He Is Risen

This week was good! We've been trying some more creative street contacting approaches. Nobody is really outside because the temperature is in the high 30s still. So we've been asking businesses if it's OK for us to proselytize on the premises or leave some literature. Most people aren't OK with the preaching, but they'll take a pamphlet, which is cool. I want to start holding street meetings where we stand on a box and preach but my companion isn't quite comfortable with that yet ;). We've been meeting with a few inactive or part member families. It's pretty tough for me. Sometimes they'll sign up to feed us, and I have no clue what they are wanting from us. I want to just ask people point blank why they're not coming to church or why they aren't baptized. It's hard to be a missionary covering a whole ward because I only have maybe 2 or 3 interactions with families. My first visit I'm just trying to build trust enough to get them to open up. It's a hard balance-- let me know if you have any advice. One of the most amazing things about being a member of the restored church is how high our knowledge of the Gospel is because of restored truths. I remember growing up and just assuming everyone understood the role of Gethsemane in the atonement. I realized pretty quickly that my understanding of the atonement was predicated mostly on teachings and not on the scriptures. It is so critical to close the gap from what we know and where it comes from. Not only do we share the good news that Jesus lives, but we understand what that enables us to do. The greatest truth restored is that God is our father! The purpose of this mortal sphere is to become like Him. I love you guys! 

-Elder Dahl

The Road Less Traveled

I got transferred this week to Apple Valley, it's pretty famous as being the only area in the mission with a Costa Vida. The ward is chill but not quite as amazing as Elk River. I'm still meeting people though. My new companion is Elder Blanco from Hawaii. He is a living testimony that everyone should go on a mission. It doesn't matter what you've done, get worthy and go! I always thought that growing up in Hawaii would be a dream, but we've talked a lot about how hard it is to make it there. All the wealthy people are mainlanders who have come and started businesses, usually in tourism. Because of so much outside money, it's almost impossible to change social classes if you stay on the island. 

I feel like that same principle applies to your testimony. It is very difficult to create significant change in either direction when you are stuck in the same environment. You may start out in middle class, but when your environment changes, it is likely you will either become spiritually stronger or weaker. The opportunity of a mission is the opportunity to develop your testimony into something strong enough to withstand the strongest winds. I think that is one of the reasons why we have transfers and new companions-- to keep putting yourself in new situations that give you the chance to grow. The mission is special because there is hopefully an expectation to grow. You can go to college and have the desire to grow, but you don't have nearly as much support or structure. It's like having a personal trainer vs a gym membership. The hardest part of being a missionary is going home. Going back to that old environment and testing your growth. Elder Blanco told me about when he went home after being at college. His friends were still doing the exact same things. They work at their jobs, and then go fishing and surfing. It's so tempting to fall into familiarity and cease progressing. I'm grateful I've had such formative experiences here. I love the gospel and the covenants I've made. I love you guys! Keep progressing!

-Elder Dahl

Like a Fire is Burning

This week Jacob got baptized! So proud of him. I don't have very much time to write, but this was the last week before transfers. I think I'll probably leave, but hopefully I stay. I love it here. Thanks so much for all the birthday wishes! I'm grateful to have lived so long. My birthday is April 3 which is the day Elijah and Moses and Elias appeared and gave keys to Joseph and others, and the Kirtland temple was accepted by Jesus Christ after the spirit was poured out upon the saints at the dedication a few days earlier.  

Remember your families this week as we prepare for Easter! The turning of the hearts of the children to the fathers and the fathers to the children is right now! 

Love you guys! Happy Easter! He is risen! 

Hold to the Rod

What a week! So grateful for conference! Maybe it's just because I'm a missionary, but I felt like a lot of the talks were about missionary work. If you didn't watch conference please take time to do so. 

One of the larger themes I noticed was the discussion of Lehi's dream specifically as Nephi interprets the iron rod to be the word of God. In the dream there are numberless concourses of people pressing forward towards the tree of life, through a powerful mist of darkness. Their only reference point, a rod of iron. The vision states that "they did press forward through the mist of darkness, clinging to the rod of iron, even until they did come forth and partake of the fruit of the tree." And another group "continually holding fast to the rod of iron, until they came forth and fell down and partook of the fruit of the tree." I love the juxtaposition here. Some clung and then partook but others continually held fast and fell down and partook of the tree. Nephi, in praying to understand the vision, learns that the iron rod is the word of God. With this knowledge, the vision details that those who continually hold fast to their scripture study don't just end up partaking of the love of God, they fall down in awe of the gift it is because they have come to understand Him. Those that merely cling, however, taste the love of God and say, "huh, this is it?" And then "cast their eyes about as if they were ashamed." Why are they ashamed? Because they "know not the dealings of that God who has created them." Because they have a "form of godliness but deny the power thereof." This is scary stuff! These are the other five of the ten virgins who prepared their lamps but didn't have enough oil. They went through the motions but fell short of the goal. 

General conference is when we get to check in on how we view the word of God. Do we sleep through it? Or do we hold fast? What good is a prophet if we don't listen? It is so easy to be like those who "tasted of the fruit (and) they were ashamed, because of those that were scoffing at them; and they fell away into forbidden paths and were lost" (1 Nephi 8:28.) 

If you're not going to church, come back. If you aren't reading your scriptures, start. If you haven't watched conference, do it. There are no backup singers on the celestial stage. We learn that we will be judged according to our works and our desires. It is imperative to find out what your desires are and what you want them to be. If those are unified, wonderful! If they are not, be sure that you are taking steps to make them so! Otherwise, you deprive yourself of joy. The spiritual dissonance that occurs when the person we want to become is not the person that we're becoming is horrific. It is the cause of weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth. It is damnation. I've felt it, I've been there. Yet just as exquisite as my pain was the joy in realizing that I could change! That's the power of the atonement. That's the gospel of Jesus Christ. In order to avoid this, I urge you to choose this day. Asking deep probing questions of yourself and confirming them with the Lord is a great place to start. Learn what is required to obtain your goal and start working! I don't think there is much paid time off in the heavenly economy. I'm so grateful that I made the choice to change, and for the savior who allowed me to do so! I love you guys! 

-Elder Dahl