So many people have been asking me about my Service Mission in the FamilySearch Library. If you have an questions at all, feel free to ask! I am more than happy to answer them. BUT before you start throwing out the questions, allow me to answer the frequently asked questions (FAQ).
What is the difference between a service mission and a regular mission? A service mission is very different from a full-time proselyting mission, but it is still the same work. We are still both bringing souls unto Christ! In my mission, we don't get a mission call in the mail that we open to determine the next year and a half or two years of our lives. We actually kind of get to choose what we would like to be called to. We get called to a center or a building near us instead of a city, state, or country. I live at home. I could live with anyone and anywhere I wanted to. I chose to serve in the Riverton, Utah FamilySearch Library for one year. I serve 4 days a week for 7 hours per day (28 hours a week). We can hold a job on the side, and we only wear our badges when we are working, or attending anything that has to do with the church (anything which involves a bishop or stake president). So if you see me at anything having to do with church, don't be surprised if I've got my cute little name tag on! We do not have companions. When we are serving, we are usually with someone else, but we don't always have the same person. We really just find someone to hang out with the whole time and learn from each other.
What do you do at the FamilySearch Library? I help patrons that come in to do their family history. Some people have never been here, and never even done family history. I help them get started and help them bring their ancestors out of obscurity. I help them use the computer, printers and scanners, etc. I am there to help them every step of the way. It is so fulfilling when I help someone find the person they are looking for. The spirit is incredible. When I am not assisting a patron, I am sitting and waiting to help someone. Sometimes, I get the opportunity to do my own family history work while I wait to help someone, but there is usually lots to do. So FEEL FREE to come on in and see me! I can help you out! You don't even have to be a member of the church. We don't even push the gospel on you. Come, and do your family history, because there are so many good feelings and blessings that come from finding those who you came from! "In all of us there is a hunger, marrow deep, to know our heritage- to know who we are and where we have come from." -Alex Haley
Can you go swimming? Believe it or not, this really is a frequently asked question. I believe that I can go swimming. I haven't heard otherwise, but most people who serve here are old and don't swim anyway, so I don't think they are too worried about it.
Are you set apart as a missionary? Yes, but I haven't been set apart just yet. If you have questions about more rules, I will be able to answer them once I am set apart. I am set apart as a missionary and that is when the rules go into place.
Do you have to be unable to serve a full-time mission to serve a service mission? Absolutely not! You can serve a service mission if you feel that it is right for you. I couldn't serve a full time mission, and I still very much wish that I could, but I know this is where I am supposed to be. If you would rather stay at home, only serve for your chosen amount of time, if you need to keep a job, or even all of the above, then a service mission is right for you.
What other service missions are there available to me? If you would like to serve a service mission, first off, talk to your bishop. He will be able to research for you and let you know what is available near you and open to you! He will give you a few options, and he will ask you to pray about it and see which one stands out to you. Family history is what stood out to me, so that is what I chose. There are many other options!
Any other questions, you can ask me, or click here! :)
For a short and informative video about Church Service Missionaries, click here!
Thank you for reading, and like I said, please ask me any questions at all. I love to answer them. :)
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Sister Woodcox
When I heard the announcement that beautiful October day of last year, you all know how I reacted. If not, then read my last post! Some people have told me that they knew right then and there that they were supposed to serve a mission. That was not me. I was just appalled. I had this all planned out in my head. I would go to school and work, and then Tony would leave on his mission, then I would continue to work and pursue my schooling while he was gone, he would come back, and we would get married. Well, as we all know, that was completely wrong! Right as you think you have your life planned, Heavenly Father says "NOPE! I've got a better plan for you, my daughter." And boy, did He!
In my last post, I shared my experience in the temple and reading those scriptures from Doctrine and Covenants. It was one of the most spiritual experiences ever. I thought I had gotten the exact answer that I needed. I thought I knew what He was telling me. I started on my mission papers in January! I got it done so fast because I thought I could maybe get my call before Tony left! Well, I was very, very wrong... I suffer from severe anxiety and depression which causes me to have panic attacks. I had one in December, and I didn't think it was a huge deal! I put that on my papers and I was very honest. Once I had sent in my papers, the mission department was taking SO long to issue me a call. My stake president called them and they said that they would like me to go in for a psych evaluation with LDS Family Services. This was expected because my older brother had to complete this evaluation before he received his call also because of very similar mental problems. (Yes, crazy runs in the family!) He received his call a couple of weeks later and served for a full two years! What was the worst that could happen? That they wouldn't let me go? "Yeah, that is not happening", I told myself.
I went into the evaluation, and it did not go well. I had totaled my car on the way there, and I was very shaken up, as you would expect! No, I wasn't physically appearing crazy, with the eye twitching, stuttering speech, none of that. I'm not that crazy! I was just very absent minded. It seemed like when I went in, the lady had already made up her mind that I would not be able to serve. I was so disappointed when I came out of that interview, but she told me it wasn't up to her, it was up the the brethren of the church. So, I still had more hope than I should have had. About 3 weeks went by and my stake president said that they were still in the process of issuing my call. I was more than excited, I was about beside myself! A couple of days later, (in march) I was told that I needed to see a counselor before I was able to go out and serve The Lord. I was so frustrated, but clearly it was what needed to happen. I have had health problems literally all of my life, and I was so upset that I couldn't just do things the normal way. I just wanted to feel normal and do things normally for once in my life. I went to counseling for 4 weeks (5 appointments). Although I did learn a lot, I was so glad to be done with it. My counselor sent in her recommendation to the lady who evaluated me and she was supposed to send it in to the brethren. I waited another 3-ish weeks (it was not April), when one day I got the call from my stake president. I was just finishing my shift at work, so I answered the phone. He informed me that he was very sorry to tell me that my application to be a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was denied, and sent back because of my most recent panic attack in December. I burst into tears right in front of my boss. She was very comforting and gave me a big hug and told me that they hadn't looked for another nanny to replace me yet, so I was welcome to stay if I really wanted to! I just replied, "Well, I don't have anything else to do, and this is the best job I've ever had, so I might as well!" My mom had picked me up that day, and I just got into the car and grabbed her and started sobbing. I couldn't even tell her why I was crying because I was crying so hard. I finally uttered the words from my mouth, "They rejected my papers, and I can resubmit them in October if I still want to." Which by the way, those words tasted like vinegar coming out of my mouth. We sat there for a good 15 minutes and cried together. Little did I know that this was the best news of my life.
I had no idea what I was going to do. People had told me they thought that I was only going on a mission because I wanted to pass time while Tony was gone. People told me they thought I was giving up. People thought I must not have really wanted to go if I was questioning it now. I have never felt so sad, I have never felt so abandoned, I have never felt so angry, I have never felt so confused, I have never felt so doubtful, I have never felt so vulnerable, I've never felt so weak. I just got on my knees and poured out my heart to my Father in Heaven. I couldn't understand why I could have possibly gotten such a clear answer in the temple that I needed to serve a mission, and then all of the sudden I just couldn't go until December? And even then I didn't even know if I could still go. I was so lost for the longest time. My wonderful daddy and brother gave me a priesthood blessing, and that lifted my spirits so much, especially after venting to Heavenly Father.
After this, I was pretty much in Limbo. I did not know what I should do. In this time, my testimony had grown so much. I went to the temple, read the scriptures, prayed, everything I could possibly think of, and I never got a sure answer. I felt so alone and abandoned.
Finally one day I decided that I needed to be okay with not knowing what I was doing, Heavenly Father was definitely teaching me patience. (As if waiting for Tony for 2 years wasn't a good enough test of patience!) I read an article in the Ensign that was titled Go Forward In Faith. I knew I needed to just decide what I was going to do and do it. JUST DO IT? That was the scariest thing I have ever done. To make one of the biggest decisions of my life, that didn't just effect me, but many others who needed the gospel WITHOUT having any help from Heavenly Father (at least I thought) was completely terrifying. But I knew I had no choice. I decided then and there that I would then pursue a service mission.
I talked to my bishop and he gave me some options for available opportunities for a Young Church Service Missionary (YCSM). One of them was the Family History service mission. That one stuck out like a sore thumb to me. Things were finally falling into place! I was so happy. I finally understood why things seemed to be falling apart, when really they were falling together. Everything seemed to clear. Even though this was one of the most painful, difficult trial I have ever been faced with, I knew it was what I was supposed to experience. I have never felt so sad, but I have never felt so happy. I have never felt so abandoned, but I have never felt so supported. I have never felt so angry, but I have never felt so peaceful. I have never felt so confused, but I have never felt so sure. I have never felt so doubtful, but I have never felt so certain. I have never felt so vulnerable, but I have never felt so safe. I've never felt so weak, but I've never felt so strong. My testimony of going forward in faith has been strengthened even more. I truly have a testimony that things fall apart to fall into place. I know that everything I was faced with, He KNEW I could get through. But most of all, I know that even though sometimes our Father above is silent, that doesn't mean He isn't there. We are never ever alone, and I know that through this experience.
I have started my service mission in the Riverton FamilySearch Library as a YCSM! I started last week with orientation, and I already love it! Come visit me, and we will do more things with family history than you thought possible! Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said, "Do you young people want a sure way to eliminate the influence of the adversary in your life? Immerse yourself in searching for your ancestors, prepare their names for the sacred vicarious ordinances available in the temple, and then go to the temple to stand as proxy for them to receive the ordinances of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost. As you grow older, you will be able to participate in receiving the other ordinances as well. I can think of no greater protection from the influence of the adversary in your life." It won't just lessen the influence of the adversary in your life, it will ELIMINATE it. How amazing is that promise? Family history is something so important, and I know I was called to do this work because others need me. I am so grateful for this opportunity, and I really am grateful for my trials that I was faced with in the process of getting here. I can't wait to spend the next year serving my Savior!
In my last post, I shared my experience in the temple and reading those scriptures from Doctrine and Covenants. It was one of the most spiritual experiences ever. I thought I had gotten the exact answer that I needed. I thought I knew what He was telling me. I started on my mission papers in January! I got it done so fast because I thought I could maybe get my call before Tony left! Well, I was very, very wrong... I suffer from severe anxiety and depression which causes me to have panic attacks. I had one in December, and I didn't think it was a huge deal! I put that on my papers and I was very honest. Once I had sent in my papers, the mission department was taking SO long to issue me a call. My stake president called them and they said that they would like me to go in for a psych evaluation with LDS Family Services. This was expected because my older brother had to complete this evaluation before he received his call also because of very similar mental problems. (Yes, crazy runs in the family!) He received his call a couple of weeks later and served for a full two years! What was the worst that could happen? That they wouldn't let me go? "Yeah, that is not happening", I told myself.
I went into the evaluation, and it did not go well. I had totaled my car on the way there, and I was very shaken up, as you would expect! No, I wasn't physically appearing crazy, with the eye twitching, stuttering speech, none of that. I'm not that crazy! I was just very absent minded. It seemed like when I went in, the lady had already made up her mind that I would not be able to serve. I was so disappointed when I came out of that interview, but she told me it wasn't up to her, it was up the the brethren of the church. So, I still had more hope than I should have had. About 3 weeks went by and my stake president said that they were still in the process of issuing my call. I was more than excited, I was about beside myself! A couple of days later, (in march) I was told that I needed to see a counselor before I was able to go out and serve The Lord. I was so frustrated, but clearly it was what needed to happen. I have had health problems literally all of my life, and I was so upset that I couldn't just do things the normal way. I just wanted to feel normal and do things normally for once in my life. I went to counseling for 4 weeks (5 appointments). Although I did learn a lot, I was so glad to be done with it. My counselor sent in her recommendation to the lady who evaluated me and she was supposed to send it in to the brethren. I waited another 3-ish weeks (it was not April), when one day I got the call from my stake president. I was just finishing my shift at work, so I answered the phone. He informed me that he was very sorry to tell me that my application to be a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was denied, and sent back because of my most recent panic attack in December. I burst into tears right in front of my boss. She was very comforting and gave me a big hug and told me that they hadn't looked for another nanny to replace me yet, so I was welcome to stay if I really wanted to! I just replied, "Well, I don't have anything else to do, and this is the best job I've ever had, so I might as well!" My mom had picked me up that day, and I just got into the car and grabbed her and started sobbing. I couldn't even tell her why I was crying because I was crying so hard. I finally uttered the words from my mouth, "They rejected my papers, and I can resubmit them in October if I still want to." Which by the way, those words tasted like vinegar coming out of my mouth. We sat there for a good 15 minutes and cried together. Little did I know that this was the best news of my life.
I had no idea what I was going to do. People had told me they thought that I was only going on a mission because I wanted to pass time while Tony was gone. People told me they thought I was giving up. People thought I must not have really wanted to go if I was questioning it now. I have never felt so sad, I have never felt so abandoned, I have never felt so angry, I have never felt so confused, I have never felt so doubtful, I have never felt so vulnerable, I've never felt so weak. I just got on my knees and poured out my heart to my Father in Heaven. I couldn't understand why I could have possibly gotten such a clear answer in the temple that I needed to serve a mission, and then all of the sudden I just couldn't go until December? And even then I didn't even know if I could still go. I was so lost for the longest time. My wonderful daddy and brother gave me a priesthood blessing, and that lifted my spirits so much, especially after venting to Heavenly Father.
After this, I was pretty much in Limbo. I did not know what I should do. In this time, my testimony had grown so much. I went to the temple, read the scriptures, prayed, everything I could possibly think of, and I never got a sure answer. I felt so alone and abandoned.
Finally one day I decided that I needed to be okay with not knowing what I was doing, Heavenly Father was definitely teaching me patience. (As if waiting for Tony for 2 years wasn't a good enough test of patience!) I read an article in the Ensign that was titled Go Forward In Faith. I knew I needed to just decide what I was going to do and do it. JUST DO IT? That was the scariest thing I have ever done. To make one of the biggest decisions of my life, that didn't just effect me, but many others who needed the gospel WITHOUT having any help from Heavenly Father (at least I thought) was completely terrifying. But I knew I had no choice. I decided then and there that I would then pursue a service mission.
I talked to my bishop and he gave me some options for available opportunities for a Young Church Service Missionary (YCSM). One of them was the Family History service mission. That one stuck out like a sore thumb to me. Things were finally falling into place! I was so happy. I finally understood why things seemed to be falling apart, when really they were falling together. Everything seemed to clear. Even though this was one of the most painful, difficult trial I have ever been faced with, I knew it was what I was supposed to experience. I have never felt so sad, but I have never felt so happy. I have never felt so abandoned, but I have never felt so supported. I have never felt so angry, but I have never felt so peaceful. I have never felt so confused, but I have never felt so sure. I have never felt so doubtful, but I have never felt so certain. I have never felt so vulnerable, but I have never felt so safe. I've never felt so weak, but I've never felt so strong. My testimony of going forward in faith has been strengthened even more. I truly have a testimony that things fall apart to fall into place. I know that everything I was faced with, He KNEW I could get through. But most of all, I know that even though sometimes our Father above is silent, that doesn't mean He isn't there. We are never ever alone, and I know that through this experience.
I have started my service mission in the Riverton FamilySearch Library as a YCSM! I started last week with orientation, and I already love it! Come visit me, and we will do more things with family history than you thought possible! Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said, "Do you young people want a sure way to eliminate the influence of the adversary in your life? Immerse yourself in searching for your ancestors, prepare their names for the sacred vicarious ordinances available in the temple, and then go to the temple to stand as proxy for them to receive the ordinances of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost. As you grow older, you will be able to participate in receiving the other ordinances as well. I can think of no greater protection from the influence of the adversary in your life." It won't just lessen the influence of the adversary in your life, it will ELIMINATE it. How amazing is that promise? Family history is something so important, and I know I was called to do this work because others need me. I am so grateful for this opportunity, and I really am grateful for my trials that I was faced with in the process of getting here. I can't wait to spend the next year serving my Savior!
Monday, September 9, 2013
October 6th, 2012 - Life Changing News
It was October 6th, 2012. Who knew that one day would change my whole life forever. There I was, sitting in the LDS Conference Center on a beautiful day with two of my best friends, Zoey and Sarah. We were so excited for this 182nd Semi-Annual General Conference! I mean, who doesn't love hearing guidance and counsel from General Authorities of the church? We love conference and it was such a blessing to be able to attend it, especially this specific session. President Thomas S. Monson got up and smiled his precious smile to the crowd of thousands of people staring back at him. He had the usual welcome and announcements to make. He made a few announcements about temples around the whole world. "Brothers and sisters, I now turn to another matter-namely, missionary service." he said. I have always loved missionary work, and was preparing to wait for my best friend and love of my life on his mission, so this immediately caught my attention. I was on the edge of my seat! I could not wait to hear this announcement, no matter how big it was! He carried on to talk about how they had sent out 18 year old missionaries and so far they had been successful with their work, and had a very positive experience. I could feel it coming. This was going to be huge.
"I am pleased to announce that effective immediately, all worthy and able young men who have graduated from high school or it's equivalent, regardless of where they live, will have the option of being recommended for missionary service beginning at the age of 18, instead of age 19."
Still, even writing this gives me chills up and down my spine. I heard this announcement and felt tingling from my fingertips, to my toes. I immediately started sobbing. Words can not express how strong the spirit was in that room filled with hundreds of future missionaries. This meant that Tony would be leaving MUCH sooner than expected, especially because he was already 18! I did not have any idea as to why I was crying, but I could not stop the tears streaming from my face. (And those of you who know me know that I don't cry a lot when it comes to things like that!) But no, it did not stop there. I didn't even think about the young women age changing!
"As we have prayerfully pondered the age at which young men may begin their missionary service, we have also given consideration to the age at which a young woman might serve. Today I am pleased to announce that able, worthy young women who have the desire to serve may be recommended for missionary service beginning at age 19, instead of age 21."
Yes, my hand was over my mouth, and tears were just continuing to gush from my eyes. This had to be a dream. This was the biggest curve ball that had ever been thrown at my life! I had trouble concentrating through the rest of the meeting. It took a while to let this all sink in. Sarah leaned over to me and said "Heather, I can't believe this! I'm going on a mission in a year!" (She now has her call to Helsinki, Finland Reporting October 23rd!)
My life was literally changed forever. I called my boyfriend, Tony, and we were both just in shock. This was much earlier than we expected, but I was so excited. (The sooner he leaves, the sooner he comes back!) We decided to go to the temple.
I went to the Draper temple with Zoey and he went by himself to the Oquirrh Mountain temple. I prayed and I opened up the Book of Mormon. Suddenly, the scripture D&C 19:23 popped into my head. What a great and comforting scripture. I then kept reading and came across verses 36-41. I just cried. I knew that I was needed out there to serve a mission. I decided then and there that when I could, I would start my mission papers. Tony had decided that he was supposed to go now instead of later, so he started his papers as soon as he could! I was SO excited! I felt like I was more excited than him!! (Probably not, though.) He finished his paper, I took his picture for his papers, and he sent them in. This is us when we took his picture at the Draper temple:
Samara, Russia it was! Reporting on February 13th, 2013. I Couldn't have been more proud! I was so excited!! I could not stop hugging him that night. :)
"I am pleased to announce that effective immediately, all worthy and able young men who have graduated from high school or it's equivalent, regardless of where they live, will have the option of being recommended for missionary service beginning at the age of 18, instead of age 19."
Still, even writing this gives me chills up and down my spine. I heard this announcement and felt tingling from my fingertips, to my toes. I immediately started sobbing. Words can not express how strong the spirit was in that room filled with hundreds of future missionaries. This meant that Tony would be leaving MUCH sooner than expected, especially because he was already 18! I did not have any idea as to why I was crying, but I could not stop the tears streaming from my face. (And those of you who know me know that I don't cry a lot when it comes to things like that!) But no, it did not stop there. I didn't even think about the young women age changing!
"As we have prayerfully pondered the age at which young men may begin their missionary service, we have also given consideration to the age at which a young woman might serve. Today I am pleased to announce that able, worthy young women who have the desire to serve may be recommended for missionary service beginning at age 19, instead of age 21."
Yes, my hand was over my mouth, and tears were just continuing to gush from my eyes. This had to be a dream. This was the biggest curve ball that had ever been thrown at my life! I had trouble concentrating through the rest of the meeting. It took a while to let this all sink in. Sarah leaned over to me and said "Heather, I can't believe this! I'm going on a mission in a year!" (She now has her call to Helsinki, Finland Reporting October 23rd!)
My life was literally changed forever. I called my boyfriend, Tony, and we were both just in shock. This was much earlier than we expected, but I was so excited. (The sooner he leaves, the sooner he comes back!) We decided to go to the temple.
I went to the Draper temple with Zoey and he went by himself to the Oquirrh Mountain temple. I prayed and I opened up the Book of Mormon. Suddenly, the scripture D&C 19:23 popped into my head. What a great and comforting scripture. I then kept reading and came across verses 36-41. I just cried. I knew that I was needed out there to serve a mission. I decided then and there that when I could, I would start my mission papers. Tony had decided that he was supposed to go now instead of later, so he started his papers as soon as he could! I was SO excited! I felt like I was more excited than him!! (Probably not, though.) He finished his paper, I took his picture for his papers, and he sent them in. This is us when we took his picture at the Draper temple:
After a week and a half of waiting for the call, it arrived on December 12th, 2012 (Yes, 12/12/12) The Letter that would decide the next 2 years of his life!
Samara, Russia it was! Reporting on February 13th, 2013. I Couldn't have been more proud! I was so excited!! I could not stop hugging him that night. :)
To Be Continued. The journey had just begun...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)