Being raised in an LDS family, I’ve
always known that I should serve a mission. However, it wasn’t until 2011 when
I got my patriarchal blessing that I knew I needed to. I wasn’t sure when, or
how but I knew I needed to. The next month I told myself that if by some
miracle something happened and I could serve my mission before I graduated
college I would. Within a few months the age change was announced in conference
and I was ESTATIC! A few months went by and it was in the back of my mind. I
became so engulfed in my senior year, applying to colleges, etc. that I had
forgotten all about this promise. I just decided to do a year of college and
then, leave and serve a mission. I got accepted to my dream university, all
scholarships and was so excited to go, I put down my tuition deposit! While participating
in the Nauvoo pageant I felt a strong urge to go visit the Sacred Grove in
Palmyra, NY. In the Sacred Grove a miracle happened. As I prayed fervently to
my Heavenly Father, I pleaded with him to help me to know if I should attend a
full year or a semester of college. Almost as a powerful urge in my heart I got
this HUGE prompting from the Spirit. I needed to withdraw from the school (even
if it meant losing all the money) and go and serve the Lord. I was terrified.
What would my friends think? What about all that hard earned money and all my
scholarships? I called my dad in tears, wondering what to do. He gave me some
of the best advice. “Brianna, just take one step into the darkness with every
ounce of faith you have, then the Lord will guide you into the Light and bless
you more than you can receive. Obedience is the first law of Heaven.” I knew he
was right, and 1st Nephi 3:7 came to my mind “And it came to pass that I,
Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath
commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of
men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing
which he commandeth them.” That was that. My heart and mind were turned to the enticing
of the Lord. It was clear that as soon as I was able he needed me to help
accomplish his work. And I was more than willing.
By
now you are probably wondering why I wrote this long story. These experiences
all put together have built my testimony and cemented it into the ground. There
is absolutely NO doubt in my mind that the Savior listens to my prayers. I know
for a surety that my Savior loves me. My faith in this gospel is higher than
I’ve ever experienced. I have become so close to my Father in Heaven that I
have come to realize I am truly a daughter of God and I need to act like one,
and feel like one. I have no doubt in my mind that the Lord blesses all of his
children. I know Joseph Smith was a true prophet and that because of the
Restoration I am able to have all this knowledge. I am SO grateful for the
atonement, I love being able to repent for all my sins and know that the Lord
loves me. Because of my life experiences I have come to this knowledge and much
more.
For
the past few months, I’ve attended every Missionary Prep class, and engulfed
myself with the teaching. To go hand-in-hand with mission prep I took on myself
the task of studying Preach My Gospel. In Palmyra I told my dad about a book
called “The Purpose of Everyday Missionaries” and he ordered it for me. I am
now almost done reading it, and trying my best to apply its teachings in my
life. I read my scriptures every day without fail. They are my work. Since my freshman
year I have read all the Standard works, for seminary, Young Women, and for
myself. I LOVE the scriptures, they are my rock. No matter how many times I may
read the same verse I always learn something new. The scriptures answer my
prayers. They truly do. I have attended all four years of seminary with perfect
attendance, and I am currently attending Institute taught by Brother Jenkins.
The spirit in those meetings is one of large stature. It is so strong, there is
no denying the gospel is true as he speaks.
I
pray every day to my Heavenly Father that as I am on my mission I may touch
other’s lives, as mine has been touch. I hope to speak with as much conviction
as James Richards did with his homecoming talk. I want to serve the Lord’s
children. Having the piece of mind and the Gospel in my life is such a
blessing. I would be selfish to not want to share this. I know that the Lord
needs ME and my testimony. I want to be an instrument in his hands. I want to
sacrifice my time to be able to serve the Lord. I know there is no other
experience in life like serving a mission. I eagerly await the day to go out
and teach, preach, exhort. I hope to gain an even greater testimony. I look at
so many of my peers that come home patient, full of love, and kind. I crave to
feel this, to become this person. I pray every day that I may love everyone I
come in contact with, that I may have opportunities to serve others, and that I
can be an instrument in the Lord’s hand. Going on a mission isn’t just going to
bless the lives of others. It will bless me more than I can fathom. I am ready
to put the world behind me and go forth Boldly, Nobly and Independent, until
the Gospel has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every
country and sounded in EVERY ear. Till the purposes of God shall be accomplished
and the Great Jehovah shall say, the work is DONE. I am willing to be a servant of God. I love
my Savior and this gospel so much words can’t even express.
I
want to end with a quote by Elder Bednar:
