My Decision.

So I have been seriously thinking hard about serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ever since the announcement made in General Conferene. (Hasn't everyone?) And I have decided that if it is possible for me to put school on pause to serve a mission and then resume where I was when I return, I will most definitely be serving a mission.

I would have to stop school immediately and begin working my little tail off so that I could earn enough money, but I am not worried about the money. I find out tomorrow if it is possible to pause school. I just don't want to lose everything that I have worked for already in school.

Anyways, I thought I would share some of the things that triggered my decision to serve. First of all, everyone who has given me such good advice and insight on how to recognize answers from the Lord. There was also a night where I was just getting so frustrated with everything because I was praying about it constantly, fasting, and paying close attention to feelings during my scripture study and I still had no answer. I started crying and feeling so alone because I felt like my prayers were not being heard. Then I had a thought to read the quote for today from my Stand a Little Taller book. I want to share it with you:

Thank the Lord and Offer Sacrifice

 

Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things. Thou shalt offer a sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in righteousness, even that of a broken heart and a contrite spirit. -Doctrine and Covenants 59:7-8

 

Before you make a decision against a mission, count your blessings, dear friend. Think of all the great and marvelous blessings you have. Are they not all gifts from a generous Heavenly Father? Out of a spirit of appreciation and gratitude, and a sense of duty, you ought to make whatever adjustment is neccessary to give a little of your time, consecrating your strength, your means, your talents to the work of sharing with others the gospel, which is the source of so much of the good that you have.

 

 

When I read that I felt like I was smacked in the face with an answer. Instead of asking myself why I should be serving a mission, I started asking why not? I have been blessed to have the truth my whole life. To be so happy with the knowledge that I have. Why am I not doing everything I can to let everyone else know and experience this joy that I have?

 

This is also another great quote. Another reason I decided.

 

Anyways, those are some of the reasons I have decided to serve a mission, if I can get the school thing to work out. If not, then i will be happily getting an education and serving after i graduate if it is the right thing to do :)