What is Truth?

This week was fun, Thanksgiving made it fast. This transfer is flying by. We're not teaching a ton, but there are a few people willing to meet with us. We're gearing up for Christmas. We have a new message we're sharing with members that focuses on how to participate both in lighting the world and in our mission program called star of the north. Unfortunately, since the last elders to serve here hit a deer, we finally had to turn in our car to get it fixed. It sounds like we will be out of a car for a couple weeks, which is really tough. We have a large area, and even if we want to stay local, it's getting really cold which makes walking difficult. I'm hoping for a ram in the thicket. I had exchanges with Elder Kralick, which was wonderful. We were apparently at BYU at the same time but never knew each other. It's always fun to meet new missionaries. The holidays are a pretty fun time. It's interesting to be in Wisconsin and Minnesota and see people get excited for Christmas and be happier and more outgoing while simultaneously, the arctic chill settles in. I guess it's not that big a deal for them, but I definitely find myself wondering how people can want to do anything outside when it's so cold.

I've been studying the concept of truth this week. Does objective truth exist? Outside of our perceptions? Can we ever really know truth? How do we come to know what we know? Lots of questions for sure. Elder Uchtdorf says, 

Now, never in the history of the world have we had easier access to more information—some of it true, some of it false, and much of it partially true.

Consequently, never in the history of the world has it been more important to learn how to correctly discern between truth and error.

Part of our problem in the quest for truth is that human wisdom has disappointed us so often. We have so many examples of things that mankind once “knew” were true but have since been proven false.

For example, in spite of one-time over­whelming consensus, the earth isn’t flat. The stars don’t revolve around the earth. Eating a tomato will not cause instant death. And, of course, man actually can fly—even break the sound barrier. . . .

Part of the reason for poor judgment comes from the tendency of mankind to blur the line between belief and truth. We too often confuse belief with truth, thinking that because something makes sense or is convenient, it must be true. Conversely, we sometimes don’t believe truth or reject it—because it would require us to change or admit that we were wrong. Often, truth is rejected because it doesn’t appear to be consistent with previous experiences.

When the opinions or “truths” of others contradict our own, instead of considering the possibility that there could be information that might be helpful and augment or complement what we know, we often jump to conclusions or make assumptions that the other person is misinformed, mentally challenged, or even intentionally trying to deceive.

Unfortunately, this tendency can spread to all areas of our lives—from sports to family relationships and from religion to politics.

Profound stuff. Let me know how you come to know truth! I love you guys! 

-Elder Dahl

He First Loved Us

This week I attended the temple. I was pretty humbled by just how unique an experience it is to worship God in his house. To really be removed from the things of this world and seek for a better. I really tried to focus on how I felt. Not what I was experiencing externally but really seeking to know what the Lord would have me do. There was a mirror with a smudge on it and as I looked at this mirror, I found that as soon as I saw the tiny smudge, I was unable to see anything else. No longer was my reflection visible. I think I've often had a quite myopic view of my life, that the smudges mar the rest of my mortal painting. And they do-- my weaknesses and defects are definitely prevalent, yet I'm beginning to understand that in eternity nothing will be left unchanged. That the person I am now or the person I'll be in fifty years will just be iterations along a path of eternal shaping. I believe that. I think one of the most amazing things about mankind is that they seem to resist the entropy of the universe. It seems that human beings have the potential to become better people over the course of their lives. To be more organized, more disciplined, more intelligent. We learn from failure on an individual scale at least. I think the single greatest evidence of the creator is that life somehow is manifest in the mortal plane from nothing. One second there were no living things and then there were. And with all of our discoveries, we still have yet to replicate that. We can preserve life, cultivate it, and multiply it. But we cannot take things that are dead and make them live. That is God's business and requires His power. Keep your covenants, seek truth and recognize that you are a child of God! I love you guys! 

Tender Mercy

Transfers brought me to Menomonie in Wisconsin. To quote a Facebook comment, "Menomonie Wisconsin?😲😲😲😲😲They really put you in the “Belly of the Beast.” The only possible worse place would be either Green Bay or Madison. It’s a hard drinking town. It’s good you have a “alligator hide." You’re going to need it! Good luck"

I love it here though, haha. Elder Rasmussen and I have one of the nicest apartments in the mission, except for the fact that we have no gym or garage parking. I'm driving this transfer and the snow is already coming down. Lots of learning for me. University of Wisconsin-Stout is about a 2 minute drive from where we live, so we have so many opportunities to street contact there. It's been incredible. We cover a branch that's been pretty rough in the past. President wants us to heal member relationships and get results. I'm not sure why he thinks I'm the one for the job; I'm pretty polarizing out here, but I'm giving it my best effort. We're going to the temple tomorrow for zone conference, so I'm super excited for that. I got to speak yesterday in our branch, I spoke about how I came to find faith in Jesus Christ. It went well-- it was pretty great to bear my testimony to all the members on my first Sunday. Elder Rasmussen and I have been having a blast-- it's so much fun to be with a companion who's similar to me. It's been a tender mercy. I don't have a ton of time, but I love you guys!