Chapter 61: Everything In Its Right Place

 I'm only half referencing Radiohead with that title. 😆

Good day! For as packed a week as it’s been, I’m surprised to find myself at a loss for cohesive stories. A big handful of loose details is what I've got. The narrative details mostly consist of wrestling with technical difficulties—complete with a saga of appointments to correct them—and project deadlines beating me over the head. A couple of those caught me unaware on Thursday, so that was a yucky day.

Lessons with Vanessa and her daughter continue to be awesome! They both seemed to grasp the concept of the priesthood pretty well in our last lesson, even when we threw a wrench in by differentiating between the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthood. We also had an impactful discussion on the importance of prayer and scripture study, which was right up their alley. Vanessa is a prime example of praying without ceasing, always keeping a dialogue with God in her heart (1 Thessalonians 5:17, 3 Nephi 20:1).

I don't think I mentioned, we extended a soft baptismal invitation to them a couple weeks ago, and that went over very well! There was only one concern raised in that conversation, and its subject matter is perfect for them to seek personal revelation on, so I’m excited to see their journey in that. In the meantime, we're thinking at least Vanessa's daughter is ready to set a baptismal date, so we may be bringing that up soon.

As far as finding new people to teach goes, it has been UNREAL just how many ex-members we've been finding while knocking doors (and how scripted their responses sound, haha. ....though I suppose the same could be said for us too). I mean, I expected as much in this mission, but over the past couple times I've gone finding it's begun to feel like almost every time we get turned down (which is most of the time), that's the reason.

Speaking of the teaching side, transfers just happened! We lost Elder Siddoway to Riverton and Elder Castro has taken his place. It was fun getting to know him on Friday. This is his third transfer, so Elder Chatterley gets to greenie-break him.  

Elder Castro and Elder Chatterley

Back over to Salt Lake City stuff, I've got three things:

Thing one: I went to the top floor of the church office building to appease some vampires, if you catch my meaning. With the ominous ride up to floor 26, this was Salt Lake City's equivalent of Disneyland's Tower of Terror (may she rest in peace). Of course, Tower of Terror never gave me free mini Oreos afterward, so maybe this was superior.

Thing two: Preparing media and communications at the Global Services Department for when I suddenly vanish in a few months couldn't be more complicated. My head was positively spinning today.

Thing three: I made some exciting headway on a project relating to service missionary goal setting and planning and I can't wait to present it to the missionary department tomorrow. The stuff I get to be involved in won't come to fruition till long after I'm released, so I can only hope to lay a good foundation, but being a part of all this has been a privilege. It's entirely possible the things I'm working on could be completely revised or scrapped down the road, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that at least one fingerprint of mine shows in the end. Cuz tha'd be cool, right?!

With another Father's Day past us, I like to take a moment to express appreciation for my dad. Beyond being a model example to my family of a protector and provider, and for being a keystone of the gospel's presence in my family, he has been the primary teacher of work ethic, organization, and respect in my life. Wherever I thrive in those areas (and others), I have him to thank, and wherever I struggle in those areas, I shudder to think where I'd be without him. Love you Dad!

Let us conclude with a point of self-reflection I've been working on. I shall begin by spontaneously talking about The Chosen. Awesome TV series! Elder Galata, a district leader in my zone, actually had the chance to prepare the set for season 4 as a part of his service site. I've only seen the first season, and once I'm released I'm totally planning on diving back into it, but yesterday I happened to be in a nearby room as my parents watched an episode, so I was able to listen to some of the dialogue. I was struck by a scene of Christ contending with the Pharisees. It put that conflict in the New Testament on the forefront of my mind.

The Pharisees, like many over in the Book of Mormon, had a laser focus on the Law of Moses, even to the point of trampling the author of that law under their feet. They "look[ed] beyond the mark" (Jacob 4:14), and were thus blind to what was right before them—their own Creator, and a clear way to discern between right and wrong. I believe this pitfall was preserved in multiple books of scripture as a warning to all future generations, including us. We are just as susceptible to taking doctrine and skewing it by putting the focus in the wrong place.

The solution is both difficult and straightforward. A covenant relationship with Christ and a conviction to act in accordance with what He taught must be at the center of our lifestyle and intentions. Our principles, customs, and practices must be treated as appendages to that—branches extending from that trunk. Have a tree branch and tree trunk swap places and...well, let's just say yikes.

Do I treat the people around me as Christ would, and what can I do to represent Him a little better?

Do I do what I do for my sake, or for God's sake, and what does God want me to do next?

When was the last time I actively exercised faith in Christ, and how will I do so next?

When was the last time I sacrificed a sin for God, and how will I do so next?

Have I been true to the specific promises I've made with God, and what should I work on next?

When was the last time I discerned the Spirit, and how will I listen to Him more often moving forward?

It is these types of questions that further our discipleship. When other practices take priority over gaping needs in these areas, we see less clearly. Now, I'm not an advocate of cutting away all the branches to leave a bare trunk, any more than Christ was an advocate of doing away with the Sabbath day simply because it was being misused. Something does not need to be fundamental to our religion to be needed. Everything God and His messengers have offered us can be for our good, so long as we put them in their proper place.

God be with you,

Elder Tolman

Pictures:

Service project for the family of one of the missionaries in our zone!

Angler fish (one of many fine additions to my bulb light selfie collection)