The Word of the Lord

This week Elder Moos got rear ended while I was gone on exchanges so that was unfortunate. I found the culprit's Facebook, and so hopefully we'll start teaching her soon. She was super interested in finding peace after she totaled her car and messed up our rear. Elder Moos got Covid pretty bad Friday so we've been quarantined since then. It's aight but kinda driving me crazy. Grateful for pday today. He's been too sick to work out so my body has been suffering as well. Disease is kind of the most powerful tool God has. Nobody thinks twice if someone just gets absolutely wiped out. We just chalk it up to something that's "going around." Really it's the ultimate smoke screen for God to punish those who displease Him. If you're feeling sick maybe think about what you can repent for! I'm just kidding... I've had lots of time to study so that's been awesome. The Book of Mormon really is a miracle, I love the Tad Callister quote where he says basically that the Book of Mormon will endure all mortal trials-- that critics can come up with whatever theories they want but they've been trying to disprove it for hundreds of years with zero success. I'm grateful for how firm a foundation it has given me. It's been almost laughable how ridiculous people are willing to become in order to manifest an alternate origin story than what Joseph claimed. I'm in utter awe of that great seer. He had an incomprehensibly massive impact on the world. The reverberations of his footsteps echo across this world in thousands of missionaries and millions of members who choose to lay aside the things of this world and seek for the things of a better. He came from nothing, from destitute poverty and cynical faith to become the conduit by which the fulness of the everlasting gospel was brought back to the earth in power and glory. There's a scripture that references Enoch's ability to overcome his weaknesses, that I often think applies to the prophet Joseph as well. 

Moses 7:13 And so great was the faith of Enoch that he led the people of God, and their enemies came to battle against them; and he spake the word of the Lord, and the earth trembled, and the mountains fled, even according to his command; and the rivers of water were turned out of their course; and the roar of the lions was heard out of the wilderness; and all nations feared greatly, so powerful was the word of Enoch, and so great was the power of the language which God had given him.

That is the prophet Joseph to me. His words and revelations have given 20 year old kids like me the power to make the earth tremble and the rivers turn from their course. At the beginning of my mission I struggled with having to apologize and defend another man's actions to people, but now I love to do so. The magnitude of man Joseph became in his 38 years is incredible. I hope I can become a fraction of what he is in 90. Love you guys! 

Elder Dahl

Choose to Be Chosen

Sorry for not writing last week, I had a reason, but I don't remember what it was haha. We had zone conference this week which was wonderful as always. President discoursed on Elder Bednar's talk on the marriage feast. He talked about the different groups of people in the story. In the parable, the king's son is getting married and the king invites the nobility to attend. They refuse. He sends more messengers and says, I've got a bunch of food and a great jester, please come! A few of them just make light of it, but the rest actually kill the messengers. The king is pretty upset so he sends forth his armies and murders them all. He then says, well I already got all this food ready, go and invite everyone you can find. The people who attend are given a wedding garment to wear but one of these refuses even though he is given the opportunity. Because of this, the ungrateful guest is bound hand and foot and cast into outer darkness. 

President first spoke about those that are bidden but would not come. These are they that are full of pride, that will not submit to authority and miss out on the blessings of the feast. Those that are given much opportunity but do not take advantage of it. They don't believe that the king has anything to offer them that's better than what they could come up themselves. The majority of the world is in this group, largely because of ignorance and lack of faith. 

Then he spoke about those that are called but not chosen. The man who was invited but refused to put on the garment. These people "cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man" (Doctrine and Covenants 121:37).

Ultimately, they want to replace God or the king. They know that in order to enter the feast, one must wear the garment, and yet they seek to obtain the blessing without obeying the law. 

The glorious truth of the parable is that we ultimately choose whether or not we will be chosen. 

"To be or to become chosen is not an exclusive status conferred upon us. Rather, you and I ultimately can choose to be chosen through the righteous exercise of our moral agency" (David A. Bednar).

Some people may not be given the opportunity as early as others, but all will receive it. For God is no respecter of persons, yet will always respect our agency. Interestingly, the man is cast into outer darkness where there is weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth. I think this response is not because of the judgment of the king, but because the man recognizes that if he had just submitted, he would have received all that he ever wanted. Knowledge so often brings sorrow. What's most intriguing to me about this parable is that I see myself in all three groups. I've been happier when I choose to be chosen, weeping and wailing is no fun, I promise. Love you guys! Choose to be chosen!

 

Lose Yourself

This week went by fast. I had an exchange with Elder Mitchell, which has led me to be pretty introspective all week. He and I came out together, and I've always had tons of respect for him. He is a different breed of missionary. I've never met anyone like him-- he is an excellent example of "True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior." I feel like my attitude has changed but not always my behavior. I still have reservations about just losing myself in the work. I've tried my whole mission to balance the mantle I have and the human I am. I'm not sure what the right approach is-- to find a balance or to give up everything that keeps you from the other. 

Luke 9:24-25

24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. 

25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?

The Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible adds some interesting commentary:

24 For whosoever will save his life, must be willing to lose it for my sake; and whosoever will be willing to lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

25 For what doth it profit a man if he gain the whole world, and yet he receive him not whom God hath ordained, and he lose his own soul, and he himself be a castaway?

Hence the introspection. Am I willing to lose my life? I feel like that sometimes. But most of the time, there's still a barrier; uncertainty, doubt, I'm not sure what to call it. I've been really focusing on trying to figure out what my offering is supposed to be to the Lord. I don't think it's a cookie cutter thing. I would assume the rich diversity of mankind would require distinct offerings. Elder Mitchell said, "God makes our weaknesses into strengths, mankind has the tendency to make strengths into weaknesses." I think that's true. I know I'm guilty of that. I've often heard the concept that whatever we want, doing God's will will be better, because he can make so much more of us than we can. If I really believed that, my actions would be different. I'm sure of it. So I'm going to experiment upon the word. I like to give God a shot to work miracles in my life;). I love you guys. Do what will bring you happiness this week.

-Elder Dahl

He is the Same

Transfers were this week. My new companion's name is Tytan Moos. Yes. He is everything you would imagine. It's pretty amazing to me how change gives me such a huge burst of spiritual momentum. That, coupled with conference has made things pretty great here. I hope you guys know that I believe and sustain the prophets. I really do. I believe that if we follow the prophet, we won't go astray. In fact, I would say we have never needed a prophet more than we do now. Without the restored gospel, there is nothing but confusion and darkness. We've struggled to get people to church all last transfer but we had a lot of our friends watch at least one session of conference. It was inspiring to me to see people who know next to nothing of our faith be so intrigued with what a modern day prophet would say. One of our friends watched the Sunday morning session and says he took six pages of notes. He also said it was a "pretty heavy dose of Mormonism." I think it's a pretty heavy dose of revelation. Revelation from God today, revelation through past prophets and hopefully a catalyst for revelation straight to you. I know it's always that way for me. I loved the prophet's words about rest. I think I wrote earlier in my mission about how much of a grind I felt it was. As the prophet spoke, I was struck at how restful being a missionary has become. I'm not tired, because I go to sleep on time every night. I'm somewhat extroverted, so interacting with more people gives me greater energy. I no longer desire to just sit and waste time. There are so many things I can learn from people and so many people that need me! It is incredible to be spearheading the great work of gathering Israel. I testify that the promises associated with this work of salvation are real and glorious. This is the work of almighty God. Not kinda mighty, but omnipotent. Nothing has changed-- He is the same. I don't know what more I can say. Life is good. I believe this stuff! Jesus is king. I love you guys! 

-Elder Dahl