Facebook post by Preston on his one year mark of the mission.
1 year ago today I started the mission. It's crazy to look back how the time has passed bye. I've been pondering what to say, and my words seem to fail me no matter what I type up. One thing I've been looking back on a lot lately is how I got to this point in my life as far as the church and being a missionary. I think I have to look back to when I had 12 years old, and was asked to give my first talk on Joseph Smith and the First Vision.. As a 12 year old does, I asked my dad to help, which he did of course. Part way through thinking of what we needed to do for this to be the best talk of all time, my dad asked me if I knew that Joseph Smith was a prophet and the Book of Mormon was true.. I responded, "I don't know".. I believed it, because the best examples in my life lived the gospel and told me they knew it was true. My dad gave me the invitation that I have given more than any other any invitation in the last year of my life; to pray if the Book of Mormon is true, and if Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. So that night I did so. I prayed very sincerely and asked God if the Book of Mormon was true and if Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. Never in my life have I felt something so incredibly strong. The Holy Ghost filled my entire soul from head to toe, I cried that night, knowing for myself that it was all true. As for serving a mission, it was never a question, due to the fact that I knew this was true and the prophet of God said that it is our priesthood duty to serve. And I did have the desire to fulfill this duty, but always looked at it with fear, and 2 years of suffering and difficulties.. that I would just have to really dig deep and lean on God to do it.. I will also say that although I knew it was true, I didn't always do the things I was supposed too and had to change and fix some things up before heading out as well as out in the mission as well as still fixing things every day and trying my best to be like Christ.. But I did it. I left, I came, and through all of it, yes I've had some suffering and difficulties, I think it's fair to say that it's something that happens in life. But I've also been working side by side with my Savior Jesus Christ and experienced joy, happiness, and light in his gospel. What a blessing it has been. I thank the Lord for this opportunity to serve. With all my imperfections and errors and worries, he still gave me the opportunity. I love him and his work here on earth! .. I wanna close with my testimony in Spanish because I can kinda speak it now.. Yo sé que mi Salvador vive, sé que José Smith fue un profeta del Señor y que el Libro de Mormón es verdadero. Sé que la caridad es el motivo por casi todo. Si tenemos el amor puro de Jesucristo, vamos a tener paciencia, vamos a servir a los demás, y vamos a tener esperanza que todo va a estar bien! Sé que yo y mi familia podemos ser eternas. Él vive, él dirige esta iglesia, él nos ama y quiere lo mejor por cada uno de nosotros. Comparto esto en el nombre de Jesucristo amén. I invite any of you who actually took the time to read this whole thing to think about your answer, and if you've forgotten it or perhaps haven't received one yet, ask God. It's so simple and yet somehow Satan manipulates it into something so hard. Ask God if it's true. Forget about all the other stuff, and ask God if the Book of Mormon is true and Joseph Smith was a prophet.. and then share your answer with others. Because it's a truth that changes lives. Have a good day, and I'll see you guys next year más o menos.. or if your in the mission, I'll see you at Zone conference in a bit or something. Chao Chao! 
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