Digital Only: Service Missions
Service Missions: Worth the Journey
When my mission papers came back, I was expecting an assignment to a teaching mission. My path went a different way, for the better.
I think when people look at missions, they often see service missions as a “lesser” mission compared to a teaching mission. I’ll admit that when I was applying for my mission, I had some of these feelings. My priesthood leaders, the Missionary Department, and I worked on my application for over six months. I wanted to serve a teaching mission. I felt that I needed to.
A More Personal Calling
Eventually, I met with my stake president, and I learned I was called to a service mission. My path was headed in a different direction than I originally anticipated, but surprisingly, I felt peace. I knew it was right.
Since starting my mission, I’ve been able to keep people company while they sit alone in cancer infusion rooms and serve in the temple as an ordinance worker. I’ve also had the opportunity to write articles for YA Weekly, using my love for writing to help bring light and hope to others.
I believe that I may have been able to go on a full-time teaching mission. However, I know that when I received my assignment to serve as a service missionary, it was much less about my mental health and far more about where the Lord needed me the most. I think I would have missed the deeply personal experiences that I’ve had on my service mission.
Not Lesser but Equal
Service missions are not lesser compared to teaching missions. Here’s an analogy I’ve heard: Teaching missionaries are the Savior’s mouth; service missionaries are His hands. The service missionary purpose states that we serve “with loving kindness as the Savior would.”
We are lend a comforting, caring hand to those in need. That’s what the Savior did, and that’s what we’re called to emulate.
Go and Do
I know that Heavenly Father is looking out for every one of us and that He knows what’s best for us. Whatever your mission assignment, if He calls you to serve, serve.
In the words of Proverbs 3:5–6: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”
That, I can assure you of.