Personal Peace (Utah Farewell)

North of Jerusalem, about eighty miles or so, lies the Sea of Galilee. It is a freshwater inland lake a little over twelve miles long and seven miles wide. It was to this lake and the neighboring Galilean hills that Jesus returned so often during his public ministry.

On one journey to Galilee, the Savior taught the multitudes crowded near the water’s edge. Following his discourse, the Savior invited his disciples to join him on a boat, and they set out together for the other side of the lake.

The Sea of Galilee is about 680 feet below sea level. This altitude, or lack thereof, contributes to the lake becoming really hot. The hills surrounding the water, however, rise up to considerable heights. The cold air rushing down from the hills meets the warm air rising from the lake in such a way that sudden and temporarily violent storms can occur on the surface of that inland sea. It was just such a storm that Jesus and his disciples found as they crossed the lake that evening.

The account written by the apostle Mark reads:

“And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?” (Mark 4:36-38) 

I learned something very important from Elder Paul V. Johnson,

 "When we face stormy seas and high winds, we may be tempted to ask, 'Carest thou not that we perish?' We know that the Savior has power to calm our storms, but sometimes He calms our souls instead."

After I decided to go on a mission and received my call, I began having feelings of inadequacy, homesickness, and an overall temptation to not accept the call to serve. It seemed like there was just one thing after another getting in the way. It felt like Satan was directly thwarting my efforts to remain positive. With the support of my family and friends, the desire to serve the Lord stayed with me and I was able to identify that the feelings of doubt I was experiencing were messages from Satan.

I know that my Heavenly Father loves me and I know that he wants me to be happy. I have found personal peace in knowing that the Lord will protect me from the world and from Satan’s temptations, and guide me in my trials as I live the gospel of Jesus Christ.

It is no news that we all experience trials. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we are taught that our trials can help refine and prepare us to return to our Heavenly home. Unfortunately, we often forget this and like I did so recently, we fall victim to the discouraging words of the devil.

Few, if any, blessings from God are more valuable to our spiritual health than the reward of peace within. In modern-day revelation the Savior said,

“But learn that he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come.” (D&C 59:23)

We know from Alma that, “this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.” (Alma 32:34)

President Joseph F. Smith taught,

“There is only one thing that can bring peace into the world. It is the adoption of the gospel of Jesus Christ, rightly understood, obeyed and practiced by rulers and people alike. It is being preached in power to all nations, kindreds, tongues and peoples of the world, by the Latter-day Saints, and the day is not far distant when its message of salvation shall sink deep into the hearts of the common people, who, in sincerity and earnestness, when the time comes, will not only surely register their judgment against a false Christianity, but against war and the makers of war as crimes against the human race. For years it has been held that peace comes only by preparation for war; the present conflict should prove that peace comes only by preparing for peace, through training the people in righteousness and justice, and selecting rulers who respect the righteous will of the people.”

In a talk entitled The Path to Peace, President Monson suggests three important ideas that inspire personal peace. Search inward, reach outward, and look heavenward.

First, search inward.

Elder Richard L. Evans observed: “To find peace—the peace within, the peace that passeth understanding—men must live in honesty, honoring each other, honoring obligations, working willingly, loving and cherishing loved ones, serving and considering others, with patience, with virtue, with faith and forbearance, with the assurance that life is for learning, for serving, for repenting, and improving. And God be thanked for the blessed principle of repenting and improving, which is a way that is open to us all.” Truly peace will reign triumphant when we improve ourselves after the pattern taught by the Lord.

Second, reach outward.

Membership in the Church calls forth a determination to serve. Service, to be acceptable to the Savior, must come from willing minds, ready hands, and pledged hearts.

This reminded me of one of my favorite scriptures, and a scripture that helped me regain the courage to serve a mission. “Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God, ye are called to the work.” (D&C 4:3) 

Because, like the prophet has said,

“Occasionally discouragement may darken our pathway; frustration may be a constant companion. In our ears there may sound the sophistry of Satan as he whispers, “You cannot save the world; your small efforts are meaningless. You haven’t time to be concerned for others.” Trusting in the Lord, let us turn our heads from such falsehoods and make certain our feet are firmly planted in the path of service and our hearts and souls dedicated to follow the example of the Lord. In moments when the light of resolution dims and when the heart grows faint, we can take comfort from His promise: “Be not weary in well-doing. … Out of small things proceedeth that which is great.” 

(D&C 64:33)

 Sometimes I feel small; I feel like a child who just barely turned 19 (which is true), I feel unprepared for the mission ahead of me, but I find peace and comfort in knowing that if I give the Lord my heart and willing mind, he can accomplish miracles through me.

         Third, look Heavenward.

As we do, we find it comforting and satisfying to communicate with our Heavenly Father through prayer, that path to spiritual power—even a passport to peace. We are reminded of His beloved Son, the Prince of Peace, that pioneer who literally showed the way for others to follow. His divine plan can save us from the Babylons of sin, complacency, and error. His example points the way.

Personal peace comes through the adoption of the gospel of Jesus Christ rightly understood, obeyed, and practiced—through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, the ministration of the Holy Ghost, and our own righteousness, sincere repentance, and diligent service.

When the Savior was faced with temptation, He shunned it. When offered the world, He declined it. When asked for His life, He gave it. We can all try a little harder every day to be more like the Savior and we can witness the blessings of personal peace in our own lives.

“Peace is more than a lofty ideal. It is a practical principle that, with conscious effort, can become a normal part of our lives as we deal with matters both large and small…” Joseph B. Wirthlin counseled, “My brothers and sisters, we can be at peace if we “let virtue garnish [our] thoughts unceasingly.” (D&C 121:45) The power is in us as spirit children of our Heavenly Father. He and his Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, have provided the way for us to be at peace. We can enjoy that peace of God which passeth human understanding. (Philip. 4:7) We can enjoy it personally, within our families, in our communities, in our nations, and in our world if we will do the things that produce it. This peace leads to happiness.”

 While I anticipate hard, stressful, disheartening days on my mission, while I expect to often worry about my family, I know that Christ is and has always been a true and present Savior in my life. I know that serving the Lord will always, always lead to peace and comfort in our hearts and minds.

"Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you." (John 20:21)

I feel the peace that comes from Christ. I have a testimony of the divine call of missionaries and I know that Christ says, send I you, Sister Mohler. He has sent me to these people, bearing his love, and I have found a personal peace in knowing that he will help me serve them.

We will face stormy seas and high winds, we may be tempted to ask, “Carest thou not that we perish?” But remember this,

Called To The Work

My last post was about talents and missionary work. I suppose it's time to put my money where my mouth is...

One typical, below zero, day in Logan I was waiting for the bus and to distract myself from the looming frostbite potential #vegasgirl, I called my mom. I told her of a cool piano arrangement of two Primary songs I had listened to on YouTube. At the end of the conversation we decided it would be a fun project to create and record a less traditional album of church songs. While, yes it was fun, it was also a TON OF WORK. I had no idea what I was in for. I wanted to use the album as a missionary tool, but the project lacked motivation. I picked out some songs I thought I'd try and laid them aside.

When I made the decision to go on a mission, I made it a goal to pay for at least half of my full-time mission on my own. Then, I had some sort of epiphany; I had found my motivation. I wanted to show people what I was going to be doing on this mission, what I'd be testifying of, and hopefully interest people in the gospel. I decided I would sell the album to accomplish both of my goals #twobirdsonestone.

In addition to working on the album, I have held 3 back to back jobs. Yeah, I'm really not letting this goal go haha #stubborn. I have spent many, many, hours in the studio, often second guessing the investment, and even more often trying to throw it all away. Having completed the album, I feel so accomplished! It is not perfect by any means, but I have worked hard and seen the results of my labors! 

I couldn't have done any of it without the full support of my parents, one of my best friends, duet partner, guitarist, extraordinaire Erik Dalton, my pianist Taylor Griffin, Tim Moes at WhySound Recording, and Carly Campbell Photography.

The bottom line: I am selling an album of favorite hymns and Primary songs to share my testimony of Christ and to help finance my full-time LDS mission. I would love for you to have a copy, to share it with your family, your friends, your neighbors, and anyone who would love to hear a message of Christ and missionary work. Thank you! (: 

To Purchase: Visit the "Music" tab above.

I chose to title the album "Called To The Work" as quoted from D&C 4:3.

"Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work;"

This scripture is significant to me because as I've said before, I didn't think I wanted to serve a mission. I received a prompting that I couldn't refuse and I have a desire to serve God. I have been called to the work and I can't wait to start!

This is the artwork from the inside of the CD case. I chose to include a quote from President Eyring:

"Whatever our age, capacity, church calling, or location, we are as one called to the work to help Him in His harvest of souls until he comes again."

This quote is significant to me because I truly believe that every member can be a missionary in his or her own capacity. I hope that this album can be used as a tool to share the gospel. Members, young and old, leaders, and full-time missionaries, we are as one

 called to the work.

Talents and Missionary Work

Last week I was really struggling with feelings of inferiority. I kept letting in evil little thoughts that said things like, "you'll never be a good enough missionary, there's so much you can't do, you should just give up, you're going to miss out on everything, no one wants to hear what you have to say anyway." 

JUST GIVE UP SATAN.

If you are not familiar with the Parable of the Talents, or if you need a refresher, here is an overview as told by Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Seventy: 

"Jesus told the story of a master who gave each of his three servants a sum of money. The amounts were set according to each servant’s previously demonstrated capabilities. The man then left for a long time. When he returned, he asked each of these servants to report what he had done with the money.

The first two servants revealed they had doubled his investment. 'Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord,' was the master’s reply.

The third servant then came trembling before his master. He had already heard what the others had reported and knew that he could not give a similar report. 'I was afraid,' the servant said, 'and went and hid thy talent in the earth.' The master was upset. 'Thou wicked and slothful servant,' he said. Then he commanded, 'Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.' 

The Savior then gave the interpretation of the parable: Those who obtain other talents receive more talents in abundance. But those who do not obtain other talents shall lose even the talents they had initially."

(see Matt. 25:21-28)

Admittedly, most days I hide the talents my master has given me. I am often afraid that if I were to share them and they are not warmly accepted by every. single. person. in the whole world, I would be a failure. Dishonor! Dishonor on your whole family! Dishonor on you, dishonor on your cow, dis... (name that movie) There will always be someone better at whatever I try to do. Might as well just pretend I don't have any talents and hope Heavenly Father doesn't notice, right?

Ha! WRONG! This is exactly what Satan wants you to think, and you should probably reconsider your strategies. This is war!    

First of all, "Every one of us has been blessed with many marvelous capabilities, and one of the great objectives of our journey through mortality is to improve upon them." And don't you forget it.

Elder Rasband discusses 3 principles that have helped me apply this parable of Jesus. They coincide ever so perfectly with missionary work, that's what I think! I call it The 3 Step Program to Becoming a More Confident Missionary...or something like that.

ONE: "Seek earnestly to discover the talents the Lord has given you." What a great first step! Identify some of your strengths. If you are having trouble doing this, think of things you like to do. If you really like to do it, you might have a talent for it (: Also, ask close friends, family members, and ward leaders to help you determine where your strengths lie. Many times others can see in us what we find difficult to see in ourselves. Study the scriptures and your Patriarchal blessing; ponder and pray for insight and inspiration. Don't rule out small and simple things! 

TWO: "Use your talents to build up the kingdom of God." I can't think of a better way to use them! We all have many opportunities to help others identify their talents. I am so grateful for the many people who have helped me identify, strengthen, and add to my talents. Successes in lives of those we lift as they pursue their own talents can bring us great joy (: Not to mention, focusing on serving the Savior can guide us toward making better decisions in our daily lives, and well as support strong missionary work. When we teach with the loving Spirit of God, we can better cater to the needs of each individual investigator and bring cherished souls unto Christ. This perspective prepares us to do whatever the Lord may ask of us at any time, (including serve a mission when you didn't even know you wanted to...lol. Or when the Lord sends you one big trial of a companion, etc.) I also have a testimony that when we use our talents to build up the kingdom of God, we receive the courage to share them and strength to help them grow. I have definitely experienced this recently in my own life. President Gordon B. Hinckley exemplifies this important attitude: “My talents may not be great, but I can use them to bless the lives of others. I can be one who does his work with pride in that which comes from his hand and mind.” Love him! 

THREE: "Acknowledge God’s hand in your success." If you're not doing this already, slap yourself. Now fix it. Like Elder Rasband, I am thankful for the knowledge Heavenly Father has given us. We are His children and we are to magnify and multiply our talents to our fullest potential. If we will work hard and do our best, using our talents to bless others and build the kingdom of God, we will be brought back into His presence and hear Him say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” 

You are good enough. You can do it. 

When we acknowledge, develop, and multiply our talents, we are more capable of using them to serve the Lord, especially as we serve full-time missions. You will never know the lives you can touch, until you reach. 


Parables of Jesus: The Parable of the Talents BY ELDER RONALD A. RASBAND Of the Seventy

Questions, comments, concerns? Share below! (:

Cold Feet?

Cold feet. Apparently "everyone gets them."

My decision to serve a mission was probably unlike many of my fellow 18 and 19 year-old deciding Sisters. In October 2012 when President Monson made "the announcement" hundreds of young girls were filled with the Spirit; brought to tears with the eagerness to serve. I, on the other hand, had these very thoughts, "Aww, how great for all those girls.  I bet they're all so happy, I'm sure they'll make a huge difference. Well, time to doze off again..." Sorry, I wasn't one of those super stallion Sisters thrashing at the starting gate. A couple of days later, when the excitement had begun to subside I thought, you know, maybe I should ask Heavenly Father and just make sure he's okay with me not going. After much prayer and studying of my Patriarchal blessing, which in no way suggests missionary service, I received confirmation that the Lord did indeed approve of my decision to not serve a mission. I nonchalantly asked my bishop what he thought of that and I gleaned that the Lord has an individualized plan for each of his children. Some will serve well on a mission, and some will serve equally as well at home. There are lives to be touched everywhere. (Even in Utah.) Suh-weet! 

A few months later, on exactly January 21, 2013 the Lord helped change my mind. It is not uncommon for me to lie awake at night reviewing my day, worrying about the future, etc., but this night was particularly stressful. Maybe it was the start of a new semester at the Lord's university (Utah State that is) or maybe the Diet Coke I drank too close to bedtime. I prayed that my mind would be at ease. Nothing changed. My train of thought veered into the "what if" stage, where I fantasize and daydream and eventually fall asleep. This night, the subject of my daydreaming was "what if" I served a mission. Then the impression came to pray again. It was strong and deliberate. I prayed again, but this time I asked if He was trying to tell me to reconsider a mission (to which I was opposed.) I then received another strong and deliberate impression to re-read my Patriarchal blessing right in those wee hours of the night. Before I could even finish reading I was an emotional wreck. I have never been so overcome by the Spirit of God, never felt so loved, so important, and so determined to serve a mission. It was like the words on that page read entirely different for just that one night. All signs pointed GO. I accepted this grand personal revelation and miraculously fell asleep. The next morning I was a little bit in denial. I kept praying, "Why me? You said I didn't have to just a few months ago? Are you positively sure you're asking the right person?" Eventually I gathered up the nerve to tell my mom, and only her, and swear her to secrecy. (I still wasn't convinced this should go public just yet haha.) The thing is, I knew that I was called to serve by the Lord himself, and that this was part of my divine purpose on Earth, but other forces were reminding me of how many other plans I had for the next two years! 

Within a week, I was 100 million percent committed to serving a mission. I had never been so sure of, or so excited for anything in my whole life! I finished my papers in one day and submitted them exactly 120 days prior to my 19th birthday. #onpoint. I received the call to serve in the Ohio Cleveland Mission at the Historic Kirtland Visitors Center! Yay we all knew that...anyway, it has been so enlightening preparing to serve, but the closer it gets the more I forget about that burning manifestation I had in January. So sad! 

As hard as it is to admit, I have really been struggling with the temptation to not serve a mission. You read right. After all the Lord has shown me how could I even let that thought into my mind! Again, I knew I needed to serve because I received such a powerful affirmation that it was the right choice for me, but it seemed like there was so much that kept popping up that makes me want to stay! It's all so silly really. And to think of what a comparatively small sacrifice it is for me to serve! How dare I? Haha! Word is, a lot of people get cold feet, but you just have to remember why you made the decision in the first place. My mother counseled me to never turn back on a decision made by the Spirit and to discern where every prompting was coming from.

I don't know what others' experiences were in the aftermath of "the announcement" but surprisingly I found myself in the midst of bitter young men and women throwing around words like "band-wagoners" and "fad." I would exactly call serving a full-time mission a fad, but nonetheless there was a lot of unexpected negativity towards young Sisters. (I think I know who was behind it.) Recently I was talking to a guy (who shall remain anonymous) and my choice to serve mission came up. He proceeded to go on about how it's not girls' responsibility to serve missions, they are supposed to stay home and get married, and that when it comes to starting a family or serving a mission girls are supposed to be married. He goes on to say that I have plenty of time to get married before I leave, suggesting that would be the best life plan for me, and just really ripping into me. According to him my duty is to mill around and wait to get married. 

Like there isn't a place for Sisters in the mission field? What? I don't know if he was just bitter, or insecure, or maybe he had good intentions, but it was still hurtful and made me second-guess my purpose and self worth. 

My current words for him and anyone else (including Satan) who tries to dissuade me from serving the Lord: I will do whatever I darn well please! On top of that, he has the nerve to ask me out 7 different times after that. You'd think after the first 6 denials he'd get a clue and stop asking. I refuse to date someone who doesn't support my righteous desires and who tries to dissuade me from my own personal revelation.

 I was introduced to this quote by the current SLC Mission President's wife, allegedly by President Hinckley, and it really gave me comfort after hearing so many negative words. 

I have the desire to serve the Lord, I know that he has guided my decision, and I know he will bless me. I believe that the Lord will continue to send little boys to this earth who will become part of that Priesthood Army. When the Lord calls me to be a mother, I want to be strong enough and worthy of raising and teaching these young Priesthood holders and daughters of God, as my mother has been and her mother before. With an eternal perspective, eighteen months is such an insignificant amount of time, but with hard work I know it can yield significant eternal happiness to those who are prepared to receive it. Keeping this in mind as well as the unmistakeable answer to my prayer in January, has helped me regain my focus. The temptation is still there and it has never been harder to ignore. There are a million reasons for me to stay home, get married, finish school, etc. (believe me I'd love to) and only one reason for me to serve a mission. But that one reason is powerful. 

The Lord has asked me to, and so I will.

In Relief Society today I came across Deuteronomy 5:27. It is the response of Moses' people after receiving the 10 Commandments,

 "Go thou near, and hear all that the Lord our God shall say: and speak thou unto us all that the Lord our God shall speak unto thee; and we will hear it, and do it." 

It's so simple! "We will hear it, and do it." I have heard the Lord's will for me through the Holy Ghost, and I am going to do it. 

Surround yourself with those who encourage, inspire, and uplift you, with spiritual supporters and loving friends and family. If you chose to serve an honorable mission you will change lives forever and help build the Kingdom of Heaven. If that was ever on your bucket list, feel free to check it off ;) With the proper faith and companionship you will do amazing things, I just know it (:

What do you think? Questions? Comment below!

I love this talk on personal revelation! 

"There are many spirits which are false spirits. There can be counterfeit revelations, promptings from the devil, temptations! As long as you live, in one way or another the adversary will try to lead you astray...If ever you receive a prompting to do something that makes you feel uneasy, something you know in your mind to be wrong and contrary to the principles of righteousness, do not respond to it!" -Personal Revelation: The Gift, the Test, and the Promise Boyd K. Packer

I Thought I Liked Shopping...

Shopping for clothes had it's ups and downs, as do a lot of things in life. I am blessed to afford to meet my needs in every way, but I wasn't super impressed with the availability of cute, missionary appropriate, and affordable clothes. Going on a mission is voluntary; in fact, you have to pay to go! I am not in the business of spending a fortune on a whole new wardrobe. Before I went "missionary shopping" I had this little theory of mine engrained in my brain:

However, I was pleasantly surprised with the haul I came home with. I managed to break my way into the "highly unlikely" category mentioned above. Here's what I did:

I stopped by one of the most ironic stores ever on a recent trip to Provo. It's called Sexy Modest...enough said. I bought a pencil skirt, a maxi skirt (just to wear before I leave), and a blouse. The hem and side stitching came out in the skirt after one wear, the maxi skirt is practically see through now and ball-y all over, and the stitching in the sleeves of the blouse ripped out after one trip to church. Needless to say, I won't be going back...but I still want to take that blouse because it's so cute! 

Next, I went to various outlet stores. I am on the taller end, so I didn't have much luck finding skirts in stores like Ann Taylor or Gap, but I did get a couple of really well made button down shirts at Banana Republic. They were a good investment for me because they will last for a while, and I love the look! #winning Down East Basics has a really great selection of longer skirts and cute tops. I got a big portion of my pieces there. I tried not to get too many things there because some of their things seem to fall apart rather quickly. One thing from Down East that is great to stock up on are the Wonder Tees. You can get them a lot of different places. They are the perfect layering tees and are a great way to increase modesty.

I was super excited to go to The Sister Missionary Mall because I was hoping it would be a one stop shop. Sadly it wasn't, but I did get some fun pieces there and everything is missionary appropriate! A really cool feature they have at The Sister Missionary Mall are binders of surveys from RM Sisters. There is a binder for every continent and a section for every mission. It was so cool to read about my specific mission from someone who had served there! I learned more about the climate, things to remember, and quirky things you normally wouldn't think to bring. A lot of the Sisters left there contact information on the survey just in case you had any more questions! I spent most of my budget at Mikarose (thanks for the suggestion Meredith and Cynthia!) While I was hesitant to enter the store, I found the perfect black pencil skirt and a really cute blazer at Dress Barn. I would have never guessed!

At this point I felt really confident in my array of clothing, but I wanted some advice from the experts. I took a trip to Temple Square and had a brief chat with the awesome Sisters there. Their advice to me was so perfect I don't know why I didn't think of it in the first place! They said to look at the DI and to look at Target and Wal-Mart.

           DUH!

I took a good look at the DI, but couldn't find much in my size. The great thing about the DI is that there are new things every day, and different things in every location! I will definitely keep looking (: I got a couple staple cardigans at Target and great exercise clothes.

The biggest challenges I came across were:
1. Skirt length
2. Tight fit
3. Learning to buy what's best for my body type
4. Not finding what I was looking for
5. Focusing on buying missionary clothes and not all the cute summer clothes

Luckily, all of these challenges could be overcome! I am still on the hunt for a great khaki pencil skirt, shoes, boots, and some winter things. Come fall, I'll be ready to go!

The best advice I have is:
1.  a) Start at the DI, Ross, Savers, etc.
    b) Then Wal-Mart and Target,
    c) Then Sister Missionary Mall, Mika Rose, and Down East and stores like that.
2. Wear a layering tee. It's so helpful when you're trying on shirts to save a cute shirt that might have been overlooked due to questionable modesty.
3. Take your amazing mother if possible ;) So fun!

Any other suggestions?! What do you think? Share your thoughts and comment below!

“No matter how plain a woman may be, if truth and honesty are written across her face, she will be beautiful.” ― Eleanor Roosevelt

Click HERE for the secret to always looking beautiful!

I've heard that people are like onions, with layers of themselves. I would rather be a matryoshka doll... Pretty on the inside. You can have all the clothes in the world, but it's what's inside that counts (:

Stacy? Clinton? Anyone?

As I prepare to serve my mission, the thought of buying "missionary clothes" slightly perturbs me (and by slightly I mean really). #firstworldprobs Now don't get me wrong, I love to shop, but I feel like I have NO idea what is mission appropriate and what is not. 

Since the recent revamping of the Sister missionary dress and grooming standards, everything I thought I knew about the Sister missionary dress code has been dissolved...thank goodness.

The church website is great and has tons of outfit examples! I've also had a lot of success shamelessly stalking Sister Diederich's outfits from Bella In Berlin. There are also resources like Pinterest that can help lost souls like me. Unfortunately, however, I'm really good at complicating things. I always have questions like, "What is too tight? How do I know if I'm in 'style' or if I'm 'faddish'? Is this pattern too distracting? How did I convince myself that I could do this?!" I've recently discovered that what I'm really looking for is "What Not To Wear" - Missionary Edition. 


"As an ambassador of the Lord, you are to wear professional, conservative clothing that is consistent with your sacred calling and that will clearly identify you as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Appropriate dress and grooming will help you earn respect and trust. Your appearance is often the first message others receive, and it should support what you say. Never allow your appearance or your behavior to draw attention away from your message or your calling."


After some research, I have come up with a few rules of tumb:

Too short: After sitting in classrooms with Elders, or investigators, or mission presidents, etc. for such long periods of the day, Sisters become very self conscious. If you ever have to tug your skirt [we all do it], it's too short.

Too long: Skirts that are ankle or floor length have been indicated as not being appropriate. This sort of length has been associated with weirdness [see picture above]. Frankly, I'm always tangling my maxi skirts in something, or worse tripping over them anyway. Bottom line, we've been asked to avoid near ankle-length, or longer, hemlines and so we shall (:

Too tight: I love myself a good tube skirt, but while a tight skirt may be long enough when you first put it on, it is guaranteed to shimmy it's way on up. Another issue with tight skirts are the zippers. I pray you bring a sewing kit and know how to use it because zippers on tight skirts can be a pain. You are a representative of Christ and want to present yourself in the classiest way possible. [It also helps the Elders to stay focused if we are extra modest]

Too distracting: Going on a mission is a joyous act of service and it is okay to express that in your clothes! Neutral palettes will allow you mix and match more options, but don't be afraid to choose clothing in a variety of colors and patterns (:

I think it's safe to say that this type of pattern should be avoided at all costs... [is that a dead body on there?!]

Faddish: While researching this hazy definition, I came across the EFY dress and grooming standards. It says, "Faddish clothing (i.e. Gothic, Emo, etc.) is not appropriate." So I'm pretty sure I'm solid as far as avoiding faddish styles haha. I also think "hipster," "grunge," or only choosing to wear one particular brand of clothing could be considered "faddish," to an extent. I spoke to an mission president's wife in SLC and she said that those cute forehead headbands are a no-no for Sister missionaries. They just aren't professional.

The dress code will vary, sometimes dramatically, depending on where you are serving. When shopping or packing for your mission always keep in mind your location, including the area's social norms, weather, and your personal comfort. Your mission president [maybe more so his wife] will play a huge role in what you can and can't wear in your specific mission. While the church has set dress and grooming standards, like many things, the mission president and his wife have the power to interpret them as they wish. It is important to be obedient to them and obedient to the Lord (:

Does anyone have any insights or suggestions? Comment below!

“There is no need for you or for me, in this enlightened age when the fullness of the gospel has been restored, to sail uncharted seas or to travel unmarked roads in search of truth. A loving Heavenly Father has plotted our course and provided an unfailing guide — even obedience. A knowledge of truth and the answers to our greatest questions come to us as we are obedient to the commandments of the Lord.” -President Thomas S. Monson