Farewell July 8, 2018

My farewell was on Sunday, July 8, 2018 in the Peacefield Ward, Valley View Stake at 11:00 am.  I was first on the program which made me happy.  I could get it over with and didn't have to worry about the time.  After I spoke, Mckenzie Tanner sang a beautiful song called "Anchor of My Soul" accompanied by Krista Magleby.  It was so beautiful! Annette Hemsley was the concluding speaker.  We had lots of food at our house following the meeting as well as an apron to sign, bookmarks to take and an email list to get on.  It was so fun to see and visit with so many of my friends and family members.  It was a HOT day! After the dust settled at our house, we headed up to my cousins Riley Fisher's house.  He had his farewell on the 8th as well and is leaving the day before me to serve in Mexico.

Lancelles!!!!

Me and Spencer

Lindsey, Me and Courtney

Me and Shelly Christensen

Bayli Dean and Me

Me and Maddy Kemp

Me and Shirley Paredes

C'enna Lloyd, Me and Sydnie Lloyd

Me, Isabell Drake, and Michaela Betker

Me and My BFF - Kaitlyn Wilcox

Roommates!! Olivia Todd, Nicole Sabin & Melissa Weldon

Melissa, Me and her fiance, Alex Price

Best wishes from friends and family

Megan’s Farewell Talk – given on July 8, 2018 in the Peacefield Ward, Valley View Stake

Good morning brothers and sisters!! I am excited to be here this morning! As most of you probably know I have been called to serve a mission in Richmond Virginia and I report to the Provo MTC on July 25^th! Which could not come soon enough!! I am so excited!

A lot of people have asked me if I’ve always wanted to serve a mission and when I decided this was what I wanted to do. Before about age 16, a mission was never even a consideration, when I was younger I was so so so shy! For example, the first time the bishop asked me to give a talk in church as a new beehive I just started balling in the hall.. I think I scared him away because he didn’t ask me for a few years 😊 If you would have told me back then that I was going to serve a mission one day I would have never believed you. Thanks to good friends, church callings and leadership opportunities I have been able to get over that shyness. When I was 16, I got my patriarchal-blessing and after that I knew I was supposed to serve a mission. It completely terrified me, but I also felt peace about it. I knew that I still had three years to mentally, spiritually, and emotionally prepare for a mission. That night I made a promise with myself and my Heavenly Father that I was going to serve a mission when I was 19 years old, but I would need a lot of help in the three years before I was old enough. Since then I have had so many small reminders and confirmations that this is what I’m supposed to be doing and I feel like I’m as prepared as I can be.

Today I have been asked to talk on my mission scripture and how I chose it and what it means to me. I had a hard time choosing a mission scripture because I have so many scriptures that I love and really feel like can relate to missionary work. I have a list in my phone that I started about junior year of high school with all of my favorite scriptures that I heard at seminary, sacrament meeting or devotionals. I stared by going through this list. But every scripture I looked up was so good and I felt like I could use any of them for a mission scripture. I went through about half the list, narrowed it down a little and then went to bed. The next day I was scrolling through Instagram and one of my cute friends posted a picture of the Logan Temple with the caption of scripture Mosiah 27:36-37. I loved this scripture. It felt like a perfect message and really describes what I want the focus of my mission to be. So, I chose Mosiah 27:36-37 The scripture says:

36 And thus they were instruments in the hands of God in bringing many to the knowledge of the truth, yea, to the knowledge of their Redeemer.

37 And how blessed are they! For they did publish peace; they did publish good tidings of good; and they did declare unto the people that the Lord reigneth.

My favorite part of this scripture is where it says “publish peace”. The gospel truly brings peace to my life and I want to share that peace with those who haven’t been able to find it yet.

To talk about this scripture, I broke it up into 3 small sections the first part says

“And thus, they were instruments in the hands of god” this statement gives me so much comfort! Especially in the last few months preparing to serve I have found myself feeling Like Jeremiah in the Old Testament when he was ordained a prophet and felt completely inadequate. As Jeramiah said Then said

“6 I, Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.

7 But the Lord said unto Jeramiah, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.

8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord.

9 Then the Lord put forth his hand and touched his mouth. And the Lord said unto him, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth

The Lord blessed Jeramiah as a prophet by using him as an instrument. Christ was putting the words in his mouth, Jeramiah just had to be faithful and in tune with the spirit. I know as I fully put all my trust in the Lord he will lead me and support me during times where I may feel inadequate or afraid.

An analogy to understand this concept more is a piano and my mom. My mom is an amazing piano player however a piano by itself can’t do anything. It’s just an instrument that sits there and can’t make music. It has the capacity and potential to make beautiful music, but it can’t do it by itself. When you add my mom to the piano she has all the knowledge and tools to make beautiful music from the piano.

I like to compare this to me and the Lord. Right now, I am the piano and the Lord is my mom, I have the capacity and potential to be an amazing missionary but I can’t do it on my own. When I add the Lord’s power and strength I can create beautiful music like the piano. I am truly putting my trust in the Lord to be an instrument in His hands and let him lead me and speak through me.

I’ve been emailing my cute cousin serving in Bolivia right now and as he was giving me tips about mission life he told me that one of the most important things is to never depend on my own strength, but that of the Lords. This gives me comfort to know that I’m not expected to know everything or do everything on my own. As long as I’m obedient the Lord will bless me with his strength and help me become his voice on earth.

As President Monson said: “We are the Lords hands here upon the earth, With the mandate to serve and lift his children. He is dependent upon each of us.” I can’t wait to be an instrument in the work of the Lord.

The next part of this scripture that I love says: and how blest are they

In an email from one of my friends currently serving a mission he shared the following quote from President Eyring. “You are called to represent the Savior. Your voice to testify becomes the same as His voice, your hands to lift the same as His hands. His work is to bless His father’s spirit children with the opportunity to choose eternal life. So, your calling is to bless lives. That will be true even in the most ordinary tasks you are assigned and in moments when you might be doing something not apparently connected to your call. Just the way you smile or the way you offer to help someone can build their faith”

I loved this quote, my favorite part is where it says “your calling is to bless lives”. I truly believe that missions bless the lives of the missionaries, their families and each person the missionaries come in contact with daily.

In the message from the first presidency in Preach my Gospel is says “the Lord will reward and richly bless you as you humbly and prayerfully serve Him. More happiness awaits you than you have ever experienced as you labor among His children”

That message makes me so excited! Not only will I be blessing lives, but I will receive blessings in my own life both on my mission and after that I could receive in no other way.

As Clayton M. Christensen said: “We share the gospel because we know it will help others become better, happier people. But the blessings for us are priceless”

Missions are full of blessings for everyone involved.

I want to share a story about one of my childhood best friends. I received the following text from her about 3 years ago. It said: “Hi Megan! It’s been a long time, but I just wanted to share a little something with ya. It was a while ago but back in elementary, remember how close we used to be? Haha anyway, I just found the Book of Mormon that you had given to me in 2007 and I just wanted to thank you. You probably don’t know this, but I’ve been in the process of becoming a member since April! (However, my parents won’t allow me to get baptized until I’m 18) I just find it funny that somehow, us being little 8 year olds, you thought to give that to me. Of course, at the time I didn’t think of it as much but now, I find it an amazing gift. It’s one of those moments that I look back on and think “wow that was definitely Heavenly Father giving me hints that I belong to this church” I’m not sure exactly why I’m doing this but I just really wanted to thank you for being one of the first people to introduce the gospel into my life. (Even though I didn’t really understand it as being a 3^rd grader)

This friend of mine got baptized last year and just recently received her mission call! I remember giving her a book of Mormon as a challenge for activity days. I was really nervous to give it to her but it ended up being one of the biggest blessing in her life! Sometimes we may feel insignificant but just planting seeds in people life will bless them in countless ways.

The last part of my mission scripture I want to talk about says: For they did publish peace; they did publish good tidings of good; and they did declare unto the people that the Lord reigneth.

If I could use one word to describe this Gospel I would say Peace.  This past year at Utah state I made a goal to go to the temple every week and I haven’t missed a week this year. I went every Friday morning at 5:30 because that was the one time that I knew I would never have any other conflicts. and it was the best decision I made all year. Every week I tried to go to the temple with a question or a struggle that I might have that week. One particular week I was questioning why I wasn’t getting a super clear answer to another question I was praying about. I heard stories of people having amazing life changing experiences and getting a super clear answer to questions they may have but I have only had a few of those life changing feelings in my life. I was filling my life with so many good things such as 2 institute classes, I was serving on  the institute Committee, I never missed a day reading scriptures or praying, I listened to a conference talk on my way to class everyday and was really trying to be in tune with the spirit. However, I wasn’t receiving a super clear answer to my question. As I was at the temple that morning I turned to john 14:27 which says:

27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

This was an answer to me that the peace I feel each day is the spirit in my life. I didn’t need a super clear answer to this question at the moment, And knew that my Heavenly Father would never lead me astray if I was trying my best to follow his example. As I waited patiently and had faith I received a very clear answer to this question I had been struggling with. Since this moment I have been able to better recognize that the peace and Joy I feel in my life is God’s love for me. This is how I personally feel the spirit. Without this gospel in my life I wouldn’t have this peace.

Someone told me once that Peace beings with a smile. I won’t be able to take others struggles away from them but I will definitely be able to smile at them and hopefully help lighten their burdens by teaching them about the joy that comes from living the true gospel of Jesus Christ. 

One of my favorite quotes says: Ultimately, we have just one moral duty: To reclaim large areas of peace in ourselves. More and more peace. And to reflect it towards others. And the more peace there is in us. The more peace there will be in our troubled world.

I know that as we strive to have an eternal perspective and have a peaceful spirit within ourselves that joy will reflect to others and help them feel the unconditional love that comes from their father in heaven.

I want to close my talk with a story:

The following event took place in a ward in Salt Lake City in 1974. It occurred during a sacrament meeting. A young man, just before leaving on his mission stood in sacrament meeting and said:

Brothers and sisters as you know, the past 2 weeks I’ve been waiting for my mission call. During the time I was waiting I had a dream. I knew it wasn’t 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 taking 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 be 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 my friends call. He told me to read it aloud. It said “you’ve been called to go to 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 please come and find me”

Then the missionary said with tears in his eyes. “Brothers and sisters I have received my mission call. I’m going to Costa Rica.

About a year later the bishop received a letter from that missionary with only 4 words: I FOUND MY FRIEND

I know that I have friends in Virginia waiting for Megan Stringham from Layton Utah and I can’t wait to find them. When I opened my mission call I felt immediate love for the people I will serve and I knew that Virginia is where I’m supposed to be for the next year and a half. They say Virginia is for Lovers! But for the next 18 months I’m changing that to Virginia is for lovers of missionary work. I know this church is true and I know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet. And because Joseph Smith was a prophet the Book of Mormon is true. It has brought me so much peace. I know that the prophet today is called of God to preside over the church. I know that Heavenly Father has an individual plan for each of us and knows what’s best for us. I know that families can be together forever. I have a testimony of the atonement and know that as we turn to Christ we can be forgiven of our sins and receive endless comfort. I have a testimony of the joy and blessings that come from consistent temple attendance. And I have a testimony of missionary work! I know this is what I’m supposed to be doing right now and I know that as I’m obedient the Lord will bless me in more ways than I can imagine. I can’t wait to start this new adventure, it won’t be easy, but it will be so worth it. I know this church is true and I love it!

In the name of Jesus Christ- Amen