The work rolls forward

Hope all is well! The weather has taken a change for the worse and they are expecting snow later this week. It seems like the spring weather was just a teaser. Hope you are looking forward to April and the spring that lies ahead.

We started teaching a girl named Sofia! She is living with a less-active family. Since Sister Devany got called as Young Women President, both Kelsey and Linsey (from the less-active family) have been coming to church. As a result, their future step-sister, Sofia, has also been attending. Sofia has a rough background, but she is honestly one of the sweetest fourteen year old girls I know. I feel it a pleasure to teach her and know that it will also be a good time of learning and growth for Kelsey and Linsey. I am especially excited because during personal study I had this great idea to use the Young Women’s Personal Progress Program to teach some of the missionary lessons. As I reviewed the personal progress book, I realized that many of its activities relate directly back to the lessons contained in Preach My Gospel. I am excited to help them develop in the gospel through the lessons as well as personal progress. Furthermore, I know that it was a divinely inspired idea. Without my previous experience, it probably would have never occurred to me; I know that personal progress prepared me for my future and will now bless the lives of these girls.

This last week, the mission president asked for our conversion story and why we are here on a mission. As a result, you get mine as well. It is not a short story, so I hope you are sitting in a comfortable chair. Here it is.

As you may know it really started when I was ten years old. My sister, Annie, led the way and I followed her example in a lot of ways. We had the sister missionaries come and teach us. Since there is only a two year age gap between us, we listened to the lessons together. Eventually, my sister decided to be baptized on the 4th of March 2001. My dad’s parents flew out for the big day. I remember at the last minute (about a week before) I informed my father that I too wanted to be baptized. The arrangements were made and I told my grandparents upon their arrival in Boston.

The sisters were great, and I loved being taught by them. However, I remember being deathly scared of my baptismal interview with a strange guy (which I now understand was the district leader). It was a Friday evening during a ward activity that I had my interview. I knew that if I did not pass than I would not be able to be baptized on Sunday with my sister. I cannot remember what we discussed during that interview, besides one question that I will forever remember. From what I remember, the last question he asked was, “Is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the only true church on the earth?” I confidently answered, “Yes.” Looking back I realize this is not an interview question, but it distinctly stands out in my mind. I remember being surprised by my confident answer of yes, but the spirit confirmed to me the truth of the answer I said. That day was the beginning of the next 11 years of my conversion.

The gospel was not easy for me growing up, but I always loved a challenge. During my teenage years, I did not attend church every Sunday or realize the blessing the gospel was in my life. I remember my sister telling me that I should be living the standards in the For the Strength of Youth pamphlet. Some I lived without questioning, while others I experienced the hard way. I fell down a few times, yet I always got back up with scraped knees and kept on running.

My youth provided me with a strong foundation. Annie, along with two other young women, Nikki and Ashley, provided good examples that I could look up to. My young women leaders also provided me wonderful insight to motherhood and faithfulness. There were also youth programs that solidified my testimony. There are a few specific experiences that carried me along during those years:
-I understood the significance of reading the scriptures. I remember one evening my dad came into my room and asked what I was reading. I told him the Book of Mormon. He was surprised since he knew we were studying the New Testament in seminary. My dad even joked around and told me to read the New Testament. I told him I was reading both. He was surprised but in a good way. While I did not recognize the entire truth and impact of the Book of Mormon, from a young age I realized its importance.
-A dear friend asked if I had prayed about a decision I had made in my life. I have to admit that I had not, so I determined in that instant that I would start. During EFY, the answer hit me and I knew what I should do. It was not an easy choice to make, but I knew it was what the Lord wanted me to do. From that experience, I learned that the Lord answers prayers and He also comforts us when we choose the right. I then read a verse in the scriptures that told me that maybe I made that decision not for me, but for the other person. Later when I read that verse, it did not say that in the slightest. I knew that the scriptures were inspired and provided us with words of comfort and answered our prayers.
-One year during youth conference we had the opportunity to go to Sharon, Vermont, where Joseph Smith was born. It was a fabulous weekend, and we had one of the best speakers. The speaker could have us in laughter one moment and tears the next; he always carried the Spirit with him. During one of the firesides, he spoke about the persecution Joseph endured. As he described these situations, I was filled with tears as well as the Spirit. I knew that Joseph Smith would not have suffered the way he did, if it was not true. At the end of that day, I could confidently say Joseph Smith was a prophet.

These are a few of the many experiences I have had throughout my lifetime that have converted me to the gospel. I often reflect back on these situations and once again feel the song of redeeming love that Alma felt (Alma 5:26). They have even led to me being on a mission today.

My decision to come on a mission started over a year ago in January 2011. Growing up, I wanted to serve a mission. Although in my teenager years, I realized there were many more options in life, so I determined to keep an open mind. When January rolled around, some of my girl friends were getting their mission calls. I realized that I soon would be 21 years old, and, as a result, I would be eligible to serve. I started praying that my heart would be softened to serve a mission if it was the Lord’s will.

My next step was meeting with my bishop, Bishop Holmes. He was wise and I knew he would have some good counsel. I actually thought he would tell me to start living the missionary standards and report back in a month as to how I felt. His advice was not what I expected. Bishop told me of his missionary experience and decision to serve. He was a convert and left on a mission in his mid-twenties. Once he was done, he told me to pray and ask Heavenly Father if there were people I needed to be teaching, and then have faith that everything else will work out.

I did just that. On that Sunday afternoon, I went out for a drive and prayed out loud to God asking if there were people I needed to teach. My heart swelled and I knew the answer was yes. I continued to ponder and realized that was not the right question. As a mathematics education major, how did I know those people were not my future students, my roommates, etc? I realized I needed a more specific question.

My prayer changed. I asked, are there people I need to be teaching by serving a mission this summer? This answer did not come right away. I was actually in another ward with my roommates for a long weekend, and it happened to be a missionary’s homecoming. The entire sacrament meeting was focused on being a disciple. I felt I had received my answer. However, I wanted a confirmation. That evening, I went into the quietest place around: the bathroom. I locked myself in there and prayed and asked God once more. I felt good and at peace. I knew that I needed to serve a mission.

It does not mean that the rest of time before I came and while I have been here was smooth sailing. However, I have the faith that everything else will work out. My bishop gave me the exact answer that I needed, and I was able to get an answer to my prayer.

As a result of Dallin H. Oaks’ talk from conference this weekend, I realize I am sacrificing a lot be here. I even made a list of all that I have given up to be on a mission. As I looked at my list, I realized that many of the things I am sacrificing are simply put on delay till a later date or will be pleasures I can easily enjoy when I return home. To be honest, I am happy to be sacrificing my time to be here and serving the Lord. I am gaining so much more from this experience than I could ever give. My faith in Jesus Christ is firmer and my testimony is growing. These experiences I am having will provide me with the faith I need to endure any challenges and remain faithful all the days of my life. For that I am eternally grateful.

I hope you have enjoyed reading that as much as I did writing it.

Sorry I do not have time to write more. As you can probably tell, I spent a fair amount of time writing my experiences down. I hope you are able to get something from what I have written.

Love, Becca