Missionary moments are a thing.

Confirmations from Heavenly Father on what you are supposed to do are mostly subtle drop of the hat hints....

and sometimes they're blatantly obvious, smack you in the face, "why are you even asking me this again" answers.

Here's a little background. 

          6 months ago, I became a member of the one true church on this earth, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I knew from the time that I was baptized, that I would prepare to be called to serve a mission. I know I have a strong testimony, and I know that I need to share it with everyone that I can, whenever I can. This Gospel of Jesus Christ is the truest thing that I have EVER known, and I can say wholeheartedly that IT IS TRUE! Lately I have been having some doubts on whether I should serve a mission, even though I have received the answer countless times that I am to serve as a full-time missionary. I continuously pray even though the answer is the same every time, "I am to go, and I am to serve, for I will be a blessing unto my fellow man." It doesn't get more clear than that, but yet I still doubt. I doubt that I will be able to teach people and bring the right message that they are to hear because I am so knew at this myself. Constantly I'm reminded of the Holy Spirit and if you stay worthy to have that companionship, and you stay in tune with the promptings that It brings, you don't have to worry. 

          So anyways, I pray ever morning and night for missionary opportunities and lately, they haven't been coming. I thought I was doing something wrong or I wasn't reading my scriptures enough or I wasn't praying hard enough for them..well I went to apply for my passport today, (just in case I get called to a foreign mission), and the people working asked where I was going that I needed a passport. So I immediately told them, "WELL, I'm Mormon and I'm preparing to go on an 18 month mission for my church!" This opened up a whole shebang of questions of where I was going and what I was going to do, I stayed there well over an hour longer than I would have had to..but the Spirit is super good at preparing me to get put on the spot, when I'm least expecting it. 

         Heavenly Father knows what we need at every second of every day, and if we are faithful to Him, He will fulfill those needs in an overwhelming, under-appreciated, much-more-than-we-deserve way. I cannot recount all the blessings that I am given on a daily basis and I know for a FACT that it has a direct correlation to trying my hardest to live a Christ centered and temple worthy life. Which brings me to another thing, PRAY WITH ALL YOUR MIGHT FOR THOSE MISSIONARY MOMENTS. Be worthy to carry the Spirit and head the promptings, you never know who needs to hear your message that day. They may be small, or they may be huge but NO MATTER WHAT, you are planting seeds in the hearts of many! 
        "Missionary work is the lifeblood of the Church and the lifesaving blessing to all who accept its message. At this time in your life, a mission call from the Lord, my young friends, is the most important work that you can do. Prepare now, live righteously, learn from your family and Church leaders, and come join with us in building the kingdom of God on earth—accept your divine appointment in “so great a cause." This quote by Ronald A. Rasband from the April 2010 priesthood session of general conference explains to me why I need to pray for opportunities to share the message of eternal families with everyone that I come across. It also speaks to me about the way I should always be living my life; righteously and ready to learn so that I, MARIAH ALLEN, can accept my divine appointment in this great cause of missionary work. 

New Year, Same Goals

“God is preparing people to receive your testimony of restored truth. He requires your faith and then your action to share fearlessly what has become so precious to you and those you love.”

These words were said by the awesome PRESIDENT HENRY B. EYRING!

This statement has become a huge part of my life while I prepare myself and my testimony to be a blessing unto others. My biggest prayer at this point is that my experiences and my testimony can put a desire in at least one person's heart that they want what I have!

With this coming New Year, I have a world of possibilities lining up in front of me. 

This is the year I will have my year mark of my membership. 

This is the year I will go through the temple to receive my endowments. 

This is the year that I will embark on an 18 month mission to serve my Savior full time.

This is a year full of Christ centered goals and outcomes, and I couldn't be happier.

This past year has been some of the highest and lowest points in my life. 

From graduating high school, to being baptized a member, to celebrating the five year reunion of my friend's death. So many things have molded this year into the best and hardest year of my life.

This year I struggled with submitting my life to the will of my Heavenly Father completely. 

I say my life is completely in His hands, but when it comes down to it, my own intentions get in the way of surrendering my all.

This quote has been a huge inspiration to me for reminding that my plans have no effect on the blueprint of my path that Heavenly Father has for me with the next couple of years.

With this New Year, I will begin from the point that I am, and not let the past encroach on my future.

I will seek the will of my Savior constantly in everything that I do. 

I will make the adversary cringe whenever I open my mouth to testify the truth of this gospel.

  

Mission Prep is a Crazy Thing..

April 12th. 

This day is coming upon me so rapidly. 

This is the ever speedily coming day when I am able to submit my mission papers.

Wait what? Just over 4 months ago I was still taking the discussions, and now I'm planning on serving a mission too?! 

Hold the phone...

I am continuously blessed by the love and generosity of missionaries.

They continuously inspire me to be better than I am as to be a blessing for others. 

I have decided to serve a mission as to not only bless the lives of all those around me while carrying the Spirit of the Living God, but to prepare myself for the life and eternity ahead of me. 

I know that missions bless the lives of the missionaries in ways that they cannot even describe. 

I love the fact, that in less than one short year I could be a full time missionary, 

devoting 100% of my time to hastening the work for Christ's return. 

 Through devoted study and seeking council through prayer, I know for a fact that serving a mission is something I have to do. 

In James 1:5 it says, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." 

So I did what a humble 14 year old boy did, I prayed to gain wisdom of what my Heavenly Father would have me do, and he answered my prayer with a resounding result that led me to now be preparing to serve a full time mission.

I know that serving a mission will bless my family now and for generations to come. 

Through reading my scriptures daily, I gain more of an understanding of the great work that my Savior has done for me. I come to love Him more and more every day through learning more of the atonement and the burdens that He bore to save me from my sins. 

I will do everything I know how to live the standards that are given to me, so I can be a continuous servant in the hands of God. 

I love the process of repentance and working every day to be the best that you can be, always.

I love that if you do all that you can, Heavenly Father will meet you and bring you the rest of the way. 

Strive to live righteously and the blessings will follow. 

I love my Savior with everything that I am, and I love the sacrifices He gave so that I can one day again, live with Him.

I love missionary work and being able to share the joy that I'm given through the Spirit constantly.

Be a witness for Christ always, and if necessary, use words.

Love always.

Pray without ceasing.

Be a servant. 

Care for others. 

Your life will be blessed.

I love, I care, I pray, and I'm a Mormon!

When I was a very young child I gained an incredulous love for the Bible and the work of God.I read that awesome book from cover to cover countless times over the years, and I can probably recount almost every story in there. Although raised on that book and to know the difference between right and wrong, I knew something was missing.When something is missing from your worship it is a strange feeling. It feels as though you’re there, God is there, but the message He is trying to give you is getting lost in it’s travels.I constantly felt lost with no answer from God. No matter how many times I humbled myself and fell to my knees, I received nothing. There came a time where I despised God because if He was there, why didn’t I feel Him, or hear His voice. I wanted answers but I wasn’t wiling to wait on God’s time. It was all about my own inhibitions, not that of Heavenly Father and his eternal plan that He had for me from before I came to the earth.I love the idea that my life was predetermined but I had/have the free will agent to choose how it is ultimately going to go. I also love that I chose this incredible path to take. This path that already, in a month and a half, has given me too many blessings and direct answers to count from my oh so Heavenly Father. I cannot thank all the people that God put in my path to help me along this journey. I am eternally grateful for the friendships that tested me, and the people that hurt me and left my life. Without them, my testimony wouldn’t be as strong as it is.I love my testimony. It is specific to me, and it just means the world to me. I hope that one day my trials and tribulations will help someone else find this incredible joy and understanding of the gospel that I have found: The true gospel of Jesus Christ.

Missionaries are incredible to me. They give up 1.5-2 years of their lives to share the joy and love of our savior. I hope to be at least half of the missionary as the missionaries that Heavenly Father has put in my life. The never ending love and the form of bond through the companionships that they form are so precious.

Missions rock.

My testimony is my own.

I love this true restored gospel.

I love that it was restored in the dispensation that I live in. That has to be the biggest blessing ever.

I love that Joseph Smith was willing to put his life on the line and be a prophet of God so that we could have the fullness of the gospel, not even 200 years ago.

I love that I live so close to where such miraculous things took place, whether it be at the Sacred Grove, the Joseph Smith Farm, the Hill Cumorah, or Fayette where the church was officially organized and gathered for the first time.

I love the priesthood and all the blessings that come through the priesthood (especially all the covenants we can make!)

I love my constant companionship with the Holy Ghost, that even in times of hurt I can be comforted and brought joy.

I love my Heavenly Father that He knows what is best and watches over me always.

I LOVE THIS CHURCH.