Thoughts on serving a mission

Following President Monson's announcement concerning the lowering of the missionary ages I received this Facebook message from my niece Natalie "Sooo, list of of pros and cons of going on a mission: Go!"  I wasn't surprised to hear from her.  She and I had talked about serving missions and now with the new age requirements she could leave immediately if she wanted to.  What did surprise me is my reaction to her request.  I told her that I would put together a list for her but the more I thought about it, I didn't think a list would work so I'm wrote her this letter instead.

Dear Natalie,

Pros and Cons of a mission huh?  If you had asked me this 10 years ago, I probably could have have given you quite the list of Pros and Con's, but 10+ years out I honestly can't think of one negative to serving a mission.  I don't know how much you know about my experience serving a mission but I had a pretty rough mission.  I had a few companions that struggled with health issues, both mental and physical.  Towards the end of my mission I was diagnosed with depression and every day was a struggle for me to go out and do the Lord's work.  When I got home I was a very angry, scared and bitter person.  I could think of SO many reasons for someone to NEVER serve a mission but with time and age has come a perspective that I never thought I would have.  

I look back on my mission and it seems as though all those struggles and trials that I went through weren't so bad.  They made me the person I am today and for that I am eternally grateful.  The truth is that I had probably been dealing with depression most of my life, but it wasn't until my mission that I understood what it was.  On my mission I learned things about myself that would've taken me years to figure out at home.  I learned how to recognize the signs of depression and coping skills that I still find useful and valuable to this day.  I know without my mission I would not be the mom I am today.  

Serving a mission brought me closer to my Heavenly Father.  While in the depths of my depression I remember calling out to the Lord and begging him to release me from this torment and pain.  I just wanted to feel joy again.  I remember feeling a great peace settle over me and I thought of Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail. This scripture came to my mind "My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversary and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all they foes. Thy friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands." (D&C 121:7-9) "The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?" (D&C 122:8) I knew that the Lord had not forsaken me.  He knew my pain.  It was on my mission that I learned what the Atonement really meant to me, in my life.  I learned to believe Christ.  I learned to trust him, to love him, and to be perfected in him instead of doing it on my own.

So, here is my advice about choosing whether to serve a mission.  

1. Know that there is never going to be a good time.  There will always be school, auditions, family obligations, relationships, work.  

2. I know Josie and Amy said that if they had gone on missions they wouldn't have met their husbands.  I know that if I hadn't had gone on a mission I never would've met mine.  

3. Finally, just make a decision.  Decide Yes, decide NO, but make a decision.  Trust me, the Lord will let you know if you've made the right choice or not.  

I'm sure you already know that I had originally decided not to go on a mission.  For days after making that decision I had a weight on my chest that wouldn't go away.  When I finally knelt in prayer and told the Lord that I would serve that weight was lifted and replaced with a sure knowledge that I was supposed to serve.

Yes, it will be hard to leave your family behind and have minimal contact with them.  It is hard to leave your friends and all that you've known to go someplace new.  It can be a joy and a struggle to live and work with someone so closely day after day.  But the blessings that you'll reap, and that will be showered upon those you left behind, by your service are beyond compare.  They cannot be measured and are worth every sacrifice that you'll make.  

You will love and bless the people that you serve and they will bless you.  Thanks to this modern age, you will be able to keep in contact with them.  You will be able to see some of them, after accepting the gospel and choosing to get baptized, get married in the temple and start eternal families of their own.  The joy you will feel as you watch them progress in the gospel is indescribable and you will thank your Heavenly Father everyday for allowing you to be a part of their story.  Trust me, I know. 

I'm sorry I couldn't give you a concise Pro/Con list but I hope this will suffice.  

Let me leave you with this, I never have nor will I ever regret serving a mission.  I look back now and I see no cons to missionary service.  I only see the pros and how they helped me change and grow.  I am honored that the Lord deemed me worthy and capable of missionary service.  If you choose to go it will not be easy.  There will be times you want to quit but if you hang in there and spread the good news of the gospel, I PROMISE you, you will find joy in your journey.  

Love, 

Amy