Poor in Spirit

We had transfers this week. I was pretty nervous that because I'd gotten along with elder Christensen so well, I was due for a more uncomfortable situation that would help me grow. I wrote to President and asked him to stay. I love the people here-- I finally feel like I'm able to be a force for good, in the members' lives and in the lives of those we're teaching. Our friend Ed is awesome. He's hopefully getting baptized the end of this month. I've never taught someone like him before. He's so earnest and humble-- he's willing to accept new ideas and see things in different ways. We haven't gone over the commandments yet, but I'm excited for him.

In the gospel of Luke, the Savior is recorded quoting Isaiah,

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

He then says,

This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

I've been thinking about this a lot. I guess since I believe the gospel is for everyone that as a missionary, I'm called to teach everyone. But the Savior, in announcing his messianic role, specifically states that he is to preach the gospel to the poor. Whether that be poor in spirit or in temporal things, I am beginning to understand it is an essential qualifier to making covenants with God. If you are unwilling to listen or act on a missionary's invitation, you will be unwilling to respond to the gentle tutelage of the Holy Ghost. Until you are stripped of pride, you cannot cast off the chains that are hindering your progression, because these changes can't be done by our own power. It's impossible! We need the Savior. He is the way, the truth, and the life. Unfortunately, as a missionary, I come across relatively few people who are poor in spirit. To those who aren't, I've decided my role is to love, and hopefully, over the process of time, they open their hearts. It's hard to see people who are so certain of something that they blind themselves. I'm grateful for the light and knowledge that I've received as I've diligently sought. I love the scriptures and more importantly, I love the prophets. Seek to do good! The world badly needs goodness. I love you guys!

-Elder Dahl