Why I Serve
Every Missionary has something that gives them Hope. It could be Family, Friends, Baptisms, Blessings, etc. It could even be a combination of those. One Hope we all have is in Jesus Christ and his Atonement! If you don't have Faith and Hope in Jesus Christ you will gain it on your Mission if you work for it. At first my reasons for coming on a Mission were not the best of reasons but through my Mission I was able to Change. Here are my general reasons for Serving my God now but above all my reason to Serve a Mission is to Change my Desires to the Celestial Kingdom (which I am still working towards). I love the Scripture of Ether 12:4 which basically says if you Believe in God you will Hope for a better world and that will be your Anchor.
The first general reason is that Christ lives. D&C 76:22 is so true the greatest of all Testimonies is that Jesus Christ lives. So many churches focus on His death but we as Missionaries focus on His life and that He still lives. Imagine Missionaries going around inviting everyone to a funeral. Why would that make anyone happy or peaceful? My happiness comes from knowing Jesus Christ lives and that everything I do in my life is worth it. We are here to declare as an angel in Luke 2:9-11 declares, "good tidings of great joy" or in other words the Gospel. As we share the Gospel with everyone and the joy it brings you will see the Miracles God brings to have all people's Hearts be filled. Even as Preach My Gospel page 156 says, "When I heard the Gospel, it filled a hole in my heart that I didn't know was there".
The second reason we all should be on a Mission is that Christ knows us personally. In 1 Samuel 16:6-13 the Lord said to the Prophet, "...for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the Heart". By the end of my Mission I noticed President Weaver would often call me, when I missed having something, to areas which would fill that want. For instance one time I was missing a song called how can I keep from singing. The very next transfer I got transferred to an area where my companion listened to that song as a wake up alarm. It is funny how much God cares.
The third is that Jesus wants to help guide us to Happiness. You know what is cool about the Scriptures? Often times in the Book of Mormon it says there was never a happier tie. I can truly say that I never felt more fulfilled during my whole life than on my Mission. I felt it most strongly when we would knock on a door and then two hours later and many questions answered we would leave knowing God sent us to their door. Don't ever be afraid to knock on a door you may not know who is behind that door but God does.
The last reason to Serve is Jesus Christ has suffered the Atonement which was the greatest of all pain for me. He went through so much pain that even an Angel had to strengthen Him (Luke 22:39-46). The well known Scripture of Alma 7:11-15 says in a way, He went through all just to know me.
If Christ isn't the reason and the person you are Serving what and who is? Consider these Scriptures: Ephesians 2:19-20, Matthew 21:42-46, 3 Nephi 14:24-27, and 3 Nephi 13:24 They all say God and Jesus Christ is our foundation as they should be. If ever you are searching for your foundation think about the story in Acts 5:12-42 focusing mainly on verses 19-21, 28-32, and 38-42. They all had many Trials but they knew who they Served. When the Trials came they departed, "rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name". What makes them so happy to have Trials? I feel happy even when I have Trials because of all of the Miracles which God willingly gives in between all the Trials.
Favorite Miracles of being a Missionary of Jesus Christ
The Holbrooks: My first area we met Sister Holbrook. After church she was crying, talking to Bishop. Bishop walked out and requested us to give Kristy a blessing. We of course accepted that opportunity. After the Blessing she was crying again and told us that her husband was not a member, which made it hard to come to church every Sunday. One thing led to another and we had dinner with the Holbrooks but we were asked not to share any Scriptures. After about our fourth time there Kristy told us he asked her why we didn't share any Scriptures when we came over. That was our cue. Right after dinner we asked if we could share a Scripture before we go. He just turned to her and said, "you told them didn't you?" She answered back, "I didn't say a thing". That was the start of his Conversion. We would come and teach often which got handed to the next Missionaries to be transferred into Aberdeen. After twelve sets of Missionaries he finally was Baptized! His wife told me that he now says he loves her everyday and he told me that he was never more happy than he is now.
Shawn Wayman: As we were knocking in Lakewood. We came to a man named Shawn Wayman. Our first question to him was "how are you?" A simple question but he didn't answer. After waiting a couple of seconds we started talking to him and then asked "really how are you?" He started walking into his house and waved us in. Our first lesson he shared his life story for about an hour with us trying to give a little bit of encouragement and advice. We then got the opportunity to share a ten minute lesson afterwards. Our second lesson went much like the first. The third also much like except we brought fellowship who reminded him of a old Friend (the only person he truly trusted). By that time we invited Shawn to church. What a great Sunday that was! Shawn is way afraid of crowds and has been abused before. No matter how full that chapel was, Shawn walked straight towards a seat in the middle of the chapel with his new found Friend. He even skipped shaking all of our hands because he was so focused on his seat! Half way through the meeting he had to go out for a smoke break. The Bishop told us Shawn needed to attend all meetings so he did. Even with his bad back he sat in the metal chairs in a crowded room full of about twenty Elders. His back hurt so bad that after church he quickly went his way to lay down on the couch. Everything we asked him to do he did because he knew everything we asked was for a reason. So much was going the way it was planned until the day we were going to ask him to be Baptized. We went into his house and right away we could tell there was a difference. The clean smoke free home became a house filled with cigarette smoke and the CD player was on with anti-Christian rap. He told us a quick version of his life story and then of everything that was his new Trials. We couldn't get many words in as we sat there for two hours. Not until the end we invited him to get Baptized. At first he wasn't open to Baptism but with much teaching and inviting him to Pray finally a sign came! He paused for a couple of seconds trying to say a really secret Prayer. His answer was to get Baptized and that it was going to be my first time to actually Baptize so I should Baptize him. All of which was true. He finally said I get it and then told us what God told him. Baptism day was a really exciting and stressful day for us and for Shawn. Have I told you that someone tried killing Shawn and pretending it was a Baptism? Once Shawn got to the Stake Center he had to walk around to get used to the building. So I being in Baptismal clothes followed him around helping him get familiar with the area. He walked everywhere including behind the Church. After an hour of us trying to calm him down and giving him the option that he could get Baptized another time, he was ready. We went into the font of cold water, all the people we invited to come, except the Ward Mission Leader and his new Friend had left; and it was perfect! At the Confirmation he said, "I can finally trust someone." All those hours of bringing him to Christ made those minutes of seeing Shawn express his new light worth it.
Loni Jr: Loni is such a great guy! In Lincoln, Tacoma we were knocking and found Loni. He is quite a rebel but what great interest he had in the Gospel. As we knocked to him a siple door approach turned into two hours of him and his sister asking questions. Those questions led to all four of the lessons. Minute by minute they were getting more and more interested. Then their Dad came out who was a Pastor and a Police Officer. Another hour passed by as it was his turn to ask the questions. The spirit which was so vivid became completely gone. At the end of the anti we gave Loni a Book of Mormon and offered his sister a Boo of Mormon as well but she refused. His Dad argued with him about it on the porch even as we were there. No matter the argument Loni stood up for us. The argument continued to inside. He hasn't been Baptized yet, it only needs time. There is so many people like Loni out there. You just need to find them!
Confidence
What makes a man converted? What makes a man change so much that when he once would flee if asked to do anything in public to willingly have Confidence in crowds. Moses had this change when at first as Exodus 4:10-12 Moses says, "...I am not eloquent...I am slow of speech...". He went from that to being able to directly speak to Pharaoh saying. "let my people go" in Exodus 9:13, Than in Exodus 14:10-16 Moses was the only person willing to calm all of Israel when Pharaoh sent his armies to go against him. Now why was this man who was supposedly "slow of speech" the only person willing to calm all of Israel? It is because Moses became converted and gave his weakness to God to make it a strength.
The same change happened with Enoch when he was called to declare Repentance he replied, ...people hate me; for I am slow of speech..." in Moses 6:31 God have him assurance, a commitment which Enoch followed through in and then a calling (Moses 6:32-36). From then on Enoch went "standing upon...the high places, and cried with a loud voice...all men were offended..." in Moses 6:37. They came to him to what he had to say and thought of him as a Seer and a wild man in verse 38. In verse 39 everyone feared him because they knew "...he walked with God." Finally in Moses 7:68-69 "Enoch and all his people walked with God...God received it up". That is only one Missionary but one Missionary made it possible for a whole city to be taken up to God. I often thought to myself what am I and what are we doing wrong. We try our best but no one has been called a wild man and no city after Enoch was carried up to God. You know that is still possible.
Samuel the Lamanite was also a man like Moses and Enoch when he was Commanded of God to "prophesy unto the people whatsover things should come into his heart..." (Helaman 13:2-5). Alma the younger was like them also from Mosiah 27 when he went secretly against the church to Alma 36. That's twenty six years of Alma testifying to all of his conversion. Paul was also like those Prophets who were Confident in God. Starting from Acts 8 he went boldly against the church. Than after seeing an Angel did a complete turn. Even when he went to his house people came to him and he was Preaching...with all confidence, no man forbidding him." (Acts 28:30-31). Once again what makes man converted to have so much Confidence in God that nothing else matters?
Humility
Have you ever thought about where does everyone start? There must be a start right? I believe it all starts with Humility. When Jesus Christ came to the Americas, H declared "ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of blood...ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit..." (3Nephi 9:19-20). Also in Matthew 21:42-44 it says, "...whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken, but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder."
Nephi projected his Humility when an Angel asked him a hard question and he replied, "I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things." (1Nephi 11:17) Lehi also showed Humility as he placed in a mist of darkness and then Prayed to leave. (1Nephi 8:7-9) Also in Ether 3:1-10 the brother of Jared showed his Humility and Faith as he brought the rocks to the Lord to make them light. In verse two he said, "...Now behold, O Lord, and do not be angry with thy servant because of his weakness before thee; " and he later said, "And I know, O Lord, that thou hast all power...therefore touch these stone". The brother of Jared showed Humility because even though he made the stones he still relied on the Lord for the light the Lord could bring. Who wouldn't want to Humbly and Confidently fight for God?
Is it possible to have both at the same time? Look at Ammon and Jesus Christ! The first thing Ammon did in his Mission was become a servant and yet after the Kings Heart was open, Ammon Testified Boldly and with Confidence. Jesus Christ when he was young was lost in the Temple. As His parents found Him, He was answering questions (so well that they were astonished) and at the same time He was Humble because of His reply to Mary and Joseph "I must be about my Father's business" (Luke 2:45-52). Many other times Jesus was Humble and at the same time Confident.
I love the WA-TAC!
Let the Mission change you