The moment where my desire sky rocketed was when I moved my senior year to Texas. There was this one week where my ward did missionary week for us high school kids. We had different themes for each day, like that Monday was dress like a missionary to school or Tuesday giving a copy of the Book of Mormon to someone.
Anyway, Thursday comes around - Wednesday was P-day - and the laurels and priests were to go teach the discussions in "non-member" homes. I went with my young women president and one of the sister missionaries to this one home where the father of the home pretended to be a Southern Baptist. He drilled me pretty hard and I was freakin' out enough as it was (the sister missionary let me lead the discussion, you see). But I told myself I had to keep it cool; it was all practice. Just go with the Spirit.
By the end of the discussion, the "non-member" I was teaching snapped out of his role and just said these words:
Wow. You are a natural missionary. Have you ever thought about going on a mission?
Those words struck me. I had always known I wanted to serve a mission on and off throughout the years. I told him that I would like to. He told me that he definitely recommended that I should. So by the end of course I was thinking in my head "Woohoo!" but I was still only 95% wanting to serve.
That summer following I knew what I needed to do: I needed to pray about it.
I had a couple weeks to go before leaving for BYU in Provo, UT. I was really down one day - not entirely sure why - but it was just one of those days where I felt like I was lost. I had no idea what my future had in store. Of course, I was supposed to go to BYU but I didn't know where to go from there. So I had a feeling I needed to pray about serving a mission.
Right as I prayed about it: BAM! The Spirit hit me so strong as if the Lord was saying, "YES. You need to prepare to serve a mission." I knew no matter what I needed to do all I could to do so. I was not going to let Heavenly Father down.
When I went to BYU, most of my guy friends were talking about how long they had until they could start their papers. (This was right before they changed the age for young men and young women.) When I expressed my desire to serve a mission, most people either shrugged it off or laughed at me saying there was no way I'd make it till 21 to serve a mission. Every time someone told me that I just wanted to scream at them. There was something itching in the pit of my stomach and heart that they were wrong. I was determined to prove them wrong.
One night - the night of the USU vs. BYU football game - I was talking with one of my friends from my student ward and she was expressing her desire to serve a mission too. She was saying for YEARS she had been praying for the age limit to be reduced for young women. I couldn't help but be intrigued by this. I thought maybe perhaps I should try praying about this.
So I did. Wanna know my answer? I didn't get one. For about 2 weeks I prayed about this every day. Then one day I went to the temple (the Saturday before General Conference) and I prayed about that amongst other things that were floating around my mind. There was a voice that came into my head with the words coming to my mind:
Don't worry about it. It'll all be taken care of.
I was kinda confused by this response - a little taken aback not gonna lie. But I thought, "Whatever. If the Lord says it'll all be taken care of, I'm not going to worry about it."
*****
The next Saturday my roommate wakes me up 4 minutes before General Conference started. I scrambled to hook up my laptop and get Conference loaded on the Internet. President Monson got up to speak at the pulpit and he started talking about missionary work. My roommate - knowing my desire to serve a mission - said to me, "Brynne! He's gonna lower the ages!" I immediately retorted, "No he's not, Betsy!"
But then the magic words came: I am pleased to announce that effective immediately all worthy and able young men who have graduated from high school or its 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. I am not suggesting that all young men will—or should—serve at this earlier age. Rather, based on individual circumstances as well as upon a determination by priesthood leaders, this option is now available.
My hope rose. I was getting really excited. Betsy says, "Brynne! Brynne! He's going to talk about girls!!!!"
My response: SHUT UP BETSY! (excitement rushing to my chest!)
President Monson continued: 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.
I jumped up! I screamed! I woke up my roommate in the room next to us! I ran around all across my dorm and throughout my kitchen and living room too! I couldn't help but be overwhelmed with joy! I was on Cloud 9! I could not focus on the rest of General Conference! The joy of my spirit was uncaged! My prayer had been answered!!!!!!
Next item of business: when should I go?
Immediately, I thought I wanted to go right away. However, after careful fasting, pondering, and praying, I felt that no matter my decision the Lord was fine whenever I went but the feeling of staying at BYU for one more semester at BYU and then leave the following summer would be the best idea.
I am so grateful for that decision. If I would have left right away, I wouldn't have had the great opportunities I had winter semester at BYU:
- Complete a full year in school: check!
- Take mission and temple prep courses to prepare myself spiritually: check!
- Grow and strengthen friendships that I had from fall semester and new ones from winter semester: check!
- Perform with the BYU combined choirs at GENERAL CONFERENCE: CHECK!
Just as He trusted young Joseph Smith, He is trusts a young woman like me to carry this truth forth to the people of Taiwan. And with that, I am so honored. I am so honored that Heavenly Father trusts me to carry His gospel to that great nation. I say this in the sacred and holy name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
