I love to see the temple!

I love to see the temple, I'll go inside someday

I'll cov'nant with my Father; I promise to obey

For the temple is a holy place where we are sealed together.

As a child of God I've learned this truth: The family is forever!

I love the temple and I'm so grateful that I was able to attend with my wonderful parents. They are such a blessing in my life!

The Work of Salvation: Worldwide Leadership Broadcast

Today we were blessed to hear from special witnesses of Jesus Christ during a worldwide broadcast about every member being a missionary. The following quote by President Henry B. Eyring summed up the message best:

"Whatever our age, capacity, Church calling, or location, we are as one called to the work to help Him in His harvest of souls."

I was amazed at the sheer number of missionaries present at the broadcast. There were thousands, and that only represents the missionaries in the Provo MTC! According to Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, there are now over 70,000 missionaries serving worldwide. I am amazed and humbled because the Lord is hastening His work and little old me gets to be a part of it. This is truly a historical time!

Here are some things that I learned from the broadcast:

• Standing as a witness of God is a part of a covenant that we made to Heavenly Father. We already said we'd do it so we need to keep our promise!

• Success is only found when missionaries, world councils, and members are united.

• When we do our best the Lord will not let us fail!

• The work of salvation excludes no one.

• The Lord is calling us to move His work forward!

The church is true! Life is good!

(See what I mean? So many missionaries!)

Oklahoma, where the wind comes sweepin' down the plains!

"Dear Sister Holloway:

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 Oklahoma Oklahoma City Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months.

You should report to the Mexico Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, October 2, 2013. You should prepare to preach the gospel in the Spanish language."

I received my call on June 20, 2013 and could not be more excited for the opportunity to serve the Lord in Oklahoma City. I know it's where the Lord needs me and feel so grateful and blessed!

This song from the musical Oklahoma pretty well describes my feelings about going there (especially because Hugh Jackman is singing it):

The church is true! Life is good!

What I'm Doing and Why I Serve

Aloha! Welcome to my shiny and new mission blog! You might think that it's kind of weird for me to start my mission blog before I even have my mission call, but considering how long I've been waiting to be old enough to serve a mission it's amazing that I haven't started it before now.

I am planning on serving an 18 month mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (it's like those guys from the Book of Mormon musical, but the real deal). A mission is when a person gives up school, work, dating, and family and goes to a place that is totally foreign to them to tell those people about the gospel of Jesus Christ and how it can bless their lives. Missionaries live by a strict set of rules and dedicate all of their time in that period to serving the Lord and the people around them. They work long days with no pay but instead receive wonderful blessings from the Lord as well as the opportunity to selflessly serve those around them. 

You can come here to see what I'm up to during my mission (if you want) but for now I just wanted to share some thoughts about why I want to serve a mission. I actually can't remember not wanting to serve a mission because I always have. It's just been an essential part of my life plan. I think this desire comes from the immense amount of love that I have for my Savior and the gospel that He brought to the earth. I'm reminded of the hymn "God Loved Us, So He Sent His Son":

God loved us, so He sent His Son,

Christ Jesus, the atoning One,

To show us by the path He trod

The one and only way to God.

Oh, love effulgent, love divine!

What debt of gratitude is mine,

That in His off'ring I have part

And hold a place within His heart.

In word and deed He doth require 

My will to His like son to sire,

Be made to bend, and I, as son

Learn conduct from the Holy One.

I feel so blessed to share this message with the world (or at least the part that I get called to!) and I'm so grateful to Heavenly Father for entrusting me with His work. The church is true! Life is good!