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

And the Eyes of Them Both Were Opened

This week was great, I got a cold on Friday, but three of our friends came to church! Our friend, Sean, who is preparing to be baptized, was able to attend a ward baptism after church as well. Sean is awesome to teach. He's a philosophy major so we get pretty deep. He thinks like me and is a big chess player as well. We have transfers coming up this week. I'm hoping elder Noreen and I will stay put; Mankato has been a huge blessing, and there's lots of work to be done. I'm getting bigger and wiser, loving being able to focus on magnifying the work instead of just learning it. My studies have been meaningful. I've been reading Joseph's Smiths journals a little bit, and they're pretty funny. Finishing up Jesus the Christ and The Book of Mormon again. I've become fascinated lately by the evidences of God. If God is the omnipotent organizer of the universe, the way he chooses to reveal himself within that framework is of note. One of these ways is the light of Christ, 

"Which light proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space— The light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed, even the power of God who sitteth upon his throne, who is in the bosom of eternity, who is in the midst of all things" (Doctrine and Covenants 88:12-13.)

If the light of Christ is within us, then all of a sudden we have a testable claim, because according to the scripture, the light of Christ serves a specific function. Elder Christofferson says:

"I think we would all agree that those who profess no religious belief can be, and often are, good, moral people. We would not agree, however, that this happens without divine influence. I am referring to the Light of Christ. The Savior declared, 'I am the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world.' Whether aware of it or not, every man, woman, and child of every belief, place, and time is imbued with the Light of Christ and therefore possesses the sense of right and wrong we often call conscience."

So God seems to choose to reveal himself to his children universally by giving them the inherent capacity to understand what is right. He doesn't necessarily aid people in choosing the right, unless they seek that aid, but instead, he gives the gift of knowledge-- knowledge of good and evil. 

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it became pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make her wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and also gave unto her husband with her, and he did eat (Moses 4:12.)

Eve desired to be wise and to be as God is. I wonder if that day in the garden as Adam and Eve became aware of morality, they also felt a sense of crushing ineptitude. Because they now know what is right and yet realize how difficult it will be act according to that knowledge. I wonder if the cherubim and flaming sword were necessary because Eve and Adam realized that any finite amount of time would be insufficient to become perfectly integrous to this godly knowledge they now possessed. As Adam and Eve begin their seemingly impossible journey, they become focused on obeying the light of Christ within them. They are obedient, 

And it came to pass that after I, the Lord God, had driven them out, that Adam began to till the earth, and to have dominion over all the beasts of the field, and to eat his bread by the sweat of his brow, as I the Lord had commanded him. And Eve, also, his wife, did labor with him. And Adam knew his wife, and she bare unto him sons and daughters, and they began to multiply and to replenish the earth (Moses 5:1).

Notably, there is no resentment towards God, no shaking of fists, only acceptance of their new reality and painstaking labor to do what the Lord commanded them. I think they quickly realize that their own efforts are insufficient. They have godlike knowledge, but no practical experience. They are terrified of committing evil, because they know the glory of God. I wonder if, in a moment of perceived inadequacy, they counsel together, and Adam says something like, "Eve, we can't go on like this. I want to do all that father asks, but it's too much for me. We have many children, I've never been a parent, and I am separated from my own father. Cain is getting on my nerves, these thistles just keep growing, and the sheep stink." I wonder if Eve said, "We've been trying to do this on our own for many years, and we're learning, but our efforts our woefully insufficient. We need His help." Then, in the depths of humility mixed with desperation, Adam and Eve called upon the name of the Lord, 

and they heard the voice of the Lord from the way toward the Garden of Eden, speaking unto them, and they saw him not; for they were shut out from his presence. And he gave unto them commandments, that they should worship the Lord their God, and should offer the firstlings of their flocks, for an offering unto the Lord. And Adam was obedient unto the commandments of the Lord (Moses 5:4-5.)

I wonder if God said something like "Hey Adam, you're doing better than expected actually, but why did you wait so long to reach out to me? Know ye not that 'I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent?'" (Doctrine and Covenants 19:16.)

And Adam may have responded, "I thought I could do it on my own, but now I know I cannot. Will you teach me? Teach me how to live in harmony with this knowledge of good and evil."

And then God gives Adam commandments. Fascinating. God grants mankind knowledge, then when they finally turn to him, his second gift is commandments. And presumably those commandments make Adam's life easier! He begins to worship the Lord and offer sacrifice, and as a result, an angel appears and delivers a third gift, knowledge of the Savior. Followed quickly by a fourth gift, the Holy Ghost.

This is a long-winded analysis with much more to dissect. But I believe our mortal experience isn't altogether different from our first parents. As a missionary, I've felt like Adam many times but I've also been richly blessed to represent God. He has given everyone the knowledge of good and evil-- the light of Christ. I have been so blessed to be the means by which those that hearken to that knowledge obtain the commandments of God. I've helped people come to a knowledge of their Savior and to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. It is a joyous process. I love Him! And I love you guys! 

-Elder Dahl

It Must Needs Be

This week was good! We had winter storm Olive come through town but it was mostly underwhelming. We got about 8 inches of snow, but we had to hole up for two days. It was pretty difficult to do missionary work, but technology is a blessing. Grateful for the gym in our apartment. We had some great lessons this week. We're teaching a student at Minnesota State here named Shawn. He calls himself an atheist, but he's really agnostic. We had a great lesson about faith, really diving deep into Alma 32. 

26 Now, as I said concerning faith—that it was not a perfect knowledge—even so it is with my words. Ye cannot know of their surety at first, unto perfection, any more than faith is a perfect knowledge.

27 But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.

Faith is an experiment; it is the principle that motivates us to act. We helped him see that he exercises faith all the time, that going to work is an act of faith. That choosing to attend a university is an act of faith, and that being willing to meet with us requires faith. He desires to believe whatever is true, and he will give place for a portion of our words. 

Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.

We taught how reading the Book of Mormon is the best way to test if our message is a good seed. We testified that we had both experienced the Book of Mormon enlarging our souls and enlightening our minds and beginning to be delicious to us. We discussed how the Spirit often feels just like that. I feel it most in pure flowing intelligence that enlightens and enlarges. We discussed how the fruit doesn't come until the plant has sprouted and reached maturity. That conversion is often a long process. It's been that way for me. But I've been surprised at how the gospel has become delicious to me. It wasn't always that way, but on my mission I've been humbled by the gift of knowledge I've been given. I'm so grateful for ward members who serve tirelessly, who look to magnify their callings, and for youth who are willing to rise to new challenges and opportunities. I'm in awe of all the miracles the Church produces every day. Faith in Jesus Christ is the first principle of the gospel, and I believe that that means you choose to live your life in a way that would be no different than if you had a perfect knowledge of Him. I think that's attainable-- I've seen so many people with that unyielding faith. It's been a marvelous strength to me. These individuals' faith produces miracles constantly. I want to always have faith like that-- to be focused on living the Savior's way. I love Him and come to know Him better each day. I love you guys! 

-Elder Dahl

Rough Stone Rolling

Transfers this week brought me to Mankato, with another really nice apartment, nicer in my opinion because of the gym and underground parking. We ward share with another companionship of elders who live in much more humble circumstances, but I guess it's just like the parable of the talents ;). I'm just kidding, they're great elders. One of them is actually committed to play BYU football in 2024, so I've been giving him fitness tips on how to achieve peak performance while on the mission. My companion's name is Elder Noreen and he came out with me, so it's been a blast. He's a pretty talented pianist, so he's been teaching me a little. He's from Dayton, Idaho and used to milk cows for like 6 bucks an hour. Then they got machines to do it, so he was out of a job. Robots really are taking over the world. I finished the old teachings of the prophets manual for Joseph Smith this week. One of the best chapters is at the end, where it shares the testimonies of his contemporaries. Here are a few,

 

“Such was our confidence in [Joseph Smith] as a Prophet, that when he said, ‘Thus saith the Lord,’ we were confident it would be as he said; and the more we tried it, the more confidence we had, for we never found his word to fail in a single instance.”

- Alexander McRae

President Joseph Smith was in person tall and well built, strong and active; of a light complexion, light hair, blue eyes, very little beard, and of an expression peculiar to himself. … His countenance was ever mild, affable, beaming with intelligence and benevolence; mingled with a look of interest and an unconscious smile, or cheerfulness, and entirely free from all restraint or affectation of gravity; and there was something connected with the serene and steady penetrating glance of his eye, as if he would penetrate the deepest abyss of the human heart, gaze into eternity, penetrate the heavens, and comprehend all worlds. He possessed a noble boldness and independence of character; his manner was easy and familiar; his rebuke terrible as the lion; his benevolence unbounded as the ocean; his intelligence universal.”

- Parley P. Pratt

"The love the saints had for him was inexpressible. They would willingly have laid down their lives for him. If he was to talk, every task would be laid aside that they might listen to his words. He was not an ordinary man. Saints and sinners alike felt and recognized a power and influence which he carried with him. It was impossible to meet him and not be impressed by the strength of his personality and influence.”

- Mary Lambert

Pretty powerful stuff. I've studied Joseph probably more than anything else on my mission. I know he's a prophet. If you don't know yet, I would invite you to figure it out ;). it's a wonderful ride. I'm happy, healthy, and grateful to be a missionary. I miss all of you a lot though! Love you guys!

 
-Elder Dahl

The Burden of Agency

This week was good, kinda slow as the transfer wraps up. I've been studying agency this week. There's a great talk by Elder Christofferson where he discusses how agency requires objective truth to have any function: 

To those who believe anything or everything could be true, the declaration of objective, fixed, and universal truth feels like coercion—“I shouldn’t be forced to believe something is true that I don’t like.” But that does not change reality. Resenting the law of gravity won’t keep a person from falling if he steps off a cliff. The same is true for eternal law and justice. Freedom comes not from resisting it but from applying it. That is fundamental to God’s own power. If it were not for the reality of fixed and immutable truths, the gift of agency would be meaningless since we would never be able to foresee and intend the consequences of our actions. As Lehi expressed it: “If ye shall say there is no law, ye shall also say there is no sin. If ye shall say there is no sin, ye shall also say there is no righteousness. And if there be no righteousness there be no happiness. And if there be no righteousness nor happiness there be no punishment nor misery. And if these things are not there is no God. And if there is no God we are not, neither the earth; for there could have been no creation of things, neither to act nor to be acted upon; wherefore, all things must have vanished away.”

He says that because we have agency, and because immutable laws exist, we are "able to foresee and intend the consequences of our actions."

That's the gift of agency. So when we don't intend a consequence, we have given up our agency. Agency is the ultimate leveler-- those that master it get everything they want. Those that don't, become subject to the whims of those that do. Interestingly, within the restored church of Jesus Christ we are taught to use our agency to lift those who have limited theirs. We fast and we serve and we lift the brokenhearted. 

"[B]ehold, ye are free; ye are permitted to act for yourselves; for behold, God hath given unto you a knowledge and he hath made you free" (Helaman 14:30.)

Freedom is a pretty scary thing. It requires accountability. It means we cannot claim external interference. It's up to us. I've taught a lot of people on my mission who believe that things are up to their spouse or their employer or God. They say things like, "if I'm supposed to join your church, God will make it happen."

They believe that God is a benevolent captor not a loving freedom-giving Heavenly Father. I think I've felt this way at times. My life has changed as I've heeded the prophet's advice to "find out who God is and how he works." As daunting of the task mortality is, I've come to realize that I wouldn't have it any other way. His plan is perfect, and he is divine. I love Him and you guys! 

-Elder Dahl

The Desire to Believe

We had zone conference this week. The second one of the transfer in order to get them back on schedule. It was really fun to see everyone and learn from President and Sister Richardson. They are awesome and help me become better. I'm so grateful for their long suffering. Being a mission president is probably the hardest calling in the Church. We learned a lot about how discipleship is changing us to fit God's kingdom and not changing the Church to fit us. That takes a lot of humility and self-awareness. I've been trying to make sure my teaching is structured in that same way-- that I'm giving people the tools they need to become enlarged and not trying to lower the requirements that God has for them. I've been pretty reflective lately. I have a bunch of flashbacks to moments on my mission and they feel like they happened forever ago. 

I've been studying the destination recently. What will the next life be like? What are we aiming to become in that life and in this? Beginning with the end in mind and all that. I've gained so much appreciation for those people that are striving-- that get up again and again even when they have every reason not to. I want to be more like that. I think heaven will be everything we hope for and a lot more. The scriptures say that those who inhabit heaven are those who "shall overcome all things." Interesting future tense-- not those who have overcome all things in mortality but those who, when their capacity is enlarged, will. It seems to me that all that you need to overcome something is the desire to do so and time and resources. As we extend into eternity, presumably our time and resources will be infinite. So all we personally need is the desire. Alma illustrates this:

But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.

It seems that a desire to believe ultimately manifests in belief. What a gift then that God has given us the desire to grow and improve. All we have to do is not quench it. We have to desire to be perfect even as He is. To live as he lives and do as He does. Hence why we are told we will be judged by the desires of our hearts. My favorite scripture reads:

I ought not to harrow up in my desires the firm decree of a just God, for I know that he granteth unto men according to their desire, whether it be unto death or unto life; yea, I know that he allotteth unto men, yea, decreeth unto them decrees which are unalterable, according to their wills, whether they be unto salvation or unto destruction.

You're going to get what you want! Just make sure you know what you should want. ;)

Love you guys! 

The Quickened Spirit

The holidays are so much fun, it's nice to be able to celebrate a little bit. We bought a bunch of appetizers for new years so we've been eating pretty unhealthy into the new year. It's pretty surreal to think that my mission is ending. Transfers feel short and time goes by so fast. I've been trying to map out what more I want to accomplish before I go home. I've had such wonderful experiences here, and I'm so grateful that I chose to serve a mission. 

I'm excited to study the New Testament this year!

"Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you" (John 6:53.)

This is just one example of how bold and radical Christ's teachings were. In the sermon on the mount, Christ mostly teaches a satisfying return to the purpose of the law, a massively popular shift from pharasaical interpretations. Then as his audience grows, he introduces teachings that led his disciples to say, "This is an hard saying; who can hear it?" 

He tells the people that have long held the belief that they are chosen and held in favor by the one true God that no one is saved but through him. This is earthshaking! These teachings became so hard that from "that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him" (John 6:66.)

This phenomena is not isolated-- Joseph Smith mirrors this same pattern, as well as president Nelson today. We all can accept truths as divine as long as they resonate with what we already think, but followers of Christ are made in the act of accepting what is sometimes hard to swallow. Anyways, follow the prophet, even when it's hard. He has the words of eternal life for our day. Love you guys!