Follow the Prophet

On the morning of October 6, 2012, a latter-day prophet sounded a call that was heard throughout the world.  It was a call to arms; a call to serve in the Lord’s Army; a call to the battle in which the souls of men are at stake.  President Thomas S. Monson proclaimed, “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 age 19.  We have also given consideration to the age at which a young woman might serve.  Today I am pleased to announce that able, worthy young women who have the desire to serve may be recommended for missionary service beginning at age 19, instead of 21.”  At this announcement, a cry of sheer joy rose up from households across the world as the Spirit of missionary work touched the hearts of young women everywhere.  Many tearfully and immediately accepted the challenge to serve.  In our house, we saw it firsthand.

Shouts of joy echoed throughout our home at the announcement!  When I reached my Sydney she was shaking and crying and could hardly breath.  She pulled me to her and with a faith I had never known in her before, she proclaimed in no uncertain terms that she was going.  This moment was hers.  She was joining the army of the Lord.  It may sound strange that I was a bit surprised, but she had never before expressed an interest in serving a mission.  Yet, in that moment, everything had changed and I knew she was right.  College would be put on hold.  Boys put on the back burner.  She was worthy.  She was ready.  She was going.

Like an arrow in flight, she became focused on her goal of becoming a missionary.  She turned 19 in November, met with her BYU Bishop and started her papers.  Systematically working through the checklists while attending her college classes, she figured out a way to get it all done.  She met with President Matt Clarke on Sunday December 30 for her final interview.  Assured that she was ready, her papers were submitted.  The waiting anxiety began.

It has been my experience that most prospective missionaries hold a secret longing to serve in a particular place, but sweetly and faithfully acknowledge that the Lord knows best, so are willing to serve wherever He would have them go.   Sydney, on the other hand, was not one to keep her secret longing secret…. she wanted in the worst way to serve in Japan.  She was born in Japan and toddled around there for the first two years of her life.  She studied the Japanese language for seven years.  She visited Japan and fell in love with the people.  She loves Japanese food and the Japanese culture.  Her father served in the Japan, Tokyo North mission.  She longs to live there and serve there.  Due to this longing, her chat with Bishop Eggertz began with a 20-minute dialog about “what happens if you’re not called to Japan?”  Deciding she could live with that, she assured him she would be happy to serve in any corner of the world, and the interview went forward.  However, she still hoped and prayed it would be Japan. 

There are currently seven missions in Japan.   Two of Sydney’s best friends and high school classmates, Parker Dolbin and Jacob Chung, left on January 10, 2013 to serve their missions in one of those… Fukuoka, Japan.  She hoped to join them somewhere in that country but began to seriously consider that she might be called elsewhere.  She thought about people all over the world and as she did so her love for them and the Lord led her to a beautiful conclusion:  the gospel needs to go to all the world to bless the lives of people everywhere.  She was just happy she could be part of it, no matter where she served, even if it was Idaho and not Japan.

Jacob Chung & Parker Dolbin

After waiting for two and a half long weeks, a large white envelope arrived in the mail addressed to her from the Office of the First Presidency.  At about 7:00pm on January 16, 2013, after driving up from BYU-Provo, she stood in the midst of people who love and adore her. *  Scared and shaking, she pulled her call out of the envelope.  Before saying a word, she glanced down and saw what she had wished for.  With a shaky smile and a tearful voice, she read, “Dear Sister Horne, You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  You are assigned to labor in the Japan Sapporo Mission.”  Ecstatic, she stopped to embrace her friends and family.  Madi gently took the call from her and read, “You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, June 5, 2013.”

Reading her Call

I’m not sure anyone could be happier.  She was perfect as she flitted about expressing love and appreciation to those who had come.  She sent texts to friends who could not be there, then called her grandparents, cousins and even more friends.  It was a night of joy as we sat eating and chatting together about Sapporo, Japan.  The Internet was busy with people looking up facts to share.  As the night wound down and everyone but family and Kasandra had gone, we linked with Sterling and Sarah on Facetime and shared a few moments, talking, laughing and loving each other.  It was heaven on earth.

Katie, Jordan, Syd, Kasandra, Meggie & Lily

As I knelt by my bed that night, all I could do was thank God for blessing me beyond belief.  I have a beautiful family.  I have a wonderful husband who I love.  I have the most beautiful, fabulous children.  I’ve been through hard things in my life and I know there will be hard things in my future, but for right now, all is right.  All is good and I wouldn’t change a thing.  I was filled to overflowing with gratitude.

My baby heard the voice of the Lord speaking through a prophet and she answered the call.  That is what every mother hopes and prays for their children…that they always answer the call.  How beautiful that the Lord answered right back by sending her to Japan.

So happy!

*Friends and family that were there with Sydney as she read her call:

Kasandra Rasmussen

Lily Hamill

Meggie Scheidt

Jordan Price

Katie Marzarella

Carson Tucker

Shauntay & Tiffany Gordan

Bob, Kristi & Kara Rasmussen

Bo & Toni Chung (Jacob’s Parents)

Nate & Haley Griffith

Madison & Nathan Anderson

Sterling & Sarah Horne (via Facetime)

Joel & Shauna Horne

A relevant quote by Gordon B. Hinckley (not sure of the date):

“Today many sisters are being called to serve.  Many more are preparing to serve.  Not because they aren’t married or don’t have anything else to do, but they have the desire to serve.  One reason that the Lord wants more sisters to serve is because within the next generation He will send His priesthood army to the earth.  He wants to send choice spirit children to mothers who have been prepared, properly trained, and taught in the gospel.  What better schooling can a mother have than the experience and growth she gains through serving a mission?”