I was nominated by Olivia Clark to share why I chose to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
I think a mission was something I was always going to do. I'd known that since I was a young boy growing up in the church. To me, I knew that serving a mission was almost a requirement, that it was mandatory, and that it was inevitable.
The question that I really started to ask myself was WHEN should I serve a full-time mission. I was gonna be 18 by the time I graduated so I could leave straight after school if I wanted too. I thought that having a summer job to save money would be a good idea and that I could leave in the fall. My dad said he got to go to BYU for a little bit before his mission and said that college before would be a good choice. I ultimately settled on working over the summer while filling out my papers so I could leave in the fall.
What ended up happening, because of my decision to devote my spare time to things like friends, video games, and goofing off, I didn't get my papers finished at the end of the summer. As I worked on my papers I felt I should be productive in preparing for my mission, so I submitted them with an availability date of January 1 so I could go to BYU-I for a semester. Being at school was such a blessing because it helped me to learn how to function on my own in the world and how I would live and function after my mission, but I also increased my knowledge and testimony of the gospel.
It wasn't until I got into the mission field that I learned the WHY of me being on a mission. As I saw the world around me and the stark contrast between the MTC filled with many happy and eager missionaries ready to go out and serve and the real world full of sadness, misdirection, and hopelessness; I realize why I am a missionary. I now have a desire to help those around me see the truth of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, and the happiness and joy of brings. I want each and every person around me to have the faith and reassurance that I have that everything will be alright in our lives as we continually move forward in Faith and look to Christ for answers and guidance.
Being a missionary has brought me many blessings as well. I've learned a lot of new things, have had crazy and fun experiences, and have met so many awesome people. I've been out in the field a very short time, but I've already seen many miracles being worked in my life and others and I am looking forward to the work that is ahead.
I know it is hard in these trying times, especially for us missionaries. It's easy for us to get down and lose sight of all faith and hope that we have. I know, however, that if we strive to make the best of our situation, Heavenly Father will help us as we read the scriptures, love our family, and pray earnestly for support.
I know that I am on a mission because it's where Heavenly Father wants me to be right now. Circumstances may be changing for us, missionary work may be different, but as we continually trust in the Lord he will lead us to where he needs us to be.
In closing, I'll share how my short time of missionary life has been, using a modified Led Zeppelin lyric: "Good Times, Bad Times, you know I've had my share, when I'm a missionary stuck inside all day and I still don't seem to care". Its been rough these past few weeks, but I've found various ways to keep good spirits and make missionary work fun again. As I put my faith and trust in the Lord my days aren't all that bad and I can increase my faith and testimony of the gospel.
-Elder Thompson
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