Lucy's Mission Farewell Talk

 Jesus Knows

At the end of June 2023 I still didn’t have a summer job and I was beginning to worry about if I would find one or not and my dad told me it would all work out because Jesus knows. A few days later I was able to take over Hanna’s job at the county spraying weeds. During this past summer I was able to work with multiple returned missionaries. During this summer I was able to see the profound impact that a mission had on each of my coworkers. 

As the days got closer to the end of august, I knew that soon I would move out and start my first semester of university. As I was preparing I was getting pretty nervous about all of it. For those of you who know me know that I’m not the biggest fan of change. And so this next step in my life was about to bring a lot of change with it. As I was packing and feeling ever more nervous my dad once again reminded me that Jesus knows. While at the time that wasn’t really what I wanted to hear, this is really what I needed to hear. Even though I wanted my dad to have sympathy for me and my nerves, I really only needed Christ and his empathy for every fear that I face in my life.

When I arrived in Provo to find my apartment and my new roommates. Jesus knew that I needed the girls that waited in apartment 27s walls. He knew that I would need Sarah to drag to all of the BYU games and to hate on chemistry together. He knew that I would need an Alyssa to feed me and make treats with. Jesus also knew that I would need a Gretel to help me realize what kind of an impact a mission can have on one’s life. He also knew I would need both a Madi and a Megan. He knew that I would need someone to talk to every night before bed. He also knew that I needed someone that would know people in our ward and our bishop. Apartment 27 will forever hold a special place in my heart because Jesus knew me and my needs. 

While at BYU I knew that I would need a job. So as I started scrolling through the jobs on the campus page and the ground crew jobs stood out to me. And so I applied but didn’t hear from anyone for a few weeks so I sent in another application online. And a few days later I got an email that I would be on Connor Davidson’s crew on the temple and missionary field grounds crew. The first day I showed up to work I was pretty nervous about the people I would be working with and what work I would be doing. When I walked into our shop that morning I found a girl from my ward I had met the Sunday before. When I saw her that morning I knew that Jesus knew I would need someone to ease my nerves about going to work each day. As the days went on in my working I found that each day as I was either working in the flower beds, mowing lawns, or raking leaves, I would get to see a bunch of missionaries from the MTC walk by to go to the temple. As I got to see each of them walk by I would start to wonder what it was like to be one of them. What would it be like to get to wear that name tag everyday. 

During the first few weeks of the semester everyone on the bus, in classes, and in my ward would talk to whoever was beside them and introduce themselves, each time you would get the same questions like where are you from? What are you majoring in? Are you like a freshman freshman or like a returned missionary freshman? In many of these conversations I would talk to another returned missionary. While growing up in a large member population, it was still shocking to me the amount of returned missionaries that attend BYU. Each time I would meet someone new I would find each of their experiences very cool. 

    This last October I had the opportunity to listen to all 5 sessions of general conference. The Wednesday before conference I had attended institute with my roommates. In my class our teacher told us that we should each have a question going into the weekend, and then gave us a minute to think about it and write it down. While the idea of a mission had always been in the back of my mind I hadn’t ever really committed to the idea. Going into my freshman year of university I felt overwhelmed as it was, I didn’t need another big life event to think about right then. But as I was sitting there thinking I wrote down two questions. The first was what should I do with school. And the second was if I should go on a mission.

    As the weekend rolled around I had pushed my questions to the back of my mind, and didn’t really want to think about them. On Saturday morning my roommates and I woke up and walked over to the stake center to watch the first session with our ward. As I sat there with my ward of mostly returned missionaries I felt the Spirit in a different way than I had ever felt it before. Sitting there listening to the talks I felt an overwhelming sense of peace and love. As that session ended and we headed back to our apartment all of my roommates left to watch the next session with their families. And so when the second session rolled around I was left by myself in my living room listening to conference. During this session was when I realized that I had received my answer to my second question. I opened my notes from the past Wednesday with my questions and wrote down, “ Yup, just go.”.

    For the next three sessions I listened closely to make sure that I had received the right answer. By the end of the Sunday session I was sure that I had made the right decision to serve a mission. Sunday evening I called my mom like I did most days. As we were talking about General Conference, I told my mom that I was pretty sure that I wanted to serve a mission but not to tell anyone until I was sure. My mom also asked me why I wanted to serve a mission and I said to her that I felt like I needed to tell people about this gospel. I want to tell everyone that Jesus knows. He knows each of them individually and personally. 

In one of my favorite songs titled My Jesus it says “Are you past the point of weary? Is your burden weighing heavy? Is it all too much to carry? Let me tell you ‘bout my Jesus / Do you feel that empty feeling? ‘Cause shame’s done all it’s stealing And you're desperate for some healing Let me tell you ‘bout my Jesus. He makes a way where there ain’t no way Rises up from an empty grave Ain’t no sinner that he can’t save Let me tell you ‘bout my Jesus His love is strong and His grace is free And the good news is, I know that He Can do for you what He’s done for me Let me tell you ‘bout my Jesus and let my Jesus change your life.” I love this song because it portrays how Jesus can help those around us. He can heal each broken soul because He has suffered all and because of this Jesus knows.

    In Alma 7:11-12 it reads “11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and aafflictions and btemptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will ctake upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

12 And he will take upon him adeath, that he may bloose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to csuccor his people according to their infirmities.” 

In these scriptures we can see how Jesus is able to know each of us personally. Because He has suffered everything any of us have ever had to suffer He can succor us. While there are times in our lives where we feel as though we are all very alone in this world, we are never truly alone if we will let Christ and His healing powers into our lives. Because of the love and peace Christ brings into each of our lives we can know that Jesus knows each of us. And because of this knowledge it is our job to share it. This is why I am choosing to serve a mission. I am excited to share this knowledge of relief from this world with the people of Puerto Rico. I can’t wait to meet the people Christ has prepared to receive this gospel. While I know that it will be hard I know Jesus knows where I am and what struggles I am having and will have. 

    I'm thankful for this ward and the many primary, young women’s, and Sunday school teachers. I am thankful for the many other examples in my life and their influence. I am thankful for my family and their love and support for me. I am thankful for this opportunity to serve the people in Puerto Rico. I am thankful for Jesus Christ and the knowledge I have of Him and His plan for me. 

In the name of Jesus Christ,

Amen.