It Is Finished

I couldn't ask for a better end to my mission. I love it here. Everyone in our ward is a young family going through residency at Mayo Clinic here. Lots of intelligent returned missionaries who are willing to help! This last transfer, we found the most success of my whole mission. Lots of people willing to be taught! Our friend Richard got baptized. President Richardson went home and President and Sister Gochnour seem incredible. I come home next week. It's weird to think it will actually happen. I've come to know myself so much better on my mission. The most important thing I've learned is that I need Jesus Christ; I can't move forward without Him. Choosing to believe in Him has given me both purpose and desire. The why and the how of life. I'll forever be grateful for the opportunity to serve Him for these 2 years. I know that life is meant to be a journey-- our own grand adventure. I believe that we can choose who we want to become. One of my favorite scriptures has become:

And in one year were thousands and tens of thousands of souls sent to the eternal world, that they might reap their rewards according to their works, whether they were good or whether they were bad, to reap eternal happiness or eternal misery, according to the spirit which they listed to obey, whether it be a good spirit or a bad one. For every man receiveth wages of him whom he listeth to obey (Book of Mormon, Alma 3:26.)

Every man. Universally. That's the grand secret. We all have to play within the bounds. We get to choose, forever. It can be daunting to have divine potential. It's easy to wonder if you're wasting your mortal opportunity. Have I done enough? have I become what I was supposed to be? I came on my mission to find clarity. I've received a great deal of that, and yet, there are many things that are still so murky. I've become at peace with not knowing. I'm excited to move on to the next phase. I'm grateful for everyone who taught me and forgave me when I made mistakes. I love you guys! See you soon!

-Elder Dahl

But If Not

Sorry for the lack of emails! These past few weeks have been a whirlwind! I'm now in Rochester and have 2 new companions! Elder Putnam is from Casper, Wyoming and is one of the most driven individuals I've ever met. He's a bit of a thespian, so we get to listen to a lot of singing! Elder McGiven is probably the most massive man I've ever lived with. He weighs over 300 pounds and is a tender mercy for my bulking goals. He's an offensive lineman playing for Snow College. They're both great elders, and I'm learning a lot from them! They might be my last companions, which is weird to think about. We have so much fun together and get so much done! It's wonderful. We're kinda like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. We're always refusing to defile ourselves with Nebuchadnezzar's meat and wine. Interpret that how you will. 

If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up (Daniel 3:17-18.)

What faith! They first proclaim what they believe to be true. They are confident that their God is capable of delivering them but do not have a perfect knowledge. Then three powerful words: "but if not." They declare that regardless of god's intervention, they will abide by what they do know. They have been taught the ten commandments since their youth. They have a perfect knowledge that to worship this idol is wrong and a sin against God. What a powerful pattern for us! When trials and tribulation come and my foundation has been rocked, I've found great peace in following this example. Choose to obey what you know to be right even if God chooses not to deliver you. I promise you'll be happy. Love you guys! 

-Elder Dahl

The Champion of Change

This week was pretty average. Our friend canceled a lot of our lessons. We found a new guy who believes in a false prophet but has similar theology but doesn't want to read The Book of Mormon. We had a friend who kinda dropped off text us and say he's 13 chapters into The Book of Mormon and wants to chat, so that was wonderful. We helped one of our friends preparing for baptism move to Chaska, so we won't be teaching her anymore. The elders quorum president was called to be the new bishop in the ward. We talked with our friend Sean who chose not to get baptized because he doesn't believe in God. He agreed that religion is the only thing that can really unite the world and yet doesn't want to pursue it right now. It was pretty sad. I feel like the prophet Jacob these days:

[The] time passed away with us, and also our lives passed away like as it were unto us a dream, we being a lonesome and a solemn people.

Time moves, the person I live with changes, the people I teach fluctuate. Being lonesome makes me recognize and value relationships so much more. I've come to appreciate that the only truly perpetual relationship we can have is with God. And how valuable that relationship can be! And yet often for me it is neglected. It seems to be the last resort. When I'm close to no one, I'm closest to God. It gives me a little envy for the prophet Moroni, traveling alone in the wilderness for years as he finishes up the book of Mormon. Being ministered to by the disciples of Christ. I wonder how Paul coped as he began to see the church fall into apostasy and his friends and followers fall away.

O then despise not, and wonder not, but hearken unto the words of the Lord, and ask the Father in the name of Jesus for what things soever ye shall stand in need. Doubt not, but be believing, and begin as in times of old, and come unto the Lord with all your heart, and work out your own salvation with fear and trembling before him (Mormon 9:27.)

The burden really is on the individual. Eventually, there comes a time where we all must choose. I think mortality is set up that way by design. And the longer we wait, the harder it seems to become. Yet giving all your heart is no easy task. Even though we seem to be among the most dynamic creatures on earth, we still abhor change. The desire to improve without actually doing so is such a common experience. I think of President Nelson's statement:

The truth is that it is much more exhausting to seek happiness where you can never find it! However, when you yoke yourself to Jesus Christ and do the spiritual work required to overcome the world, He, and He alone, does have the power to lift you above the pull of this world.

It is exhausting to not be taking steps to overcome the world. To see yourself becoming worse, and more miserable. Yet oftentimes we continue to sink into the quicksand because it's effortless. We forget that positive change can only occur because of and with the help of Jesus Christ. He is the champion of change, of starting again and of overcoming this fallen world. The answer is to increase the significance of the Savior in your life. The hope is real, the peace is promised, and it's all because of Him. I love Him and oh, how I need Him.

-Elder Dahl

I Will Bless Thee Forever

These past few weeks were good. We had zone conference and set 2 people on date. President talked about how important it is to give people all the information they need to succeed. That we should assume ignorance vs. wilful rebellion. He talked about how agency is the ultimate principle in the father's plan and how we can only advocate for the correct use of it, not mandate it. It felt kind of like Nephi preaching from the garden tower: 

O repent ye, repent ye! Why will ye die? Turn ye, turn ye unto the Lord your God (Helaman 7:17.)

How telling it is that we all know what is right, and yet we all seem to fall short in doing it. In speaking to those people, Nephi chooses to bear his testimony:

Behold now, I do not say that these things shall be, of myself, because it is not of myself that I know these things; but behold, I know that these things are true because the Lord God has made them known unto me, therefore I testify that they shall be (Helaman 7:29.)

He appeals to a higher authority. Even though his words make the people angry, he feels compelled to speak them because they are true. Then, after consistently crying repentance and prophesying the murder of the chief judge, God rewards Nephi:

4 Blessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which thou hast done; for I have beheld how thou hast with unwearyingness declared the word, which I have given unto thee, unto this people. And thou hast not feared them, and hast not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will, and to keep my commandments.

5 And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold, I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will.

6 Behold, thou art Nephi, and I am God. Behold, I declare it unto thee in the presence of mine angels, that ye shall have power over this people, and shall smite the earth with famine, and with pestilence, and destruction, according to the wickedness of this people.

7 Behold, I give unto you power, that whatsoever ye shall seal on earth shall be sealed in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven; and thus shall ye have power among this people.

8 And thus, if ye shall say unto this temple it shall be rent in twain, it shall be done.

9 And if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou cast down and become smooth, it shall be done.

10 And behold, if ye shall say that God shall smite this people, it shall come to pass.

Nephi qualified for this incredible power by declaring the word, not fearing the people and not seeking his own life, but instead seeking God's will and keeping his commandments. He has been persecuted and reviled and cast into prison multiple times. But after receiving godlike power, the first thing he does is intercede on behalf of the people: 

4 O Lord, do not suffer that this people shall be destroyed by the sword; but O Lord, rather let there be a famine in the land, to stir them up in remembrance of the Lord their God, and perhaps they will repent and turn unto thee.

5 And so it was done, according to the words of Nephi (Helaman 11:4-5.)

That's the character of Christ. That's what it's all about. Forgive them for they know not what they do. The ability to love your enemies and pray for them that despitefully use and persecute you. Those who say let us go one more time into the Vineyard and see if there is anything we can do. Powerful stuff. Hoping to get there one day. I love you guys! 

-Elder Dahl

And the Eyes of Them Both Were Opened

This week was great, I got a cold on Friday, but three of our friends came to church! Our friend, Sean, who is preparing to be baptized, was able to attend a ward baptism after church as well. Sean is awesome to teach. He's a philosophy major so we get pretty deep. He thinks like me and is a big chess player as well. We have transfers coming up this week. I'm hoping elder Noreen and I will stay put; Mankato has been a huge blessing, and there's lots of work to be done. I'm getting bigger and wiser, loving being able to focus on magnifying the work instead of just learning it. My studies have been meaningful. I've been reading Joseph's Smiths journals a little bit, and they're pretty funny. Finishing up Jesus the Christ and The Book of Mormon again. I've become fascinated lately by the evidences of God. If God is the omnipotent organizer of the universe, the way he chooses to reveal himself within that framework is of note. One of these ways is the light of Christ, 

"Which light proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space— The light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed, even the power of God who sitteth upon his throne, who is in the bosom of eternity, who is in the midst of all things" (Doctrine and Covenants 88:12-13.)

If the light of Christ is within us, then all of a sudden we have a testable claim, because according to the scripture, the light of Christ serves a specific function. Elder Christofferson says:

"I think we would all agree that those who profess no religious belief can be, and often are, good, moral people. We would not agree, however, that this happens without divine influence. I am referring to the Light of Christ. The Savior declared, 'I am the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world.' Whether aware of it or not, every man, woman, and child of every belief, place, and time is imbued with the Light of Christ and therefore possesses the sense of right and wrong we often call conscience."

So God seems to choose to reveal himself to his children universally by giving them the inherent capacity to understand what is right. He doesn't necessarily aid people in choosing the right, unless they seek that aid, but instead, he gives the gift of knowledge-- knowledge of good and evil. 

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it became pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make her wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and also gave unto her husband with her, and he did eat (Moses 4:12.)

Eve desired to be wise and to be as God is. I wonder if that day in the garden as Adam and Eve became aware of morality, they also felt a sense of crushing ineptitude. Because they now know what is right and yet realize how difficult it will be act according to that knowledge. I wonder if the cherubim and flaming sword were necessary because Eve and Adam realized that any finite amount of time would be insufficient to become perfectly integrous to this godly knowledge they now possessed. As Adam and Eve begin their seemingly impossible journey, they become focused on obeying the light of Christ within them. They are obedient, 

And it came to pass that after I, the Lord God, had driven them out, that Adam began to till the earth, and to have dominion over all the beasts of the field, and to eat his bread by the sweat of his brow, as I the Lord had commanded him. And Eve, also, his wife, did labor with him. And Adam knew his wife, and she bare unto him sons and daughters, and they began to multiply and to replenish the earth (Moses 5:1).

Notably, there is no resentment towards God, no shaking of fists, only acceptance of their new reality and painstaking labor to do what the Lord commanded them. I think they quickly realize that their own efforts are insufficient. They have godlike knowledge, but no practical experience. They are terrified of committing evil, because they know the glory of God. I wonder if, in a moment of perceived inadequacy, they counsel together, and Adam says something like, "Eve, we can't go on like this. I want to do all that father asks, but it's too much for me. We have many children, I've never been a parent, and I am separated from my own father. Cain is getting on my nerves, these thistles just keep growing, and the sheep stink." I wonder if Eve said, "We've been trying to do this on our own for many years, and we're learning, but our efforts our woefully insufficient. We need His help." Then, in the depths of humility mixed with desperation, Adam and Eve called upon the name of the Lord, 

and they heard the voice of the Lord from the way toward the Garden of Eden, speaking unto them, and they saw him not; for they were shut out from his presence. And he gave unto them commandments, that they should worship the Lord their God, and should offer the firstlings of their flocks, for an offering unto the Lord. And Adam was obedient unto the commandments of the Lord (Moses 5:4-5.)

I wonder if God said something like "Hey Adam, you're doing better than expected actually, but why did you wait so long to reach out to me? Know ye not that 'I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent?'" (Doctrine and Covenants 19:16.)

And Adam may have responded, "I thought I could do it on my own, but now I know I cannot. Will you teach me? Teach me how to live in harmony with this knowledge of good and evil."

And then God gives Adam commandments. Fascinating. God grants mankind knowledge, then when they finally turn to him, his second gift is commandments. And presumably those commandments make Adam's life easier! He begins to worship the Lord and offer sacrifice, and as a result, an angel appears and delivers a third gift, knowledge of the Savior. Followed quickly by a fourth gift, the Holy Ghost.

This is a long-winded analysis with much more to dissect. But I believe our mortal experience isn't altogether different from our first parents. As a missionary, I've felt like Adam many times but I've also been richly blessed to represent God. He has given everyone the knowledge of good and evil-- the light of Christ. I have been so blessed to be the means by which those that hearken to that knowledge obtain the commandments of God. I've helped people come to a knowledge of their Savior and to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. It is a joyous process. I love Him! And I love you guys! 

-Elder Dahl

It Must Needs Be

This week was good! We had winter storm Olive come through town but it was mostly underwhelming. We got about 8 inches of snow, but we had to hole up for two days. It was pretty difficult to do missionary work, but technology is a blessing. Grateful for the gym in our apartment. We had some great lessons this week. We're teaching a student at Minnesota State here named Shawn. He calls himself an atheist, but he's really agnostic. We had a great lesson about faith, really diving deep into Alma 32. 

26 Now, as I said concerning faith—that it was not a perfect knowledge—even so it is with my words. Ye cannot know of their surety at first, unto perfection, any more than faith is a perfect knowledge.

27 But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.

Faith is an experiment; it is the principle that motivates us to act. We helped him see that he exercises faith all the time, that going to work is an act of faith. That choosing to attend a university is an act of faith, and that being willing to meet with us requires faith. He desires to believe whatever is true, and he will give place for a portion of our words. 

Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.

We taught how reading the Book of Mormon is the best way to test if our message is a good seed. We testified that we had both experienced the Book of Mormon enlarging our souls and enlightening our minds and beginning to be delicious to us. We discussed how the Spirit often feels just like that. I feel it most in pure flowing intelligence that enlightens and enlarges. We discussed how the fruit doesn't come until the plant has sprouted and reached maturity. That conversion is often a long process. It's been that way for me. But I've been surprised at how the gospel has become delicious to me. It wasn't always that way, but on my mission I've been humbled by the gift of knowledge I've been given. I'm so grateful for ward members who serve tirelessly, who look to magnify their callings, and for youth who are willing to rise to new challenges and opportunities. I'm in awe of all the miracles the Church produces every day. Faith in Jesus Christ is the first principle of the gospel, and I believe that that means you choose to live your life in a way that would be no different than if you had a perfect knowledge of Him. I think that's attainable-- I've seen so many people with that unyielding faith. It's been a marvelous strength to me. These individuals' faith produces miracles constantly. I want to always have faith like that-- to be focused on living the Savior's way. I love Him and come to know Him better each day. I love you guys! 

-Elder Dahl

Rough Stone Rolling

Transfers this week brought me to Mankato, with another really nice apartment, nicer in my opinion because of the gym and underground parking. We ward share with another companionship of elders who live in much more humble circumstances, but I guess it's just like the parable of the talents ;). I'm just kidding, they're great elders. One of them is actually committed to play BYU football in 2024, so I've been giving him fitness tips on how to achieve peak performance while on the mission. My companion's name is Elder Noreen and he came out with me, so it's been a blast. He's a pretty talented pianist, so he's been teaching me a little. He's from Dayton, Idaho and used to milk cows for like 6 bucks an hour. Then they got machines to do it, so he was out of a job. Robots really are taking over the world. I finished the old teachings of the prophets manual for Joseph Smith this week. One of the best chapters is at the end, where it shares the testimonies of his contemporaries. Here are a few,

 

“Such was our confidence in [Joseph Smith] as a Prophet, that when he said, ‘Thus saith the Lord,’ we were confident it would be as he said; and the more we tried it, the more confidence we had, for we never found his word to fail in a single instance.”

- Alexander McRae

President Joseph Smith was in person tall and well built, strong and active; of a light complexion, light hair, blue eyes, very little beard, and of an expression peculiar to himself. … His countenance was ever mild, affable, beaming with intelligence and benevolence; mingled with a look of interest and an unconscious smile, or cheerfulness, and entirely free from all restraint or affectation of gravity; and there was something connected with the serene and steady penetrating glance of his eye, as if he would penetrate the deepest abyss of the human heart, gaze into eternity, penetrate the heavens, and comprehend all worlds. He possessed a noble boldness and independence of character; his manner was easy and familiar; his rebuke terrible as the lion; his benevolence unbounded as the ocean; his intelligence universal.”

- Parley P. Pratt

"The love the saints had for him was inexpressible. They would willingly have laid down their lives for him. If he was to talk, every task would be laid aside that they might listen to his words. He was not an ordinary man. Saints and sinners alike felt and recognized a power and influence which he carried with him. It was impossible to meet him and not be impressed by the strength of his personality and influence.”

- Mary Lambert

Pretty powerful stuff. I've studied Joseph probably more than anything else on my mission. I know he's a prophet. If you don't know yet, I would invite you to figure it out ;). it's a wonderful ride. I'm happy, healthy, and grateful to be a missionary. I miss all of you a lot though! Love you guys!

 
-Elder Dahl