Why am I Serving a Mission You Ask?

Trust Me! I have asked myself why I am serving a mission more than once. Why to I try to talk to people walking down the street? Why do I knock on strangers doors? Why do I exhaust myself just to share a message?

There are few things that I absolutely without-a-doubt  know, such as: 2+2=4, fire is hot, the sun will come up tomorrow, and that the TRUE gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth by a living prophet. How do I know this you ask? A similar question was asked to a prophet long ago. His name was Alma and he was on a mission similar to what I am. He said, "And this is not all. Do ye not suppose that I know of these things myself? Behold, I testify unto you that I do know that these things whereof I have spoken are true. And how do ye suppose that I know of their surety?  Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me." (Alma 5: 45-46)

Some of you may also ask, how do you know something you can't see exists? Let me answer that by asking you a question that Boyd K. Packer asked members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If I held a red-hot branding iron, would it be more impressive to show it to you and tell you it's hot? Or would it be more impressive to blindfold you and touch it to your chest.

The Holy Ghost works the same way. I can't see him, but because of the feelings that he gives to me I know that he exists, and by that same power I know that Jesus is the Christ, and that he has again restored the fullness of his gospel to the earth in these days just as in times of old. This knowledge however, did not come all at once. Just as the prophet Alma, I have fasted and prayed many days to know of these things for myself, and the Lord has answered me through the power of the Holy Ghost. This knowledge has brought great happiness and blessings into my life.

What does this have to do with why I am serving a mission? Well, I'll tell you. We have a remarkable message of God's love for his children, that the fullness of His gospel has been restored, and he still leads and guides us today through a modern prophet. As I said before, this knowledge has blessed my life in so many ways that it would take me two eternities to count them all. That's why I'm here! To share this message with others so that they can feel and know the same things that I know and feel the love, happiness, hope, joy, comfort, long-suffering, meekness, and temperance (Galatians 5: 22-23) that I have felt in my life.

In the book of Matthew he says this about prophets, " Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them" (Matthew 7:20) The fruit of the modern prophet is the Book of Mormon and I promise you that if you study from the Book of Mormon and ask God the Eternal Father in the name of Christ if it is true with a sincere heart, real intent, having faith in Christ. God WILL tell you it's true by the same power that I know it is true, and Alma knew it was true, and the 14 million members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saint's know that it is true. This is why I'm here.

To chat with a missionary online CLICK HERE

To learn more about LDS (Mormon) Missionaries CLICK HERE

To learn more about how to know of these things for yourself CLICK HERE

To request of FREE copy of the Book of Mormon CLICK HERE

Service: Find Yourself

LDS Missionaries Helping to Cleanup

Flood Damage

Last week, a group of LDS (Mormon) missionaries, myself included, made our way to Roundup, Montana where severe flooding had taken place the previous week. The small town was consumed in a muddy mess, which we had the privilege of making our way through to tear out carpet, knock down dry wall, and move furniture that had been soaked by the waters of the overflowing Mussel Shell River.



Flood in Roundup, MT



As worked for hours in the muck, the knowledge I had already of service was expanded and I found that I was happy.  You may ask, is it possible to be happy when working in a pool of mud and debris for hours on end? I'll tell you from first hand experience that the words of Spencer W. Kimball rang true to me on that day. He said, "The more we serve our fellowmen in appropriate ways, the more substance there is to our souls. We become more significant individuals as we serve others. We become more substantive as we serve others—indeed, it is easier to “find” ourselves because there is so much more of us to find!"

It is true, the tedious tasks that were at hand in Roundup brought happiness to my soul because I knew that we were helping those who were truly in need of our help. I truly realized that as we serve others, we realize our potential. As we freely give of ourselves to help others we emulate the example of Jesus Christ.

Benjamin, a prophet in the Book of Mormon tells us,"... when you are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." (Mosiah 2:17) It is so true! As we serve others we bring ourselves closer to our Father in Heaven. As we helped the citizens of Roundup I felt as though Heavenly Father was smiling down on us, pleased with our effort.



Downtown Roundup, MT During Flood



The wonderful thing is that we can all serve. It's not limited to any one group or people. There is always some way to serve. Just smiling at someone who looks as though they are having a rough day, is a great service. There is always service to be done, and every time we help and serve others without wanting or asking for anything in return, it is almost as though you can feel heaven smiling down.

Growing up, it often felt like clouds of darkness were always over me. The pit of depression was often upon me. I was truly lost. I searched for ways to pull myself out. Serving others and losing myself by helping others was the first thing that really ever worked. I noticed that the more I served others the happier I became. Soon the desire to follow Christ came, and the desire to live more principles of the gospel followed. I'm still not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but I can honestly say that through serving others, I have found myself.