Return with Honor

Hey Mahallies! Just sending a little bit of lovin' from the Phils. 

This week I wanted to share some insight I gained. 

So two weeks ago, I sent home this story (skip it if you've already read it, haha i'm just adding it in to make sense for those who haven't)...

The following event took place in a ward in Salt Lake City in 1974. It occurred during a sacrament meeting and was told to me by a Regional Representative of the Twelve who was in the meeting. A young man, just before leaving on his mission stood in sacrament meeting and bore in essence the following testimony:

Brothers and Sisters, as you know, the past two weeks I've been waiting for my mission call. During the time I was waiting I had a dream. I knew it was not an ordinary dream. I dreamed I was in the pre-existence and awaiting my call to come to earth. I was filled with the same anticipation and excitement that I had before I received my mission call. In my dream I was talking to a friend, and I felt a special closeness to him, even though I've never met him in this life. As we talked a messenger came and gave me a letter. I knew it was my call to go to earth. In great excitement my friend and I opened the letter. I gave it to him and asked him to read it aloud. It said: "You've been called to earth in a special time and to a special land. You will be born to the true church and you will have the priesthood of God in your home. You will born into a land of plenty, in a land of freedom. You will go to earth in the United States of America."

My friend and I rejoiced as we read my call, and while we were rejoicing the messenger returned. This time he had a letter for my friend. We knew it was his call to earth. My friend gave me the letter to read aloud. His letter said: "You've been called to go to the earth in circumstances of poverty and strife. You will not be raised in the true church. Many hardships will attend your life. Your land will be fraught with political and social difficulties - which will hinder the work of the Lord. You will be born in Costa Rica."

We wept, my friend and I, as we read his call. And my friend looked at me with tears in his eyes, and said, "When we are down on earth, you in your choice land and me in Costa Rica, my friend, please come and find me."

The this young missionary, with tears in his eyes, said, "Brothers and Sisters, I have received my mission call. I am going to Costa Rica."

There is a sequel to the story. About a year after the sacrament meeting, the bishop received a letter from the missionary in Costa Rica. The letter had one sheet of paper in it and on that sheet written in capital letters were four words:

I FOUND MY FRIEND
This story had such an amazing impact on me! Especially as I listened to a talk given by our mission president this last week. His talk was about how we should "Return with Honor". It's a phrase often referenced on the mission field...but during his talk, I realized this phrase isn't limited to those who've been called on missions. It's a phrase for EVERYONE to apply to their lives, because we've all been called to a mission here on Earth. He said "I could imagine, hanging on the door before I stepped out of the pre-mortal world, there was a little plaque that said 'Return with Honor'". Each and every one of us has the responsibility to do our absolute best with the lives we have in order to return back to our Father in Heaven with honor.
Just like it says in Alma 34: 32 & 34 ( https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/34?lang=eng ) This life is a time to prepare to develop, to depend on God and work towards change. We are not meant to be stagnant. Often, we allow ourselves to be held back, believing it's too late to change. It made me think of a quote I saw painted up on a wall the other day that said "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The next best time is NOW." the BIGGEST mistake a procrastinator can make is to keep procrastinating! We allow our weaknesses to defeat us before we even try to overcome them and as we continue to do so everyday, we move further and further away from our goal. We build up a wall of excuses, which really is just like creating another unnecessary obstacle for ourselves to overcome.
Just like it says in verse 34, the souls we have now are the same souls we will have after we die...which can be interpreted to mean that if we don't do our best to overcome bad weaknesses and habits now, those bad tendencies will continue with us in the life to come. 
It just makes me think, is the life I'm living NOW one to be proud of? Have I done all I could to return to God and say that I did my very best to represent Him? Or did I let bad habits overcome me? Is it really worth letting the "convenience of the world" make you cringe in self-disappointment in God's presence? 
I know there are a lot of little things I can give up to be closer to God. And ultimately, giving up those little insignificant "conveniences"  ( like shopping on sundays (not keeping the sabbath holy) or using God's name in vain, or holding grudges/having bad thoughts/saying bad things about other people...we all have our own) results in a very significant change in faith, and an even bigger display of our love and affection of God through our obedience. 
So today, I'd like to invite you all to think of the little things you can give up to better your life, and move closer to your God. We don't have to run a marathon all at once...but i know every step we take forward gets us a little closer to where we want to be. I know that by sacrificing the little things, you will see your relationships with others change, especially your relationship with God, and will be able to see your life filled with more optimism and joy.   "I gave up the things I loved for the God I loved more...and He's never forgotten me for it"
Heavenly Father is mindful of you. Jesus Christ has felt your pains, and created a way for you to overcome your weaknesses. The Holy spirit will lead and guide you, and give you comfort as you seek to change. 
I know you can do it! You're in my prayers always, and have my full support.
I love you all!
Sister Calica