My decision to serve

My LDS Mission

The Decision to Serve

One of my earliest memories of my Great Grandparents was meeting them at the Salt Lake International Airport as they returned from serving as missionaries in Australia. A few years later my Moms brother went to serve a mission in Wisconsin. Then when I was a young teenager a young lady from my congregation (ward) returned home from serving as a missionary. I had never known a young lady to serve a missionary before. I knew they could, but had never met one. Still the idea of actually serving one myself did not cross my mind.

After high school many of the young men I was associated with began serving in places like Hawaii, Virginia, Puerto Rico, Chile, and Japan. I wrote letters to some of them.

I had several friends (both men and women) who were serving as missionaries throughout the world. I had become friends with one lady who had just returned from serving. She and I hung out with each other quite a bit.

I was actively writing to a young man who was serving in Virginia and knew that he would be home before I turned 21. I had had some interest in this young man so I was not ready to make a decision as to whether to serve or not until he was home.

After he returned home I thought more about the idea of missionary service. About a month after I turned 21 I decided that I would do it. I went to talk to the Bishop to let him know of my desire and as I was heading to his office he came to find me. He wanted to ask me, yet again, if I was interested in serving as a missionary.

I submitted the paperwork after telling my parents that of my intentions. They were fully supportive of the idea and agreed to help pay for me to serve. LDS missionaries are expected to pay their own way. The Church helps with the cost of getting to the mission, but the monthly expenses are the responsibility of the missionary and/or their families.

Read about my Call to Serve

Return to My LDS Mission page.

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