Why serve?

As my time is coming closer to receiving my mission call I have reflected upon why I want to serve the Lord for the next 18 months of my life....

I have been asked this question many times by people I associate with, and I never really can give them one certain answer as to why I would like to serve a mission. In fact just tonight as I was hanging out with one of my friends she said how did you know you wanted to serve and why do you want to serve? I gave her an answer, but after I answered I started to wonder why do I REALLY want to serve the Lord.

Going to serve the Lord is something I really never thought I would do growing up. I mean come on every girls dream is to go off to school meet prince charming and be married in the temple. I for sure thought that  a mission would never be in my plans, but as I got older and realized that a mission will benefit not only be but so many other people, and I have something in my life that I need to share with others so they can have the life I have it became more clear as to what I was suppose to do. The only way I could do that is by serving a mission and telling people about the greatest thing on this earth....THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS!!

And why would I want to do this....

Is it simply because I have a father in heaven that loves me for who I am and will never leave me even if I make a stupid mistake, and that I know where I came from and where I am going? I believe this is only the beginning of why I would like to serve a mission. There is just something about the gospel of Jesus Christ that is much different than anything that the world can ever think of offering to us, as human beings. There is nothing in the world that can give us as much comfort and love that the gospel and our savior gives to us. That alone is something that I want to go out and share with the everyone!

There are so many people in today's world that feel so alone and feel as though there is no one to turn to! Little do they know they have had someone with them all through their life and will always have someone there as long as they are willing to let them in their life. He is the only one that can ever help us in the way he does. It is totally crazy but yet a great comfort and peace to me how amazing he is and how he can know EACH of us individual. He know that Caprice Little has a hard time saying no to people, or that she is a complete people person. He knows down to the deepest desires of our heart. How amazing is that?!?!?!? There is no one else in this world that can ever be like him!

I am truly grateful for the gospel in my life and I honestly have no clue where I would be without it in my daily life. Growing up I never really saw the difference it can make it our life as we apply the teachings that we are taught from many of our leaders, but as I have started to apply them in my life I have seen the difference and the impact it can have. I know that the scriptures are true and they are our "owners manuals" here on Earth. They are the greatest books ever written! We should be studying them daily. Because of my knowledge of the scriptures I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and he was called to translate the Book of Mormon so we would have that great book to guide us in these latter days. I know that he was preordained to be the one to translate the Book of Mormon and bring the truth back to the Earth. Without him we would have nothing! I know that the prophets are called of God and they are here to help us be better people and return to our Heavenly Father. Thomas S. Monson I know for a fact is called by God to be our leader and guide us in these days. I know that we have a father in Heaven that is there to help us all the time not just when we are having a hard time or our life is just going just fine he is ALWAYS there no matter what we do. He has been through it all and he knows what we are feeling. Go to him when you need help, there is no better teacher and coach them him. I know that Christ lives and has made a perfect path for us to follow. Guarantee that none of us will be able to follow exactly the steps he has left us, but he will be there to help us try and get as close as we can. I have felt the power of the Atonement in my life! I know it is real. The Atonement doesn't just cover the sins we make although that is a big part of it, but it covers every worry, sickness, pain, and struggle we have. That is HUGE! I can't even imagine what Christ had to go through so we would be able to return to our Heavenly Father again. Boy am I grateful that he was so willing to help all of us out. I honestly can't wait till the day I can meet with my Father in Heaven again. It is going to be such a happy day. I know that Temples are the house of the Lord and we can go there to get help and answers. There is a spirit there that is undeniable. The peace that comes from the Temple is something that I love and always want it to be part of my life. I can't wait till I can enter the doors of the Temple one day! I know that through the Temple our families can be together forever, and what a blessing that is. My family means the world to me and I am so glad that I will be able to be with them FOREVER! I know all these things to be true...
In the name of Jesus Christ Amen