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The View from Ohio: Sometimes it seems very close to Heaven |
Reflecting
on the beginning of my mission I distinctly remember having this view
of the missionary I wanted to be. I wanted to be this perfect, fearless,
Aaron or Ammon missionary. Let me let you in on a little secret. I'm
not perfect. Sometimes I fall. Sometimes I even struggle to get back up.
Sometimes I'm nervous or scared to talk to people. I've faced doubts and I've had questions. And on occasion I've had feelings of inadequacy
and wonder why Heavenly Father allowed me to be one of His servants. But the other day I realized something. I didn't come out here on a mission to become the person I am supposed to be. I came here to learn who
I am supposed to be. Let me explain what I mean by that. Conversion
doesn't happen overnight nor does it happen fully or completely during
my 18 month portal. I haven't become some godly person during this time I
have been away, but I have changed step by step by small and simple
means and will continue to change and give anything and everything to
become more like my precious Heavenly Father. Progression in the gospel
is a lifetime pursuit and how grateful I am for that simple principle. I
came on a mission to learn to
be the person I was meant to be and to plant the seeds within myself to
become that person. I am laying the foundation for my future and each
day I am molded by His hands as I work to change myself in a way that
will align myself with my older Brother. I feel closer to the Spirit, to
my Heavenly Father, and my older Brother and Savior Jesus Christ than I
ever have. I have changed in many ways and it has been the most
beautiful process of becoming. I know the gospel is true. I feel it with
everything I have and everything I am but mark
my words, my progression is not yet finished and neither is yours! What a
beautiful continuous journey called life our Heavenly Father allows us
to embark on.
President
Ezra Taft Benson said, "we must be careful, as we seek to become more
and more godlike that we do not become discouraged and lose hope.
Becoming Christ-like is a lifetime pursuit and very often involves
growth and change that is slow almost imperceptible. The scriptures
record dramatically in an instant, as it were: Alma the Younger, Paul on
the road to Damascus, Enos praying far into the night, King Lamoni.
Such astonishing examples of the power to change even those steeped in
sin give confidence that the atonement can reach even those deepest in
despair. But we must be cautious as we discuss these remarkable
examples. Though they are real and powerful, they are the exception more
than the rule. For every Paul, for every Enos, and for every King
Lamoni, there are hundreds and thousands of people who find the process
of repentance much more subtle, much more imperceptible. Day by day they
move closer to the Lord, little realizing they are building a Godlike
life. They live quiet lives of goodness, service and commitment...The
Lord is pleased with every effort, even the tiny daily ones in which we
strive to be more like Him. Though we may see that we have far to go on
the road to perfection, we must not give up hope." Keep on, hope on and
continually strive day by day to become more like our loving Heavenly
Father.
With that being said in one of my last
emails I invited you to share your conversion stories with me. I'd like
to take this time to share mine with you. For me my conversion story has
been a process. It's hard to pinpoint a specific time when my
"conversion" took place.
Growing up I never
really remember questioning the gospel and the many principles found
within it. I had many wonderful spiritual experiences however that
allowed my testimony to grow in the principles of the gospel and that
allowed me to become more converted to it. I have always had a love for
the gospel and a desire to become more like my Savior. Being my stubborn
self however, I knew that I could only coast off of borrowed light for
so long and realized I needed to understand more fully what I was
claiming to believe so I took action to strengthen my faith in the
gospel teachings.
I grew up in a home where
gospel principles were stressed and encouraged. I felt the love of my
parents and also very often the love of my Heavenly Father. I sang songs
at a young age that testified of who I was and of the reality of my
Heavenly Father. One of my favorite children's songs is "I am a Child of
God." The words to a part of the song read, "I am a child of God and He
has sent me here. Has given me an earthly home with parents kind and
dear. Lead me, guide me, walk beside me, help me find the way. Teach me all
that I must do, to live with Him someday." I remember knowing even as a
young girl that I could pray to my Heavenly Father for love, help, and
guidance and that my ultimate goal was to make it back home to Him. How
fortunate I was for parents who set the example for me and helped me to
know and understand that I had a Heavenly Father who loved me, who loved
me enough to send me and all of you His only begotten Son.
When
I was around 15 I had the opportunity to go to Nauvoo, IL, a
well-known church historical sight. It was there that I had the
opportunity to finish the Book Of Mormon for the first time on my own.
It was there that I prayed with my whole heart and soul to know if this
precious book was true. I hungered for an answer. I had believed it was
true, but had never fully sought that confirmation for myself. As I
sat in front of the temple and read the last few verses In Moroni I
remember opening my heart to my Heavenly Father and asking Him if the
Book of Mormon was true. I looked at the temple and at a statue of the
Prophet Joseph Smith and his beloved brother Hyrum as they were mounted
on horses and preparing to take their last fateful steps toward Cathage.
I remember an overwhelming feeling of peace and admiration for the
Prophet come over me. I knew in that moment more fully than I had before
that Joseph Smith was a chosen Prophet of the Lord and that through Him
the Book Of Mormon was brought forth. I realized that what I was holding in
my hands truly was another testament of Jesus Christ and it contained
the fullness of the everlasting gospel. How lucky I felt to hold a copy
of such a divine book in my hands, and not only hold it but feel and
know of its truthfulness.
As a junior in high school I remember receiving a painful text at a Friday
night football game from my mother that said "you and your brother need
to come over to grandma and grandpas. It may be the last time you'll
see grandpa." I remember cherishing those last moments with my papa and
telling him how much I loved him. My sweet Grandpa, Papa Dave, passed away
early the next morning with a smile on his face. It was the first time
someone I really knew and loved passed away. As I reflected
on the plan of Salvation, the plan of happiness, I discovered great
comfort in knowing that families are forever and that if strive to do
everything I can in this life, then I can see my Grandpa again. I
gained an unwavering testimony of the Spirit World and how important
this preparatory state is. These verses in Alma 40 in the Book of Mormon gained new meaning for me as I experienced his loss:
11 Now,
concerning the state of the soul between death and the
resurrection--Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that
the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal
body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are
taken home to that God who gave them life.
12
And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are
righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called
paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from
all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow.
I understood the importance of the resurrection and how one day my grandpa along with all of us will be given a perfect body.
When
I went away to college I learned more about the pure love of God. I
remember a specific time feeling quite lost and alone. I was away from
family during a hard time and I felt there was no one I could turn to.
Instantly I resorted to prayer. I felt the loving arms of
my Heavenly Father embrace me as I prayed. I knew so distinctly in that
moment that on this journey we never walk alone. That our Heavenly
Father hears every desperate plea and knows every desire of our hearts. I
know That "we love Him because He first loved us." I also remember a
strengthening time when I felt the love of God In great abundance. My
mom shared scripture verses with me found in the Doctrine and Covenants, Section 50
at a time when I desperately needed to feel God's love.
40 Behold, ye are little children and ye cannot bear all things now; ye must grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth.
41 Fear not, little children, for you are mine, and I have overcome the world, and you are of them that my Father hath given me;
42 And none of them that my Father hath given me shall be lost.
As
a full time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints I have come to know of the reality of the infinite and enabling
power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It can and will carry us. It
will link us to the Savior and to our Father. It will provide
forgiveness for our sins, our weaknesses, and shortcomings. It will
provide the power and the strength to do His sacred work.
Elder Holland has said, "If He could come forward in the night, kneel down,
fall on His face, bleed from every pore, and cry, “Abba, Father (Papa),
if this cup can pass, let it pass,” 11 then
little wonder that salvation is not an easy thing for us. If you wonder
if there isn’t an easier way, you should remember you are not the first
one to ask that. Someone a lot greater and a lot grander asked a long
time ago if there wasn’t an easier way.
When
you struggle, when you are rejected, when you are spit upon and cast
out, you are standing with the best life this world has ever known, the
only pure and perfect life ever lived. You have reason to stand tall and
be grateful that the Living Son of the Living God knows all about your
sorrows and afflictions. The only way to salvation is through Gethsemane
and on to Calvary. The only way to eternity is through Him—the Way, the
Truth, and the Life."
I
love my Savior. Words can not adequately describe how grateful I am for
the atonement and how much I have learned about it especially these
last 18 months. I have come to learn of the potential I can have only through
Him. I am grateful for the amount of courage it took for Him to leave
His royal courts above and dwell in the most humble of circumstances. To
be despised and rejected, to be spat upon and cast out, rejected and
betrayed. I cannot wait for that day when I will kneel before His face
with tears rushing down my face and gratitude in my heart. I think I
will truly be amazed with how familiar He feels to me, with the very
scars He acquired for me. I look forward to that day and strive to live
in a way that I can hear those uttered words "Well done thy good and
faithful servant....thy faith hath made the whole."
Wherever
you are on your road to conversion, may you press forward with courage
and great faith. Do not get discouraged. "Live like you believe. Live
like you know. There's one sure way your faith will grow."
I
absolutely love being a missionary. Nothing brings me greater and more
pure joy than being able to share what I love with others.
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The last Ohio Columbus Mission Fireside for Sister Mathis |
I love you guys!
Sister Mathis