Don’t postpone your preparations to serve a mission.
Don’t create a deadline for the end of your difficulties and challenges.
Today, when I think about the sequence of events that occurred, I see clearly how important the courage of my classmate was when he bore his testimony about the restored truth and presented me with tangible proof of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ, even the Book of Mormon. That simple act, but of profound significance to me, created a connection between me and the missionaries when I met them.
The truth had been presented to me, and after my baptism, I became a disciple of Jesus Christ. During the following years, and with the help of very special people such as leaders, teachers, and friends, and also through my own personal study, I learned that when I decided to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, I had accepted the task of not only defending the truth but also proclaiming it.
I think it’s a valuable lesson that he never mentioned the name of his classmate, if he even remembers it. As missionaries we do things which may make an impact even if they were so small that we went unnoticed. Also, the path to discussion is not always straight or memorable.
When we agree to believe in the truth and to follow it, and when we make an effort to become true disciples of Jesus Christ, we do not receive a certificate with a guarantee that we will not make mistakes, that we will not be tempted to walk away from the truth, that we will not be criticized, or even that we will not experience afflictions. But the knowledge of the truth teaches that when we enter the strait and narrow path that will take us back to the presence of Heavenly Father, there will always be a way to escape these problems; there will always be the possibility of doubting our doubts before doubting our faith; and finally, we have a guarantee that we will never be alone when we go through afflictions, for God visits His people in the midst of their afflictions.
Do not postpone your preparation to serve the Lord as missionaries. …
To all who decide to serve Him, I promise you that the 24 or 18 months of service will pass in the mission field just as they would pass if you stayed home, but the opportunities that await the worthy young men and young women of this Church in the mission field are unique. … The same level of experience is reserved for the youth whom the Lord calls to serve on service missions. You are very welcome and necessary. Please do not minimize the importance of a service mission, for service missions also provide indescribable experiences.
Most of the opportunities that could come by skipping a mission will be available otherwise but few of the experiences of a mission will be available again.
The experience I had at the end of my topography degree taught me that we always defend the truth when we proclaim it and that defending the truth is a proactive thing. The defense of the truth should never be done in an aggressive manner but rather with genuine interest to love, share, and invite the people we are testifying to about the truth, thinking only about the temporal and spiritual welfare of the children of a loving Heavenly Father.
Advocacy of any kind should not be done aggressively but with genuine interest to share and invite.
The knowledge of the truth does not make us better than other people, but it teaches us what we must do to return to God’s presence.
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