Pedi, e recebereis; batei, e ser-vos-á aberto

In all of the standard works of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we find a scripture that says
 Ask, and ye shall receive Knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

 In this last blog entry, though I have many miracles of the week to tell, I would like to simply bear my testimony that this scripture is true.

   When I came to the mission, I knew it would help me, I would help others, and my testimony would be strengthened. But I really had no idea of the depth of any of this.

   When I came to the mission, I was knocking. Throughout my mission, the Savior kept His promise and opened. The mission opened my eyes. Before, I knew the Gospel was true and would help people. Now, through my day-to-day contact with the worldliness of the world, I see that it is in a desperately sick state. Lives are being literally destroyed by alcohol, drugs, and fellow humans. Babies are being created thoughtlessly and abandoned desperately. Marriages are ending. Children are killing their parents, and parents their children. The world is sick, and we missionaries and members of the church have the only cure. The Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ is the answer, and through Him there is always hope.

  The mission opened my mouth. Perhaps my biggest fear, before deciding on a mission, was of talking to strangers about the church. I never even dreamed that I would learn to approach a complete stranger, call him to repentance, and challenge him on the spot to be baptized. Much less in a foreign language. It was never my nature to talk to strangers, or even my friends, about the church. But on the mission I learned that my comfort is not important compared to the salvation of a soul. When I open my mouth, God fills it.

 The mission also opened my ears -- my spiritual ears. I learned that the Lord truly can guide our every step -- in fact, He wants to -- but we have to show Him that we are willing to be completely obedient to what He asks us to do. God will never give us guidance until He sees that we will act on it. On the mission I learned to trust in the still, small Voice.

Finally, the mission opened my hard heart. Like soil that needs to be broken in order for a seed to take root, my heart needed to be broken in order for the Savior to work inside me. In the Book of Mormon, the prophet Alma teaches us that there are some who need to be compelled to be humble. I was one of these. I am so grateful for the many hard things the Lord pushed me against in order to break me. I know that humility is the gateway virtue, and, as Elder Richard G. Scott once said, the "essence to righteous character."

 I will continue working the rest of my life to grow more and more humble each day. I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is truly the kingdom of God on the earth today. Joseph Smith was God's chosen prophet to restore the keys of the Holy Priesthood of God, the only power through which families can be together forever.

    I know the Book of Mormon is the Word of God, and that ANY person who truly wants to know of its veracity can read, pray, and receive a divine answer. This Book is the most powerful tool of missionary work. I hope that all of us can work hard each day to not only go back home one day to live with God, but that, miraculously, we can feel at home there. I pray that all of can work hard to bring about the salvation of our families and friends and communities, and at the same time rescue our own souls. I'm grateful for the mission.

When I knocked on this door, the Savior opened up to me....and opened me. I know He lives. This is my testimony and my prayer that I leave with my love and gratitude in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.