Begin With the End in Mind

Good Morning!

Our referrals are actually working out! We have a lot to work with, but this last week that work began to pay off. We picked up 5 new friends, all from members in the area who had previous knowledge of the individuals. They are doing well, we have high hopes for them! We also had a baptism on Saturday, Jason has been through a number of missionaries, but Elder Bailey and I turned the family around and Jason was finally ready for baptism! His father's heart was softened, which is a wonderful miracle as he's been a struggle to work with in the past. We'll also be teaching his younger sister this week, so we're going to keep the family's momentum moving forward!

Transfers are around the corner, it'll be a relief to actually survive a transfer out here! I'm ready for the experience, and have my suspicions, but I know I'll work with whatever happens. But I'd be astonished if I left Washington, so I'm ready for the next 6 weeks!

The Washington Stake had their Stake Conference this past weekend, and it was a really good one. Almost as good as the one back in the Tyler Stake! Stake President Carnavale had some wonderful thoughts in the adult session. He had the opportunity to tour a factory that manufactured diamonds, and shared a comparison on diamonds in relation to us as individuals. He described how coming to Earth and facing the pressure in this life would prepare, strengthen, and transform us into Celestial diamonds!

Earlier in the week I'd had a thought, and felt prompted to write it down. The thought was to 'begin with the end in mind'. This admittedly confused me, but I hadn't settled on a theme for my weekly email, so I trusted the prompting. It is startling how well this coincides with the one about diamonds. If we view mortality as our time to endure pressure and enjoy eventual glory, it becomes so much more manageable!

In the training program new missionaries go through here, we listen to some podcasts meant specifically for missionaries. The following thought was expressed:

"It is not failure if you do what is right, honor your covenants, and press forward, but don't receive awe inspiring experiences. It is normal!"

The idea expressed is to not belittle yourself when your spiritual growth doesn't "keep up with the Jones'." Growth is individual, and as long as you strive for the 1% better that is what matters! We are here to become diamonds, to endure the furnace and the forge, and to overcome the challenges we face. It's such a blessing that we have our Savior, and the Atonement, to make all this possible!

One of Elder Bailey's responsibilities is to house departing missionaries. Some local Elders were headed to their original assignment, so they stayed the night at our apartment. To be clear, missionaries aren't perfect. The goal is to become a sanctified, consecrated missionary. But a missionary should have a noticeable Spirit around them, especially when they enter a room. It comes as you honor the calling you've received. 

To place it simply, when these Elders stepped inside, it didn't feel like a missionary had just entered the room. 

Again, missionaries aren't perfect. But the difference in the Spirit, and how they talked about missionary things, was noticeable, at least to me. They're not bad Elders, and I know almost nothing about them, but I know something felt off. 

Becoming a consecrated missionary is the goal, the aspiration, the journey, the everything a missionary should strive for. And after serving with Elder Bailey for 5 weeks and seeing what that journey should look like, I could immediately recognize the difference in another. And if I, having no prior knowledge of these Elders, could sense that difference, what would a member see? It's the same scenario. 

This has become a motivation for me to continue my efforts to consecrate my service in God's vineyard. I'm here to harvest souls, and bring them one step forward on the covenant path of life. I'm here to help people see that they are diamonds in the making, with divine potential!

We are all children of God with divine potential. That is divine truth. Personally, my goal is to become a fully consecrated missionary. To be obedient, teach by the Spirit, and become a constant witness of Jesus Christ, regardless of my company. 

My challenge to you is to faithfully pursue God. Continue doing what you know is right, and focus on the little, daily spiritual witnesses of God's love. Begin life's journey, life's pressures, with that diamond-like destiny at the front of your mind. It will bring miracles!

Remember you are not a failure for doing your best. You are full of divine worth. Even though something isn't going right in life, you can be supported. I listened to nine different speakers share their own experiences of overcoming trials. I witnessed every single person in the Washington Stake raise their hand after the Stake President asked who had felt alone, overcome, or helpless when faced with a trial. 

But most importantly, I've met individuals brighten their lives as they stepped closer to God. I've listened to so many different stories of people work their way through a life changing, discouraging experience. And I've done the same. We're in God's hands, if we follow His will. Anything is possible with our Savior. 

If you walk life with the end in mind, you'll find yourself growing. Try it out, learn how God sees you. It'll change your life. 

- Elder Williams

Mailing Address:

881 South River Road

St. George, Utah 84790

Pictures:

1. The parking space behind our building was redone. It's been dust for years, but the long awaited asphalt construction (over a year, seriously!) finally began!

2. Beautiful scenery!

3. Another angle.

4. Yeah, this day was beautiful. 

5. After pt. 1

6. After pt. 2

7. I think it's a sheep . . . It's awesome!

8. Sunday evening was also wonderful weather!

9. The baptism photo!