What a week! I had my first mission leadership conference which was really cool, President is a great teacher and the missionaries are great examples to me. With Covid restrictions lifted, we learned a lot about how to effectively interact in person with God's children. I realized that I have been a little too dominant in our teaching interactions so far-- mostly because my previous companions weren't big on teaching. Communication is so important! When there's a problem in your life, please let the person causing it know, because they may be totally oblivious. When I've had problems with people on my mission, they have historically been major ones-- specifically disobedience. It's very hard to fulfill your missionary purpose when your companion just doesn't want to. As I've progressed on my mission, I've realized that some people's major problems are focused on the way the work is approached-- it's a very privileged problem to have. When your comp refuses to get out of bed until dinner, you don't even think about what type of message you are going to share at dinner, you're focused on a much larger issue. Now that my quality of companion has increased, I've realized that a massive problem to others is tiny to me in comparison to the experiences I've had. It's a gift and a curse I guess. One of my favorite psalms says,
Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
This is something that I have a huge testimony of. Learn to love the law, and you will feel peace and learn to not be offended, and you will grow. I think the most important discipline is emotional discipline. It allows you to develop every other aspect of your life unfettered by anger, jealousy, or hopelessness. When feelings are hurt, there is no consistent remedy, nothing an outside force can do to make it better. Apologies are nice, but soothing a bruised heart is almost impossible. Ultimately, it requires the offended person to let go of those feelings. Holding grudges is a burden. It does nothing good for you. I'm working on not judging people too early. I think it's important to assume everyone you interact with knows something you don't that is of value. Most of the time you're probably wrong, but it increases the value of your interactions as you choose to listen to them and treat them the way the Savior did. I love the scriptural phrase, "the condescension of God." Jesus' most impressive attribute to me is long-suffering. To have such power and yet still choose to live a mortal life and exercise restraint from all those who crucified Him is incomprehensible to me. In order to create a successful relationship, I think both persons need to either voice their feelings or forgive them that know not what they are doing. Choose to not be offended and you will be blessed eternally. I love you guys!
-Elder Dahl
1. Bishop's wife after my haircut
2. Haircut
3. Jeffrey repping the Y
4-5. Tire shenanigans
6-7. Mai's baptism
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