Farewell talk given by Jessica in Chruch on August 17th, 2014
Good morning brothers and sisters. My name is Jessica Hadfield. My family and I just moved here a little over a month ago. I have been called to serve in the Denmark Copenhagen Mission, speaking Danish. And I leave for the MTC on the 27th of this month.
I would like to start off by talking about testimonies. President Uchtdorf stated that a testimony is “ the sure knowledge or assurance from the Holy Ghost of the truth and divinity of the Lord’s work in these latter days.” The assurance that is given to us by the Holy Ghost may not come all at once. But it in little parts as we learn more and more about the gospel. The more we study and learn the stronger our testimonies will be. Our testimonies can continually keep growing forever as long as we keep strengthening them.
President Uchtdorf also gave four steps to gain or to strengthen a testimony. The first step is to desire to believe. God has promised us all divine help if we desire to believe, he will bless us with a testimony if we have that pure desire.
The second step is to search the scriptures. At BYU my first semester, I took a Book of Mormon class. This class helped me to go in depth and understand the Book of Mormon like I had never before. Even though it was a tough class, it helped me to search the scriptures and to gain answers through them.
The third step is to do the will of God and keep the commandments. In John 7:17 it says “If any man will do his will he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God or whether I speak of myself.” We can all know the truth if we follow the commandments of God.
The fourth and final step is to ponder, fast and pray. We must realize that God will answer our prayers and we must be able to trust in him that he will help us to recognize the promptings of the Holy Ghost.
I know these steps will work and help us to gain a testimony and strengthen our already existing testimonies.
For as long as I can remember I have always had a testimony. I always loved coming to church and going to all the activities, but I realized recently that my testimony then wasn’t as strong as it could have been.
It really wasn’t until I came out to BYU that my testimony really started to grow. It happened rather quickly and I didn’t even realize it was happening at the time. Being on my own at school helped me to rely more on the Lord than I ever had before. Whenever I felt alone or confused about anything I would turn to the Lord and every time I would feel so much better and less confused. I even looked to Him for help in determining what classes to take, help in studying and memorizing, and for comfort when I need it.
My testimony is continually growing and getting stronger. Each time I read the scriptures I can feel that spirit testifying to me that they are true, and I know that everyone can have that experience if they have a desire to do so. We can all get answers and assurance from the Lord whenever we need it. He does answer our prayers and will help to guide us if we turn to Him.
I would now just like to take a few minutes and talk about why I decided to serve a mission and how I came to know it was the right thing for me. I had never really planned on serving a mission when I was younger. I had always kept it in the back of my head as an option, but didn’t give much thought to it. It always seemed so far away, something I would think about when I got older. And then the mission age changed and all of the sudden it wasn’t three or four years away it was one or two. Instead of just a thought in the back of my mind it was now something that I really needed to think about.
But it wasn’t really until I got out to college that I really started thinking about it. It seemed as though no matter how hard I tried I couldn’t get the thought of serving a mission out of my mind. Which I guess was the first sign, but I didn’t quite pick up on that soon enough.
A few weeks into my second semester at BYU, in my Living prophet’s class, we were talking about missions and my professor brought up a slide that said, “Remember the value of one soul. One soul, take it out a few generations it will be in the thousands.” This quotation really got me to thinking about serving, and about how even just teaching and serving one person can change hundreds or thousands of lives to come.
After that class I went back to my apartment and prayed asking if I should serve a mission and if it was the right thing for me to do. The answer didn’t come right away but it did come, in ways I never would have expected. That same week one of my roommates who was taking a mission prep class, came and needed us all to help her as she taught us the first lesson in Preach my Gospel. She probably doesn’t know it; but that little homework assignment made a big difference to me and made me want to serve even more.
That weekend I was determined to figure it out for sure what the right thing was for me to do. And I realized that my biggest hesitation, in serving a mission was the fear that comes with doing something new. At that moment a scripture popped into my head.
It was Mosiah 7:33 which says “But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage.”
I realized that as long as I put my trust in the Lord I could do anything. All I needed was to have faith that, even though it may be difficult, I can do all things because I put my trust in him. I know that the Lord knows who I am and what I need to be successful and because of this and my faith in him, he will help me. I know that I won’t have to do anything on my own, because I will always have his help.
Since I have made the decision to serve a mission, I haven’t had any regrets. I know that it is the right thing for me to do, and that I will be blessed for serving the lord.
In Preach my Gospel, it explains that my purpose as a missionary is invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel. That is a lot of work, and it is only through the spirit that anybody can accomplish this task. But it is truly the most important thing to help others come to Christ. As missionaries we cannot force anyone to accept the gospel. They must want to learn and come on their own. But it doesn’t matter how many people accept it from us, because we would have planted that seed in their minds that will affect them for the rest of their lives.
President Ezra Taft Benson said “ We are commanded by God to take this gospel to all the world. That is the cause that must unite us today. Only the gospel will save the world from the calamity of its own self-destruction. Only the gospel will unite men of all races and nationalities in peace. Only the gospel will bring joy, happiness and salvation to the human family.”
It is our duty, to share the gospel. I am so glad that I have the opportunity to devote a year and a half of my life to God and bring the gospel and all the blessings that come with it to the people I will teach in Denmark. I want to serve because I want to help that one soul and bring them unto Christ. I want to plant seeds in people’s hearts that will change their lives forever.
I know I wouldn’t be where I am today without my family and friends I have been so blessed to have such amazing parents and siblings, who have helped me and supported me my whole life and Friends that are always there for me and have helped me realize that we all have fears but we can overcome them. I love you all so much!
I am so thankful for this gospel in my life and for all the blessings that I have been given. I know the Lord answers our prayers and that he is there to comfort us and help us whenever we need. I know that He knows each of us personally and knows what is best for all of us.
I am so thankful for the opportunity that I have to serve a mission and share the gospel with the people in Denmark. I cannot wait to begin. I love the book of Mormon and know that it is true, and that we can all learn so much from it. I am so excited to help bring others unto the Lord.
I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ amen.
Good morning brothers and sisters. My name is Jessica Hadfield. My family and I just moved here a little over a month ago. I have been called to serve in the Denmark Copenhagen Mission, speaking Danish. And I leave for the MTC on the 27th of this month.
I would like to start off by talking about testimonies. President Uchtdorf stated that a testimony is “ the sure knowledge or assurance from the Holy Ghost of the truth and divinity of the Lord’s work in these latter days.” The assurance that is given to us by the Holy Ghost may not come all at once. But it in little parts as we learn more and more about the gospel. The more we study and learn the stronger our testimonies will be. Our testimonies can continually keep growing forever as long as we keep strengthening them.
President Uchtdorf also gave four steps to gain or to strengthen a testimony. The first step is to desire to believe. God has promised us all divine help if we desire to believe, he will bless us with a testimony if we have that pure desire.
The second step is to search the scriptures. At BYU my first semester, I took a Book of Mormon class. This class helped me to go in depth and understand the Book of Mormon like I had never before. Even though it was a tough class, it helped me to search the scriptures and to gain answers through them.
The third step is to do the will of God and keep the commandments. In John 7:17 it says “If any man will do his will he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God or whether I speak of myself.” We can all know the truth if we follow the commandments of God.
The fourth and final step is to ponder, fast and pray. We must realize that God will answer our prayers and we must be able to trust in him that he will help us to recognize the promptings of the Holy Ghost.
I know these steps will work and help us to gain a testimony and strengthen our already existing testimonies.
For as long as I can remember I have always had a testimony. I always loved coming to church and going to all the activities, but I realized recently that my testimony then wasn’t as strong as it could have been.
It really wasn’t until I came out to BYU that my testimony really started to grow. It happened rather quickly and I didn’t even realize it was happening at the time. Being on my own at school helped me to rely more on the Lord than I ever had before. Whenever I felt alone or confused about anything I would turn to the Lord and every time I would feel so much better and less confused. I even looked to Him for help in determining what classes to take, help in studying and memorizing, and for comfort when I need it.
My testimony is continually growing and getting stronger. Each time I read the scriptures I can feel that spirit testifying to me that they are true, and I know that everyone can have that experience if they have a desire to do so. We can all get answers and assurance from the Lord whenever we need it. He does answer our prayers and will help to guide us if we turn to Him.
I would now just like to take a few minutes and talk about why I decided to serve a mission and how I came to know it was the right thing for me. I had never really planned on serving a mission when I was younger. I had always kept it in the back of my head as an option, but didn’t give much thought to it. It always seemed so far away, something I would think about when I got older. And then the mission age changed and all of the sudden it wasn’t three or four years away it was one or two. Instead of just a thought in the back of my mind it was now something that I really needed to think about.
But it wasn’t really until I got out to college that I really started thinking about it. It seemed as though no matter how hard I tried I couldn’t get the thought of serving a mission out of my mind. Which I guess was the first sign, but I didn’t quite pick up on that soon enough.
A few weeks into my second semester at BYU, in my Living prophet’s class, we were talking about missions and my professor brought up a slide that said, “Remember the value of one soul. One soul, take it out a few generations it will be in the thousands.” This quotation really got me to thinking about serving, and about how even just teaching and serving one person can change hundreds or thousands of lives to come.
After that class I went back to my apartment and prayed asking if I should serve a mission and if it was the right thing for me to do. The answer didn’t come right away but it did come, in ways I never would have expected. That same week one of my roommates who was taking a mission prep class, came and needed us all to help her as she taught us the first lesson in Preach my Gospel. She probably doesn’t know it; but that little homework assignment made a big difference to me and made me want to serve even more.
That weekend I was determined to figure it out for sure what the right thing was for me to do. And I realized that my biggest hesitation, in serving a mission was the fear that comes with doing something new. At that moment a scripture popped into my head.
It was Mosiah 7:33 which says “But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage.”
I realized that as long as I put my trust in the Lord I could do anything. All I needed was to have faith that, even though it may be difficult, I can do all things because I put my trust in him. I know that the Lord knows who I am and what I need to be successful and because of this and my faith in him, he will help me. I know that I won’t have to do anything on my own, because I will always have his help.
Since I have made the decision to serve a mission, I haven’t had any regrets. I know that it is the right thing for me to do, and that I will be blessed for serving the lord.
In Preach my Gospel, it explains that my purpose as a missionary is invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel. That is a lot of work, and it is only through the spirit that anybody can accomplish this task. But it is truly the most important thing to help others come to Christ. As missionaries we cannot force anyone to accept the gospel. They must want to learn and come on their own. But it doesn’t matter how many people accept it from us, because we would have planted that seed in their minds that will affect them for the rest of their lives.
President Ezra Taft Benson said “ We are commanded by God to take this gospel to all the world. That is the cause that must unite us today. Only the gospel will save the world from the calamity of its own self-destruction. Only the gospel will unite men of all races and nationalities in peace. Only the gospel will bring joy, happiness and salvation to the human family.”
It is our duty, to share the gospel. I am so glad that I have the opportunity to devote a year and a half of my life to God and bring the gospel and all the blessings that come with it to the people I will teach in Denmark. I want to serve because I want to help that one soul and bring them unto Christ. I want to plant seeds in people’s hearts that will change their lives forever.
I know I wouldn’t be where I am today without my family and friends I have been so blessed to have such amazing parents and siblings, who have helped me and supported me my whole life and Friends that are always there for me and have helped me realize that we all have fears but we can overcome them. I love you all so much!
I am so thankful for this gospel in my life and for all the blessings that I have been given. I know the Lord answers our prayers and that he is there to comfort us and help us whenever we need. I know that He knows each of us personally and knows what is best for all of us.
I am so thankful for the opportunity that I have to serve a mission and share the gospel with the people in Denmark. I cannot wait to begin. I love the book of Mormon and know that it is true, and that we can all learn so much from it. I am so excited to help bring others unto the Lord.
I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ amen.