Seeking Revelation

Monday, February 18, 2013

Seeking Revelation

Missionary Flashback

Missionary Training Center August 1999

When I first began to consider going on a mission, I received excellent advice from a very good friend of mine. He and I (and since I am sitting in the backseat of his car in this memory, I assume his fiance Jennifer was also with us) were driving home from church in the singles ward. We were discussing the possibility of me serving a mission and he reminded me that a mission is not a responsibility for the women in the church. President Monson recently gave us the same reminder when he said, "Many young women also serve, but they are not under the same mandate to serve as are the young men. We assure the young sisters of the Church, however, that they make a valuable contribution as missionaries, and we welcome their service." Tim explained that missionary work is hard and exhausting work. Basically, he told me that if I want to go on a mission, I need to KNOW that it is where I should be because without that confidence, my motivation would fail.

That advice began a serious journey of striving to seek revelation. It went on week after week after week. I prayed and fasted and studied and pondered.

But no answer came.

I waited and worked, trying to decide what I should do, but still all was silent. I took Tim's council seriously and knew that I couldn't go unless I really really knew that it was what Heavenly Father wanted me to do.

This was a marvelous time of learning for me as I had to exercise faith, trust and patience - endlessly waiting for my answer. But it still didn't come.

Finally, I gave up.

I decided not to go and I went to my knees in prayer to report my decision to Heavenly Father. "I have tried," I explained, "to receive affirmation that I should go... but that confirmation hasn't come in all of this time, so I believe that my answer is to NOT go. I have chosen to not serve a mission."

And then the answer came.

The moment I expressed my decision to not go, I felt like a light was tangibly going off. Though there was nothing visible in this experience, a darkness suddenly filled my life in a way I had never previously experienced. I continued on in my prayer.

"This feels wrong. Now I know. I will serve a mission."

And as suddenly as the darkness had come, it was immediately gone again, replaced by a light brighter than had previously been there. I never questioned my decision to serve a mission from that moment forward.

1 comment:

UnknownFebruary 18, 2013 at 3:43 PM
Thanks for sharing your experience. You are very insightful and I love that about you. Promptings and revelation are so personally; thanks for sharing yours!
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Family Proclamation

The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children.All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God's commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God's eternal plan.Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. "Children are an heritage of the Lord" (Psalms 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.

This proclamation was read by President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of his message at the General Relief Society Meeting held September 23, 1995, in Salt Lake City, Utah.