Sanctify the Troubled Soul

Good Morning!

Elder Gibson has many talents I do not. He is amazing with children, a practicing chef, and can do a backflip. He was a gymnast for a number of years, and impresses children all the time! Together in this past week, we've done a few remarkable things. We had a baptism for someone the previous Elders had taught, we successfully contacted and met with all the people currently being taught, we've met almost every single Bishop, plus the Stake President, and we casually found four new people to teach on Sunday. There's something about Sunday where people are just more receptive, available, or something. It's amazing, I love Sundays so much!

Living in a basement apartment is cool, though a bit small. It's really not that bad, we just wish we had a stove/oven. But we make do! There are a few neighborhood friends I've seen; there's this cat that sprawls on the wall waiting for us to pet it. There's a robin who enjoys our backyard. I've also met a number of chickens here, and peacocks, quail, ducks, geese, small birds, big birds, goats, horses, longhorns, the list is way too long. I've heard rumors of local buffalo, I will find them. They can't hide forever! Oh and I rescued a bird from a pot. Like a little song bird, it was so cute! It trusted me enough to jump on my finger. See photo below for proof!

I drive in the companionship, La Verkin roads are pretty cool. We also cover Toquerville, it's a pretty linear town, and all the members are awesome. We also cover the Virgin River ward, which covers Springdale, which covers Zion . . . yeah. Three transfers in and I cover Zion National Park. It's no big deal! There was a farewell meeting for President and Sister Kaluhiokalani, they will be handing the role of Mission President over to President and Sister Staples, so I'll meet them this week Friday! They're going to be amazing, but it will be a bit sad to see President Kaluhiokalani leave. He's been great for the mission.

Elder Gibson and I get along quite well, though there is a difference in working style. We've done pretty good at working through those differences, and focusing on how we can strengthen each other's teaching style. It will take practice, but it's definitely workable. One Elder in the mission said we'd baptize nations! I don't know about nations, but maybe galaxies? I'll settle for a small town or two. Anything is possible to an Elder who believes in toasting pancakes . . . Elder Gibson might have converted me to that reheating preference!

Part of me is working to prove my capabilities to myself. Without a companion like Elder Bailey, who was always pushing to find someone new, and ensure the Spirit was present in the companionship, I've had to fill that role myself. Since this area used to have the Zone Leaders, we know there's potential. We just have to keep working. Part of me was going to be disappointed if we didn't find anyone to teach this week, despite white washing in, because I want to give my trainer some confidence in his new missionary. So I'm really relieved we found those four people! It was a blessing I'd been praying for the past few days.

Bishop Blair, one of the local Bishops, has a son who returned home from Argentina this past Tuesday. When we met him and his family, I asked returned Elder Blair what he felt a new missionary should know early on in their mission. He shared the following:

If not you, then who?

If not now, then when?

I really love this, because if you won't do it now, who else will do it, and how long until that actually happens? We are given promptings and ideas for a reason - to follow them! I heard recently that if you follow your first thought to do good, ninety percent of the time it'll be the Spirit, and you'll be acting on that prompting! I'd say those are pretty good odds, so why not act? But I'll admit, it's a struggle to always recognize the Spirit, and understand how it speaks to us.

Taiji, one of the people we're teaching, has been growing the Light of Christ within himself for his entire life! Everyone who knows him says he's such a kind, helpful, polite and respectful person. He's also very smart, and loves learning and logic. It was interesting to teach him how to recognize the Spirit, especially because it's something he's felt his whole life, but hasn't attributed to God. He never fully attributes a good feeling to God, just that it could have been God. He already knows all the information about the church, his member fellowshippers made sure of that, but he wants to understand, rather than just know.

I relate to that idea a lot. I love knowing things, but the harder step for me is truly understanding them. Going from a testimony based on knowledge to a testimony based on feelings in the soul. I feel we taught Taiji fairly well, and he truly desires to learn. I felt the Spirit witness that he would gain the understanding he seeks for himself. This gives me hope and confidence that I can attain the same understanding in the many aspects of the gospel I need to strengthen. It's a fun process, and very intriguing to see some of my own attitudes reflected in one of our friends.

One of the families in the area, the Lundells, have worked with individuals struggling with addiction. We were sharing a lesson with them, which prompted them to share some of their insights on their work these past 30+ years. I'll relate one analogy here, mostly for future reference, but also because maybe it'll help you, or someone you know.

"Mountains and canyons are awe inspiring; they're so unique and full of life and beauty that you can't help but feel the sacred spirit they hold. However, those same mountains and canyons began as terrible wounds in the Earth, rough trials that lasted for thousands of years! We only see the finished product, where the animals and plants have returned, when the scar in the landscape becomes a wonder, rather than an eyesore or inconvenience.

We encounter trials in our own lives that are terrible, and disfigure one's body and soul in countless ways. But as you work through those trials, relying on Jesus Christ and his Atonement, those trials become scars. Then, your personality and inner goodness returns, turning those scars from eyesores and inconveniences to sacred events and beautiful additions to your mortal experience. You're left more beautiful than before. Even when the change takes seemingly forever, every mountain and canyon in the world eventually becomes a habitat for life. Those same mountains and canyons in your life have even greater potential.

Life isn't constant, but it can become sacred."

The Lundells worked with hundreds of rehab patients, and bore a powerful testimony of this experience. One thing I know is that everyone experiences trials in life. I hope this comparison helps you, or someone you know, just as it's helped many others.

This world really is beautiful. The mountains and canyons around La Verkin and the outskirts of Zion are breathtaking. It took them thousands of years to form, little by little. Nowadays those same landmarks draw in thousands of visitors each year, to admire the beauty they hold. Find the beauty in yourself, and see how you can sanctify your own soul through Jesus Christ. There's always room for improvement, seek it in your own life and check how your soul responds. You were born with the Light of Christ, to better recognize the good things of this world. So take a second and admire them, especially the ones from within.

Until next week! Maybe I'll have a different email theme too! You never know.

- Elder Williams

Mailing Address:

103 S 400 W

La Verkin, Utah, 84745

Pictures:

1. A view from our backyard . . . See the Facebook post for part 1!

2. I can't escape the chickens!

3. My new chicken friend!

4. Elder Gibson and I.

5. Mayla, the previous Elders, and us before the baptism!

6. Clouds make Utah better. They just do.