The Big Announcement

For those of you who don't know.. my church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, made some big changes in their missionary program on October 6th. Here is a video of it; it's really short.

In this video, our church President, Thomas S. Monson, announces that young men can now serve a mission at 18 (down from 19), and young women at 19 (down from 21). (They will still serve for the same amount of time-- 2 years for men, and 18 months for women.) This inspired change will dramatically increase the number of missionaries across the world, and will allow the gospel of Jesus Christ to spread to even more places!

Now... how does this affect me??

Growing up, I have never considered serving a mission. It wasn't until I first came to BYU, that I even thought about it. I remember thinking about how cool it would be to teach the gospel to those who have never had the opportunity to hear it, but at the same time... I didn't want to wait until I was 21. It seemed so far away. Recently, I had even talked with my roommates about serving a mission and said that if the age was lower, I would definitely go. But, we had no idea that President Monson would make this announcement!

To say I was excited, would be an understatement. As soon as I heard the words come out of his mouth, I knew that I wanted to go. Over the next couple days, I talked to my family about it and they were all supportive of whatever choice I made, but I needed to make sure that it was what God wanted me to do. I have made it a matter of prayer the past couple weeks, and I have continually been filled with peace and joy with this decision. I know that I'm supposed to serve a mission :)

I plan on starting my papers when I come home for Christmas. My availability date will be in May, so I will hopefully leave sometime this Summer! I can't wait to go out and serve the Lord for 18 months. I am really nervous, and have a lot of studying and preparing to do, but I am mostly just really, really excited. :)

I love this quote from Jeffrey R. Holland - "This announcement isn't about you. It's about the sweet and pure message you are being asked to bear and the ever greater numbers God needs to bear it."

I am so blessed to be apart of this generation-- to go forth and bear witness that Jesus Christ is our Savior. I know the truth, and I can't wait to share it with others.

Conference Quotes

I feel truly blessed to have the opportunity to hear words from God's prophet and apostles for an entire weekend, twice a year. They were all truly inspired. Below is a list of a few quotes that really stuck out to me this weekend:

"No cause, no force in the entire world can stop the work of God."

-Thomas S. Monson

"In the eternal scheme of things, not always in mortality, righteous yearnings will be fulfilled."

-Boyd K. Packer

"The best way to defend against evil is to actively promote righteousness."

- Adrian Ochoa

"If the foundation of faith is not embedded in our hearts, the power to endure will crumble."

-Henry B. Eyring

"Acting on even a twig of faith allows God to grow it." -Henry B. Eyring

"It is never too late to strengthen the foundation of faith."

- Henry B. Eyring

"If we have faith in Jesus Christ, the hardest as well as the easiest times in life can be a blessing."

-Henry B. Eyring

"Envy is a mistake that just keeps on giving." -Jeffrey R. Holland

"The formula of faith is to hold on, work on, see it through and let the distress of earlier hours, real or imagined, fall away in the abundance of the final reward." -Jeffrey R. Holland

"However late you think you are, however many chances you think you have missed, however many mistakes you feel you have made or talents you think you don't have, or distance from home and family and God you feel you have traveled, I testify that you have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love." -Jeffery R. Holland

"If you've made covenants, keep them; if you haven't made covenants, make them; if you have made covenants and broken then, repair them." - Jeffrey R. Holland

"Our doctrine is clear; we are to be positive and of good cheer. We emphasize our faith, not our fear. Regardless of the challenges you face, do not become discouraged." -Quentin L. Cook

"Persistence is the answer, and a sense of humor helps." -Quentin L. Cook

"Stay in tune to the music of faith." -Quentin L. Cook

"No sacrifice is too great for the blessings that come after."

-Dallin H Oaks, quoting Pres. Monson

"Our Father in Heaven did not put us on this earth to fail, but to succeed gloriously."

-Elder Richard G. Scott

"In the kingdom of God there are no second-class citizens." -David Baxter

"You can't be right by doing wrong. You can't be wrong by doing right."

-Ulisses Soares

"The topic of judging others can be taught in a two-word sermon: Stop it!" - Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"Don't judge me because I sin differently."

-A bumper sticker Dieter F. Uchtdorf mentioned

"Could an explosion in a printing shop create a dictionary? It is remote, but it couldn't heal itself if the pages were torn." - Russel M. Nelson (Talking about how we were created)

"Even if you've been mistreated in the past, the Lord always accepts you. All are loved and all are accepted." - Larry Y. Wilson

"Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

-Thomas S. Monson

"What thinks Christ of me?" - Neil L. Anderson

"As you trust Him, believe Him, and follow Him, He will do what you cannot do for yourself."

-Neil L. Anderson

I know there's a lot, but these guys are amazing, aren't they? They truly speak the words of God.

Hope you all had a great weekend.

Conference Weekend!

This weekend was exactly what I needed. Dad and Austin came to Utah and we were able to spend some time with Elder Orr! Started the weekend with bowing, and finished it off by getting ice cream Saturday night. I had so much fun with my men. And, on top of that, I was able to be inspired by the words spoken at General Conference! The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is TRUE. Not only is the Church true, but it teaches the true gospel of Jesus Christ.

Elder BRANDON ORR!! Just 4 more months :)

So grateful I have these 3 boys in my life.

Isn't the Salt Lake City Temple beautiful? I love it.