The "Why" of my Mission

One week ago, last Wednesday, I was on an airplane to California to celebrate one of my best friend's wedding.

Today, it's another Wednesday and it has been oh so different from my last Wednesday.  Happy National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day to everyone! It's been a pretty good day.  I got to talk to one of my best friends this morning as he drove to work, I went to a Zumba exercise class with my adorable Mom and just laughed the whole way through and tonight my family and I are having dinner with some family friends.

One week from today, yet another Wednesday, I will be entering the Provo Missionary Training Center (MTC) to start my service as a full-time missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

It's crazy to think that such a big day in my life is so close and quickly approaching.  It was just 3 months ago, on yet another Wednesday that I received my mission call and anxiously awaited the news of where I had been assigned to serve.

Dear Sister Briggs,

You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

You are assigned to labor in the  
Utah Salt Lake City Temple Square Mission...

You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, May 22, 2013...

I still remember reading my mission call and being absolutely stunned.  I had visited Temple Square up in Salt Lake City just days before with some friends and had seen the Temple Square sisters; I had no idea that I had already been assigned to labor in that mission.  After the initial shock wore off, and I was able to read my mission call over and over again on my own, I have to admit I cried as I read the rest of the letter and saw that it was signed by our beloved prophet, Thomas S. Monson.

Since opening my call I've had a lot of time, that of course has flown by far too quickly and yet not quickly enough, that I've been able to think about...

the "why" of my mission. 

Singing hymns is a big part of our church and our worship each Sunday.  As children, we learn a variety of songs that help us to learn the doctrine of the gospel as well as teach of us the principles in an easier way to understand.  I remember singing, "I hope they call me on a mission," when I was little and not really feeling like the words applied to me.  I felt nothing but joy and pride as I thought of the people who would serve, I just didn't ever see it as something I would do.  Yep, that has all changed.

Deciding to go on a mission is a very personal process that is different for everyone.  There are some who always know they will go, and some, like me, who never had imagined it.

I am serving a mission because I know it is what the Lord wants me to do.  I am so grateful for the gift of personal revelation that can be had by every member of the church as long as they are striving to live worthy of it.  2011 and 2012 were years of hardships and adventure: my adorable, sweet and loving Mother was diagnosed with cancer, my brother got married, I studied abroad in London and went through a difficult heartbreak.  Through everything I went through, Heavenly Father never abandoned me.  

I remember being amazed by Dieter F. Uchtdorf's talk titled, "Forget Me Not."

It hit me so hard when he said, 

"Just think of it:  

You are known and remembered by the 

most majestic, 

powerful 

and glorious Being in the universe! 

You are loved by the King of infinite space and everlasting time!

He who created and knows the stars 

knows you and your name--

you are a daughter (or son) of His kingdom." 

I feel overwhelmed and so grateful when I think that God knows me.  

He doesn't just know of me, but he knows me personally.  

He knows my strengths, my weaknesses and all the trials that I will ever endure.  He knows my concerns, my hardships and also my joys and my victories.

  

I don't want to simply know of God, rather I want to know Him.  

This is something that I have strived for my entire life, and although I feel like I have grown closer and closer to my Heavenly Father, I still can do so much more to strengthen my relationship with Him. 

I know that through serving a mission, I can strengthen my relationship with Him and come to better understand my relationship with Him, my Savior Jesus Christ and the infinite Atonement.  I know that through serving a mission as my testimony is strengthened, I can strengthen the conviction of others through the Holy Ghost.

I am so grateful and so excited for this opportunity to serve as Sister Briggs in the Utah Salt Lake City Temple Square Mission. 

 I am serving because I have a testimony of this gospel, I know it is the gospel of Jesus Christ restored to the earth once more.  I know Joseph Smith was a prophet and that he was essential and chosen as a part of God's plan to restore the truth to the earth once more.  I know my Savior lives.  I know that he died for me, for you, for each and every person who has lived and ever will live because his Father asked him, and because he loves us.

This is a gospel of love.

I am so thankful and overwhelmed to be able to better understand Heavenly Father's love for each of His children as I serve as a missionary.  I know this decision will greatly affect my life, and mold me into the person He would have me be if I can just give it my all.  

President Brigham Young said, 

"There is neither man or woman in this Church who is not on a mission.

That mission will last as long as they live, and it is to do good,

to promote righteousness, to teach the principles of truth,

and to prevail upon themselves and everybody around them to live those principles

that they may obtain eternal life."    

I hope to hear from you all as I serve my mission.

I have been so overwhelmed and so grateful as I have seen 

the support of my friends and family in this decision.

I know this gospel is true.

"...and we will be the Lord's missionaries 

to bring the world His truth."

Love Always,

Sister Briggs :)