From Rock Bottom to Spiritual Confidence - Sister Lauren Hendricks

In this episode we interview Lauren for the first time. Lauren had only been home for a week when we recorded this episode. The episode delves into the transformative nature of a full-time mission, describing it as a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" where distractions are set aside to focus solely on the Lord. Lauren emphasizes that there's "literally no other time" in life to dedicate oneself so completely to God's work.

Serving with All Your Heart, Might, Mind, and Strength: Drawing on Doctrine and Covenants (D&C) 4, Shawn and Lauren discuss the scriptural imperative to serve God completely. This commitment is not tied to outward results but to one's personal desire and determination. Lauren recounts how success as a missionary is defined by this commitment and determination to press forward despite challenges and "jump from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm".

The Promises of Serving a Mission: The conversation highlights three main scriptural promises that result from serving in the "right way":

A Marvelous and Wonderful Experience: Just as Isaiah foretold a "marvelous work" in the latter days, serving with full commitment leads to a "marvelous and a wonderful experience".

Personal Joy and Conversion to Christ: Alma's experience of "exceeding joy" after repentance is used to illustrate the profound personal conversion to Christ and the "eternal joy" that comes from understanding the gospel and one's relationship with the Lord. Lauren shares her decision to serve based on President Russell M. Nelson's promise of finding "no greater joy than in serving your brothers and sisters in the Lord," a promise she found to be true.

Eternal Joy with Those You Help: Referencing D&C 18, Shawn explains that "how great is his joy in the soul that repenteth". The episode emphasizes the "great... joy" one experiences when helping even "one soul" come to Christ, forming "tightest, closest bonds... for eternity". This joy is described as "addicting," motivating further service.

Lauren shares a powerful personal story about her mission experience, particularly a challenging period when she was switched to Spanish work after only four months, despite limited Spanish skills, and paired with a difficult companion. She describes feeling a loss of control and "miserable".

A pivotal moment came when Lauren, at her "rock bottom," knelt down and pleaded with the Lord "with all the energy of [her] heart," similar to Enos's wrestle before God. This experience led her to align her will with the Lord's, choosing to be molded into an instrument in His hands. From this point, she woke up with a "quiet confidence" and a renewed spirit, believing the Lord would "provide a way" for her to carry out His work.

This spiritual breakthrough led her to apply the practical principle: "Open your mouth and find listeners". Despite her limited Spanish, she began talking to everyone, making a "fool of [herself]," but recognizing that her desire to talk outweighed any embarrassment. Shawn recounts a similar experience from his mission in Ukraine, where an Apostle promised fluency if missionaries spoke to everyone they met. Lauren attests to rapid language acquisition and finding "prepared" individuals like a man in McDonald's who already had a strong testimony of Joseph Smith.

The episode concludes by highlighting the conversion story of Carlos, a man found through Facebook who was at "rock bottom". Lauren describes how the "gift of tongues" was evident as she taught him, helping him to pray and read the Book of Mormon, which brought him joy and led to his baptism and becoming a devoted disciple. The episode reiterates that a mission is a "marvelous and wonderful experience if you do it right" by