Pre-mission preparations

Growing up I always knew that I wanted to serve a mission. There was never any doubt. I feel like I was a spiritual kid in my early years. I remember reading the Book of Mormon before I was eight. I always had a testimony of the church but around the age of 17 I ran into some personal struggles. As the time grew closer for me to receive the Melchizedek priesthood I realized that there were some things that I needed to change first. One night it hit me hard as I was reading Alma 36 where Alma comes to a realization of the things that he had done wrong while having a vision. Verses 12-19 read:
12 But I was racked with eternal torment, for my soul was harrowed up to the greatest degree and racked with all my sins.

13 Yea, I did remember all my sins and iniquities, for which I was tormented with the pains of hell; yea, I saw that I had rebelled against my God, and that I had not kept his holy commandments.

14 Yea, and I had murdered many of his children, or rather led them away unto destruction; yea, and in fine so great had been my iniquities, that the very thought of coming into the presence of my God did rack my soul with inexpressible horror.

15 Oh, thought I, that I could be banished and become extinct both soul and body, that I might not be brought to stand in the presence of my God, to be judged of my deeds.

16 And now, for three days and for three nights was I racked, even with the pains of a damned soul.

17 And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world.

18 Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death.

19 And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more.

My Dad was the Bishop at the time and so that made it harder for me to confess my sins. I knew I had to do it though. I spoke with him and then I spoke with our stake president to see if he thought I was worthy to hold the Melchizedek Priesthood. He told me to be a good boy while attending at BYU-Idaho and then we would talk more. I was a good boy while I was there and I sent in my mission papers.

Here is my journal entry from October 27th 2002:

"Guess what happened yesterday. I got my mission call. I decided to wait til 6 pm today to open it cuz I wanted to do it on a Sunday. It was so awesome. There were about 30 people who I invited in the lounge. Some of em I didn't even know. I did it on a conference call with my family and about 15 other people. Here's what it read.

"Dear Elder Romney:

You are hereby to called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Brazil Recife Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 24 months.

You should report to the Sao Paulo MTC on Wednesday, 19 Feb 2003. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Portuguese language.

You have been recommended as one worthy to represent the Lord as a minister of the restored gospel. You will be an official representative of the Church. As such, you will be expected to maintain the highest standards of conduct and appearance by keeping the commandments, living mission rules, and following the counsel of your mission president.

You will also be expected to devote all your time and attention to serving the Lord, leaving behind all other personal affairs. As you do these things the Lord will bless you and you will become an effective advocate and messenger of the truth. We place in you our confidence and pray that the Lord will help you meet your responsibilities in fulfilling this sacred assignment.

The lord will reward you for the goodness of your life. Greater blessings and more happiness than you have yet experienced await you as you humbly and prayerfully serve the Lord in this labor of love among His children.

Please send your written acceptance promptly, endorsed by your bishop.

Sincereley,

Gordon B. Hinckley
President

I am so excited. I ended up crying while reading it and i couldn't finish the whole thing. It was kind of embarassing but I ended up getting lots of hugs from the girls so thats ok. My Dad also spoke Portuguese so he can help me memorize the discussions before I get there.