backpost #1: the ohio

To start of said backposting,  I thought I'd include my last email from the Ohio. So here she be:

It is difficult to put into words what I have learned, what changes have been wrought, and what experiences have shaped and refined me during the months I have served as a full-time missionary. I wish I could describe the incredibleness of it all. As I close this chapter of my mortal journey, I know the impact of this experience will affect me eternally.

The Atonement of Jesus Christ is the greatest of all the gifts of God. It was carried out because of Christ’s love for the Father and for us. His sacrifice makes salvation and exaltation possible. I know He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows, suffered for our sins, and carried us to a far better land of promise. Though eternally indebted to Him I know that He finds joy when I repent and live up to my privileges. I am so grateful for the commandments. They truly provide instruction and protection in addition to giving us a means to exercise our faith.

I know God lives. Jesus is the Christ. Joseph Smith is the prophet of the restoration. The world would have us wallow in darkness and sin but because of a miraculous answer to prayer, we know of truth, light, and life. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true and living church, with all power and authority to assist in God’s work and glory. Prophets lead and guide us today, just as they did in days of old. I know when we heed the counsel of prophets—both ancient and modern—we obey the voice of the Lord.

I love the scriptures. I love the truths they contain. Reading them will draw us closer to our Father in Heaven, strengthen our testimonies of the Savior, and deepen our understanding of His doctrine. The Book of Mormon is what it purports to be—another testament of the Savior. My life has been changed forever because of the sacred accounts found within its pages. I know that Moroni’s promise can be fulfilled in the life of every child of God: sincerely read, ponder, and pray about the Book of Mormon and you will receive an answer through the Holy Ghost that it is scripture from a loving Heavenly Father.

The Plan of Salvation is real. We have purpose and meaning in life and are here to find joy, to do the Father’s will, and make and keep covenants that prepare us to return home to our Father in Heaven. The infinite and intimate Atonement of Jesus Christ makes that reunion possible. All because of the Savior’s love, we can overcome physical and spiritual death as well as dwell with our families eternally.

I think I must still be in shock or denial about going home—I still feel like last week was just a normal, great week and the next one will be essentially the same. Every once in a while a thought will come like, “Hey! I can read that book or listen to that song next week” or “next week I’ll go to church without a name tag” and I find it so surreal. I don’t know what missionaries are supposed to feel like when they go home since I’ve never done it before, but the overriding emotion is gratitude for the sacred honor it has been to serve in the best mission in the world. I know it was exactly where I needed to be and exactly what I needed to be doing during the past 17+ months of my life.

In a lot of respects, the mission has helped me to become. I guess what I mean by that is that so much focus is placed on becoming a missionary when really it is about how missionary work helps us in our process of becoming—becoming refined, becoming perfected, becoming righteous parents/spouses/leaders/friends/neighbors, and ultimately becoming more like God. I am changed and thank Heavenly Father for allowing me to be a missionary.