A Mighty Change of Heart

This week was good and bad. I used to think I was a pretty chill guy and could get along with everyone, I've learned that that's not completely true. This week we had exchanges with the zone leaders, which is somewhat unorthodox, (I asked them to at zone conference) because I really wanted to see what motivated missionaries look like. It was awesome, Elder Farnsworth is such an example to me of someone who gets it. Someone who understands what the mission is and what it offers. I'll explain. 

People come out on the mission for a myriad of reasons, but everyone to some degree I think wants to change. Wants to be more spiritual, a better disciple, covenant keeper etc. This was among my chief desires. I had an incorrect view of how that formula is derived. In my mind it was something like righteous desires + mission = growth. I have come to realize that on the mission as well as in life there is a very important aspect I was missing. My new formula looks like this,

(Righteous desires + Faith) * mission = exponential growth. Faith is the crucible of the mighty change so many of us desire. Faith, I've learned, is work. A mighty change never comes easy, you can't just coast for 2 years and expect to become the person that knows how to work hard when things are tough and be committed for eternity. I always thought because my knowledge of the Gospel was relatively high my faith was as well. It's not the same, unfortunately. I love this scripture in 2nd Nephi 27:

For behold, I am God; and I am a God of miracles; and I will show unto the world that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and I work not among the children of men save it be according to their faith.

The change that I desire is not one that can occur without God; no person becomes a better disciple of Jesus Christ without His help. 

For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit (Mosiah 3:19.)

And it's hard! It's hard to make that unnatural shift. To walk by faith and not by sight. My whole life I've tried to make good decisions and thought that once the decision was made that was good enough, go to college, do sales, go on a mission. But if you don't work while you're there you won't grow! You won't be nearly as good as if you take advantage of those opportunities! 

I testify of the love God has for us and His desire to help us in every step as we slowly root out the natural man inside us. I love you guys and hope you can feel peace like I have! 

- Elder Dahl