suddenly a light descended

having this wonderful opportunity to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has strengthened my testimony in the gospel of Jesus Christ. but how did i get here?
   i remember as a child always going to church and never really putting up a fight to not go, because i knew that it was the right thing to do and where i needed to be. however, i never really had a strong faith in what i was learning. my parents taught me all the time about the gospel, and so i leaned on their testimonies and faith for most of my life. i had a feeling it was all true, that of the Book of Mormon and that Joseph Smith saw God the Father and His son Jesus Christ and that there was a living prophet on the earth today, but i did not know for myself.
   when i moved away from home for the first time and no longer had my parents to lean on i realized that i must do something, so i did. i kept going to church because i felt safe and i made friends with church people, because i knew that they were good people. however, i ended up leaning on them instead of my parents.
   then came the day that i moved to Montana away from everyone i knew and everything i found security in.being away from all that i knew was a difficult thing for me and the first time i had ever done anything without someone. this is when i came to know for myself all that i had once relied on everyone else for was true, and i knew it for me. i moved to Montana for a summer job after i had gotten my associates degree, and i did not know a single soul. i found out that there was a Latter-Day Saint church that was only 20 minutes away from my work, so i found security. however, i had to find peace for myself and safety as well through other means, so i began reading the scriptures diligently and praying more fervently. i found saftey and refuge from the storms of life.  i turned to the Lord for answers and i sought a way to know for myself. i would often ask, "did Joseph Smith truly see God the Father and His son Jesus Christ?", "is the Book of Mormon another testament of Jesus Christ?". Heavenly Father did indeed answer my prayers and through many different ways. one way was going to church, there was a day that i wanted to quit and move home and not stay, but i remember so vividly that day that the spirit taught me so much about why i was there and that i have security, and that i was not alone. i came to know for myself, because i asked Heavenly Father and i searched out the answers through scripture study and going to church and fervnet prayer.
     now i am here on a mission to tell the world, well michigan, that Joseph Smith did see God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ and that the Book of Mormon is another testamnet of Jesus Christ. i know that Thomas S. Monson is the prophet on the earth today, and he leads and guides us and recieves revelation from God just as Moses and Abraham did. i know that the preisthood, the authority to act in God's name, is once again on the earth today. i know that the fullness of the gospel is here today. i know that it is true with all my heart because i have asked my Heavenly Father, and He answered my prayer.
   you to can find out if it is true, just ask!

Fisher of men

Matthew 4:18-22
   And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for the were fishers.
   And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
   And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
   And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.
    And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.

   for Halloween this year i could not decide what to be and then it came to me that we had these random fishing waders in our coat closet in the apartment, so i thought hey it fits to be the "fisher of men". i think that it goes well with being a missionsry and all. i got the other gear from a member who is quite the fisher actually. it was funny because when i called him to ask if i could borrow some things for night, he told me of a sign that he saw once at a church. the sign said, "Be ye fishers of men, you catch them and we'll clean them." oh it got me all excited about dressing up and blogging all about it. so now here i am!
    it is so important for us to truly follow after Jesus Christ. He has asked us so many times to "come unto me" and leave all else behind. we must go forth and follow Christ. as we are all disciples, students, of Christ we have so much to learn from him. as we choose to follow after him and do as he asked us to do, we can only be blessed and grow and become perfected.
   i think of the past 17 1/2 months of my life that have been lived in michigan serving a  mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. as i have gone out every day trying my best to be a "fisher of men", to invite others to come unto Christ, i have found that there are so many people out there who really do  need our help. there are many out there who do not even know that they have a loving Father in Heaven. there are many out there who are lost and confused. this is why i am here, this is why we are here, those who do know and understand, so that we can help others and invite them to Christ. my mission has meant the world to me. i have grown so much as i have lost myself in the work and have devoted my time to helping and serving others, i have found the meaning of our Father in Heavens plan. He really does want us to be happy and more than anything else he wants us to return and live with Him. this is why i am here, this is why you are here. do not be afraid to share the gospel and Heavenly Father's love with others, you never know what life your are going to touch.
   go out and be "FISHERS OF MEN". help them, bless them and love them!