April 8, 2013

Missionary Slim plays " Sniper " with a young boy and makes his day. Is that really appropriate? (Week 61 in Pennsylvania, Week 2 in Somerset, PA)

This week has been oodles of fun. We've done some pretty crazy things, like always. Seriously, every day is an adventure when you are a missionary because you never know who will be behind whatever door you are knocking, or which investigator is going to ask what crazy question or what random person is going to stop you on the street to ask you to help them with their lives... or what funny instances happen on a day to day basis that just need to be written down.
 
We were walking down the street, trying to find someone. In Somerset there are a handful of highrise apartment complexes. As we were walking, I looked up to the balcony of one and saw a kid with a toy gun. He was up there, pointing his gun, taking careful aim, and then recoiling as if he just sniped somebody. I watched him for a few minutes as he "took out" cars, people, trees, whatnot. We got to the door we were looking for, knocked, and had no answer, so I decided I'd start playing Sniper. I get down in a tactical stance, holding my invisible "hand" gun (man, those tech guys are getting better every year!) and point it up at the kid, waiting for him to notice me. He does, eventually, and immediately points his "gun" at me, and recoils. I collapse. I lay there, for a moment, on the pavement and then look up. He is seriously freaking out. He can't believe what he just did. He ran into the apartment, grabbed his mom, and showed her his "kill." I waved and they both waved back. I feel I had done a good deed for the day, that is, if I didn't instill in this child the desire to go and snipe people with a REAL gun. Eh. I figure this just gets it out of them early on in life.
 
On a similar note, though, we were sent out by the Branch President to find a few members with some sketchy addresses. We went to one of them, pulled open the door of the apartment complex, and were met with this sight: a dark, damp stairwell. Several units for fluorescent light were installed along this stairway, but only one light-stick was on, and even then it only flickered. A rank stench filled the air. Garbage was strewn on either side of the stairway. If that wasn't enough, a very heavy silence was all we heard. With trepidation we walked up the steps, certain that at any moment, a reanimated corpse would burst out of a door or a psychopath would come running down the stairs. Each step brought a loud creak out of the stained floor beneath us. We eventually found our way to the apartment doors. The apartment we were looking for was around a corner, down a hall. The only escape was behind us - we were trapped! As we neared the door to the apartment we were looking for, we found it hanging open. I knocked. "HELLOOOOOOO!" No response. I stepped into the apartment. A few random items were strewn on the floor - a baby cradle, a plastic water bottle - but nothing of note. As I looked deeper into the apartment, I saw the refrigerator doors wide open, cupboards open, drawers open with nothing in any of them. I turned to my companion: "I don't think they live here." He heartily agreed, and we made our escape with our lives into the night. Seriously. That was honest-to-goodness how it happened. It was straight out of "I am Legend" or something...
 
We did have some more positive experiences, though. We knocked on someones door, and a wonderful woman opened it. She was sincerely interested, invited us in just to chat with her and her husband for a bit. They asked us about where we were from, about the Church, about the Book of Mormon. She did say "I'm interested in learning, but I don't want to convert." She also asked for a copy of the book, to which I warned her "If you read this book, I want you to know that you will not only learn, but you'll be converted." She took it anyway. (I'm not complaining!) They even invited us over for dinner right then and there! I've never had that happen my entire mission (and I could extrapolate that and say my entire life too). These people were pretty sincere and genuine too - they didn't want to convert us or change us from our ways. They just wanted to be hospitable and kind. Man, it's nice to meet people like that.
 
And, of course, General Conference. Man, it was amazing. As usual, I pulled out my study notebook and wrote copious notes. Before conference, I decided to ponder a few questions I wanted to have answered. Nothing too specific and too personal, just things that I wanted to get out of it. As usual, every question was answered, sometimes multiple times. Here goes the list.
 
First: How can I be a better disciple? Not just better missionary, but a better follower, a better learner. 
 
Dean M. Davies gave a good answer - do the little things. Like a building, our lives and our testimonies are built with materials, one brick, one tray of mortar at a time. He described these materials as prayer, scripture study, sacrament, and priesthood ordinances. 
 
Henry B. Eyring reiterated those first three (the Trifecta of Testimony, as I like to call them) as simple acts of obedience which we can use to draw near unto the Savior and abide with him. Also, he said we must serve. As we give of ourselves, the Spirit will be more present in our lives. Of course, the Prophet also gave excellent counsel on being obedient. Obedience is the Hallmark of the Prophets, as he put it. We learn truth from it, we serve God through it, and we protect ourselves by it. (Who can forget his story of his youth when he lit an entire field with a match?) Obedience is the mark of a true disciple.
 
Second: How can I prepare now to have a more happy and successful marriage and family? 
 
L. Whitney Clayton gave a marvelous talk: Watch and Learn he said. We can observe the good qualities of successful marriages. For example, the best kinds of marriages mean the world to the partners - the marriage itself is a Pearl of Great Price to those who are part of it. He, and others, also said that Christ must be a central part to the marriage and to the home. 
 
Richard G. Scott also talked about this, and asked the question "How do we center our homes on Christ?" Daily personal and family scripture study and prayers and weekly family home evening - the little things. Also, we must live like the Savior. Selfishness is the source of a great evil. We must live our lives outwards, and not inward, and help those in need. 
 
There was also a great theme of disconnecting from technology and reconnecting with those who love us.
 
I was very impressed with the example mentioned by at least two of the speakers: the Saints in West Africa. They are not concerned about material things. They have a little of what matters the least, but a lot of what matters the most. Boyd K. Packer also talked about how we need to apply the power of the Priesthood in our homes, and how all of us can become more worthy to receive and exercise the power of the Priesthood.
 
My final question was: How can I have more peace, joy, and love in my life?
 
Quentin L. Cook comes out and talks about that very thing: how we cannot have universal peace until the millennium, but we can have a very real personal peace now. He talks about how the doctrine we preach, the doctrine of Christ, is also a doctrine of peace. Peace comes through knowing our life is in line with the will of the Father by following that will. He taught about faith, repentance, and keeping covenants as sources of this peace. Ultimately, it comes through the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ. Craig A Cardon also mentioned the peace that comes through repentance and forgiveness, and how the mercy and compassion of the Lord can always carry us, even as we still make mistakes - we are not required to have immediate perfection, but to grow and develop into better selves. I might also mention an overall theme of peace in David A Bednar's talk on chastity, and the inner peace that comes from keeping this essential, divine law.
 
Dieter F. Uchtdorf talked about how as we walk in darkness, we can be filled with light. We start now, turn to the Lord, and walk in the light, which is his way. "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (although, secretly, I always say that scripture "the way, truth, and light" in my mind, because he is the "light and life of the world").
 
Bruce D. Porter gave an excellent talk on hope and optimism, and explained that even in darkness and adversity, the Lord will be with us. A beautiful morning lies ahead. The Spirit will always be there to guide us, and of course, Christ has already overcome it all. "In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."
 
The Church is true - there are prophets and apostles on the earth today. Isn't it wonderful?
 
Have a great week, all!
 
Love,
Elder Alex Anderson, AKA Missionary Slim

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