Testimony Tuesday- Dallas' Story

To start out, like many testimonies do, I’d like to bare my testimony that I have faith that this church is the true church. Growing up, I was never really part of a church. My parents would take us to a Lutheran church on Christmas Eve and Easter, but that was really the extent of it. When I was in middle school I started going to one of the “come as you are” Christian churches with some friends from school and just started learning what I could. Then I started high school and things just went downhill I wasn’t part of the church really anymore and I had no motivation from my mom and step dad (who after my sophomore year got divorced, that was hard) to be moral and make decisions that would better myself in the afterlife.
 Everything was based off of “what will help you get your higher education and support yourself in the future?” It was extremely easy to fall under sin in my house, and so everyone did. I knew a lot of LDS kids from school, but just was never interested in learning about it.

Testimony Tuesday- Olivia's Story

I am 18 years old. For 18 years and 8 months I attended my parents’ church. We went every Sunday and often had family bible studies. Being close to the Lord was (and still is) very important to my mother and she did well instilling this love in me.

When I was about 14 I started to neglect my relationship with God. I made it a chore to read scriptures and pray and over the years quit altogether. Of course I was still going to church and all, but honestly I was just doing what I was supposed to do, going through motions. There were times I attempted to rebuild my relationship but over and over I failed. This had somewhat of an effect on my high school years. But, I know that God was still watching over me and directing my paths, because after a terrible freshman year, I changed schools and made friends. There are three friends in particular that stand out because they have been a great support in my life and all play a big role in how I have come lay the foundations to build my testimony.

Testimony Tuesday- Megan's Story

Here is a little background on my history: All of my life, I grew up in a fairly secular home. I had attended a few protestant churches here and there, but I was never affiliated with one in particular. As I entered into high school, my parents were both remarried to religious people. Through my dad and stepmother, I was learning Jewish tradition. My mother converted to Catholicism after marrying my stepfather, so I had a couple major religions in my life to learn from. Although there were true aspects in both religions, I did not feel like I could commit to one or the other. Neither of them seemed complete to me.

Elder Thompson's Last Day

Part of missionary life is the constant change. For good or for bad, missionaries really never can plan for the next 6 months, because who knows what will have changed! One of those changes that happened today is Elder Thompson reaching the end of his mission. He served faithfully in 2 different missions; First in San Antonio, Texas and then here in the Referral Center. He was an example of faith and dedication. He bore a testimony today to all of us that He knew that God lives, and that He loves each of us, and that this is His work. I echo that testimony that I know that God lives, and this IS His work, "For behold, this is my work and my glory- to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man."- Moses 1:39

E. Thompson's motivational scripture reminds me of my duty and privilege as a missionary: "Shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory! Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceedingly glad..."-D&C 128: 22

Friday Free Day- The last of the Zone Conferences

The RC Mission had Zone Conference today. Zone Conferences are a special meeting that take a portion of a Friday from about 8 AM to 12 PM. They are held once every six weeks. They are a special training where the whole mission can get together and have outside sources come and talk to us and present new ideas of how to help make us better missionaries. It is always a beneficial and Spiritual experience.

This Zone Conference was particularly special because it is also the day when Elder Tagg and Elder McMullin finish their missions! They are wonderful missionaries with very strong testimonies that God loves us, that His son Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, and that the Book of Mormon is the Word of God. They will definitely be missed, and we all hope they have a great start getting back into "regular" life. :)

Friday Free Day- How to become a missionary

I figured I needed to tell my story of how I came to be a missionary at the Referral Center. I have a heart condition called neurocardiogenic syncope. It basically means that I faint sometimes if I get too hot or don't eat, etc. Any individual who wants to be a missionary fills out an application, called mission papers. Those papers are sent up to church headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah. 


When I filled mine out, the word came back that I was not expected to serve a mission for the church because of my heart condition. Through my local church leaders I was given the option to serve other service missions. It wasn't quite the same as a proselyting mission though and I had decided before I turned in my papers that if I wasn't called on a proselyting mission I would pursue other interests.