The Last One

Week 81 (Mar 6th- 12th 2018)

When I was sunbeam, about 3-4 years old in Primary, we sang a song about missionaries. I remember thinking, “Wow. I wish I was a boy so that I could be an Elder and serve a mission”. Apparently I had said that out loud, because my teacher responded, “You can serve a mission! There are Sister Missionaries too!”

My heart swelled within my chest and it felt like I was overflowing with pure joy when I heard these words. Looking back, that may have been the first time I felt the Spirit in my life. I didn’t know that then, but I did know that I was going to be a missionary. I’m also a little concerned by how long it took me to figure out that Sisters served missions, considering that my mom served a mission and I knew that that was how she met my dad... Putting two and two together is hard when that’s how old you are.

Throughout the years I received repeated spiritual confirmations and specific promised blessings from Heavenly Father that I would serve a full time mission. There have been few things I have been as sure of in life as sure as I was that I would be a missionary.

I had a long and difficult journey to get on my mission; it included a litany of doctors, medication adjusting, pushed availability dates over two years. It was rough and it was a time that I was very humbled and had to rely on the Lord and develop patience and faith in His timing.

My time as a full time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Florida Orlando Mission is truly a highlight of my life and has shaped my perspective, testimony and personal spirituality. Each experience an integral part of the work of art that the Lord has magnificently authored. Taking even one piece to highlight or share cannot describe, as the prophet historian Mormon says, “a hundredth part” of the masterpiece as a whole (3 Nephi 5:8).

Among the other departing missionaries, I had the profound blessing of going to the Lord’s house and partake of the spirit there. My departing temple trip was lovely, I was beaming the whole time. Although several of the other sisters became teary eyed and sentimental, I could not stop smiling. It was because I felt so overjoyed and blessed to be there. There I was, in the temple at the conclusion of my honorable 18 months of missionary service. Several years ago, that moment didn’t seem attainable; but I was there reveling in it.

As a missionary, it is my sacred charge and calling to invite others to come unto Christ and testify of Him. I am eternally grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ. For His key role in Heaven before this life; and in the Earth, before, during and after it was made. I testify with a surety that He is the same that said, “Here Am I” and “I am that I am”. He is the first of our Fathers children and the only begotten in the flesh. Yes, even the Son of the Living God, which God is the loving Heavenly Father of each spirit.

Christ is the Messiah that was promised and prophesied of since before what the Bible calls “the beginning”. The Savior that would come and redeem us from this fallen world & this fallen state. Jesus Christ lived, died, and lived again and still lives for us. Not only died so we could overcome death, but literally took upon himself all sin, pain, sickness, guilt, misery, for us that we can turn to Him and find remission, forgiveness, and His perfect love.

This He did that we may be reconciled with God, to live again in His presence with our heavenly eternal family. These and other eternal truths and ordinances of Salvation were restored to the earth in its fullness by God the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ, through the Prophet Joseph Smith. The evidence of this restoration is a record of ancient scripture discovered and translated by Joseph through the power of God. This record is the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. I know this. I have learned this to be true for myself through study of the scriptures and mighty prayer and fasting. Heavenly Father answered my prayer and He will answer yours. To quote President Thomas S. Monson, “If you do not have a firm testimony of these things, do that which is necessary to obtain one.”

Thank you all for your support, love, and prayers throughout my mission and before. I know there were many times that they carried me. I look forward to reporting to you soon.


Hurrah for Israel,

-Sister Olivia Petty

Departing temple trip 3.9.18

Last Jeremiah’s 3.9.18

Final District pic: DeLand 3.7.18

LILLIAN CAME AND TOOK US TO LUNCH 3.6.18

A goodbye cake Sister Ellison ordered for me with my family nickname on it 3.12.18

Orlando Florida Temple 3.9.18