Mission call letters and the ridiculous amount of happiness they bring :)

Before I decided to serve a mission, mission call letters meant nothing to me. I had never read one. I had never thought about reading one. It was no big deal, right?

Um... WRONG.

Once you get that call, it means everything to you. You carry it around with you for the first few days.You hang copies on your wall. You put little copies in your wallet and your scriptures and pull them out though out the day for no good reason. It's weird. haha

But honestly, reading a mission call letter is what finally pushed me over the edge in deciding to serve a mission. The promises contained in that letter are powerful.

So here is mine:


Dear Sister Bradley:

You are hereby called to serve as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the France Paris Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months.

You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, May 15, 2013. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the French language. You assignment may be modified according to the needs of the mission president.

You have been recommended as one worthy to represent the Lord as a minister of the restored gospel. You will be an official representative of the Church. As such, you will be expected to maintain the highest standards of conduct and appearance by keeping the commandments, living mission rules, and following the counsel of your mission president. As you devote your time and attention to serving the Lord, leaving behind all other personal affairs, the Lord will bless you with increased knowledge and testimony of the Restoration and of truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Your purpose will be to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. As you serve with all your heart, might, and strength, the Lord will lead you to those who are prepared to be baptized.

The Lord will reward you for the goodness of your life. Greater blessings and more happiness than you have yet experienced await you as you humbly and prayerfully serve the Lord in this labor of love among His children. We place our confidence in you and pray that the Lord will help you become an effective missionary.

You will be set apart as a missionary by your stake president. Please send your written acceptance promptly, endorsed by your bishop.

Sincerely, Thomas S. Monson, President