Good morning brothers and sisters. I
would just like to start off by saying thank you for all coming today and
supporting me. It really means a lot. I chose to speak on examples in my life
and how I can be an example, but first I’d like to talk about how I got here
today.
In the
middle of my senior year, that’s when I decided that I wanted to serve a
mission. I remember telling my friends and my parents that my plan was to do my
generals for 2 years and then go on a mission. No one really took me seriously.
Well, that all changed on October 6th, 2012 when President Monson
changed the missionary age. Right when he announced it I got this overwhelming
feeling of happiness that I needed to serve a mission. I looked at my mom and
told her I was going on a mission. She pretty much died. My parents didn’t know
if I was serious but then one month went by and I started my papers and turned
them in. I was so excited and so nervous to get my call.
I’ll never forget the day I got my call. It was January 24-the
day of the major ice storm. I definitely thought I was going state side. When I
was opening my call and was about to read it, I had this overwhelming feeling I
was going out of the country. When I saw the words Scotland/Ireland mission on
that paper, my first thought was, “oh man my mom is going to hyperventilate.” J And I’ll admit, in the beginning, I
was so excited because I thought, “oh this will be so fun. It’s going to be an
adventure because I’m going to Scotland, Ireland, and England.” But then one
night as I was in my bed, I thought about how a mission really is and that I’m
not going for the scenery or the adventure. I am leaving my family for 18
months to help people come unto Christ and be with their families forever just
like I get to be with mine. I am laboring and serving, not playing. So now here
I am, giving my farewell talk to go and serve the people in Scotland and
Ireland.
My first example I want to talk about
today is probably the most important- Jesus Christ. He was the greatest
missionary to ever walk this earth. I know that my mission won’t be easy. I
know it will be the hardest and most tiring task I will ever do, but it does
not compare to the mission Jesus Christ was on throughout his life. Christ
didn’t go on a 2 year mission; he went on a 33 year mission. He was a
missionary his whole life. He taught anyone, anytime, anywhere. One of my
friends who is serving a mission right now sent me a poem. It reads,
“Sleep
starts to overtake me, I seem to drift away. A vision takes me to another time
in another day. I’m standing alone on a hill, the view is very nice. A man
walks towards me and say’s “My name is Jesus Christ.” Tears of joy well up
inside. I fall down to his feet. “Arise” he states, “follow me to the shade,
you and I need to speak.” He says “your mission is similar of what happened to
me. I even know how you felt when no one listened to you. At times I felt not
quite sure what else I could do. I know you don’t like to ride a bicycle, for
you a car would be sweet. Just remember the donkey I rode wasn’t equipped with
21 speeds. I see you don’t like your companion-you’d rather have someone else-I
once had a companion named Judas who sold my life for wealth. It’s hard to wear
a helmet and have people make fun of you, I remember when they put thorns on my
head and called me King of the Jews. So you feel burdened down by the weight of
your pack, I recall how heavy the cross was when they slammed it on my back.
Your hands hurt from tracting and knocking on doors all day, I guess when they
pounded nails in mine I ached a similar way. It’s hard not to hear from home
when your family is not there to see. I lost communication on the cross and
cried “Father why hast thou forsaken me?” We have a lot in common but there’s a
difference between us, you see I endured to the end and finished my mission. So
follow and do like me.” He embraced me with his arms and light filled me with
his love. With tears in my eyes I watched as he went back to the father above.”
This poem opened my eyes to what
Jesus went through. I am so thankful for my brother and what he did for me. I
know my mission will be hard but I can and will get through it. It will be
worth the sacrifices.
My second example that I chose to
talk about is my friends. My group of friends is unique. We are closer than
ever. I don’t know who or where I would be if it weren’t for my friends. We all
have good standards and try to do the right thing. I want to talk about one of
my closest girlfriends, Abby Chamberlain. Abby has influenced my life more than
I know. I’ve known her since I was in kindergarten and have been best friends
since 7th grade. Ever since a year ago, she wasn’t a member but she
went to young women’ with me since she was 12 years old. Abby was and is always
so sweet and kind to everyone. Every time I am around her, I want to be a
better person. She grew up attending church and heard the missionary
discussions right after we graduated. She then made the courageous decision to
be baptized last summer. Someone with
that much courage and determination is amazing to me. Not only did she make the
decision to be baptized, she decided that she wanted to serve a mission when
president Monson announced the new missionary age. Me and Abby were roommates
this past semester down at UVU and it was the funnest time of my life. I
learned so much from her. Every time I’d turn around, Abby would either be
reading her scriptures, or working on Preach My Gospel and it always made me
want to be better at doing that as well. We chose to go to the temple every
week together as we were preparing to serve missions. Even when we had finals
and were more stressed than ever, she still encouraged me to go with her. Abby
is such a great example to me. I am so thankful Heavenly Father chose me to be
one of her friends because she is the best person I know. I love you Abs.
You’re going to be a great missionary. England is lucky to have you. I am so
excited to be going to the same MTC as you. Thanks for everything.
The other
person I want to talk about is my cousin Cole. He is currently serving a
mission in Washington, D.C. and gets home on September 5th. He is
such a huge example to me. In high school, Cole overcame challenges and chose
to serve a mission because of the influence his friends had on him. He is now
an AP in his mission and is doing great! Before his mission, he had an incident
happen to him which caused him to have narcolepsy. He still chose to serve a
mission even though he hardly sleeps. He is tired all the time but he is so
strong. I know he’s not alone on his mission. He has so many angels looking
over him and helping him along the way. Cole is such an example to me and I
couldn’t be more proud of him.
Friends are
everything to me. They made me who I am today. I am so thankful for them. I especially
look up to my 16 guy friends who are serving missions around the world right
now. I can’t wait to be a part of the adventure, to join the “mighty band of
youth.”
Everyone in
this chapel is an example to someone. As a missionary of the church and as one
of Christ’s mouth pieces, I need to be the very best example I can be and live
Christ-like because people are looking at me 24/7. I am preparing to preach the
gospel and so I need to be living it. Investigators will be putting me under
the microscope and watch my every move and so I want and need to show people,
members and non-members, the joy that the gospel brings to my life. From the
day I said I wanted to go on a mission, people would watch me. Every member in
the church needs to be an example and live a Christ-like life. I want to share
this quote called “I am a Disciple. I am part of the Unashamed.” It reads,
“I am a part of the fellowship of the Unashamed. I have the
Holy Spirit Power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The
decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won’t look back, let
up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes
sense, and my future is secure. I am finished and done with low living, sight
walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions, mundane
talking, chintzy giving, and dwarfed goals. I no longer need preeminence,
prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don’t have to be
right, first, top, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by
presence, learn by faith, love by patience, lift by prayer and labor by power. My
pace is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven, my road is narrow, my way is
rough, my companions few, my Guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I cannot
be bought, compromised, deterred, lured away, turned back, diluted, or delayed.
I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of
adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of
popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won’t give up, back up, or
let up until I’ve preached up, prayed up, paid up, stored up, and stayed up for
the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I must go until He
returns, give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He comes. And
when He comes to get His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My colors
will be clear for “I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of
God for the salvation of everyone who believes.”
Putting on my missionary badge is a commitment to
preaching the gospel and showing my love for Christ and the people of Scotland
and Ireland. I am so beyond excited and grateful to serve a mission. I know it
will be the hardest thing I will ever do but it will be the best thing I will
ever do. Now I guess it’s time for the hard part. I know some people think it’s
tacky to talk about their families, but family is everything to me.
I
would just like to thank my 3 brother-in-laws for everything they’ve done for
me. I will miss you 3 like crazy. I love you.
Meg-I’m
glad you’re moving away to so I won’t be the only one who’s homesick. Love you
Meg. Thanks for all you’ve done for me. I’ll miss you.
Ash-
Thanks for always being interested in what’s going on in my life. I have loved
living with you these past 2 months. Thanks for everything. I will miss you. Love
you Ash.
Whit-
Thanks for always putting up with me and hanging out with me. I will miss you
so much. I love you whit.
Dad-
Thank you for being my buddy ever since I was little. Thank you for all your
support throughout my life. I will miss you so much dad. I’ll always be your
baby girl. I love you.
Now
for the beautiful lady sitting next to my handsome dad. Mom, thanks for being
my best friend. Thanks for being so excited and happy for me. You’ve helped me
so much these past 8 months. I will miss you more than anything. I love you
mama. J
I can’t wait to go and
serve. I know this is what I am supposed to be doing. I am so grateful for this
opportunity. I love my Heavenly Father. I know this church is true. I love this
gospel……
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