Prepared To Serve

Discipleship is a lifelong journey. Serving a mission is one way to come closer to Christ and be a true disciple. I have prepared in ways that I had never before thought would benefit my life the way they have now. 

1. The first and biggest step in becoming prepared is to establish a habit of saying daily prayers. As I worked on beginning my days with a prayer, I was able to develop a new relationship with my Father in heaven. He helped me to see the joys in every day life, and He protected me from the storms of the adversary that came my way as I chose to dedicate my time to the Lord.

2. Smile! Yes, smiling can help in so many ways! As soon as you wake up, smile! Smile at random people at the store. Smile at the people passing you in the street. Share your smile with those around you. I promise it will help with preparations to serve. The Lord wants us to be happy, and what better way than to share your light through a smile?

3. Look for ways to serve around you, and then do it! Service is an excellent way to draw closer to God, and to learn to love others. You can't be a successful missionary without loving the people that you serve. Service doesn't have to be an extreme project that is planned over a long period of time. Simple things, such as posting uplifting thoughts and quotes on social media sights, doing the dishes for someone who is unable to, or even cleaning your room! (Trust me, moms love seeing clean rooms!)

4. Ask for priesthood blessings, and read your Patriarchal blessing frequently. I have had some really tough days when I've felt completely stuck. The adversary makes it really, REALLY hard sometimes to prepare to serve a mission! Those times are when I have turned to the priesthood for help. I pray beforehand, and then I receive the priesthood blessing. After a really hard day, a priesthood blessing is a great way to feel relief and gain personal revelation for where to go next in preparations.

5. "Ponderize" the scriptures. Take the time to study and ponder the scriptures daily. Establish a habit of daily scripture study in your life. I have found that as I take the time to listen to the Spirit, I greatly benefit from my studies. The Spirit guides me in my scripture studies, and I learn so much more!

6. Develop good relationships with your family. Learning to love and serve your family helps you to love and serve those you will teach in the mission field. It will also help you to get along better with your mission companions. Pray for help, and diligently try to see the good in each family member. Look for the good instead of the bad. God will help you to see them through His eyes if you seek to love them.

7. Replace the bad with the good. Sometimes, there are habits or situations in your life that aren't in harmony with the Spirit. Be willing to replace the bad with good, and, if needed, talk to the Bishop. He will help you to free you from your burdens through the Atonement. He will guide you through the steps, and he will be your friend through it.

8. Stand up for what you believe! Be brave. If someone is saying or doing something that you aren't comfortable with, take a stand and let them know! If I am listening to the radio in the car, and a song comes on that I don't like, I make sure to tell someone if I don't feel comfortable with the music, and usually they change it to something better. Dare to stand up for what you believe!

9. Be proud of who you are. Many people are insecure about themselves. They allow the adversary to creep into their lives and tell them that they aren't good enough, or point out their flaws. Instead of allowing the adversary in, command him away and look for the good in yourself! Understand that you are a beloved child of God, and that you are worth it. God wants you to see the good in yourself. He wants you to be happy. So next time you are feeling downtrodden and alone, look in the mirror and smile at yourself. Then say to yourself, "I am proud of who I am! I am a child of God, and He loves me!"

10. Bear your testimony frequently. It may be one of the hardest things to do at Church, but stand up and bear your testimony! My first time bearing testimony in Sacrament Meeting was just a few short months ago. Since then, I have been able to get up almost every time I feel the Spirit urging me to go, and I have been filled with the words that I have needed to say. My testimony has been strengthened through sharing it, and through my everyday tries to become more like Christ.

So, in a nutshell:

1. Establish a habit of saying daily prayers

2. Smile!

3. Look for ways to serve around you, and then do it!

4. Ask for priesthood blessings, and read your Patriarchal blessing frequently. 

5. "Ponderize" the scriptures.

6. Develop good relationships with your family.

7. Replace the bad with the good.

8. Stand up for what you believe!

9. Be proud of who you are.

10. Bear your testimony frequently.

Life is beautiful!

Ever smiling,

JS :)