Thought of the Sunday 7

Here is another of my favorite scriptures.  This is one that I rely on constantly.  It is so easy in the moment to know the right thing to do, but when you have to later make the decision, it can be difficult.  This scripture was especially powerful to me when I was deciding to serve a mission.  I was inspired to serve in January 2004 so I prayed about it to make sure it felt right and we got my paperwork going.  At the same time I was finishing some of the interviews I had already lined up for a full time position within my field.  In about March I sent in my papers.  About a week later I got a full time job offer that was very appealing.  I remember my feeling of panic at this point: to go on a mission or accept the job.  What to do?  Well, as a stereotypical Mormon, I got on my knees to pray.  And, even more stereotypically, I randomly opened my scriptures and my eyes immediately found these scriptures on the page.  They are from the Doctrine and Covenants chapter 6 verses 22-23:

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, if you desire a further witness, cast your mind upon the night that you cried unto me in your heart, that you might know concerning the truth of these things.

Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter? What greater witness can you have than from God?"

Immediately I remembered the night two months before that I had prayed about going on a mission and felt great about it.  It didn't take long to write back to deny that job offer.  Even though I really wanted that job, I knew I should serve a mission.  It's where God wanted me and I learned some very important things on my mission.  Things like the importance of family and gaining the desire to have children.  I wouldn't trade my time in the mission field for any experience I could have had in that job that was just so appealing. 

This is also a great example to me of how God answers our prayers.  He answered my first prayer in January and then, when I panicked, He reminded me of His previous answer.  Further proof that God loves me, and since God is the same yesterday, today and forever, it is proof to me that He loves us all.