sister rowley

HUGE thanks goes to my amazingly talented friend, hailey of haugen creative (i already plan on hiring her for my future wedding someday). i have never loved a video more than i love this one, i'll probably watch it at least 100 times before i leave. it was such a special night and i am so grateful to have this equally special memento. and thank you to the friends and family who were there, last night could not have been any more perfect. i'm going on a mission, i leave in 62 days, and i couldn't be happier!

what i'm learning in institute | mission prep

be prepared, the truth may be uncomfortable for some people to hear. satan will do all he can to prevent your message from being shared and accepted. power through and bear witness of what you know to be true.

memorize things so you can be a good storyteller, it allows you to communicate passion.

kneel down in prayer with your investigators.

give your mission EVERYTHING you've got.

you know it's true, therefore you are required to testify at all times, in all things, and in all places.

we are all missionaries NOW and ALWAYS.

to be a good missionary: work, be exactly obedient, and love people. you will then have the spirit to be with you.

think for a minute about the confidence the savior had in himself. when you know who you are and your purpose in life, you will have the same confidence.

3nephi 22:4-8 | he only withdrew because you didn't want him there. he always comes back for you.

women of the lord glow, they radiate the spirit of the lord. you may not see it in yourself, but others do.

this missionary work is a work of salvation. "laborers in the vineyard will gain salvation." serving a mission saves others, but it also saves you.

we invite investigators to act; to pray, to repent, to study, etc.

you will be blessed with peace and confidence as you enter the mission field.

the best indicator that you are progressing spiritually and growing closer to christ is the way you treat others.

d&c 46:31 | all things must be done in the name of christ.

faith is the power, love is the motive, christ is the reason.

just waiting for the call

"Kylee,  mission papers are at Church HQ's. I would say call will come July 31st.  I will keep you posted."

those are the words i read this morning. things just got super real and i don't quite know how to react. the excitement that surrounds me is powerful and slightly overwhelming. i'm trying to meet everybody up there where the party is happening, but for some reason i'm stuck in this state of shock. i'm still baffled that this is actually happening, that i'm doing the one thing i swore i would never do until i was old and married. although i haven't quite arrived at my own party, i can assure you that the excitement is definitely there. i've been pretty reserved throughout this entire ordeal, which means my excitement has been internalized as well. it was friday night that for the first time i physically felt and vocalized my excitement to serve. we were downtown, about to leave city creek, when two sister missionaries walked by. then there were two more, later there was an entire group. it was seeing and talking to those sisters that triggered something within. that will be me, soon enough, that will be me. that run in with those amazing sisters was no accident and i will forever be grateful that it happened. now that my papers are at church headquarters, i'm getting antsy. i'm ready to know where i'm going, i'm ready to do whatever will been asked of me.

what i'm learning in institute | mission prep

investigators need to row their own boat, we cannot row it for them. we can only give them the tools they need.

a central aspect to the word character is the word act.

grow as close to the spirit as you possibly can.

the importance of beginning each day with prayer. prayer stets the standard for your entire day. the more you pray, the more precious it becomes.

memorize scriptures!

bearing testimony invites the spirit when you teach. "sharing your testimony often is one of the most powerful ways of inviting the spirit and helping others feel the spirit." – preach my gospel

we obtain the word by faith.

god promises the holy ghost to those who treasure up his word.

keep a well organized catalog of things you can teach.

the adversity of a mission is what changes you as a person and member of the church.

thou shalt meditate on the book of the law [joshua 1:8] to mediate is to clear your mind of all other thoughts. focus on the gospel.

feast upon the words of christ [2nephi 32:3] "eat" as much as you can, then go back for more.

lay hold upon the word of god [helaman 3:29] embrace the word of god.

ponder upon the things which i have said [3nephi 17:3] think deeply; dive deeper than the surface. continually think about it, think about it beyond your study session. tell heavenly father, through prayer, what you have learned in the scriptures. then ask him if there is more that you need to learn from his words and return to scriptures.

"precious truth comes a small piece at a time through faith, with great exertion, and at times wrenching struggles. the lord intends it to be that way so that we can mature and progress." – elder richard g. scott

"seeking learning by faith, we must rely on revelation." – elder dallin h. oaks

look the part, feel the part

i present to you three crappy iphone photos, grey hair, and a brand new (sister missionary) outfit. i had a meeting yesterday, THE meeting, the one with my stake president that precedes the arrival of a mission call in the mail. he's one wise guy, that stake president of mine. there were questions and words of wisdom, tears and even laughter. i have a great deal to learn still, but i have a lot of knowledgeable and in-tune people in my life to help me learn it. this is all happening so fast i haven't even had time to process it yet. i'm going on a mission! this is real life, no longer just an idea or words that i tell people. in about two weeks time i could have a mission call and departure date… such thoughts blow my mind.