First off my name is Whitney Calton. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I have decided to set apart a year and a half of my life to serve as a missionary. During this time I will be bringing others unto Christ!
In October of 2012 President Thomas S. Monson announced that the age for which Young Women could serve missions was to be changed from 21 to 19. Honestly I didn't know what to think except that so many of my friends would be going. I said maybe I would but mostly because that is what was almost expected of me to say. Unfortunately I knew it would be a long process and I didn't think I would have enough faith to put some things behind me and serve. Since then I have grown so much!!!
The first moment was at the first of November. So much was going on and I went to a park and just read my scriptures. I don't know why I did, but in that moment my life was actually starting to get on the right track. I came out of the misty paths and now am grasping onto the rod of iron.
I watched so many people get their calls to places across the world. I was unsure if it was duty to join them. I had so many reasons to go (not really the right ones). First my best friend was going. What was I going to do without her? Plus if she was going what were people going to think of me if I didn't go? Then I started dating a kid who was set to leave on his mission after spring semester. So I thought what a perfect plan serve and while he does then I don't have to spend two years waiting at home! Now as I look back I can see how ridiculous these excuses are.
On March 6, 2013 my decision was set in stone. I got my patriarchal blessing and the answer was clearly spelled out. In that moment I knew I wanted to serve a mission for the Lord and not because of anything else.
I had so many meetings with my Bishop just making sure I was worthy and ready to go. The last meeting I had was when I got my temple recommend. It was probably one of the worst rain storms of the spring and I could barely see while driving. But there were a few things weighing on me and I knew they needed to be cleared up. So I walked in there and poured my heart out. That was the best day of my life. In that moment I could say that I was completely clean. There was only one other time in my life when I had felt so close to my Heavenly Father. That was the day I was baptized. The lyrics that I sang the rest of that day were
When I am Baptized
I like to look for rainbows whenever their is rain
And ponder on the beauty of an earth made clean again
I want my life to be as clean as earth right after rain
I want to be the best I can and live with God again
I know when I am baptized my wrongs are washed away
And I can be forgiven and improve myself each day
I want my life to be as clean as earth right after rain
I want to be the best I can and live with God again
How great is it to know that I am clean just like the earth after rain. As I walked out of the church building that evening, beaming with confidence, I expected it to still be raining. Instead the sun was just on the verge of changing to the colors of a sunset. It reflected on the damp ground and created a vision of diamonds covering the earth. The lyrics sang in my heart "Made clean again!"
Since that moment I have been trying to improve myself each day. The gospel amazes me in that aspect. The more I learn about the gospel the more I realize I don't know. It seems as a never ending pit of knowledge, but that doesn't scare me. Instead I am excited to take on the adventure and discover more and more of the knowledge. One thing I have to remember on this journey though is that remembering and rediscovering what I have already learned is just as important.
I am a future Missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day saints. I am called to serve the people of the St. Louis Missouri mission. I am a daughter of God and this is my duty. I will do everything in my power to succeed and hope the Lord will make up the difference!
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