Patrick Flood

My Decision to Serve
What is a tradition? Tradition is the transmission of customs or beliefs from
generation to generation. Being raised in Utah has blessed me with very rich family
traditions. From exhilarating times at BYU Football games with the family, to the
breath taking outdoors in the mountains and wildlife of this beautiful state. I feel like I
have been given a balanced life under the parents that I have been raised by.
Amongst these traditions and hobbies that I have shared with my family, there has
been one that not only has become a family "tradition" but a life changing occurance
for everyone.
I grew up in a religious Christian home. We are members of the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And at a certain age in one's life in the church, an
individual has a special tradition that they have the chance to be a part of if they so
choose. That is to serve for 18 months to 2 years as a Missionary. For a couple
generations now, my family has participated in this tradition each time a young man
or young woman reaches the special age of 18 or 19 respectively. Starting with my
grandfather down to my father, and then to my brothers and I. It is a remarkable
thing to participate in. There are over 80,000 others around the world that are
currently participating in this rich tradition. Now what makes particularly special to
me personally... is how I came to know that it was right for me.
When I was a child, attending church was in a way a school outside of school.
Except instead of recess and learning math, science, and English, we had lots of
snacks and we learned about Jesus Christ, service, and family. There was a
completely different feeling and atmosphere associated with church compared to
school though. It felt more peaceful and less stressful than school. As a child and
even a young boy, I didn't really give much attention to that feeling. All I could think
about is how to avoid Brother Rusnell from shoutin' "Patrick get outta the garbage
can and sit down!" or "stop climbin' out the window during the lesson!". Needless to
say... it was hard to pay attention all the time growing up. Regardless of my attention,
surprisingly I would still retain alot of what was taught in church. Little did I know that
what was being taught to me at such a young age would actually have a lasting
impact on my life.
As time went on, I continued to go to church each Sunday with my family. I
would also participate in activities with a youth group my age during the week. When
I was about 15 years old, my older brother reached the opportune age to serve a
mission. Hearing his words as he read his mission call letter from the church "Parker
Flood... You are called to serve in the West Virginia Charleston Mission!", with tears of

joy and excitement streaming down his face. It made me think how my father
and grandfather reacted to their own mission calls when they were younger. My
siblings and I were always aware that my father and grandfather both served
missions (in Texas and Scotland respectively). Thats a big reason why we have
always felt inclined to do it ourselves... Tradition. They have both since continued to
share fun stories, life lessons learned, and moments about the experience they have
gained from their own choice to serve. My brother too would come back to share
about his mission with the same magnitude as my father and grandfather.
Now at that age when my brother left on his mission, it dawned on me that I
was close to that age and I needed to find out for sure if I wanted to serve. Although
it is a strong tradition in my family and other families all around the world it is still
an individuals decision and whatever decision is made, no discrimination is
necessary regardless if one decides to go or not. It is believed in the church to be an
obligation for some but overall our own decision to make and not a requirement. But
still, with all this weighing on my mind, I knew that I needed to find out for myself if I
really wanted to do it. This decision has always been in the back of my mind
throughout my life, and I have always said yes to this opportunity. But now that the
time was drawing nearer, I had to take it more seriously and see if that yes was
truth.
So I set out on my own personal quest to see if tradition was for me, or if it
wasnt. It was a stressful process. It was a big question I needed a very specific
answer for. I studied more of the gospel learned in the church, found in the scriptures,
and inspirational talks given by general and local leaders of the church. Amidst all of
this studying, I was a student in high school, I was constantly doing things with
friends, and I was involved in extracurricular school activities that all consumed my
time and added more stress. It eventually got to the point that I was weighed down
by so much stress that I was dramatically being effected emotionally, mentally, and
physically. All this stress made me think I had the whole world weighing down on me.
I couldnt sleep, I wasnt regularly eating, I had dark thoughts about harming myself,
and I was slowly losing focus on priorities: My grades, family, and this decision I
needed an answer to. Then one night, at the end of another very stressful and rough
day, I sat in my room just thinking to myself many pessimistic and sad thoughts. I
decided to kneel down at my bedside to pray and communicate with the God I
believe in. My goal, was to finally find help out of this stress and to see things clearer.
A simply worded plea to God to help me in this time of need, and that was all. After I
prayed, I randomly felt impressed to look up at my wall. On my wall was a big
magnet board with all sorts of pictures on it of friends, family, memories, and at the
top of the board, is a picture of a painting of Jesus Christ the son of God who I believe
in. As soon as my eyes gazed at that picture, I felt immediate peace and it was as if
all the stress lifted from my shoulders at that moment. It was a very similar feeling to

that feeling I had as I attended church since I was a child. I was finally realizing that
feeling.
The next 3 years went by and since that moment in my bedroom, my outlook
on life, my focus in school, my emotional, physical, and mental strength seemed to
get better. It was incredible, everything was getting better! And what was also very
incredible, was that I received an answer to my decision to serve a mission. It didnt
come all at once after that moment, but since that simple prayer, I slowly found my
answer and it was as solid of an answer that I could ever ask for. It was a resounding
yes. Since that night it just seemed as though everything was gradually getting
better. I still felt much stress and wanted to get further away from that past moment
in my life. That is what helped me make the decision to serve a mission. If my
grandfather, father, and brother have all experienced an incredible time out on a
mission, why wouldnt I experience the same? Would this possibly help me rid myself
of much of the weight from my past? With that in my mind, I was even more
determined with my decision to go.
I was chosen to serve in Orlando, Florida. There I experienced things that I
never would be able to any other way. Two years of my life, sacrificed and dedicated
to serve others, teaching them about faith, hope, and love. Being completely
saturated by the lifestyle of a missionary began to change me even more than what I
could have done on my own. I didnt expect such an incredible change in my own life.
I was aware that I would be helping others and that I would experience and witness
changes in others lives, but I didnt know it would have the same effect on me. I felt
as if the things I taught people, and the service I rendered was really coming back
around and strengthening my own life. Above all the incredible service opportunities
participated in, life lessons learned, friends gained, and knowledge earned I
received something that to me is most precious. I met my wife in Orlando, Florida.
Throughout my mission I understood well that my purpose as a missionary was not to
find a wife. It was not for my own gain. It was to help others and to share our
churches good word. But as those purposes are accomplished, you may just be
blessed, with much gain, or in my case, a wife! Some very good karma in other
words.
I have realized since my mission that to serve as a full time missionary for the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is not just a simple custom or belief
passed down from generation to generation, It is a tradition for personal growth and
benefit that many in my family and even the world have participated in for a long
time.