On
Sunday, May 4th, 2014, surrounded by family and friends, I read the
words, “Dear Sister Tennant, You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in
the Washington Everett Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a
period of 18 months. You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center
on Wednesday, July 16, 2014. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the
English language. Your assignment may be modified according to the needs of the
mission president.” This was my formal letter from the first presidency,
calling me to serve, however, my real call to serve came much earlier.
I
remember where I was when I found out the missionary age had been lowered. I
think that as with many sister missionaries, the thought of a mission shifted
from something that could potentially happen in the future, and became a
question of how soon can I get my interviews and appointments scheduled and my
papers in?
Shortly
after the announcement, my older sister began filling out her papers and
mission excitement had taken over our home and family. Before sisters could
serve at 19, a mission had always been a possibility for me, if I wasn’t
married by 21 or if I felt like that was something I needed to do, but that was
a decision I wasn’t going to have to make for a while. Then suddenly, a few
days before my 18th birthday, President Monson made the historic
announcement, saying “I am pleased to announce that effective immediately all
worthy and able young men who have graduated from high school or its
equivalent, regardless of where they live, will have the option of being
recommended for missionary service beginning at the age of 18, instead of age
19.” He goes on to say “As we have prayerfully pondered the age at which young
men may begin their missionary service, we have also given consideration to the
age at which a young woman might serve. Today I am pleased to announce that
able, worthy young women who have the desire to serve may be recommended for missionary
service beginning at age 19, instead of age 21.”
I
began seriously praying and considering a mission. Soon, not going on a mission
was no longer an option. I knew then as I know now that I need to serve. I
don’t know why I was called to Everett Washington, but one of my favorite
scriptures on missionary work, Doctrine and Covenants 18:15 says “And if it so
be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people,
and bring save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in
the kingdom of my Father!” Perhaps there is one person in Washington who needs
to hear the gospel from me. So I will leave the comfort of my home, and teach
the word.
Right
before I had my first interview with my bishop to start my papers, I realized
that even though I have such a strong testimony, I had never read the Book of
Mormon all the way through just for myself. I’d read it a couple times for
seminary and for family scripture study, but never all the way through
completely for myself. I decided that there was no way I could go on a mission
and preach the gospel without having read the Book of Mormon on my own. So I
went on a bit of a reading marathon, and I read the Book of Mormon cover to
cover in 10 days. After reading and pondering the book so intensely, I know
without a single shadow of a doubt that this book is true. I have such a love
and appreciation for the prophets of old and for the teachings of our Savior,
Jesus Christ.
As I
thought about what scripture I wanted on my missionary plaque, I realized that
everything goes back to Christ. He is our creator, our savior and redeemer, and
it is only by and through Him that we may one day return to live with our
Father in Heaven. Because Christ is the center of everything, I want to add my
testimony of Him, and so I chose Doctrine and Covenants 76:22 to be my mission
scripture. It says “And now, after the many testimonies which have been given
of Him, this is the Testimony, last of which we give of Him: That He Lives!”
Kelly-
painting
-Letting
everyone know that I was leaving in July for a church mission and that I am a
member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
-A
girl I work with likes to paint and offered to paint a canvas for me as a going
away gift
-With
my mission weighing heavily on my mind, I knew I wanted it to be something
about the gospel
-Sent
her a picture with my mission scripture on it
-Was
able to explain the Doctrine and Covenants
-Perhaps
I planted a seed
In his
April 2014 conference talk, Elder M. Russell Ballard taught the importance of
following up. Doctrine and Covenants 115:4 says “For thus shall my church be
called in the last days, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints”
Elder Ballard teaches that while it is acceptable to refer to organizations and
institutions as “Mormon” or “LDS”, it is important that we follow up and
explain the full name of the Church. We are members of Christ’s church.
My
freshman year of high school, we studied the Book of Mormon in seminary, and
one of the scriptures that has stuck with me is on page 100 of the Book of
Mormon and is 2 Nephi 25:26 and it says “And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in
Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to
our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a
remission of their sins.” Some people have the false idea that Mormons are not
Christian, but if we can make it a habit to use the full title of our Church,
this confusion can be erased and all will know that Christ is the cornerstone
of everything we do. Elder Bruce R. McConkie said that Christ “is the Eternal
Jehovah, the promised Messiah, the Redeemer and Savior, the Way, the Truth, and
the Life. By him immortality and eternal life become realities, and through his
grace and goodness salvation is possible for all who will believe and obey”
As
missionaries, we wear His name on our nametags, and invitation to come unto
Him. President Henry B. Eyring stated that “The words “come unto Christ” are an
invitation. It is the most important invitation you could ever offer to another
person. It is the most important invitation anyone could accept.” Elder Ballard
teaches that the purpose of missionary work is defined as inviting “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. While I don’t know the circumstances of
the people I will be teaching, I can’t wait to be a tool in the Lord’s hands
and watch peoples’ lives change as they come unto Christ.
The
second point that Elder Ballard brought up is that we as members of the Church
need to make more of an effort to seek out missionary opportunities. He invited
everyone to pray to find at least one person to extend an invitation to meet
with the missionaries and learn about the restored gospel. And because meeting
with the missionaries and getting baptized is not the final step in a person’s
eternal progression, we must go further and follow up with them, and help one
another endure faithfully to the end. President Thomas S. Monson has said, “Now
is the time for members and missionaries to come together, to work together, to
labor in the Lord’s vineyard to bring souls unto Him.” We do not have to be set
apart as full time missionaries to share the gospel. At baptism, we covenanted
with Heavenly Father to “stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things,
and in all places.” Member missionaries, as well as full time missionaries
share the responsibility of spreading the gospel.
My
patriarchal blessing mentions that I will have the opportunity to teach people
who are gaining their first knowledge and understanding of the mission of the
Savior. As a missionary, I will be a tool in the Lord’s hands as His children
are brought to the gospel.
At
work, it was no secret that I am Mormon, and I was surprised by how many
opportunities I had to talk about the Church and the gospel with my coworkers. Whether
it be about missions in general or the Book of Mormon, I am so thankful for the
many opportunities I was given to share my testimony with those around me. I
even learned that one of the girls I worked with is currently meeting with the
elders and is halfway through reading the Book of Mormon. While I don’t know
where she will end up, I hope that I was a positive influence in her life as
she gains her first understanding of the restored gospel.
I
think a lot of people tend to pray for missionary opportunities, but when they
come, we get scared and don’t really want to be in those situations. We may
feel inadequate in our understanding of the gospel or uncomfortable explaining
some of the principles and doctrines that we believe. For those of you who know
me even a little bit know that I’m generally a pretty quiet person. It’s hard
for me to talk to people and I struggle with putting myself out there. However,
in Doctrine and Covenants 84:85, it says “Neither take ye thought beforehand
what ye shall say; but treasure up in your minds continually the words of life,
and it shall be given you in the very hour that portion that shall be meted
unto every man.” I’m not eloquent when I speak, but I know that since I have
been learning and preparing my entire life, I know that the Lord will be with
me as I share His gospel with the people of Washington.
The 3rd
verse of the version of Because I Have Been Given Much that Beth Ann sang says “Because
of thy life’s mission, Lord, I too will serve. I’ll leave the comfort of my
home and teach thy word. I’ll seek thy sheep who’ve gone astray. And those
who’ve never known the way. I will make thy work my work today.”
I know
that I am a daughter of Heavenly Father who loves me and that we are all His
children. I know that because of Christ’s atonement, all of our sins may be
washed away, that we are never alone in our trials, and that we can all return
to live with our Heavenly Father someday. I know that Joseph Smith was a true
prophet and with Heavenly Father’s help, was able to translate the Book of
Mormon. I know that the Book of Mormon is the true word of God, and is the most
correct of any book, and that we truly can grow nearer to God by abiding by its
precepts. I am so thankful for this gospel. I can’t image my life without it.
I’m thankful for my family and what a blessing they are to me, and for the
knowledge I have of the Plan of Salvation and the fact that I get to be sealed
to my family forever.
I’m so
thankful for the love and support of my family, friends, and this ward and I
can’t wait to share the gospel with the people of Everett Washington.
I say
these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
