Desires to Serve

"If ye have desires to serve God
ye are called to the work."
                     D&C 4:3

A Piece of Personal History

Ever since I can remember, even as a little girl, I had a desire to serve God by serving a mission.  When a teenager, I strayed far and long, but when I came back to the Lord at age 21, that intense desire to serve a mission returned.

A few years before this time the "bar was raised" for missionaries, meaning that those who had a desire to serve were held to a higher standard, and if they had made certain choices in their life, they would need permission from the First Presidency to serve.  I told my first bishop about my desire to serve.  I needed at least a year behind me of choosing the Lord, so I don't recall that conversation going too far.

Later, when I was in a singles ward in Provo, I let the bishop there know that I had strong desires and promptings to serve a mission.  The bishop, knowing my history, was discouraging.  He said in an unwilling tone, "We would have to petition the First Presidency."  

I was relatively fresh back into the church still and I didn't have a ton of experience in my life with standing up for my spiritual promptings, especially to a bishop.  Rather than insist to him that I felt strongly and that I would like his support in petitioning the First Presidency, I backed down in disappointment.  

Shortly after this, I was called as a ward (or stake, I can't remember which it was at that time) missionary.  This was the Lord's tender mercy to me.  I was in this calling for, I believe, a couple of years, and got called to it multiple times in a row as I moved to different wards.  I also was called as a ward mission leader.  These were all very fulfilling times.  I had wonderful people and friends serving with me and we were able to teach discussions to some humble and prepared people.

I remember going back to Houston for Christmas one year and praying while there that I would be able to have some missionary success when I got home.  As I walked up the side walk to my town house, my neighbor that shared the walk, was walking out.  She was also a young college student.  She said to me something like this, "do you know what I need to do to get baptized?"  She went on to explain that she had been raised by an inactive mother and was never baptized, but she knew the church was true.  I was able to be there with her as she received the discussions with full time missionaries and got baptized.  "Ask and ye shall receive!"

Another girl I was able to teach with a roommate, was less active and unsure of her testimony.  We were the perfect ones to teach her because she was into meditation and alternative living and we were right there with her.  We were able to help her see and feel how all of these things fit together and bring power to each other.  The spirit was often there and she was able to see that the gospel could be a blessing in her life.

I know that if we have desires to serve, we are called to the work.  The Lord will put the willing heart to work serving and getting to know neighbors, serving in our callings, and sometimes boldly testifying in word or action.  I have seen in my life that it is indeed true that there are certain people that need US specifically to love/teach/befriend them, to help them see and take their next step closer to the Lord.  

I will always be sad that I didn't get to serve a full time mission before I was married and that I didn't know to speak up, but I also know that the Lord loves me and has given me, and will continue to give me, and all the willing in heart, plenty of opportunity to serve Him.