About

Why “Jenessa’s Probation”?

Mormon 9:

“27 O then despise not, and wonder not, but hearken unto the words of the Lord, and ask the Father in the name of Jesus for what things soever ye shall stand in need. Doubt not, but be believing, and begin as in times of old, and come unto the Lord with all your heart, and work out your own salvation with fear and trembling before him.

 28 Be wise in the days of your probation; strip yourselves of all uncleanness; ask not, that ye may consume it on your lusts, but ask with a firmness unshaken, that ye will yield to no temptation, but that ye will serve the true and living God.

 29 See that ye are not baptized unworthily; see that ye partake not of the sacrament of Christ unworthily; but see that ye do all things in worthiness, and do it in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God; and if ye do this, and endure to the end, ye will in nowise be cast out.”

The Scriptures and modern revelation teach us that this life is a probationary state–a time to be tested and to prove ourselves worthy to return and live with our Heavenly Father and receive of the fulness of His glory.  Of course He has not left us alone during this time of trial, but has given us all of the tools that are necessary to exercise our agency in such a way that we can again regain His presence:  prayer, the scriptures, living prophets and the Holy Ghost.  What’s more, He has promised us, “. . I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up. (D&C  84:88).

He is willing to help us in every way imaginable, but ultimately how we exercise our agency and execute our probation is up to us. 

What is “Jenessa’s Probation”?

This blog is essentially my mission blog–apparently it’s what the young’uns do these days while serving their missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  The fact that I am going on a mission might come as quite a surprise to most of you, my family and friends, as I have told very few people about it.  Why haven’t I told more people about this monumental decision?  I feel that as a girl (for whom going on a mission is not requisite like it is for young men), this was a deeply personal and spiritual decision for me.  There is a sacred nature to this choice that I did not feel like discussing in the early stages of preparing for my mission.  It was something between me and my Heavenly Father. 

This blog gives me an opportunity to share my mission experiences with my friends and family, with whom communication will be limited while in the mission field.  I am also hoping to keep this blog up after I get home–for my “probation” does not end with the completion of my missionary service.

Why a mission?

 I plan on writing a blog post–or several!–about why I decided to serve a mission, but ultimately it boils down to the fact that, after much fasting and praying, it is what feels right.  I know that it is what I should do and what my Heavenly Father wants me to be doing at this point in my life.  I have felt too many strong and powerful promptings by the Holy Ghost that confirm this decision, that make it impossible for me not to go.  I have a knowledge and a testimony of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.  How could I not go forth and share this great gift with my brothers and sisters who are waiting to hear the word, waiting to feel the redeeming love of their Lord and Savior, waiting to taste of forgiveness, waiting to find joy?   Christ commanded His disciples thusly, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. (Mark 15:16)”  In my desire to be a true follower of Christ, it is incumbent on me to help bring others unto Him.  If I knew that a tsunami was going to wipe out Seattle, would I grab as much Nutella as I could and book it out of town?  or would I warn as many people as I could, that they too might be saved. . .