Jovi Farmer is Called to the Work

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Welcome to the call to the Work podcast. My name is Justin Barton and once again, I'm just so grateful to be able to sit down with amazing people like Jovi Farm or someone I just met here a few minutes ago when we got on Zoom, but I'm excited to get to know a little bit more about her.

So, Jovi, let's start off. Tell me a little bit about yourself, where you're from, a little bit about your family and some of your hobbies. So, yeah, my name is Jovi Farmer. I live in Utah. Lived through my whole life. I have two older siblings. My sister just graduated pharmacy school. My brother's at BYU and I just I graduated in 2024.

I finished up this last year at Snow College. Still a little tiny town here. , I love staying active. My whole family's active. Outdoorsy stuff. You know, sports, I'm super into volleyball and we love watching football, basketball, and I am just so excited to talk to you today. I love it. So [00:01:00] as you and your family have grown up, did you grow up near Snow college?

Is that where you guys all live or was it somewhere else? Snow College is like two hours away . I live like right outside of Salt Lake. Some people like city kid type of thing, and so going to Snow College was really. Interesting. 'cause it's like very. Small town, like 5,000 people.

, So you've already had a little bit of an opportunity to be away from home and prepare for this. What types of experiences have you had that you think have prepared you to go and serve 18 months completely away from your family?

Yeah, I think number one, so I. Made the decision to get endowed last November. So I've been endowed for a while and I was able to work at the Manti Temple, which is like 10 minutes away from my college. And that has been number one, like the biggest blessing and biggest like preparation tool I could have used.

Being able to go to the temple every single Thursday for six hours, that was a huge. A builder for my testimony and just to be able to feel the spirit more [00:02:00] and to be more connected with my savior. And I think that was definitely number one for me. That's super cool. So what made you decide, you know, I'm gonna receive my endowment, you know, many months before I'm going on my mission.

I've always had Jesus in my life. It's always been a part of my life. But towards the end of high school, I had the opportunity to be, like seminary council president, and like all these different things I was able to be involved in.

And so my relationship with my savior just grew a ton. And I, you know, as I learned about the endowment and like what I would be doing, I. I don't know why anyone would wanna wait, because I like just being able to have higher blessings and more, you know, higher power that you're held to. I think that is, that just sounded amazing.

I don't know why I would wait for that, so , as soon as I could, I did it. That's awesome. You know, a previous person I interviewed here who I haven't posted yet, in fact, I just talked to her a couple weeks ago. , She received her endowment right outta high school and she said, why would I want to [00:03:00] delay?

Being wrapped in Jesus Christ every day, all day, . Mm-hmm. And it was just such a cool, way to look at it. Yeah. So Jovi, you were recently called to be a full-time missionary. Where were you assigned to serve as a missionary? I was assigned to serve in the California Newport Beach Mission, English speaking.

. So tell me a little bit about what you have learned about that mission or your expectations at this point. Sure. So the biggest thing I've learned about Newport Beach is just that it is very wealthy. Obviously it's a big, vacation spot, but my mission specifically is like, an hour of the coast.

So I'll be in like really pretty high income areas. And I've heard that the members there are super strong. But that it's definitely hard to gain contact with some people because of gated communities and whatnot. So things like that will be really interesting. But besides that, it kind of sounds like a dream [00:04:00] place.

, It's perfect temperature, perfect weather. Like I am just so excited to go there. I.

That's awesome. I'm excited for you. When and why did you choose to serve a mission? Has this been something you've thought about your whole life? Is it something that's more recent? Tell me about that. I didn't really think about a mission too much earlier because obviously it's not, I.

As, expected for girls. I've always been involved in like, I don't think I've ever not had a calling since I was 12. I've always been doing, things to be involved. And then I think later in high school, my brother left on his mission right before I went into my junior year, he served in Brazil.

And that alone, I was just like, wow, that is so cool. And then right before he left, a couple of my cousins left. And so then I got more introduced to the work and like more personalized. But I think specifically my senior year, I had the opportunity to be. Seminary council president, like I mentioned, and in Utah, we have huge seminaries and so our, [00:05:00] we have our own buildings and like we have a principal for it and teachers.

So it was very hands-on and we had a lot of great people and we were able to do, super cool activities with all of these students. And I had the opportunity to be. Obviously right there in the action, in the middle of everything and be able to share my testimony and lead discussions and lead, different again, activities and then invite people and that whole.

System of kind of love, share and invite is such such a missionary standard. And just be able to do that in that comfortable way of being in high school with my friends and things. , I wanted to do that like full-time and I was like, I am a hundred percent going on a mission.

I felt the love of Christ and I felt that for myself. And I know that that joy is so incredible that of course I'd wanna share that with everyone else. And so then it just is a no brainer to go on a mission. I mean, you've had a lot of experience. Talking in front of groups, being a leader, having callings and everything like that.

Um, I assume that , there's not a lot of things that make you afraid when it comes to getting in front [00:06:00] of people. That's kind of how I sense coming with you. But what are some fears maybe that you have about serving as a missionary? Yeah, so right as I got my call, the first thing was, 'cause obviously people, I mean, I don't know people California, but I just kind of assumed that , I'm not gonna be introducing the concept of Jesus Christ, the concept of a God.

And so the first thing I thought was like, I need to figure out . More doctrinal stuff. I need to figure out like really get to know everything. And so I was nervous for that in the beginning. Oh, I need to like really focus on that. But the more I sat and thought with this, 'cause I've had my call since New Year's Eve, that's when I received this.

I've had it for a while. And so the more I like sat with it, the more I was just like, am more willing to let the spirit guide me type of thing. So I've definitely looked over doctrinal stuff and like tried to, , know that better, but now. I am like, I just feel like I'm really confident in , my, connection with the spirit and how that can help me.

And so the [00:07:00] only like things I've been thinking about that I'm nervous for are kind of like superficial things. So for me, I love staying active and working out. Only having like 30 minutes to work out is gonna be like something hard that I'll have to juggle for sure. Another thing is my siblings are both in like the stage of getting married

like they don't have a significant other yet, but they're like, they could, and so I'm also worried about like my family kind of moving on with their lives while I'm not there. So that's definitely a little superficial worry, I guess. Yeah, but they're real. They're absolutely real. Good. So you mentioned that you have become more comfortable in following the spirit.

How do you hear the promptings? How do you recognize those promptings that come along in your life right now? I love that question. That's something I've gotten asked through different classes and in church and stuff. And for me, I think I've just gotten to the point where I realized.

I feel the spirit a lot with me. And so I recognize it [00:08:00] more when I don't have the spirit. So I'm in situations with certain people or whatever we might be doing that's not a good situation. I can feel that the spirit not with me. And that's scary and I hate that. And so I have just kind of realized that

a lot of things that are good in my life and a lot of simple peace and simple like joy and happiness is me feeling the spirit. So I don't get like an overwhelming feeling, you know, just kind of like peace in my heart and just like comfort and assurance. Kind of just like a hug, I just feel like I'm being hugged by Jesus and that's just how I feel the spirit.

So simple ways like that. Very cool. Thank you for sharing that. All right, now let's go back to, you know, we just shared a little bit about possible fears. What's something you're excited about in serving a mission? Yeah. I think one that I automatically think of is I am so excited to not have my phone with me.

Like that is something that I [00:09:00] think is , it's such a great tool. We have gospel library, we have like family search, all these things, it's kind of is a distraction. Like it has really been something in my life that I'm like, I can't wait to get rid of this thing for a year and a half so I can just be all in,

so that's a big thing that I'm excited for is to just have designated times to read my scriptures and have I. Designated times to like, I'll have this part to work out and I'll have the rest to just focus on the people around me and around on my savior. And I think just having that time where I don't get to worry about family, I don't get to worry about, you know, schooling or jobs or anything.

Oh, that's really cool. And that's an answer I have not yet gotten. Okay. I'm excited to get rid of my phone because, yeah, I, I mean, I wouldn't say that this, phone, it's with me. It's within arm reach 24 hours a day.

It's crazy how much. Well, it controls me, so love it. Alright, so let's jump into the next question. You said you received your mission call like new Year's Eve? Yeah, new Year's Eve. So what have you done differently since [00:10:00] December 31st? Up till now?

We've we're at May 21st, almost five months. What have you done differently to prepare for your mission than you did before? Sure. I. I think for me, , I've always read my scriptures. For however long I can remember, every day I'm reading my scriptures, but it was usually like right before bed or I'd get home super late and I'd do it for five minutes and then go to bed.

And so something that has changed a lot for me is like consistent scripture study in the daytime or like in the morning because. Yeah, before you go to bed, you're not remembering anything. I was kind of just checking it off a little checklist, but being able to do it in the morning with a notebook by you, that's something that I had an institute teacher tell me is every day he like drilled it into our heads that we will read our scriptures for 10 minutes in the morning.

We'll start with a prayer. Read 10 minutes, have an open notebook and a pencil in your hand while you're reading and end with a prayer. And that right there, 15 minutes, that's like. [00:11:00] Game changer. So I think for any missionary preparing to go, being able to do a scripture study in the morning with pen and paper in hand, it'll change your life.

And you don't have to sit there for an hour. It could be 10 minutes. But that I think, has changed a lot for me. So gimme an example of a verse or a passage of scripture that while you had pen and paper that meant something completely different to you as you had that open.

Sure. Let me grab this notebook

I think for me, just being able to write it out as you go has simplified the scriptures a lot for me. As I would go, I would write down what chapter I was reading and then I'd go in like or six and then I'd put a dash and write down, for this one it's second EPHI 30 and I wrote Rejoice and Blessings from God, strive to be pure and delight some.

So like little things that normally I would skip over Periodize and whatever. Keep reading what's just of the story, but like little things that I like sit down and write out . Words or phrases from the scriptures that I wouldn't think about [00:12:00] before and be able to write that down and see that, I dunno, it just helps me to be able to think about in my head and actually apply it to my life instead of just, oh yeah, it's great.

You know, be pure brutalize them, but to actually internalize that by writing it down, I think has been big for me. And I assume that's going to be your practice on your mission too. Have a notebook and pen right there with you. For sure. Yeah. That's, that's awesome. I love that you're doing that. I hope you teach all of your companions that too. Yeah. , Next question I have for you. What do you hope to get out of the next 18 months on your mission?

What is something you hope changes and develops even a deeper thing with you? You know, I've thought about this and I think it's super easy as you are living with your family or you're just in high school or just in college, to kind of get selfish and just think about yourself a lot and obviously you have to 'cause you are deciding what you wanna do with your life and go to college and things like that.

But I am just excited to be able to again, lose [00:13:00] myself in the work and be able to just focus on other people. 'cause sometimes , it can get heavy just thinking about yourself all the time and like it can be easy, but it can also be. Something just kinda like wears you out. It's think about yourself so much and obviously Jesus Christ didn't think about himself.

He thought about others and that was like what made him And I'm just so excited to be able to do that and to yeah, just focus on other people and kind of hopefully become more selfless and to not care as much about my life as much as like helping others and serving others. I love it. I'm, what you're seeing here is me looking at my wall of quotes.

I found it. I have a whole bunch of sticky notes. It's almost like wallpaper on my wall right here. I love it. And this one is thinking only about myself and being miserable are both the same thing. If I'm just focused on myself, I am going to be miserable. It's the same thing. So I love that. That's one of the things you hope to get , out of the next 18 [00:14:00] months.

Get out itself and get into loving and serving others. Good stuff. Thank you for sharing that. Now serving a mission is hard. I mean, even if you're serving in , the equivalence of paradise, you know, great weather, great location, beautiful homes and everything, there's hard times coming.

So how do you plan on dealing with really hard times that are coming? Yeah, that's a good question. As I've sent off some of my friends and some people that I've known have gone on missions I'll get some of their emails and sometimes, I've noticed will kind of dwell on the hard times.

Like, oh, this was so hard and this is hard. And like all that stuff, which, yes, the mission is like, it's supposed to be hard because you're not gonna grow. From feeling comfortable and with things being easy. So I think just kind of expecting it to be hard, but not dwelling on those things, like understanding that it's gonna be hard, but that on your mission, you're growing the whole time, but as you [00:15:00] grow, you're not going in a straight line.

It's going up and down. And I think just knowing, that, yeah, it's gonna be up and down and some days are gonna suck and I am gonna wanna just go home and lay on the couch and watch football, but I can't. And that that's just how it's gonna be. Just , knowing that I am, it's not supposed to be easy, but that I just need to let that go and just move on because it's not worth dwelling on it.

Alright, so the, premise of this project comes from doctrine and Covenant section four called to the Work. If you have a desire to serve, you're called to the work. But what I'd like to do is read just a couple of verses from there. Section four verses five and six, which is a list of, , attributes qualities.

And Faith, hope Charity and love with an eye single to the glory of God. Qualify him for the work. Remember faith virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence. So of all those things that I've just read to you, which of those do you think is [00:16:00] fairly strong in your life right now?

Oh, , as I was looking over this before we started, so I was kinda going over all those and , for some reason, virtue stuck out to me, which is, I feel like we hear virtue a lot in a lot of things, in a lot of scriptures and, but we don't focus on it. It's kinda like, oh, be virtuous. You know, virtuous, lovely praiseworthy.

But I feel like we just skip over virtue a lot. And so I was. Kind of looking into it more and thinking about it in my life. And I just think there's so much power in following all of the commandments and kind of being strict in keeping yourself pure, which I think encompasses virtue. And for me, like, because I grew up in Utah and it is, people call it like a bubble and there's so many members here I think it's really easy for people here too.

Not be all in they're their family's LDS. So , they'll go to church on Sundays, but then throughout the week they'll kind of do whatever and like maybe not follow the commandments, then go back. And it's not that big of a deal. But for me, I [00:17:00] have always strive to be a virtuous person and like whether or not I'm that good at it, I try my best to be strict in.

Following the commandments and keeping myself peer and things like that. So I think you may have done that here in the last couple of sentences, but , I'd like to ask you to define virtue as you understand it today.

How would you define that in two or three lines? Sure. I would say VIR virtual is hard to describe for sure. For one, I would say, like I mentioned, being strict and keeping yourself pure and I. I think being thorough in following the commandments not just half-heartedly following the commandments and just living your life in a way , that you could walk in the presence of God and be completely.

Comfortable with the way [00:18:00] that you are and completely like happy with the way that you live your life on a day-to-day basis if Jesus were to walk with you, I think is how I would describe it. Yeah. . I love that. Yeah. Virtue is something that I. I've always pigeonholed into a box of, , like sexual purity or whatever that may be,

yeah. But I think it's a lot bigger than that the more I'm looking at it. So I, I appreciate you sharing those things. Thanks for teaching me a little bit about that. All right. So which of these attributes and qualities do you think you need to improve upon today? Okay. Yeah. I think just looking at it right now, I have the verse pulled up. Brotherly kindness. I think that it's so easy to. Love people and be kind to people in kind of just like a straight up way. Like, yeah, I'll be respectful, I'll be civil. But I think as we think about our savior , he didn't have like boundaries.

There [00:19:00] wasn't like, oh, I'll love you to a certain extent, but it's like he's all encompassing and his love and his kindness. . It's not conditional. It's like he will love you and he'll be kind to you in every situation of your life and in the same depth as he does to someone else.

And I think I can definitely be like, oh, I'll be nice to them and I'll love them, but I'm not like, I'm not gonna love you. Like, I love my family, you know? And I, I'm just ready. I'm excited too. Study more about how Jesus loved and to love people, even if they're strangers, and even if they like don't believe in anything that I believe.

And even if they bash on the church or they have completely different views, or they don't like what I'm doing, but I'm still gonna love them the way that Jesus loved them. I mean, that's something I really wanna work on, on my mission.

All right, so as you've looked through section four over the last however long you've looked at Section four throughout your life, is there something in there that means something to you [00:20:00] that you'd like to teach me about? I wanna learn something new from a different perspective. Okay, so I know you already mentioned verse five, but I was looking at that line with an I singles with the glory of God and I clicked on I and the footnote takes you, to Matthew 6 22 and that verse says, the light of the body is the I, if therefore thine I be single.

Thy whole body shall be full of light. And so I was thinking about that and. Having your eyes single to the glory of God is the same as if as you do that you'll be full of his light. And for me, the purpose of going on a mission is to share his light and to share his joy and his kindness and everything that comes with his light.

And so as you lose yourself in the work and as you let yourself have your eyes single to the glory of God. I think you'll just be more full of light and more willing to share that and more loving and more kind. [00:21:00] And , I just really like that. I love that it connected with that Matthew verse.

That is a really cool insight. Thank you for sharing that. And that's going in my footnotes here too, so I appreciate it. , So Sister Jovi, farmer, would you be willing to close this out by bearing your testimony of the savior and the gospel and, and your testimony of the work?

Sure, I'd love to. If there's one thing that I know without a doubt, it's that I am a beloved child of God and I know that you and whoever else is watching this is a beloved child of God, and that's something that you can't change no matter how hard you try. And I know that no matter what point in your life you're at, he is reaching out to you.

He's always ready to help you. He's not just standing there waiting for you to come to him. He's reaching out to you, waiting for you to just make a little bit of effort to let him into your life. And I know that as you do let him into your life, he will not leave you comfortless and he [00:22:00] will, show you his love and he will let you have more peace in your life.

You'll have more happiness and. I know that all that comes with so many other beautiful parts of our gospel, like, the plan of salvation and having your families forever. And I know that I will see my family and I will be with them forever if I can live my life the way that Jesus will or would. And I know that the Book of Mormon is truly the word of God and that as you read it and as you give your life to it and really.

Live your life as it teaches that it will make you a better person and it'll make you happier and it'll make life worth living. And I just have so much faith in and trust in my savior and in Jesus Christ. And I just know that he can, you know, make your life so much better. [00:23:00] And I don't know, , I just love this gospel so much.

I love temples and I think that they are incredible. And if you haven't gone, you should go every single day if you can. Yeah, that's, I just, that's my testimony name. Jesus Christ. Amen. Amen. Amen. So, Jovi with what? Zero authority I have, I affirm that you are called to the work. Get out there and do it.

Get out there and give yourself to the Lord and give yourself to the work. Thank you so much for having this conversation with me.