Author Date

2004-6

Degree Name

Department

English

College

Humanities

Defense Date

2004-6

Publication Date

2025-06-16

First Faculty Advisor

John Bennion

Keywords

Mongolia, Mission, Missionary, Faith, Love, Charity

Abstract

This is my story. It is a very personal story, but one that I want to share with others. Although it takes place predominantly in Mongolia, it is not merely a story about Mongolia, or even the Mongolian people. It is not really even a story about me. What is it then? It is a story about faith and love. It is an attempt to better understand how the gospel of Jesus Christ intricately fits into people’s lives all over the world—even in Mongolia. It is a compilation of essays, of memoirs, of my experiences. It is a story about overcoming pride through faith, humility, and love. My story does not attempt to reduce faith and love to precise definitions, but it offers living examples of the importance of developing faith in Jesus Christ. It provides examples of faith in action and charity in motion.

After spending two life-changing years as a missionary in Mongolia, and two and half years as a Mongolian-language teacher at the MTC, in January of 2004 I was blessed with the opportunity of returning to Mongolia. I traveled back for a semester-long internship (with LDS Employment Resource Services) to teach a career workshop to the unemployed. My story recounts the special experiences I had as an intern and as a missionary in Mongolia. I want to share my experiences with anyone who has served—or has wanted to serve—a mission, and with all the returned missionaries who have dreamed about revisiting their mission area.