The Champion of Change

This week was pretty average. Our friend canceled a lot of our lessons. We found a new guy who believes in a false prophet but has similar theology but doesn't want to read The Book of Mormon. We had a friend who kinda dropped off text us and say he's 13 chapters into The Book of Mormon and wants to chat, so that was wonderful. We helped one of our friends preparing for baptism move to Chaska, so we won't be teaching her anymore. The elders quorum president was called to be the new bishop in the ward. We talked with our friend Sean who chose not to get baptized because he doesn't believe in God. He agreed that religion is the only thing that can really unite the world and yet doesn't want to pursue it right now. It was pretty sad. I feel like the prophet Jacob these days:

[The] time passed away with us, and also our lives passed away like as it were unto us a dream, we being a lonesome and a solemn people.

Time moves, the person I live with changes, the people I teach fluctuate. Being lonesome makes me recognize and value relationships so much more. I've come to appreciate that the only truly perpetual relationship we can have is with God. And how valuable that relationship can be! And yet often for me it is neglected. It seems to be the last resort. When I'm close to no one, I'm closest to God. It gives me a little envy for the prophet Moroni, traveling alone in the wilderness for years as he finishes up the book of Mormon. Being ministered to by the disciples of Christ. I wonder how Paul coped as he began to see the church fall into apostasy and his friends and followers fall away.

O then despise not, and wonder not, but hearken unto the words of the Lord, and ask the Father in the name of Jesus for what things soever ye shall stand in need. Doubt not, but be believing, and begin as in times of old, and come unto the Lord with all your heart, and work out your own salvation with fear and trembling before him (Mormon 9:27.)

The burden really is on the individual. Eventually, there comes a time where we all must choose. I think mortality is set up that way by design. And the longer we wait, the harder it seems to become. Yet giving all your heart is no easy task. Even though we seem to be among the most dynamic creatures on earth, we still abhor change. The desire to improve without actually doing so is such a common experience. I think of President Nelson's statement:

The truth is that it is much more exhausting to seek happiness where you can never find it! However, when you yoke yourself to Jesus Christ and do the spiritual work required to overcome the world, He, and He alone, does have the power to lift you above the pull of this world.

It is exhausting to not be taking steps to overcome the world. To see yourself becoming worse, and more miserable. Yet oftentimes we continue to sink into the quicksand because it's effortless. We forget that positive change can only occur because of and with the help of Jesus Christ. He is the champion of change, of starting again and of overcoming this fallen world. The answer is to increase the significance of the Savior in your life. The hope is real, the peace is promised, and it's all because of Him. I love Him and oh, how I need Him.

-Elder Dahl

I Will Bless Thee Forever

These past few weeks were good. We had zone conference and set 2 people on date. President talked about how important it is to give people all the information they need to succeed. That we should assume ignorance vs. wilful rebellion. He talked about how agency is the ultimate principle in the father's plan and how we can only advocate for the correct use of it, not mandate it. It felt kind of like Nephi preaching from the garden tower: 

O repent ye, repent ye! Why will ye die? Turn ye, turn ye unto the Lord your God (Helaman 7:17.)

How telling it is that we all know what is right, and yet we all seem to fall short in doing it. In speaking to those people, Nephi chooses to bear his testimony:

Behold now, I do not say that these things shall be, of myself, because it is not of myself that I know these things; but behold, I know that these things are true because the Lord God has made them known unto me, therefore I testify that they shall be (Helaman 7:29.)

He appeals to a higher authority. Even though his words make the people angry, he feels compelled to speak them because they are true. Then, after consistently crying repentance and prophesying the murder of the chief judge, God rewards Nephi:

4 Blessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which thou hast done; for I have beheld how thou hast with unwearyingness declared the word, which I have given unto thee, unto this people. And thou hast not feared them, and hast not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will, and to keep my commandments.

5 And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold, I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will.

6 Behold, thou art Nephi, and I am God. Behold, I declare it unto thee in the presence of mine angels, that ye shall have power over this people, and shall smite the earth with famine, and with pestilence, and destruction, according to the wickedness of this people.

7 Behold, I give unto you power, that whatsoever ye shall seal on earth shall be sealed in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven; and thus shall ye have power among this people.

8 And thus, if ye shall say unto this temple it shall be rent in twain, it shall be done.

9 And if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou cast down and become smooth, it shall be done.

10 And behold, if ye shall say that God shall smite this people, it shall come to pass.

Nephi qualified for this incredible power by declaring the word, not fearing the people and not seeking his own life, but instead seeking God's will and keeping his commandments. He has been persecuted and reviled and cast into prison multiple times. But after receiving godlike power, the first thing he does is intercede on behalf of the people: 

4 O Lord, do not suffer that this people shall be destroyed by the sword; but O Lord, rather let there be a famine in the land, to stir them up in remembrance of the Lord their God, and perhaps they will repent and turn unto thee.

5 And so it was done, according to the words of Nephi (Helaman 11:4-5.)

That's the character of Christ. That's what it's all about. Forgive them for they know not what they do. The ability to love your enemies and pray for them that despitefully use and persecute you. Those who say let us go one more time into the Vineyard and see if there is anything we can do. Powerful stuff. Hoping to get there one day. I love you guys! 

-Elder Dahl