This Changes Everything

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Days Saints is the true church of God, and it is of the utmost importance that that message be shared to every nation on this beautiful earth.

God has appointed missionaries to spread His truth, and those self-less Elders and Sisters serve with the utmost faith and commitment to the Lord their God in teaching the people, in wherever they serve, the gospel of Christ.

Today the blessed and beloved prophet of God, Thomas S. Monson, announced that the age requirement for being eligible to serve a full-time mission has been lowered.

For the men it has been lowered one year from the age of 19 to the age of 18, allowing them to leave right out of High School.

For the women it has been lowered a whopping TWO YEARS from the age of 21 to the age of 19... and words cannot describe the thoughts and feelings of my heart upon hearing that joyous news.

Half of me was weeping. Weeping tears of joy that the opportunity for me to spread the most sacred and sincere beliefs of my hearts has now been opened up to me. I felt gratitude to my Heavenly Father, and humbled that His work was so important that He made away for His younger faithful sons and daughters to be trusted with this important work.

The other half of me was trembling. Trembling with fear. I had never seriously considered serving a mission... I mean, it was always something that I wished I could do, but never planned on because I figured I would either be married or in the middle of college when I turned 21. I always told myself, "If I'm not married, and I'm not busy in school I'll consider it". However, now that it was actually a legitimate possibility, not just in two years, but it 8 MONTHS, I was starting to feel scared!

I haven't been preparing as much as I should have! How can I expect to be a good missionary?

I haven't been saving up money, I never really planned on it, so I have no money put away to fund for a mission.

How will this fit in with my life? I have a fantastic job and am about to be eligible to enter the two-year massage program I've been working to get into.

I'm conflicted. I have felt the Spirit oh so strongly in these past 24 hours telling me that a mission could be exactly what the Lord needs me to do at this point in my life.

However, I am scared, I am a little bit hesitant, I still have a bit of soul searching to do and a lot of conversations with Heavenly Father before I put those papers in.

But oh... the joy and humility I feel at being given this opportunity is overwhelming!

I realize that in a year I could be in another part of the world teaching people the gospel! I realize that the Lord needs this work done, and He needs it done fast! These truly are the last days, and before our eyes the  fulfillment of prophecy regarding mission work is unfolding before our eyes. He is hastening the work, and the yoke is now being carried by the young and rising generation of the church. :)

I would love to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Days Saints.

I have a burning testimony of its truth.

I have no doubt that the experiences I will have in the mission field will make me a better person and mother.

I have started saving today. There is now a whopping ten dollars in the mission fund. :)

I'm going to start attending mission prep classes.

Now it's just me and Heavenly Father.

My patriarchal blessing and my scriptures are my new best friends (at least, more than they already were). :)