Farewell!!!

Well it finally happened!!! I gave my farewell talk Sunday the 21st and it went great.  I am usually very nervous about speaking in church, but I know it is getting easier.  The topic I was to address was "My Purpose".  It's amazing how much material I found as I studied.  It would have taken hours to share everything I wanted.  So while organizing my thoughts I got frustrated and didn't know what I was going to say.  I had pages of notes and didn't have a singe thought of organization.  So I took out a clean sheet of paper and wrote my talk on it.  This is all that paper said:

Listen to the Spirit

It was the best decision ever.  I stood up and stated the Missionary purpose.  

Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through Faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.

This is the purpose of every missionary.  We all go to teach the same thing!  But I wanted to explain my personal thoughts on "My Purpose".  First off I had to figure out what my purpose was not.  

1. To go on vacation for 18 months
2. To become a better person (I know I will become better, but that is not my main focus)
3. To relax and sleep 
4. To find a future spouse (What a better place to find one!  But again not my focus at ALL)

My purpose is to help others come to the same knowledge that I have come to.  Well I had to figure out where I got that knowledge.  So I tried to remember the exact moment when I KNEW that the Gospel of Jesus Christ was true.  It was a lot harder than I thought it was going to be!  I could pinpoint specific moments when I knew a certain aspect, but not when I knew the gospel as a whole was true.  I thought it must be easier for converts because they didn't have the knowledge at one point where I, on the other hand, grew up with the knowledge.  I sang the songs in primary and listed to the lessons in sharing time.  I knew all about snowmen, following the leader, and where to build a house.  But I didn't really grasp the concept of them all.  I was taught as a child to believe in the knowledge of the adults.  As I continued on into Sunday School and Young Women's I built my faith on the knowledge of my leaders.  That was just it, I believed, but I did not KNOW.  

Well about a year ago I set off on my own.  Suddenly I became an adult and I was supposed to be the one who KNEW the truth.  Only one problem, I didn't.  I didn't have my parents knowledge to lean on anymore and suddenly it all became confusing.  I started college and lived with roommates who were in the same boat.  None of us really talked about it with each other because we had to learn on our own.  Well in the fall I went through and interesting time.  Someone told me they didn't think I was all that into the church.  That sparked something in me.  I don't want to be one of "those Mormons", the "Sunday Mormon".  So I decided it was time to find the truth and KNOW for myself.  I was lucky enough to have great friends who were even greater influences.  

I still cannot pinpoint the exact moment when I KNEW that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was and is the only true church.  There was no big Ah-Hah moment that led me to discover it.  Instead through study, pray, fasting, and church attendance, gradually I came to know the truth.  I know now that I don't know everything, but I know enough.  Whatever I don't know Heavenly Father will make up the rest. 

Last General Conference Elder Holland gave a talk and a young boy came up to him and stated that he didn't know yet that the gospel was true, but he believed it.  Believe is where it all starts.  From their we can learn and someday gain the knowledge.  Elder Holland also stated in the talk that those who have a wavering testimony, one not quite stable, they can lean on his.  


My missionary scripture is Doctrine and Covenants 46:13-14  it reads

 13 To some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that he was crucified for the sins of the world.

 14 To others it is given to believe on their words, that they also might have eternal life if they continue faithful.

A year ago I was verse 13.  Today I can say that I am verse 14.  This is my purpose. I am going to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  Those I teach I do not expect to gain the knowledge after the first lesson or even after they are baptized.  Like me it may take 19 years for them to gain the knowledge.  Well until then I want to be someone they can believe on.  They can lean on my testimony until theirs is strong enough to stand on its own.  Even then I will continually be an example of Jesus Christ and an influence on them.  

Now I can say the following

I know I am a child of God

I know He sent his Son

I know to hold to the rod

I know his work is not done

I know that Jesus died

I know it was for me

I know that to our father he cried

I know it was in Gethsemane

I know He was nailed to the cross

I know he wore a crown of thorns

I know for God it was a great loss

I know it was so we could be born

I know He rose again

I know he escaped the tomb

I know this is the resurrection

I know it has saved me from doom

I know that a young boy prayed

I know the truth He found

I know upon him a mission was laid

I know this in now holy ground

I know that it is now my turn

I know that my time has come

I know I have much to learn

I know that I can only teach some

I know not all will believe

I know not all will understand

I know I will feel much grief

I know it is all part of the plan

I know I will try my best

I know I will always work hard

I know the lord will make up the rest

I know that he will be my guard

I know the day will come

I know Christ will live again

I know I will have only converted some

I know they will stand at the 2^nd Resurrection

My time has come and I will serve.  

I am off to serve my God.  See you in 18 months my friends!!

Dear Daughter

Dear Daughter,

        I remember well the day you left my side, wandered through the veil and ventured forth to fulfill your earthly mission.  I had a tear in my eye as I clothed your spirit in a cloak of love and sent you off to school.  Be assured that my thoughts are with you now, as always.

        I love you will all my heart. I know your life, the good, the bad, your grief, your disappointments, your unrewarded efforts, your frustrations.  But always remember- all that I have is yours if you will only come home again.

        Daughter, realize that in you I have placed a bit of heaven.  No one was exempt.  I love all of my children.  You have some blessed gift, some talent, and some little part of me in you.  Search for it, develop it, use it, and most importantly, share it with others.  If you really love me, then help others find themselves and lead them to me.  Show your love by serving others.

        Repent of your failings and humble yourself.  Make yourself ever teachable and continually strive to improve.  I gave you weakness to help you be humble.  Don’t condemn me for that.  I did it because I love you.  Be full of hope.  Don’t let discouragement engulf you.  I’ll come if you need me.

        Daughter, cease your idle contentions.  Be a peacemaker, for it breaks my heart to see so many of my children fighting.  If they could only see what I have hoped, planned and desired for them.  My heart breaks as I watch them.  But you, faithful daughter, are my hope.  It is through you that my work must proceed.  You haven’t much time and there is so much work to be done.  I beg you to get started.  Accomplish the mission I gave you before you left me.  I’ll help you.  I’ll never be too busy or too far away to come to you.  I’m nearer to you always than you might suspect.  I have so much I would like to tell you, but I can’t here.

        Come to me often in prayer.  I love to talk to you, my beloved daughter.  Be diligent in my work and my kingdom shall be yours.  I’d love to take you in my arms, but I too, must wait patiently; that time will come.  Till then I leave you my peace, my blessing, my love, and never forget I am nearby whenever you need me.

        I love you and miss you so very much and, oh, how I am looking forward to your return to me.

                All my love,

                Your Heavenly Father