Part of our human nature is the desire to know the reason for everything we experience in life. Why do birds fly? Why do I have to finish school? Why should I pay tithes? Why, why, why… Wanting to understand life is not necessarily a bad thing. In contrary, we are encouraged to seek knowledge and wisdom. But we have to remember that this life is not just about logic or reasoning alone. One of our goals in life is to develop our faith.

One way that we increase our faith is by following the words of our prophet.  The Lord continually reveals His will to the prophet, but does not necessarily reveals the reasons behind it. We need to exercise our faith believing that the Lord knows everything from the beginning to the end. When we have a testimony that the prophet receives revelations from the Lord, we have the confidence to follow his counsel even when we do not understand everything at the moment.

The Lord knows what is best for us. He wants us to be happy and that’s why He continuously reveals His will to the prophet and His apostles. When we have the faith to listen and obey, we will be blessed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4536N_n3XQ

Read more: Sustaining the Brethren: The Lord Gives More Instructions than Explanations

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Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (a.k.a. Mormons) believe that God is our Heavenly Father. We are His literal sons and daughters which means that He knows us individually. Knowing God that He knows who we are, our dreams, our weaknesses, and the desire of our hearts. Because He is our loving Heavenly Father, He wants to communicate with us. We do this through prayer. We can share our joys and sorrows with Him when we pray. He is happy when we do what is right and He knows our pain when we are going through hard times.

God has a body of flesh and bone that is glorified and perfected. He is separate from Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost (Doctrine and Covenants 130:22). The account of the Prophet Joseph Smith’s first vision teaches us about this truth. The prophet said:

“I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me… When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other – This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him! (Joseph Smith – History 1:16-17)

Knowing God and understanding our relationship with Him can help us gain happiness and peace in this life. Gaining that understanding is our responsibility. We need to find out for ourselves that Heavenly Father really exists and that He loves us.

Alma, a prophet in the Book of Mormon, taught “…The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator” (Alma 30:44).

We can know for ourselves the existence of God through prayer. When we sincerely ask, He will answer us. Knowing that God is real and that He is our literal Father is one of the greatest blessings that we can receive in this life.

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In Doctrine and Covenants 59:9-10, the Lord commanded: “That thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day; for verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High.” Aside from attending sacrament meeting, members of the Church strive to keep the Sabbath day holy by participating in activities that invites the Spirit.

A typical Sunday at Church is 3 hours. Though it may sound pretty long, it actually goes by really fast. The service is divided into 3 parts: sacrament meeting, Sunday school, and general classes.

Sacrament meeting is the most sacred part of the Sunday service. It is when members renew their covenants by partaking of the sacrament. Other purposes of the sacrament meeting are to worship, provide gospel instruction, perform ordinances, conduct ward business, and strengthen faith and testimony (Handbook 2: Administering the Church).

Sunday school is divided into adult and youth classes. A specific curriculum is taught which is synchronized throughout the entire Church. For 2016, the curriculum is the Book of Mormon. Sunday school classes provide opportunities for members to learn more about the gospel and deepen one’s knowledge and testimony.

The 3^rd hour is divided into different classes for the Priesthood, Relief Society, Youth, and Primary. Priesthood class is attended by men ages 18 and older while Relief Society is for women 18 and above. The youth have their separate classes and so does the primary which is for children ages 11 and below. These specific classes are meant to help each group according to their needs.

Sunday meetings are meant to help individuals strengthen their relationship with the Lord and renew their spiritual strength. Interested individuals are invited to attend our Sunday meetings. It is a great way to feel the Spirit and learn more about the gospel. Another blessing is that it provides an opportunity to fellowship with members of the Church.

In Elder Dallin H. Oaks’ talk Sacrament Meeting and the Sacrament, he said: “By participating weekly and appropriately in the ordinance of the sacrament we qualify for the promise that we will “always have his Spirit to be with [us]” (D&C 20:77). That Spirit is the foundation of our testimony. It testifies of the Father and the Son, brings all things to our remembrance, and leads us into truth. It is the compass to guide us on our path.” This is the reason why Mormons consecrate 3 hours of their time on Sundays to participate in a sacrament meeting.

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During Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry, He organized His Church and called apostles, prophets, seventies, elders, bishops, priests, teachers, and deacons to lead the people (Ephesians 2:20). Through the organization of the Church, the gospel was preached to many people including the Gentiles. However, after the death of Jesus Christ and His apostles, the Church that He organized disintegrated. With no leaders to guide them, people were left to wander on their own without direction from the Lord.

Articles of Faith #6: “We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.”

After a long period of apostasy, the Lord reestablished His Church through the Prophet Joseph Smith. He once again called prophets, apostles, seventies, elders, bishops, etc. to oversee the affairs of His Church. The purpose of which is to administer the ordinances of salvation to all of God’s children so that we can all return to His presence.

Part of the Lord’s plan is to establish His Church on earth. Having Jesus Christ’s Church means that we can receive ordinances such as baptism, the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, endowment, temple sealing, etc. that will qualify us to enter God’s kingdom. The Church is the only way for us to receive these necessary ordinances for salvation.

As we recognize the importance of having Jesus Christ’s Church on earth, we must always remember that our biggest responsibility is our conversion to the gospel. Elder D. Todd Christofferson taught, “We do not strive for conversion to the Church but to Christ and His gospel, a conversion that is facilitated by the Church.”

There are so many blessings that are made available to us through Christ’s organized Church. In Elder Christofferson’s talk “Why the Church,” he mentioned several of these blessings.

1. The Church provides a community where people can help each other make righteous choices and gain a deeper understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
2. It gives us an opportunity to serve each other through our various Church responsibilities.
3. We can experience spiritual healing by participating in Sacrament meeting.
4. We receive counsel that can help us avoid sin.
5. The Church provides needful things that cannot be done by individuals alone such as taking care of the poor and needy.
6. Through the Church, the gospel can be preached to all nations.
7. The Church build temples where saving ordinances of the gospel are performed.
8. With Christ’s Church on earth, the purity of His doctrine are preserved.

The Lord loves us and that is why He has established His Church on earth – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The purpose of the Church is to bless and provide us with the things we need to return to live with Him again. It is only through the Church of Jesus Christ that God’s purposes can be accomplished. When we understand this truth, we are then able to accept why we need an organized religion.

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Aside from prophets mentioned in the Bible, Mormons also believe in living prophets. They guide and direct all of God’s children today just like He did in the olden times. The prophet receives revelation from God that is specific for the challenges we face in our day. Having a living prophet is a reminder that God never forgets His children. He loves us and He is mindful of our needs.

I grew up a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, so I learned and believed in living prophets since I was a little child. Even though I’ve accepted this truth all my life, I still had to gain a personal testimony that God indeed calls prophets in our time. I gained that testimony as I listened and obeyed the counsel of the prophet and by reading the scriptures. In the Doctrine and Covenants 1:38 the Lord said,

“What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.”

Isn’t it a great comfort to know that God calls prophets in our time? This means that He loves us and cares about our salvation. He has provided a way for us to receive direction from Him so that we’ll know what we need to do to gain eternal life.

We have a living prophet today and his name is President Thomas S. Monson. He receives revelation and direction from God just like the prophets of old. In one of his recent talks, he counseled everyone to follow the example of the Savior and to be a light in the lives of others. To hear the prophet speak is a reminder that God has not forsaken us and that He never will.

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Tracting = Dating
In the mission field, you’re expected to contact a certain amount of people each week. Some people call it tracting or contacting. The point is, you need to talk to as many people as you can. Your goal? To find that one person/family who is ready to accept the gospel.

Well, doesn’t that sound like dating? You need to talk to people, contact referrals, ask for a person’s phone number, introduce yourself to someone new, etc. For what purpose? To find that one person who will accept you for who you are and make covenants with in the temple. But just like the mission field, dating does not promise immediate success. You will meet people who are: (1) kind but not interested, (2) puts you in the friendship zone, (3) promising but has issues, (4) interested but not committed, and the list goes on. Just remember that you should never give up trying because along the way you’ll meet that golden investigator. Just like the mission.

Extending Commitments = Proposal
“Will you follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized on _____?” You’ve asked this question so many times, so you’ve had a lot of practice for that moment when you pop the question “Will you marry me?” And if your feelings are mutual, the answer shouldn’t be a surprise. Well, hopefully…

Community Service Projects = Every Day Life
As a missionary, you dedicated 24/18 months of your life to service. Aside from teaching appointments and finding people, you also had scheduled activities where you had to get your hands dirty. Service projects are great opportunities to help people in the community and share the gospel of Jesus Christ.

When you’re married, every day of your life is a part of an eternity of service projects. That includes cleaning the house, doing the laundry, cooking meals, taking care of the baby, etc. You will have opportunities to make your spouse’s life a bit easier and that means you have to make sacrifices so that both of you can fulfill your responsibilities.

Preparation Days = Date Nights
Remember how excited you were for P Days because you got to spend time with other missionaries and do fun things together? Well those are like date nights when you’re married. You look forward to doing fun things outside of your normal routine at home. You eat out, watch a movie or just go for a walk. The important thing is that you get to spend time together that does not involve work.

Interviews with the Mission President = Prayers
Every couple of weeks, you had an interview with your mission president where you got to share everything you’re feeling and thinking. And I mean EVERYTHING. You talked about your companion, the progress of your investigators, questions you have about the work… everything. And after each interview, you felt so much better.

You no longer have scheduled interviews with your mission president when you’re married, but you do get to talk to Someone who will always listen. Heavenly Father will be your confidant and your support. He will listen to your problems, comfort you when you’re sad, and rejoices with you when you’re happy. And the best part is that you don’t have to wait for that one meeting every couple of weeks to share what’s on your mind. You have unlimited alone time with Him.

Companionship Inventory = Family Council
Part of your responsibility as a missionary was to strengthen your companion. That often required honest discussions about things that needs to be changed and working out your differences. Learning how to give constructive feedback was a skill you developed to improve your relationship with your companions. That’s something you will also need when you’re married. Good thing you had a lot of practice during your mission right?

I think you understand what I’m trying to say. Serving a full-time mission was a great experience and it’s something you will remember forever. But now you have a new mission and that is to get married and have your own family. You’ve already been prepared for it, you just need to find your eternal companion and start your eternal mission together.

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The Doctrine and Covenants is one of the canonized scriptures, often referred to as the standard works, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is collection of divine revelations given to the Prophet Joseph Smith for the establishment of the kingdom of God on earth. The Doctrine and Covenants is unique from the other set of scriptures because it is not a translation of ancient records. The revelations contained in it are answers to prayers as the Prophet and his associates sought the guidance of the Lord on how to establish His Church.

The Prophet Joseph Smith said that the Doctrine and Covenants is “the foundation of the Church in these last days, and a benefit to the world, showing that the keys of the mysteries of the kingdom of our Savior are again entrusted to man.” –True to the Faith, 158.

As a Mormon, studying the Doctrine and Covenants helps me understand the importance of revelation in our day. Our generation is different from that of ancient times. We face challenges that are unique to our dispensation. Therefore, we need direction from the Lord that is suitable for our needs and circumstances. It is indeed a great blessing and comfort to know that the Lord continually reveals His will to us today. The Doctrine and Covenants is a proof of that truth.

The Doctrine and Covenants contains 138 sections which are revelations given for the direction of the saints and the establishment of the Church. It also includes the Official Declaration 1 and 2 which addresses the topics of polygamy and the priesthood being extended to all worthy male members of the Church.

In Doctrine and Covenants 1:37, the Lord said, “Search these commandments, for they are true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled.” The Lord’s promises are sure and it is our responsibility as members of the Church to read and understand the revelations written in the Doctrine and Covenants and to gain a testimony of it. President Joseph Fielding Smith said, “…this Doctrine and Covenants contains the word of God to those who dwell here now. It is our book. It belongs to the Latter-day Saints.”

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The Bible has been translated many times and it has been printed in many different versions. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints uses the King James Version of the Bible. It is identified as one of our “standard works.”

“We revere the Bible and its sacred teachings. We can receive strength and comfort from the biblical accounts of God’s dealings with His people.” – True to the Faith, page 157

As a Mormon, the Bible has taught me so much about the Savior and His earthly ministry. Aside from personal scripture study, I have learned more about the Bible by attending classes offered in the Institute of Religion and during Sunday School. These classes helped me learn realize the importance of these sacred records in our day.

Leaders of the Church have also given their testimony of the Bible. Elder M. Russel Ballard said, “I bear solemn witness that we are true and full believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and in His revealed word through the Holy Bible. We not only believe the Bible—we strive to follow its precepts and to teach its message.”- Ensign, May 2007, 82

The misconception that Mormons do not believe in the Bible comes from people’s observation that members of the Church always talk about the Book of Mormon. That observation is correct and it’s probably the reason why we got the name “Mormons.” The truth is, we teach and learn from both the Bible and the Book of Mormon. In fact, “Latter-day Saints believe in an open scriptural canon, which means that there are other books of scripture besides the Bible (such as the Book of Mormon) and that God continues to reveal His word through living prophets.” We believe that understanding the teachings from the scriptures and the words of living prophets will help us better understand the gospel of Jesus Christ and become better people.

Note: For more information about the topic, feel free to visit the official website of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

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I was studying in an amazing university, dating a returned missionary, and having awesome experiences when the thought of going on a full-time mission came to mind. I’ve always wanted to serve and I’ve been planning on it my whole life but things have suddenly changed and I wondered if it was a selfish decision not to go. I was scared that by choosing one path I will entirely miss out on a greater opportunity the other path has to offer.

I believe there’s a lot of you out there who find yourselves in the same situation I was in a few years ago. It’s a major decision in life and I know how overwhelming it can be. Allow me to share a few things about my experience as a full-time missionary that will hopefully help you in your decision to send that application paper or not.

The decision to serve is between you and the Lord. Your friends, family, and Church leaders will give you plenty of support and advice, but in the end it is YOUR decision and YOU have to make it. Always remember that whatever you choose to do, the Lord will respect your decision. He wants you to be happy and if you’re happy with your choice, then it means you won’t have any regrets later on. Developing a relationship with the Savior helped me understand His respect for my agency and gave me the courage to take that “leap of faith” to leave everything behind and serve as a full-time missionary.

Serving a mission is not for the fainthearted. Being a full-time missionary is hard. You work all day, you have to do things you’re scared of, and you’re always being stretched beyond your limits. When you think you’ve figured it out, you get transferred. You have to deal with difficult people and sometimes it’s the person you have to be with 24/7. The point is, you can’t go on a mission half-heartedly. It’s all or nothing. You can’t complain or just go home when it gets really hard because, after all, it’s your decision to be there.

Rejection galore! It is humiliation and heartbreak to a totally different level. I never knew people could be so mean. There are people who go out of their way to make you feel insignificant and unwanted while there are others who are more civil about it. There are also those who pretend you don’t exist even when you’re literally in front of them. People are interesting like that and you have to be emotionally ready for those kind of experiences.

You’ll feel like you have bipolar disorder. Your emotions reach extreme levels in the mission field.  One minute you’re so happy because your investigator finally decided to be baptized, the next minute you’re so depressed because your scheduled appointment got cancelled. It’s like that every single day. You become emotionally vulnerable and you end up extremely exhausted. That’s probably one of the reasons why 8 hours of sleep feels like 30 minutes. But seriously though, you feel so many emotions on your mission and it makes you aware of Heavenly Father’s love and His capacity to forgive and provide comfort. There are moments when you feel like your heart is going to burst with happiness and those are the times that will get you through the hard days.

Mission is like life in a nutshell. You will see and understand Heavenly Father’s plan in a whole new perspective. You will have experiences which will teach you the meaning of the Atonement and its power to change people. You will face challenges that will bring you down on your knees and make you question you’re purpose of being out there. But there will also be moments of extreme happiness that will fill your heart with warmth and love. Being on a mission is like experiencing life all at once with all of its joys and sadness. It’s overwhelming, scary, nerve wracking and amazing all at the same time. It’s just wonderful.

I could not possibly tell you everything you need to know so that you can make your decision. But I hope that with the things I’ve shared you will understand that serving a mission is not something you do just because you feel like it. You need to figure out your reason why you want to go. That reason will help you overcome the most challenging experiences in the mission field. It will be your constant reminder why you chose to be out there.

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Maraming nagtatanong what it’s like to serve in a different country and I usually say something like “masaya, masarap ang pagkain, malamig.” It’s probably because I really don’t know what to say. If I share too much, people might think I’m bragging. If I say too little, then they might think I’m a snob. It’s a lot safer to keep things simple. But for the fun of blogging, let me share a little more about what it’s really like to serve in a foreign mission.

1. You’re so slang.

The moment I got home, sobrang takot ako mag-Tagalog. It’s not because I’m so galing mag-English and everything. It’s just that I knew I would say things differently. Kasi ang totoo, when I served in California I really did my best to speak like everyone – with all the slang and stuff. Why? For SURVIVAL. Kasi pag mali ang bigkas mo ng words, hindi ka nila maiintindihan and you have to repeat yourself over and over again until ayaw mo nalang magsalita dahil sa hiya. That’s why I had to learn to speak with an American accent. So please don’t blame me or other RMs who served in foreign missions that we sound so maarte. We were just trying to blend in. Hahaha!

Think of it like this, pag may bagong American missionary na nagserve sa Pinas it’s cute hearing them speak in broken Tagalog. You sympathize kasi bago palang. Pero pag one year na at broken Tagalog pa din, you wonder why they never learned to speak the language. Well it’s the same with Filipinos serving in English missions. They really need to learn how to speak like everyone else for their own benefit and for those they’re teaching.

2. Tumaba ka.

Just because I gained a lot of weight does not mean I served less. I blame it all sa mabait na Relief Society sisters na nagpakain sa akin (joke!). Gaining weight during my mission was a real challenge kasi ang serving size ay mas madami. Lalo na when you have dinner with members kasi they want to feed you a lot of food. Also, remember that their food is different kaysa dito sa Pinas. Maraming milk, cheese, potatoes, and meat. At kapag konti lang kinain mo, magtatampo sila. So kain lang ng kain. Bili nalang ng bagong skirt pag di na kasya.

Ganun din dito sa Pinas diba? Members love having missionaries sa bahay and it’s natural to go the extra mile and prepare a special meal for them. So isipin mo nalang na kung everytime may dinner appointment ang missionaries ay may special food for them… sino hindi lalaki diba?

3. Ano yung mga places na napuntahan mo?

I think the best places I visited during my mission is the temple and the mission home. Other than that, iba’t-ibang klaseng bahay lang ang nakita ko. May malalaking bahay sa magandang subdivision, may mga lumang bahay na nakakatakot, and meron din mga apartment sa kaduda-dudang neighborhood.

As a missionary, hindi ka naman kasi pwede gumala kung saan saan. The only “break” you have is during preparation day and even then sobrang busy mo pa din sa paglalaba, email, mamalengke, etc. Pag may mga zone activities naman, usually hiking so gubat naman ang makikita mo.

There’s so many things I could tell you about serving in a foreign mission. Pero one thing I hope you’ll remember is that it’s not really a big deal like everyone thinks it is. Yes, it is exciting kasi ibang bansa, but you’d feel the same excitement if you serve locally kasi your decision to go on a mission was never about the place. It was and always will be about your love for the gospel and your desire to share it with others.

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