Yesterday was such a fantastic day. I was so happy to hear at the beginning of General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints that boys could go on missions at age 18 now and girls at age 19. So many wonderful Young Men and Young Woman will be able to go earlier than they planned and I think that is so great! My son is 18-years-old and has been preparing to go on a mission. For him this announcement doesn't really speed things up for him. He is still preparing and is not ready to go right now. He worked all day yesterday and missed the announcement, so when he came home from work and and I told him about it, he was very surprised. He said, "I did not see that coming!" But, it does change something: Before, the mission was something far off when he turned 19 next summer and now.....it is something that he is working towards still but the mindset is different. He can go anytime...wow. I think he will work even harder. He really wants to pay for his mission which will really help us out and I think that it is a worthy goal. Plus he is still working towards receiving the Melchizedek priesthood. I am so proud of him. I know that whenever he goes, he will grow and learn things that he couldn't learn any other place. It is important that he goes when he is ready.
What it means for the rest of my family is harder and more preparation while the kids are young. My daughter Kalli will turn 19 in five years. What it means for her is she needs to step up her preparation to go on a mission now and she will graduate from high school when she is 18 and four months later, she will be ready to go. For my younger boys, it means working hard now as they are young and prepare them even more now...reading scriptures daily, prayer, Family Home Evenings (which we do regularly) and just getting in good habits. Two of my boys will graduate from high school at age 17 and then turn 18 in July (years from now of course) for them this means summer jobs when they are in their youth and getting financially and spiritually ready as soon as possible. For Aaron, he has a late birthday so he will be close to 19 when he is available for a mission so it doesn't really change things for him. I think this announcement is so wonderful and I'm so proud of those youth that are ready now to go and anxious to serve. My cousin's youngest boy is Kael's age and I've learned that he is submitting his papers now as soon as possible. Another cousin, her girl is submitting her papers and so excited to be going on a mission! I can't help but look back on my life and wonder if I would have chosen to go on a mission when I was 19. I met my husband when I was 19 and I think that I would have chosen marriage to him still. At that age, I was not thinking of going on a mission, I really wanted to get married and have a family which is what I did and I have no regrets. I am glad that girls today will have that option earlier to go on a mission. It wasn't right for me and I think that at age 19, I wasn't ready. I look forward to the day when I can go on a mission with my husband. I am so glad that I live in a day that I am privileged to be a member of the true church. We receive revelation from a true prophet of God and it can't get any better than that!
What it means for the rest of my family is harder and more preparation while the kids are young. My daughter Kalli will turn 19 in five years. What it means for her is she needs to step up her preparation to go on a mission now and she will graduate from high school when she is 18 and four months later, she will be ready to go. For my younger boys, it means working hard now as they are young and prepare them even more now...reading scriptures daily, prayer, Family Home Evenings (which we do regularly) and just getting in good habits. Two of my boys will graduate from high school at age 17 and then turn 18 in July (years from now of course) for them this means summer jobs when they are in their youth and getting financially and spiritually ready as soon as possible. For Aaron, he has a late birthday so he will be close to 19 when he is available for a mission so it doesn't really change things for him. I think this announcement is so wonderful and I'm so proud of those youth that are ready now to go and anxious to serve. My cousin's youngest boy is Kael's age and I've learned that he is submitting his papers now as soon as possible. Another cousin, her girl is submitting her papers and so excited to be going on a mission! I can't help but look back on my life and wonder if I would have chosen to go on a mission when I was 19. I met my husband when I was 19 and I think that I would have chosen marriage to him still. At that age, I was not thinking of going on a mission, I really wanted to get married and have a family which is what I did and I have no regrets. I am glad that girls today will have that option earlier to go on a mission. It wasn't right for me and I think that at age 19, I wasn't ready. I look forward to the day when I can go on a mission with my husband. I am so glad that I live in a day that I am privileged to be a member of the true church. We receive revelation from a true prophet of God and it can't get any better than that!
2 comments:
Wonderful thoughts Kari. Its inspiring already to hear you talk of preparing your young boys for their missions. I love how you are instilling in them the desire and skills to get out and work. You're a wonderful example of a righteous mother! Thank you!
It was such an amazing moment when the prophet announced the missionary age changes. The Spirit was so powerful. I feel an increased desire to get my children prepared.
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