Isaiah 1:18

"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

I Love to See the Temple was always my second favorite Primary song, after A Child's Prayer. As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we are encouraged from our childhood to make entering the holy temple one of our most important goals. There, in the House of the Lord, we make covenants, receive unimaginable blessings and are sealed to our families for time and all eternity. The ordinances of the temple are sacred, and therefore we do not discuss them outside of the temple or display them for the world to see. 

To enter into that holy place and partake of its blessings, one must be completely clean and free of the stains of the world. This state is possible through, and only through, the Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ.

These words have been repeated to me for so long that after a while they really seemed to lose their meaning. I would have moments of clarity here and there, when I witnessed small miracles or took time to recognize the importance of the gospel, but it wasn't until I made the decision to serve a mission that I realized the gravity of the Atonement and personal worthiness.

Going to the temple to receive your endowment is probably the biggest step in preparing to serve a mission. No unclean thing can enter into the presence of the Lord, and that's why it takes so much effort to keep up your end of the deal. If we live in obedience to the commandments and standards of our Heavenly Father, which are put in place to protect us and bring us joy, Jesus Christ makes up the rest. I feel more grateful each day for His atoning sacrifice on my behalf. 

As I have worked with the Lord to bring my spirit to a place of worthiness to receive the blessings of the temple, I've come to appreciate more than ever the happiness that comes along with righteous living. Repentance, in its true and complete form, is as rewarding as it is difficult. Once you know that you have been forgiven for each misdeed and mistake that used to weigh you down, it's like being an entirely new person. I can't explain the abiding peace and comfort of acting under the direction of the Spirit. That constant companionship comes when we are worthy of it, and it is truly something to strive for. It's a feeling unmatched by any other on the earth.

On Tuesday evening I had the privilege to receive my endowment in the Bountiful, UT Temple. The attendance of members of my family, leaders from my home ward, and my best friend made it an even more special experience. Most importantly, I was able to make covenants with my Heavenly Father. What a blessing it is to feel His love in everything. I know that I can turn to Him when the adversary is at my heels, and there is such safety in knowing that I have an all-knowing Father watching over me at all times.

Come to the temple. Do whatever you need to in order to be worthy, and do everything fully and properly. You will be blessed more than words can describe.

Waiting for the Call

Welp, here it is! I've already:
Decided to serve a full-time mission
Met with my bishop and received permission to apply
Finished my application
Met again with the bishop and stake president
Sent my papers in to Salt Lake City
Found out from my bishop that my call has officially been assigned (When I got the text I cried. Like a baby. I will admit that I had just had my wisdom teeth removed, and the Lortab didn't exactly stabilize my emotions. Still.)

And now, we wait.

The real kicker is that today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and that means that if the calls are usually sent out on Monday and are delayed, I don't have any idea if my call will arrive on Wednesday or Thursday. I am on the fringe of utter disarray. But I will be strong! You can count on it.

I've followed a few blogs created by the families of currently serving missionaries. Hearing about their firsthand experiences and realizing that I'm not the only one who's scared out of my mind is actually quite soothing. Most of these have begun with the missionary's entrance into the MTC, but I was told a few weeks ago that my mission doesn't begin when I leave home; it begins now. Therefore, I'm keeping track of this journey from now on. There's not a whole lot of good solid information out there for prospective sister missionaries, but hopefully I can provide a little bit of inspiration or encouragement. It's always nice to know you're not alone.

First of all, after you've made your decision to serve a mission, crazy things might start to happen! No, you won't most likely discover a village of glittery trolls underneath your bedroom, but your beliefs will be challenged left and right and you'll be brought to a clear understanding of your flaws and underlying issues. You will probably be put into tricky situations that you've never had to deal with and have no option but to face them head on. These trials can either make or break your testimony. You hear stuff like this all the time, but it doesn't really hit you until you're the one making the tough choices.

Just remember, there's a first time for everything, and if you don't get it right from the head start just aim to improve. If you have received confirmation that a mission is right for you, don't sway from your decision. Keep plowing forward, even if you're faced with adversity. Heavenly Father has put you in this place for a reason, and what you will gain far exceeds what you will sacrifice.

If you're anxiously awaiting your call, try to keep your mind on other constructive things...

Go see a movie with a couple close friends (I would recommend something comedic. I just saw "Mama" today. Big mistake. I was walking into an unlit hall in my house and when I turned around to see my fluffy puppy on the ground right behind me, I almost screamed. If you've seen it, you'll understand why.).

Write. It's a good way of getting all your concerns out of your system. Just like Mom used to make me imagine sickness flooding out of my body with every glass of water I drank, picture the pent-up thoughts flooding out of your pen on paper.

Exercise! Focus all your energy into working your muscles and let everything else become a blur for an hour or two. The ensuing endorphins will take care of the rest.

Listen to music. My new obsession is The Mahogany Blog. Lots and lots of pretty young things with pretty incredible talent.

Reverse psychology has helped me a little. Instead of just ignoring the fact altogether, I wrote a countdown in hours to the time I plan to open my call. Whenever I start to feel antsy, I'll find that scrap of paper and mark down all the hours that I've made it so far! And, if it comes on Wednesday, I've got a mere 47 to go.