This week was pretty slow. I'm gaining a testimony of how important keeping commitments is. I've really been leaning into finding through the authorized digital methods. Tons of Facebook, cold calling and seeking referrals from members. I just don't get some of these people haha. They'll be like oh yeah I would love to come to church! Then not show up, or set a time for a lesson and then not answer our call. The most annoying is when I ask a question on Facebook and they just leave me unread. When I get home, I'll always respond to people. It's important and respectful. But whatever.
I had an exchange with my district leader, Elder Gregory, which was awesome. He's about to go home which is always crazy to me. Super fun to learn from him and hang out with some new elders. When people come to Virginia they always want to play ping pong with us. I feel bad because they usually have average talent at best and very little practice. I didn't realize this before my mission but I have insanely high ping pong aptitude, and combined with a significant amount of practice, these two transfers have placed me in the highest echelon of ping pong players. It's a gift and a curse because I hate to just obliterate the new elders. Maybe it's good to keep them humble haha.
This week I did tons of study on the Spirit. It has always seemed like such a nebulous thing to me. It seems like every person of faith claims that they have the Spirit and so teaching about the gift of the Holy Ghost always tends to fall flat. They don't seem to understand the benefit or difference that gift can make. I am so grateful for our prophet! He has continually stressed the importance of personal revelation and hearing the Savior's voice. As missionaries, we are promised inspiration to know what to do and have been given the power to do it. I've learned that God does not speak to people who don't listen. I say speak but I feel like a better word is whisper, or nudge. For a long time, I questioned why the Spirit is such a difficult thing to recognize and heed. Doesn't God want us to know He's there and do the right thing? I think I often forget the purpose of mortality. God already knows that we'll do the right thing in his presence. We proved that premortally. The whole reason he sent us here was to "prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them" (Abraham 3:25.) Without God looking over our shoulder. Without him yelling at us all the time. It is necessary for us to "walk by faith." It's the only we can become like Him. That's why the Spirit is most often manifested as a still small voice because if it was obvious, it would rob us of our faith. "Faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true" (Alma 32:21.) How grateful I am to have the opportunity to develop faith and yield to the enticings of the Holy Spirit. Mortality is a wonderful gift and a school of joy! We're supposed to learn what joy is and how to have it all the time! That's why the commandments and covenants exist. That's why Jesus Christ came into the world. That's why Joseph Smith was tarred and feathered and martyred. That's why I'm on a mission. It is a noble cause. The most noble. I love you guys! Thank you for shaping my being, and being an example to me!
-Elder Dahl
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