied I will not be born into the church, but am going to be brought up outside of it, promise me you will find me, promise me you will do all you can to bring me back to heavenly father.’ With much sorrow he promised he would and they went through the veil. That man served a mission because of that and near the end of his mission found his friend. Brothers and Sisters, Young men and young women that story helped me with my desire to serve because though I have not had a vision, what if I made that promise and chose not to serve. Who would I be letting down, and who’s salvation was I responsible for. What friend is being prepared for me to find them. Our friends are counting on us. We may not know them but god knows them and he loves them and we used to love them. The joy that I get out of this gospel is too much for just me and I must give it to others. I promise you that if you make the decision you will be strengthened by the spirit in your life, at the time I thought those experiences unique but nothing worth sharing, but the lord knows that someone needs to hear them and feel them. He prepares us throughout our lives for this purpose I feel I need to warn you as well. Beware of Satan and his followers, when you make that decision he will try everything to mess it up. Hold true to the church and read your scriptures, I know that it is repeated all the time but I never knew how hard Satan would try to end those plans any way he could but he tries. So prepare now and make the decision so you can build your faith and testimony that when Satan comes and tries you that you may stand victorious and not regret decisions. I know that if I had not made the decision or had the experiences I mentioned It would be less likely I would be standing here today. I know that serving this mission will make me change in the areas heavenly father wants me to change in order to be the best missionary possible.
Life gets difficult all the time, and its not just going to stop because you aren’t going on a mission. Now is the time to prepare, so prepare the best you can so that you can stand as a proud and loving son or daughter of god and say to the people you teach, I know this church is true and explain how you know. Become familiar with the spirit always listen to music that is uplifting and lets the spirit grow. Avoid movies with swearing and inappropriate matter whatever it might be. Keep the commandments, and be diligent in being temple worthy so that the spirit can make you grow. Always remember that your Heavenly Father loves you and that he has a personal plan of happiness for each of us.
In first Nephi when Lehi tells his sons that they need to retrieve the brass plates from Laban, the two eldest brothers murmur, Laman and Lemuel complain and Nephi says I will go and I will do the things the Lord commands and he goes on to say that he knows that the lord doesn’t give impossible commandments, that he always provides a way. Just as Nephi of old we too can trust in the Lord, as you make the decision to serve now he will strengthen you and give you the tools to strengthen you. You just need to learn to pick them up and use them. Some of these tools are the scriptures as I already mentioned and the Preach My Gospel, seminary, General Conference talks, and the missionaries can be useful in preparation. Young men go on splits with the missionaries, or go to lessons with them. The spirit you bring will make a difference and you will see how the Lord will bless you in time.
The spirit you can feel from missionary work is a marvelous thing. If you want to feel that feeling then go out with the missionaries, you will find a significant difference in the quality of happiness that you feel if you do. The Joy this gospel brings is enough for the whole world and the world deserves it, and it is our job to give it to them. The decision to serve will be one of the best things you ever decided to do because you will know that what you are doing is making a difference to people and to Heavenly Father and when you are asked how did you show love to others you will be able to say I gave them the best thing I had to offer, Eternal happiness and joy. The decision to serve doesn’t just effect you but it effects the investigators you would have met, and their children. If you have something holding you back, whatever it might be, whether it be a feeling of inadequacy or physical limitations, or sin. If you have the desire to serve, set your mind to it and do it. Pray for strength or forgiveness or healing, fast with a purpose to be able to serve, get a priesthood blessing if necessary. The Lord wants you to serve, so if you have the desire to serve but require a blessing ask a Melchezidek priesthood holder and if it is the Lords will you will be healed.
The temple will help you to understand of why you want to serve a mission, because the feeling you get when you do baptisms for the dead is the same feeling you can have with you as you serve the Lord by baptizing his sons and daughters who are living. It is important that you learn to recognize the spirit if you don’t already. For when the spirit prompts you to do something it is important that you do it, too many times during lessons with the missionaries did I feel a prompting to ask a question or say something but was afraid to do so. Luckily for me the Lord would give them the same promptings and the words would be spoken.
When you make the decision to serve a mission and the reasons why you are going are because you want to, there is a different spirit, a more powerful spirit. There are always reasons why not to serve but if you find one reason to serve it stands out amongst the rest. The people you meet, the places you go to, and when you are in a place is all for a reason. Heavenly father prepares us for this task. I found that throughout my life the experiences I’ve had the mistakes I’ve made have all had purpose. Though mistakes damage faith, when you bounce back from it and repent and go back to heavenly father, you will find your faith has grown. I hope that you have the desire to serve a mission, or are at least thinking about it. I know that if you haven’t made the decision but are thinking about it, go to the temple. Bring your scriptures and your patriarchal blessing and then pray about it. Read your patriarchal blessing and open the scriptures and find your answer. The Lord wants us to succeed and he wants others to succeed and one way to do that is through missionary work.
I cannot say enough that the time to make the decision is now, and not when you turn eighteen or nineteen. In most cases that isn’t enough time to fully prepare for a mission. There were plenty of ways I should have prepared more to strengthen my testimony and so if you have the desire to serve a mission then prepare now and don’t procrastinate for you will be joyful when you realize how effective you are.
Always be temple worthy and go there often, and be ever watchful, if you are struggling, pray for help and guidance and do as the spirit prompts you to. I know this church is true and I know that heavenly father will help me to grow and help me serve him to my full potential. I know Joseph Smith translated the book of Mormon with the power of god and restored the fullness of the gospel to the earth. I know that as you seek an answer that if you turn to prayer and scripture Heavenly Father will answer you. I know that repentance is key for preparing and that the savior did suffer and die on the cross for all of us so we can repent and live Heavenly Father again. I know that if you seek a blessing of healing if it is Heavenly Fathers will you can be healed if you trust in god and truly want to be healed. I love this church and say all these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.
|
