feed my sheep

Elder Jeffery R. Holland gave this devotional at the MTC a few years ago called "Feed My Sheep."

The devotional was a precursor to his General Conference talk in October 2012:
"The First Great Commandment"

Watch it. Then watch it again.

His overall message:
You [the missionary] need to have the gospel in your own heart before you can bring it into the hearts of your brothers and sisters.

Such an inspiring devotional for prospective missionaries.

My favorite part:
"You need to be the best missionaries this world has ever seen. You are the hope of Israel. And you are 19, 20, 21 years old... I stand all amazed at a what a missionary is in this Church."

Me too, Elder Holland. Me too.

called to serve

"Dear Sister Lauren Holbrook,

You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Utah Salt Lake City Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months.

You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, October 9, 2013. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the English language. Your assignment may be modified according to the needs of the mission president.

You have been recommended as one worthy to represent the Lord as a minister of the restored gospel. You will be an official representative of the Church. As such, you will be expected to maintain the highest standards of conduct and appearance by keeping the commandments, living mission rules, and following the counsel of your mission president. As you devote your time and attention to serving the Lord, leaving behind all other personal affairs, the Lord will bless you with increased knowledge and testimony of the Restoration and of the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Your purpose will be to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. As you serve with all your heart, might, and strength, the Lord will lead you to those who are prepared to be baptized.

The Lord will reward you for the goodness of your life. Greater blessings and more happiness than you have yet experienced await you as you humbly and prayerfully serve the Lord in this labor of love among His children. We place our confidence in you and pray that the Lord will help you become and effective missionary.

You will be set apart as a missionary by your stake president. Please send your written acceptance promptly, endorsed by your bishop.

Sincerely,

Thomas S. Monson"

GUYS I'M GOING TO SALT LAKE!!

Basically one of my favorite places on the planet.

I'm really excited about the mountains. 

my mission boundaries

I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I love this gospel with all my heart! I am thrilled that I will be able to share the wonderful messages of peace and joy with others. I love my Savior and am honored that I would be entrusted with such an incredible calling.

I can't wait to get started!

this is not about me

While I anxiously await for my call to be assigned, I bide my time reading talks and devotionals about missionary work and stalking missionary blogs.

In my searches today, I came across this quote that I just love. At the press conference following the announcement made by President Monson about the new missionary age requirements, Elder Holland said this:

"God is hastening His work and He needs more and more willing and worthy missionaries to spread the light and the truth and the hope and the salvation of the gospel of Jesus Christ to an often dark and fearful world... 

This isn't about you. 

It is about the sweet and pure message you are being asked to bear."

In all of the excitement of waiting for a call, of preparing to go out into the field, of all the questions of how it will actually be on the mission, or what will happen back at home while you're gone, or just not being able to sit still until you get out there, etc.

There is one thing that we all need to remember: This is NOT about me.

My decision to serve a mission is not about me.

This is about my Savior.

This is about the beautiful truths of this gospel.

This is about the fact that I know this is the true Church on the earth today.

This is about bringing my brothers and sisters back to Christ.

This is about serving my Heavenly Father who gives me so much every single day.

This is about wanting to help others find the peace and joy I have felt because of the love of my Savior.

This is not about me. It never was, and it never will be.

There's a quote that says something along the lines of "If the Church wasn't true, nineteen-year-old boys would have ruined it a long time ago."

This is the Lord's work. We are simply instruments in His hands. We always will be.

And He will not let us fail in this endeavor.

This is about bringing our eternal family back to our Heavenly Father's loving arms.

I could not be more excited, nor could I feel more blessed, to be a part of this incredible work.