“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. I am not suggesting that all young men will—or should—serve at this earlier
age.” This was President Thomas S. Monson’s announcement in his opening remarks
at this past General Conference. When
I first heard this, I was wondering if it was a dream. When I finally realized
that it wasn’t, (this was a few days later…) I was so excited. It puts things
that much closer for me. I’ll be in the field in 3 years! It really is causing
me to be more focused on the Gospel because I want to be a good missionary and
we all should recommit ourselves to preparing for a mission. “Perspective
missionaries will be asked to enhance and improve and take more seriously,
their pre-mission preparation. This should include: total personal worthiness,
supplemented by gospel study of the Book of Mormon and the Standard works of
the Church, seminary classes, and systematic study of the missionary handbook,
Preach My Gospel.” (Jeffrey R. Holland). I have also realized that I need to be
making the right choices in my everyday life, because one bad choice can hurt
me along the way.
I know that because of this announcement I must(among a few):
1. Study His Gospel everyday
2. Learn to teach how Christ
teaches
3. Try my hardest now to love
everyone
4. Be more selfless
5. Always have the Spirit to
be with me (never be in a place where it is hard to hear his still small voice.
6. Establish a good connection
with my Father in Heaven through daily prayer.
In D&C 11:21 it reads: “Seek
not to adeclare
my word, but first seek to bobtain
my cword,
and then shall your tongue be loosed; then, if you desire, you shall have my dSpirit
and my word, yea, the power of God unto the econvincing
of men.” Jeffrey R. Holland insight in this new
announcement is as follows: “It means that God is hastening His work. And He
needs more and more willing and worthy missionaries to spread the light and the
truth and the hope and the salvation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to an often
dark and fearful world.” We need to commit ourselves to being completely worthy
as Elder Holland has advised us. God only sends the most worthy to do His work.
(D&C 105:35 - There has been a day of acalling,
but the time has come for a day of choosing; and let those be chosen that are bworthy.)
Russell M. Nelson in his talk at this conference gives the youth of the church
some counsel. “All missionaries, younger and older, serve with
the sole hope of making life better for other people. The decision to serve a
mission will shape the spiritual destiny of the missionary, his or her spouse,
and their posterity for generations to come.” I know that this Church is true and that this new announcement was indeed inspiration from Heaven and we need to answer the Lord's call. I love this Gospel and I cannot wait to get out and preach the truth unto the world. And I say that in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
P.S. Here is a link to this past conference, if you did not get a chance to hear all of conference, I strongly urge you to do so! It is so awesome! https://www.lds.org/general-conference/sessions/2012/10?lang=eng
