Opening My Call

I opened my call on February 16th, 2013

Dear Elder Stevenson,

     You are hereby called to serve a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  You are assigned to labor in the England London Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 24 months.
    You should report to the England Missionary Training Center on Thursday, June 27, 2013.  You will prepare to preach the gospel in the English language.

Yeah!  Foreign country and still speaking English!   I'm so excited!  Now I just have to finish high school, then here I come London!

Change in Plans..... President Monson made the following announcement at the October 2012 Conference.

"I am pleased to announce that effective immediately, all worthy and able young men who have graduated from high school or its equivalent, regardless of where they live, will have the option of being recommended for missionary service beginning at the age of 18, instead of 19.  I am not suggesting that all young men will-- or should-- serve at this earlier age.  Rather, based on individual circumstance, as well as upon a determination by priesthood leaders, this option is now available."

With that announcement, I made the decision to serve a mission as soon as I could following graduation and began the process almost immediately.