“Growing up, I was always against serving a mission. I didn’t have very many adult women figures in my life who had served, so I had always thought it was weird for girls to go on missions. I had a testimony and I knew this church was true, it just wasn’t in my plans to go out and serve. I was going to get married and go to college and do a whole bunch of other things with my life.
Then when I was a sophomore in high school my best friend was baptized. This was a game changer. I realized how important missionary work is because there are so many people in the world that don’t have the amazing blessings and knowledge that we do, just like my friend.
It was then that I decided that I was going to go on a mission. I realized that I had plenty of time to go to school and do all the fun things that I wanted to do with my life. I made the decision and just went with it from there even though I never got a direct answer. Everybody in my life knew I was planning on serving a mission and that was that.
I got to college and it was about time to start my mission papers. My mom and dad told me I needed to pray about it before I made my final decision, but I didn’t understand why I would have to pray. The answer wasn’t going go be no; I was doing a good thing. Despite my feelings, I decided to take their advice and pray about it. I would pray multiple times a day asking whether or not I should serve a mission. I wanted a screaming answer telling me “YES! GO ON A MISSION!!” I would pray and pray and still never got that answer. I was getting frustrated because when I asked people about why they were serving a mission they would always tell me they prayed and got slapped in the face with an answer to go.
I finally decided that what I was asking for was not going to happen to me. I had always wanted to go on a mission and I was able. So I decided to take a leap of faith and I made the final decision to serve even though I never got that direct answer I was hoping for. I knew that He would stop me if I was going down the wrong path.
When I was praying for that screaming answer I never realized that the peace I felt the whole time was my answer. From this I learned that Heavenly Father gives me answers by filling my soul with peace. And ever since I had taken that leap of faith when I didn’t know what to do, I have felt continual peace. Showing that faith in my Heavenly Father at that time has helped me grow closer to Him, rely on Him, and has taught me the different ways the spirit talks to me.
Going on a mission has been the best decision for me. I know that even though I never got the answer I was wanting, I got the answer that I needed in the time and the way that Heavenly Father thought was best. He knows me way better than I know myself and putting that trust in Him has helped me grow closer to Him and my love has grown even more than I thought it could.”
I Am Converted 