The Odyssey

Now I'm not sure if you've heard of the General Conference Odyssey that has just begun.

Essentially, a group of mormon bloggers have gathered and decided to read 1 General Conference address every week until they are caught up, beginning with the April 1971 Conference.

(The first session easily available online)

And they will read until they are caught up with the current Conference, somewhere around 2029.

Wow.

I was reading about this plan and I think it is fantastic!

However, I am going to adapt it for my own personal use.

In preparation for my mission I am going to read 1 General Conference talk every day leading up to my departure.

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints we believe that our prophets are called of God.

Mormon.org has a great description of the role of prophets:

Prophets have many duties that come with their role. Here are a few:

• To testify of Jesus: A prophet’s job first and foremost is to testify of Christ—that He died for us, was resurrected, and lives today. Prophets’ lives of love and service are examples of how to follow Him.
• To lead God’s kingdom on the earth: While each person is entitled to revelation for himself or herself, prophets have the authority to receive revelation for the world.
• To provide guidance and warning: Prophets have often been compared to watchmen on a tower. From the spiritual perspective that comes from their life experience and the revelation given to them from God, they can see things that the rest of the world can’t see and warn us of the consequences of certain actions.
• To keep doctrine pure: God speaks to each of us differently, and sometimes His voice can be difficult to discern. How can we know if what we feel is in accordance with God’s will? The words of the prophets are a measuring stick; if what we feel is consistent with the teachings of the prophets and the scriptures, we can be confident it is from God.

Prophets today address the world as a whole at General Conference twice a year.

Think about it for a minute.

People who have been called of God.

Speaking to us today.

Giving messages that apply to us directly.

April 1971 is a far ways away from my life span.

But my parents were around for it.

And the messages that were shared then are the same messages shared throughout time.

The same messages that apply to us today.

In preparing for a mission I think that reading and studying and being reminded of the words of the prophets and their insights into the scriptures will be of a great benefit.

So I invite you to join in this.

If you are preparing for a mission take the time each day to read a general conference address.

If you aren't preparing for a mission I encourage you to be a part of this Odyssey.

Whether reading one a week or one a day.

Get a refresher on the words of the prophets.

And let your testimony be strengthened.

Mentally Strong

One thing you need to know about me is I am fairly candid. 

I like being up front about who I am. 

Some may say I am a bit too honest too quickly. 

But the idea of sharing this blog post makes me a bit nervous.

Not because this isn't a common struggle.

But because it isn't often talked about in this specific situation.

I'm talking about missionaries mental health...

Over 3 years ago an announcement was made.

That young men could leave on missions at 18.

That young women could leave on missions at 19.

This was life changing news for a lot of teenagers and young adults.

But just because we could leave earlier didn't mean all of us were ready to...

I am not discounting anyone who went before they were ready.

I am not ignoring all of those who were ready at this younger age.

But I know for me, I was not ready at 19.

At the time I didn't know I wasn't ready.

But here at 20, I look back at who I was a year ago and I have learned so much.

And I am much better prepared.

For all that preparation there have been some hiccups.

Today I went to LDS Family Services to receive a pre-mission evaluation.

 Sunday I was called into my bishop's office 

And he told me that he had been speaking with the stake president about me. 

(Scary right?)

And here is the gist of it.

On my papers I wrote a few things that would be considered potential red flags:

1. I have ADHD

2. I have Anxiety Disorder

3. I have been depressed in the past

Because of these things I need to have some tests done, as well as meet with a counselor to evaluate whether I will be able to serve a mission. 

I need you to understand me saying this is not in any way me trying to dissuade people from telling the truth on their papers.

PLEASE BE HONEST.

PLEASE BE UPFRONT ABOUT ALL HEALTH CONCERNS.

PLEASE BE TRUTHFUL.

Don't hide or lessen different things in the hopes that if you don't write it down 

then you will just get assigned on your mission and all will be fine 

and you won't have any problems your whole mission long.

Because that isn't how it works. 

On the mission papers there is a whole lot of room to write down and explain all medical everythings.

So write it down and explain.

I was very detailed in mine-and what I wrote alerted my Priesthood leaders of potential concerns.

In talking with them it was made clear that chances are Salt Lake would ask me to be evaluated

before they assigned me anywhere. 

Because there are a lot of people coming home from missions. 

And there is a myriad of reasons. 

But one of them is that there are people going out.

Who are excited.

Who love the gospel.

Who aren't as mentally healthy as they should be. 

And don't have the coping skills they need.

And were not adequately prepared to deal with the stressors of a mission. 

And had to come home.

Please don't get the impression that I am judging anyone who is in that situation.

All I am saying is that I know I have some mental health concerns.

And because of that there are steps I need to take. 

And that I am doing all I can to prepare beforehand so that I can serve a full 18 months. 

But please note that I am a high functioning, do well in school, love my life kind of girl.

Also know there is no doubt in my mind I am going to serve a mission. 

And I understand and appreciate this protocol and that the church cares about my mental health and wants me to be the best missionary I can be as badly as I do. 

So I made an appointment and went to the Lethbridge LDS Family Services.

Met with a counselor.

Discussed the issues that were of concern.

And made an appointment for later this week to get testing done.

So actually submitting my papers to Salt Lake is now delayed 2-4 weeks.

For anyone else who has ever had a mental illness.

Or for anyone currently struggling with a mental illness.

Here is the process I am going through right now.

Because I know I am not alone in this.

But I also wish someone had told me. 

I wish I had known about pre-mission evaluations.

And known all that the church is doing to help those who have various disorders and mental illnesses who have desires to serve a mission. 

Here is a link to more information about LDS Family Services missionary resources:

LDS Family Services

Part 2 will be after my next appointment. ;)