Why I served a Mormon Mission part VI

As the spring semster pressed on I continued to go to church and go to institute as well as all the other activities that I never new existed like Faimily Home Evening(FHE), the Instittute Men's Association (IMA), prayer meetings on Sunday nights and Friday devotionals and going to the temple to do baptisms. sIt was an amazing new experince for me and I continuted to learn and grow in the gospel of Jesus Christ.



One of the neatest new expeinces was taking more insititute classes than just the Book of Mormon class that I had taken that fall from President Clark. I signed up for a Doctrine and Covenants Class from Brother John Cardon who is simply amazing and helped introduce me both to Church History and revelations for our day that give us guidence as well as firmer foundation on which to understand the gospel in these latter days. Brother Cardon was a stud and he helped me also as another person that I could go to when I had gospel questions and concerns. I also took a New Testament class from Brother Morgan who had a teaching style that quickly captivated and held you attention. These great men helped to suppy the water and nutrients so that my roots could sink deep down into the ground and that I would contuinue to grow in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am eternanlly greatful to these men for doing what they do. Institute was a place I could go to increase my knowledge of the restored gospel and also learn at the feet of men who knew so much more than me.



Finally stake confrence appraoched and I was interviewed by Bishop Donaldson and by President Cox to see if I was worthy and prepared to recieve the Melchizdec Priesthood. I guess I passed because I was ordained an Elder in the Melchizdec Preisthood by Stephen W. Clark(the same guy who baptised me) that confrence. Jeff Spears was also ordained an Elder as was T.J.



That evening after Stake Confrence the sisters came and knocked on my door and asked me if I would give Marco Biavia who was an international student from Itatly a blessing. My mouth about hit the ground. I told the sisters I would and they told me to meet them at Marco's apartment in twenty minutes however I felt very scared. I didn't know what a blessing was. Well, okay I knew what a blessing was but I didn't know how to give one. I mean what do you say? How do you say it? What if you say the wrong thing? These thoughts and others raced through my mind. When President Cox interviewed me he explained to me that one of the duties required of someone who holds the Melkisidec Priesthood is that they must be ready and worthy to give a blessing whenever and whereever they are asked. Well I really wanted to honor the Priesthood that I had just been ordained to but I didn't know how to give a blessing.



Since time was short and it was Sunday I couldn't exactly go over to the institute and ask Borther Cardon or President Clark what to do. I figured Bishop D was busy so I went over across the hall and asked Rob one of my friends who was an RM what to do. Rob was awesome and Trever Alvold who ordained me to the Arronic Preisthood was also there and they went over the basic wording that I needed to have in the Blessing. They told me I needed to call the Person by their full name and say that I was blessing him by the Power of the Melikisidec Priesthood that I held and to do so in the Name of Jesus Christ and close in the Name of Jesus Christ. However it was the inbetween part that frightened me. I didn't know what to do there still so I asked, "So, I understand how to start and end but what do I say in the middle, are there phrases that everyone uses or things that I need to say. What are the things you are supposed to say?" Rob and Trevor just looked at eachother and said "Whatever the Lord tells you to say". Well that didn't answear my question at all and put me back where I started. I didn't know what to say.