A little over 19 years ago, Todd and Debbie Rogers of Prosser, WA, welcomed their first son into the world. They named me Jonathan Todd Rogers. They lovingly raised me and consistently taught me what is right and what is important.
On February 16, 2011, I received a letter in the mail. It was from the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Lord's Prophet on the earth. Here's how it started:
Dear Elder Rogers:
You are hereby called to serve as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Brazil Santa Maria Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 24 months.
It was a "red letter day".
Excitement consumed me as I waited for July 13th, the day I enter the Missionary Training Center in São Paulo. The excitement led me to the Internet, where I stumbled upon a handful of blogs of missionaries already out in the field, serving in the Santa Maria mission. I read them, loved them, and decided to imitate them.
This is the first post of Elder Jon Rogers' mission blog.
I want to end this first post by telling you why I'm leaving my home and my family for 2 years.
In 1820, something miraculous happened. God and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to a humble boy, a boy seeking the true church of God, a boy named Joseph Smith. Unfortunately, at that time, God's true church did not exist on the earth. But that was soon to change. Some years passed, and God continued to prepare Joseph for the special work that needed to be done. Joseph had been called on a mission of his own, a mission to restore God's church.
As part of this work, Joseph was given an ancient record that would be vital to emergence of God's church, it would be the very keystone of that religion. As a prophet, Joseph was able to translate the record. It required tremendous dedication and obedience, but the translation was finished.
In 1830, that record was published as "The Book of Mormon". Just like the Holy Bible, it is a testament of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Later in that same year, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized, God's true church had been restored to the earth.
I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and this is one of the greatest blessings of my life. Because of Joseph Smith, because of this Church, I know that I am a son of God. I know that Jesus is the Savior of all mankind. He has the power to save anyone who comes to Him. He has said:
"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." (Revelation 3:20)
I know that this is true. I know that God is our Father and that Jesus is our Savior. Joseph was called as Prophet in his day, and Thomas S. Monson has been called as a Prophet in our day. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is absolutely true. The Book of Mormon is true, and it will change the lives of those who sincerely read it.
I want to invite others to come unto Christ, to know of His love, to know of their divine natures, and to find lasting happiness. This is why I'm leaving my home and my family for 2 years. My parents taught me what is right and what is important. There is nothing more right than the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and there is nothing more important than spreading the good news.
