Called to Serve

Brothers and Sisters,

The time has finally come. I'm finally leaving to become a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I'll be serving as a missionary in the Chile Santiago North mission for about 24 months.

First off I'll be in the Missionary Training Center in Provo, UT for about two months. There I'll get the chance to learn Spanish (as much as you can in two months I guess) and review the doctrine that I'll be teaching. I hear it is a pretty intense experience at the MTC. I'm personally really looking forward to moving to my next phase of preparation at the MTC.

About mid-september I'll finally be in the beautiful city of Santiago, Chile! That will be so awesome, and from there I'll get started doing the Lord's work and bringing His children into His true gospel.

The work consists of finding people to teach, and then teaching them the doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and helping them change so that they can more fully follow the example of Jesus Christ.

I truly believe the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to be true. The Book of Mormon is a true book, it is another testament of Jesus Christ, along with the Old and New Testaments. Joseph Smith was truly a prophet of God and called to restore his Gospel on this earth in the latter days. I feel very privileged to serve as a representative of this great Chuch to God's children in the land of Chile.

The Words of an Apostle

I have been absolutely blessed beyond measure the past year and a half. Up until about half way through my senior year I've had the opportunity to meet and listen to the words of one apostle, Elder Russel M. Nelson when I was very young. Within the past year or so I've listened up close and met (in a manner of speaking) Elder M. Russel Ballard, Elder Robert D. Hales, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (3 times), President Thomas S. Monson, and just tonight I met Elder Richard G. Scott.

I had a regional conference with the attendance of President Boyd K. Packer and President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, and I've had the opportunity to attend three sessions of conference in the conference center.

The Lord has poured out so many blessings of counsel, guidance, and inspiration from his most excellent servants.

Tonight I had the chance to go see Elder Scott speak at a nearby stake conference in Orem, the invitation coming from my friend Dave whos father was recently called into the First Quorum of the Seventy and also spoke tonight. The night was unforgettable, I had the chance to hear an apostle of God bear witness that Jesus Christ lives! He is our savior and redeemer.

I had the chance to meet with him afterwards and I told him that myself, Jordan, and Matt were preparing to go on a mission. His words were this, "That is the absolutely most important thing you can do. Don't let ANYTHING get in the way of serving a mission." I was absolutely inspired by his words and his testimony.

I was also able to meet with Elder Nielsen and Sister Nielsen. They are very loving and fantastic people, I can see now where Dave gets it. I felt the Spirit SO strong tonight- my testimony was very strenghened.

I testify that the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles act as the mouthpieces of God. They have the authority to speak in His name and have divinely inspired councel for each and every one of us. Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer, he paid for each and every one of our sins. He lives! He has a body of flesh and blood, obtained after He was resurrected. The Gospel is true. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Called to Serve

So I know its been almost three months since I updated this blog. Please forgive me.

I have some exciting news. Three weeks ago I recieved a called from the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to serve as a missionary and representative of the church for the space of 24 months. I've been asked to labor for that time in the Chile Santiago North mission. I'll be entering the Missionary Training Center in Provo, UT on July 15th. Approximately 3.4 months from now.

I have never been so excited or happy in my life. I can't believe I'll learn to read and write Spanish! I was kind of freaking out, but then my friend Dave, who is serving a mission in Japan, showed me a Japanese Book of Mormon and I felt a little humbled.

This is exactly what I want to be doing. It's kind of a bummer that I'll have to wait around for a few months before I ship out.

I can't wait to preach to the people of Santiago, its going to be awesome.

The Words of a Prophet

I must say that this has been one of the best weeks ever and we're only on Wednesday.

I feel so blessed to be a student at BYU and have amazing opportunites that millions and millions of other members of my faith can only dream of.

On Sunday evening, the Prophet himself came to speak on campus. Thomas S. Monson, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints came to speak directly to the student body. Me and my boy Matt Ballard went straight to the Marriott Center after church and set up camp to wait in line about 5 hours before President Monson's address. Despite the freezing weather we made a great time of it, singing hymns with the other students at the head of the line and all just waiting in anticipation of seeing God's prophet up close. The time finally came when they opened the doors and let me tell you, I've never seen such a mad rush through the door. Think Black Friday. Anyways, my friend and I ended up getting the best seats in the house, the front left floor seating. That way we ended up being directly in front of the Prophet as he made his way to and from the podium.

His address was magnificient. He spoke of the need for preparation in life. He spoke of the importance of education and the benefits that preparation brings to life. What really stuck out to me was his admonishment of not starting out great but then allowing oneself to fizzle out near the end. I think I've really learned from my mistake of second semester of senior year- senioritis. I don't want that to happen again. Anyways, as he was walking from the podium I had the opportunity to be within three feet of the man. It was a drastically humbling and powerful experience.

If that wasn't enough, Elder Holland came to speak to the students at BYU for the weekly Tuesday morning devotional. I have been blessed enough to see Elder Holland speak up close three times in the past year. My friend Jordan and I went a couple hours early and got a similar seat to the one I had on Sunday. His words really brought the spirit to me. He spoke of Lot's wife and her mistake in the longing for the wickedness and sin of her past. He spoke about not living in the mistakes or blunders of the past, or living in the fear of the future. He stressed that we must charge forward with confidence and find joy in the here and now. He also commanded of us that we must bring each other up instead of bringing each other down by bringing up the past.

After it was over I had the chance to shake his hand and thank him for his sacrifice in the church. I am so blessed, this was my second chance to thank and shake his hand in the past year.

I have a testimony that I would still have even if I never got the chance to see these glorious men in person. They are men called of God to do His work here on the earth. The words they speak are truth and scripture and have shaped my life and testimony.

Concerts

I know this was all a week ago but I've been meaning to get around to this.

Last Saturday I had the chance to go to two phenomenal concerts. The first was at Alex Graves' event- This Ain't Yer Granny's Christmas Pageant. I loved it, especially because Cameron Hodges played so much new material. I'm a big fan. Its always a treat to listen to Alex Graves' lyrical poetry. 1950s Alcoholism will always be my all time favorite but I thought his best reading of the night was by far Legalism Pharisitical and She's So Beautiful- I love the jazzy vibe that one brings.

My biggest dilemma of winter break is the fact that Alex's show coincided the same night with the homecoming concert of The Scene Aesthetic. SC is one of my favorite bands, its a two-man band, and it just so happens that the other member has been on an LDS mission for the past two years and just got back two weeks ago. So they finally had a legit concert- on the same night. Anyway, it was vital for me to see them play.

I left over half way through Alex's show and my friend Casey and I arrived at el Corazon in Seattle in the nick of time to catch the headline show of The Scene Aesthetic. It was a phenomenal song. They played my favorite track- So Peter You've Become a Pirate. They also covered one of my all-time favorites- I Will Follow You Into the Dark by Death Cab for Cutie. I even got the chance to meet up with group member Eric and talk to him a little about his mission. I even got a pic. It was a superb night of music- not one I'll forget any time soon.