Mission Farewell Talk

Here is the talk I gave Sunday in Sacrament meeting. . . it's not completely word for word what I said, but close enough!!

MISSION FAREWELL TALK: OCTOBER 17, 2010
President Monson told a story of his grandson during the Priesthood session of the April conference: “Twenty years ago I attended a sacrament meeting where the children responded to the theme ‘I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints.’ These boys and girls demonstrated they were in training for service to the Lord and to others. The music was beautiful, the recitations skillfully rendered, and the spirit heaven-sent. One of my grandsons, who was 11 years old at the time, had spoken of the First Vision as he presented his part on the program. Afterword, as he came to his parents and grandparents, I said to him, ‘Tommy, I think you are almost ready to be a missionary.’

He replied, ‘Not yet. I still have a lot to learn.’”

I was just a year younger than Tommy when I decided that I was going to go on a mission . . . my motivation started when I watched my oldest brother leave on his mission. Then Four years later I watched yet again another brother go. And the following year at age 15 I watched my sister go . . . every time I was still eager for my turn.

Still having lots to learn I would have to say this was the age that Heavenly Father gave one of my biggest trials in order to prepare me. We were preparing to move here to San Antonio. Being at the end of my 9th grade year I felt strongly that I needed to receive my patriartical blessing. . . I felt the spirit so strongly and I knew without a doubt that I was to serve a mission at the age of 21. A month later we made the move.

As many of y’all know I did not want anything to do with anyone here. There was one girl my age in the ward but soon after she moved out to the Kerrville ward and I ended up being the only Laurel with the next oldest young woman being two years younger than me. I remained the only Laurel for the rest of high school.

I was very gratefully for the preparation tools that the church put out for the youth at this time. President Monson mentioned the For Strength of Youth as one of those tools in his talk. This pamphlet helped me remember to be all that I can be and lead me to want to be an example to the younger girls in young women’s. Another tool in helping me prepare came to me when I turned 16. . .I was given Preach my Gospel. Being new and all and not really having a whole lot of friends I was reminded of the goal in which I set as a 10 year old and that was to serve a mission. . . I began to dig right into this new tool placed before me.

My friend Ruby and I who attended Clark high school together immediately showed enthusiasm for our beliefs by taking pass along cards and sneaking them into everyone’s backpacks during lunch period and hall passing’s. Still struggling with being in a new place I found opportunities to be a missionary.

Junior year came and I was more comfortable with things as far as being here and was given the opportunity to share with my English class what I believed and taught them about how the first vision for a whole class period. My teacher showed much interest in learning more about my faith throughout the year. I was given many opportunities to share this gospel with those I played Varsity soccer with.

Senior year I decided to place my first Book of Mormon and prayed the first day of school that I would find someone who needed it. The very last day of senior year and High school came and I gave my close friend Anthony my prized possession knowing that if not now maybe later he will read it and know for himself. I still pray for him especially as he is stationed in Afghan right now.

Finally college. . . President Monson said that this is the time that the preparation really comes into play as marriage and missions come to be our biggest decisions at this point. I attended BYU-Idaho for the last two years and received callings that I feel were there to prepare me for this mission such as Relief Society 2nd counselor, FHE Mom, and Gospel Doctrine Instructor. I was also faced with challenges to possibly stray me away from going on my mission at 21. . such as boy friends who were returned missionaries and would ask me often if I’m still considering a mission and would always bring up marriage topics. I was always comfortable saying yes I’m still considering a mission though at some points these boys would make me really question it. But I never did feel any comfort in talking about marriage stuff to any of these guys.
I chose at this point to still keep a mission as a goal, but to prepare for the temple no matter what happens.

President Monson closed his talk in saying, “Clean hands, a pure heart, and a willing mind had touched heaven. A blessing, heaven-sent, had answered the fervent prayer of a missionary’s humble heart.”
I want to close in saying that I know that this is the true Church of God. The Book of Mormon is true and if anyone here has not read it yet, please go home and read and ponder the words to know for yourself. Joseph Smith is a prophet just as much as Thomas Monson is one today.

I close in the Name of Jesus Christ Amen.