Life’s Decisions
I’m a child of God and it is indeed a blessing to hear the words of a prophet of God while just starting my service as a Service Missionary. He does indeed, as well as his apostles, work incessantly to the benefit of the saints. I believe wholeheartedly, and I know it in my heart. I know that they serve, teach and preach, with only the purpose to bring us all towards Christ.
Today, March 15th, 2022; I had the opportunity to hear the Prophet and his wife’s direct words to young adults, and I’m amazed by how strongly he testified of Christ. The words, “and this is the last testimony of all, that He, Jesus Christ, lives!” echoed in my mind at every moment during his talk.
Firstly, I’d like to talk about the message from Sister Nelson, and most of all, her question, and challenge to all of us, to ask ourselves at least once a day, for three days:
“What would a Holy young man do?”
SISTER NELSON
This seemingly simple challenge in her message, helped me put in perspective the importance of my decisions, my preparation, and my standing as a son of God. The most important purpose in life is that we, as Children of a divine being, remain holy in all that we do, asking that same question when in conjectures of life, so that we may press forward in faith and holiness.
Holiness, Sacredness, and… Description.
There’s much I’d like to add, about this. But the essence of it is simple. Our goal is to sanctify ourselves, to be subject to the promptings of the Holy Ghost, and have it inhabit with us, in our minds and hearts, to be with us and make ourselves His resting place. A temple’s dedication makes it a sacred place. When we baptize and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost it is no different; our whole beings are meant to be consecrated and be made pure; yes, just like temples!
Being confronted with several situations in life, and decisions presented to me; I remember the prophet’s counsel, “and eternal choices, have eternal consequences”. My choices are eternal because this is the moment to prepare for the Second Coming of the Savior; “where all flesh will be judged according to their works”. The decisions I make today will qualify me to inherit, or not, the highest glory my potential could achieve. However, as a temple after being dedicated, it can be desecrated, our souls and bodies do as well.
Choices will decide whether we are seen as pure temples by the Heavenly Father. And our choices if not directed, inspired, and guided by a holy existence; will make it so that the temples we own, our bodies, become desecrated; lacking sacredness before the savior, and preventing the influence of the Holy Ghost.
Agency. My blessing. My enemy
As a service missionary, my agency time is surprisingly abundant. My timetable weekly service might not amount to 10 hours a week. My study of the scriptures is also severely lacking in comparison to a teaching missionary, and I’m lacking in many other departments compared to a teaching missionary. I can see that my biggest regret, when looking back on my service, would be to see that I haven’t made this opportunity the most joyous experience in my life.
Missionary agency-time
Sister Nelson had specifically talked about the use of our agency. My biggest concern currently is that among all the things I’m [allowed] to do, see, and access, they are taking substantially more time from the [best] use of my time; which is to read, see, do and walk as a missionary would, as a representative of Christ would. To emulate my missionary purpose every moment of my day; every day, for the extension of my calling to serve my Savior, I have decided to prepare how my Savior could be before me, even right now, so that he can walk ahead of me, letting him prevail at all times.
With it I’ll document in this Journal/Blog/Missionary letter, my conviction, and personal goal:
My Missionary Service Personal 10 Commandments
- Wake up and sleep at regular schedules, waking up as early as the situation permits;
- Pray as soon as I wake up;
- Study the scriptures, Book of Mormon & Bible, before checking and attending to any other agenda, and pray at the end;
- Pray before leaving the house for my service assignments, or any other reason for which I need to travel or commute leaving the house;
- Pray before the start of my service at my assigned location, and at the end of my service opportunities;
- Schedule a set time for the study of the Come, Follow Me assignments and readings. Pray for instruction and guidance in knowledge and understanding;
- Strictly pray before every meal, and strictly participate in fasting once, or more, every month;
- To start, restrain myself to 3 to 4 hours of recreation daily. The goal is to restrict it to only once a week on p-days;
- Make sure to not neglect my callings in the ward, in my ministering visits, and so on.
- Magnify my calling, in meaning, service, and purpose, in my life, and the life of others.
This is a sort of my personal 10 commandments for my mission. The last is the ultimate goal for my mission. Douglas, my youngest sibling, had his goal of achieving and increasing personal conversion to the gospel; and helping others in that regard as well. So I just felt a need to also have that goal and personal purpose for my mission.