Isn’t it inevitable to think of the words, responsibility, poles apart and sacrifice?  Isn’t it a great responsibility for a young man, 18 years of age to come out into the world and teach learned men about God and His Son Jesus Christ? Isn’t it a challenging thing to be poles apart from the belief of your father and at the same time represent his name? Isn’t it a great sacrifice to leave the serenity and the tranquility of a mother’s and sister’s love in exchange for a hope that people will accept the serenity, tranquility and joy that the message of eternal family can bring?

These questions stirred up a greater substantial question to my heart. Is having a different faith separate a father and a son? Can distance separate a mother’s love from the fruit of her loin? Is being on your own in your teenage years lessen a sisters affection?

Can these things separate us? Is this a question you’ve had and want an answer?

Paul, an apostle of the Lord, gives us an answer in his epistle to the saints in Rome.

Romans 8:35-39
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

As no one can separate us from the love of God, I am greatly persuaded as well that nothing can separate our families as we increase in our understanding of God and His love for us through Christ.

This great young man’s father expressed how his increased knowledge of the Savior Jesus Christ not only helped him support his son to serve God but enabled him to accept the peace and the assurance that nothing can separate his family from him. Through Christ and His Atonement, he was able to bring his family to the Temple, the House of the Lord, and to make their family eternal. That through it and only by it, family’s love and relationships can perpetuate for eternity.

It’s also the love of God through Christ that this great young man was able to obtain the righteous desires of his heart – to be an instrument in bringing “forever” to other families and to be sealed to his family for eternity in the house of the Lord.

What are you willing to give up and sacrifice to make your family eternal?

“And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith” (D&C 88:118).

[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]http://faith.ph/files/2016/02/Picture45.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]I easily get fixated to a lot of things. It maybe food,crafts or people. Currently, I have an obsession with tofu, bookmarks, scriptures cases, and writing about people and experiences that are dear to me – Rosie Ann Treyes [/author_info] [/author]

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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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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.

The post Truths About Serving a Foreign Mission appeared first on morefaith.ph.

• I want to serve people.
• I am a convert and I feel na responsibility ko na ishare din sa iba ang gospel.
• I grew up a Mormon and I’ve always wanted to go on a mission.
• Going on a mission will help me become a better husband/wife.
• It was something I needed to do. Na-feel ko na it was time.
• I love the gospel and gusto ko ishare sa iba para maging masaya din sila.
• A line in my patriarchal blessing talks about going on a mission.
• I came from a family of returned missionaries. Nagmission ang mama at papa ko.

… at marami pang iba.

Different experiences and feelings influence members na mag-mission. Pero ang isang reason kung bakit talaga nagmimission ang mga Mormons ay dahil commandment ito ng Diyos. Mark 16:15 states, “And [Jesus] said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” It also states in Matthew 28:18-20, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” With that invitation from the Savior himself, what else are we supposed to do? We must obey.

Although one’s motivation to go on a mission may differ from others, all Mormon missionaries share the same purpose of inviting others to come unto Christ. We understand what the Savior expects of us and we do whatever it takes to fulfill our duty. Leaders of the Church also reminds us of this sacred responsibility. They have repeatedly talked about the urgency and need for male members to prepare and serve as full-time missionaries.

President Howard W. Hunter taught, “Earlier prophets have taught that every able, worthy young man should serve a full-time mission. I emphasize this need today” (“Follow the Son of God,” Ensign, Nov. 1994, 88).

President Gordon B. Hinckley said, “I say what has been said before, that missionary work is essentially a priesthood responsibility. As such, our young men must carry the major burden. This is their responsibility and their obligation” (“Some Thoughts on Temples, Retention of Converts, and Missionary Service,” Ensign, Nov. 1997, 52).

Now for female members of the Church, the First Presidency counseled that “Worthy single women… may be recommended to serve full-time missions. … These sisters can make a valuable contribution …, but they should not be pressured to serve. Bishops should not recommend them for missionary service if it will interfere with imminent marriage prospects.”

So, to answer the question on why Mormons go on missions… we go on a mission as a response to the Lord’s commandment to preach His gospel. Pero hindi ibig sabihin na we do it just because we’re commanded to do so. The decision to serve a full-time mission comes from our love for the Savior and our desire to serve Him.

The post Why Do Mormons Go On Missions? appeared first on morefaith.ph.

Recently, the Church made a declaration in hastening the service age a year earlier. In Philippines, this means we are encouraged to go during our junior year in college – just barely adjusted to college life with hopes of earning our own salary and be independent soon. However, our commitment to serve is both an opportunity to personally mature and to follow Christ’s examples.

In every single young man’s life, the very common question from members everywhere is “KAILAN KA MAGMI-MISSION?” (When are you going to mission?) Read the rest of these exciting questions members have in mind whenever they see a young fresh-blooded bright-white-shirted young man:

1. “Uy! Diba 17/18 ka na? Nag-pasa ka na ba?” (Hey! Aren’t you 17/18, have you passed your application already?)

Bombarded with questions from everyone, this young man will turn to the usual “nagpo-process na po, hehe” response. Ta-da! Don’t not worry though, they are just reminders. Relax, and focus yourself on your spiritual preparations and the excitement. They are excited as you are!

2. “May call ka na ba?” (Did you receive your call?)

People tend to expect that you already submitted your missionary application papers even though in reality, you are still a 17 year-old “boy” who finds fulfillment in “dota” (video game) than stories of pag-ibig (love). Haha!

3. “Saan mo gustong ma-assign?”

“Only a manghuhula can answer (just kidding!)” Answering questions like this is very tricky, for when you say where you really want to go, an automatic response goes, “ay, hindi ka dun maa-assign kasi dun yung gusto mo” (oh! You won’t be assigned there because that’s where you want to go”). Whereas, if you say you want to be assigned in a place you really don’t want to be assigned in, you will be stuck in the “dun ako maa-assign kasi ayaw ko dun” (I’ll be assigned there because I don’t want to be assigned there) feeling. There will also be a bonus “foreign o local?” question that can sometimes be an alternative. There is no escape.

4. Emails from missionaries containing “mag-mission ka na din, masaya dito!”

Weekly emails from missionaries from your home ward can always be exciting, as they contain news on how they are doing, on what area they are currently at, and lots and lots of pictures with their investigators. Also, they contain those “mag-mission ka na din, masaya dito!” (Serve your mission too, it is fun out here) lines that either make you giddy or nervous inside. Either way, serving a mission is really fun as testified by current missionaries in the field.

5. “Paano si [insert girl/boyfriend’s name]?”

There will always be the torn feeling between love for God and love for someone else. Question like this is asked to those with commitments. Some other halves wait until that “honorable return” but some just end it before leaving. But, however it is, one must stay focused in serving the Lord in the missionary field.

6. When your parents start saying “handa ka na bang mag-MISSION?”

You know you really have to do something when your parents start mentioning it more often than usual. Parents tell their children who are approaching their missionary age to be more prepared spiritually and converted to the gospel because like what the Golden Missionary Rule says, “You can only [help]  someone up to your own conversion.”

7. And lastly, when other ward members tell you, “uy, magiging primary teacher ka na!”

Young men and young women preparing to serve missions are always called as primary teachers. Pres. John Taylor, a former leader of the Church, even once said, “It is true intelligence for a man to take a subject that is mysterious and great in itself, and to unfold and simplify it so that a child can understand it.” This means serving a mission is learning to teach the gospel to people as if they were young children – innocent and new to the gospel of Christ. So when the time comes when you hear this phrase, show them how privileged you are to prepare children to know Christ and to lead them to a more matured and fruitful life.

People around us can really influence and affect our decisions. Fellow church members who continually ask you about your upcoming missionary life are good people who remind you your potential – like Jesus Christ being reminded of the Father. When these things are asked, be thankful that you have them because you are definitely in a good company. Kaya mag-mission na! (So, go to your mission!)

[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]http://faith.ph/files/2016/01/12571334_1123751950969531_1033551311_n.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]My name’s June but my birthday’s in August. I love playing the piano and I love being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints! [/author_info] [/author]

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