In my Church, most 19-year-old men and some 21-year-old women serve full-time missions. They get mission calls and are sent to a far-away place, away from home and family, to teach people about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and what we believe. They call home only twice a year (on Christmas and Mother's Day), their form of communication with family is by writing letters. They don't visit or get visitors from home, they totally give up their lives. Men go for 2 years and women go for 18 months. And when I say full-time, I mean it. They are up at 6:30 am every morning (sometimes earlier, depending on where you serve) and are out serving and trying to find people to teach until dark. You've probably seen them where you live, walking or riding bikes around with suits or dresses and those tell-tale black nametags. My husband served his mission in St. Louis, Missouri. He has brothers who served in Germany, Japan, Texas, Ohio, and North Carolina. I have siblings who served in Texas, Idaho, California, and Arizona. Missionaries are sent all over the world to teach what we know: that Jesus Christ lives, and that families can be together forever.I didn't serve a full-time mission. I wanted to, and even planned on it, but something got in the way (his name is Dave, blame him). I admire missionaries so much. They sacrifice a lot of time in their young lives to come to know God and to share the Gospel as we know it.
Sometimes I'm sad that I didn't serve a mission, but sometimes I'm relieved. What I believe is something very dear to me, and it's sometimes hard for me to share it. I worry about people making light of something so important to me. I worry about offending other people or making people feel like they can't know a Mormon without that Mormon trying to baptize them. I want all you "non-Mormons" to know that I don't feel that way. I don't feel like you have to be a Mormon to know me. But there is also something I want you to know: that the authority of God (the priesthood) was lost when the apostles that knew Christ were all killed. That authority was restored through Joseph Smith in the 1800s (you can read more about that here).
An apostle in our church, Henry B. Eyring, said this recently:
...at some moment in the world to come, everyone you met in this life will know what you know now. They will know that the only way to live forever in association with our families and in the presence of our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, is to choose to enter into the gate by baptism at the hands of those with authority from God. They will know that the only way families can be together forever is to accept and keep sacred covenants offered in the temples of God on this earth. They will know that you knew. And they will remember whether you offered them what someone had offered you.I don't want to be pushy. I'm just trying to share what I know with you. This is me, being the missionary I wasn't when I was 21. If you're interested in more, you can contact the missionaries in your area by clicking here. You can receive a free copy of the Book of Mormon or the King James Version of the Bible as well on that site. There is no obligation (do I sound like an infomercial or what?). I just wanted to invite you to learn more about my Church. It has brought me and my family so much happiness.
(image courtesy of my husband)
16 comments:
You and Dave will make fantastic Senior missionaries (and you don't have to worry about having a companion you don't like!)
Today at Stake Conference they had 2 returning sisters bear their testimonies. I felt the spirit so strong, especially by the one that bore her testimony in Chinese. I LOVE missionaries!
My mission was the best, even if it was in Idaho.
-gym
I've always been intrigued by Mormon's and the Mormon religion, thanks to you Emily. And I remember one time being in your house and your family got a letter from one of your brothers who was away on a missionary(for some reason I want to say it was James, but for some reason that doesn't sound right.) I remember you telling me they can only call home on Mother's day and Christmas, that you don't drink caffeine, and that you stay home on Sunday's.
So anyways, here is a question for you. Why the age difference for girls/guys who go on missions? Could you have gone at 19 if you wanted to? Just curious. Thank you for sharing!
Emily great post!
April, I bet Emily has e-mailed you already, but in case she hasn't I will. The main difference boys and girls go at different ages is because you aren't supposed to date on your mission. Sending older girls and younger boys helps lessen the temptation.
Actually April, I don't really know. Dave thinks it's because missionaries minds are supposed to be off of people of the opposite sex, and 21-year-old girls for the most part will think of 19-year-old boys as little kids still? Maybe my dad knows. But no, girls can't go when they're 19.
Wow April O., we commented at the same time! With the same answer! Weird.
So do the boys/girls do their missions together?
Men and women serve in the same areas, yes. They live separately, but in each "mission" (as in the Albuquerque Mission) there are both male and female missionaries, yes.
Missions are wonderful experiences but I have often said my mission was to my life what the MTC was to my mission. It is easier to live the gospel on a mission, just like it is easier to be a missionary in the MTC. The real test is what you do with what you learned when you come home. Em, even though you didn't serve a full time mission (yet) you are a great example of what is expected of each of us in living the gospel. So don't look back with regret, look forward with anticiaption.
Nice post.
I'm flying out to Utah on Thursday to see my baby brother return home from serving his mission in Mozambique, Africa. Needless to say, he had a VERY cool mission. I can't wait to see him and hear more of his stories.
Thanks for spreading the good word!!!
Emily, WELL PUT! Thanks for posting this. I wish that more people could get to know who we really are and not who the media makes us out to be. Way to be an example for good.
Mark and I have always heard that that dating theory was an urban legend. Having been on missions and having been teachers at the MTC, believe me, the age difference doesn't always stop romance. So if it's not that, then does anything say somewhere definitively what the reason is?
I don't know, I'll ask my dad.
my best guess is simply because it's a priesthood responsibility so there is a few more years given to girls to either get married, or get their education or decide if they are going to serve a mission or not rather than simply going just because
I have found this comments on this to be rather interesting! It's funny, the whole idea of older girls and younger guys not being interested in each other being the reason for the age difference. I doubt it is. But I will point out that two of my step-brothers married women they met during their missions. One wife is 3 years older, the other is 9 years older. One of my brothers married an older woman as well. So there goes that theory! (They didn't date on their missions, BTW)
On a more serious note, I totally understand being afraid to share something so precious to you for fear it will be rejected. I just try to be open about my religious life. They can always ask questions. I do think a blog is a great way to share, though.
I knew Ellen would have a good answer.
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