Mission Pics!

To mark this momentous, wonderful, exciting occasion, I decided to get mission photos taken.  However, I could not have asked for any better pictures; I mean, really, look at them!  They're perfect!  I was so thrilled with how they turned out that I wanted to share just some of the wonderful work that was done by the beautiful Megan Lynn Heaps Photography that I had to share with all of you! 

I Love to See the Temple

"I love to see the temple.

I'm going there someday

To feel the Holy Spirit,

To listen and to pray.

For the temple is a house of God,

A place of love and beauty.

I'll prepare myself while I am young;

This is my sacred duty.

I love to see the temple.

I'll go inside someday.

I'll covenant with my Father;

I'll promise to obey.

For the temple is a holy place..."

For those that are unfamiliar with the lyrics above, its one of my very favorite primary songs.  It is my favorite  because I've always loved to gaze upon the temple because of its beauty, but because of its beauty, I've longed to enter the temple from the time I was young.  It was an exciting and beautiful moment when I turned 12 and was able to receive my very own temple recommend to do baptisms for the dead.  Since then, I've tried my very hardest to go to the temple at least once a month because I knew that it was truly the house of the Lord and I love the peace and comfort that can be found within the temple.  However, as I've grown, my desire to truly enter the temple and to make covenants with my Heavenly Father have grown and grown.

From the time I started my papers, I became anxious to enter the temple.  However, as time kept creeping by, I became more and more nervous and unsure of whether or not I was truly ready.  Despite wonderful leaders and great temple preparation classes, I continued to grow more and more unsure...  However, throughout the nerves, my excitement continued to grow, so on the Sunday after I received my mission call, I got my temple recommend.  I went through the temple a week and a half later.

Going through the temple was truly the most wonderful experience and was such a testimony builder to me!  As the date to go through approached, my nerves became overwhelming.  My mind was so unfocused and confused.  I fasted and prayed to be clear and calm on the day I went through, and it helped a lot, but there was still just the smallest seed of doubt and fear in the back of my mind.  However, as I began to walk into the temple, one of my very best friends, Erica, came out from the baptistery.  Now for those of you who don't know me, Erica was my roommate the year before and she means an awful lot to me.  She does not live in the Salt Lake valley so it was a complete coincidence that she even was at that very temple.  And to top it all off, she didn't know that I was going through the temple that day, let alone that time or that temple.  And she is one of my very biggest supporters.  (And she gives amazing hugs!)  So seeing her for just a moment, and being able to receive a hug from her calmed everything inside of me.  I know that this was the Lord's way of answering my prayers.

And that was just the very beginning!!  Because of the sacredness of the covenants I made within the temple, I can't fully explain how wonderful it was.  But, I can tell you that it was truly the most wonderful spiritual experience I've ever had.  I know that the temple is truly the house of the Lord and I am so very grateful that I have prepared myself and kept myself worthy to enter the temple.  I know that it is already blessing my life, and that it will continue to bless me throughout my lifetime and for all of eternity.

Up to Now...

My adventure of preparing for my mission started long ago although I've only had my actual call for 8 days now...  My experience was different than a lot of sisters.  But my journey that's led me to where I am now basically started 7 months ago, just like many other sisters, during the Saturday morning session of General Conference in Oct. 2012.  Leading up to that time, I had felt the desire to serve the Lord but had never been quite sure how to go about doing that because I just couldn't see how I was going to go when I was 21, but I had decided to put it on the back burner until I was old enough to go and then I would address it.  The Lord had other plans for me though.  On the morning of Oct. 6th, I was in my apartment with my roommates and a few other friends finishing up breakfast as General Conference began.  Then, President Thomas S. Monson made this historic declaration --

As Pres. Monson announced the age change for young women, I screamed and fell to the floor.  I then began to cry because I knew that this was exactly what the Lord wanted me to do; I knew that this was the answer to my questions of how I could serve a mission.  I called my mother after the announcement was made and we talked for a brief moment and she told me to calm down and to think about it for a while before doing anything drastic.  As the day went on however, I couldn't lose the feeling that this was my Heavenly Father's plan for me at this time.  Every concern that came to my mind was answered and accounted for; I was ready to go.  After talking to my family again later in the day, I made my appointment with the bishop.  I finished my papers, except the medical physical, within the week.  Due to financial strains, I had to wait to submit my papers until late Nov/early Dec.  When that time came, I found that due to some previous health problems, my papers may be flagged and may take further review.

After further review and after jumping through extra hoops, I was told I had to wait until Mar/Apr to re-submit my papers.  And even then, there was no guarantee that I would be approved to serve then.  Those first few weeks were by far the hardest weeks of my life because I had given up everything so I could go and serve the Lord.  However, after receiving wonderful advice from friends and family I was able to pick myself up and take advantage of the time I had preparing even more for my mission.  By the time came to turn my papers in again, I was very nervous, excited, and anxious.  This was 4 weeks ago, then last week, I had the opportunity of opening that giant, white envelope that was addressed to Sister Cottam.

I can't say that the road up until now has been easy or sure, but I can say that I have grown and learned so much through the experiences that I've had that I wouldn't change anything.  The Lord has a plan for each one of us.  He knows us individually and knows how best to teach us the lessons we need to learn.  He also knows how to support, console, and love each and every individual.  I know that He lives.  And I know He loves me and each and every one of you.