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