The Season

It has begun!  Best season of the year to celebrate. So hence the Christmas ties come out and we enjoy them until after the new year. I don't have too many but I wear them every week now. 

On Saturday the Clark's finished packing up their first load to take west. Thanks much to Ty who went over every day for the past days to help them. Then Saturday I went over in between baptisms to help them push a 1968 Porsche onto the car carrier. See who is driving!  

I think they are sad to leave but at the same time they are ready. They have been here for a long time. 

This week I had a workshop type class for the whole team I work with. I had a facilitation team from Emerson St. Louis come and help to run the workshop. We were trying to get at deep seeded behaviors that were not conducive to getting the results we were looking for. The event went fairly well and we had the expected drama of closed mindedness, accusative acting etc. but in the end the team came out with 4-5 things to do differently that I had identified over a year ago. But it took us four days to get them to work through denial, downplay, and justification so they could get there themselves. Without that journey they would not have ever been willing to change. 

What I learned was amazing as far as human behavior is concerned. I was by design not an active participant. I watched, coached, and questioned. But it was very hard for me to sit back and let the journey unfold. Especially when they were stuck or going down paths I was not feeling would be helpful or productive. But as I watched and waited, slowly they emerged with ideas of their own creation that would lead to change. It was remarkable learning sitting back as a leader and patiently waiting on the results to emerge. A frustrating week with a roller coaster of emotions but good outcomes. 

I could draw tons of gospel parallels of this and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Amidst them how when we seek His help He will provide it, at church, at home, at work. Anywhere in our lives. I needed that this week to get through to reasonable results for our teams. 

Another thing I learned is always work to make things visible and open to all. Secrets just do no good. Holding things back from people does not help, it hurts. So always be open and honest, and make things known to all people. Having broadly known information makes everyone work smarter and better towards a common goal. Some in the event even wanted to make the outcome "tools" private to just a select few but the whole team is affected by them and in fact makes decisions in their work that need to be based on these things. So finally we got them to agree it will be shared and posted for all. And it's not secret at all, just a good list of interdependencies between two major functional groups. I am amazed at people who do not believe in empowering others to grow and do better in their work. 

Mom found some of the baseboard trim ruined from water damage this past week. I figured I would replace it Saturday and I worked on it. But as I pulled it off and was down close I saw water still there. From the dishwasher. Not normal and something was wrong. So I took it apart and found the inlet valve was leaking, from a seal of the valve itself. I pulled it out. It found I have to replace the whole valve and can't get the part until tomorrow. Luckily it is not too expensive. But the water damage could have been much worse if we did not have tile. So I had the joy of doing dishes by hand. That has been a while!  Meaning for all dishes. I do the pots etc most days. But when water leaks it is usually not your friend!

Love you all forever. 

Dad

3 John 1:4

Same Not Equal

So I had an interesting time of gospel study this week. It's intriguing to see what happens when a thought sends you down a path of learning and study. I have been wondering why the same circumstance can be happening to different people but the response is so different. That led to why the Lord's input to me is also so different.  What is right for one is not right for another. Somehow he knows each person so individually that the answer is tailored to help and build each person in a unique way. 

Look at the examples in the scriptures. In Luke 7 the centurion sends for Jesus for a servant who is dear to him. It states that Jesus went with them. No delay or other things. Then when he got close they came out and instead of having to go in his word alone was enough to heal. 

Then in John 11 Jesus hears of Lazarus who is sick. But instead of going right away it is four days before he goes. Then when he comes Lazarus is dead and buried. But in the same way he calls him out of the grave and he is brought back from the dead. Same using his word, but different responses to the need. 

Then look in Mark 5 and he hears of the ruler Jairus and his daughter and goes to heal. Along the way the daughter dies. The rulers servants tell them to bother him no longer and then laugh at Jesus when he says she only sleeps. At that he clears everyone out but Peter, James and John. But there are two others he invites to witness and experience this sacred spiritual experience. The father and mother are invited to gather with them. Whereupon Jesus raises her from the dead. So this time he goes right away, but actually goes in to the house this time, and shows to the apostles and parents the miracle. 

So why the same but why different. 

If you have any insights I am still pondering and learning, so please share. 

I also was touched by the father and mother being invited in. Consider your patriarchal blessings. You were there with a special experience and your father and mother were there to experience it with you. (Thank you!). You should read that again by the way. And think of other special sacred times. Family is invited to participate. At the most sacred and eternally significant times, our parents are there with us. Always loving, supporting, praying and yearning for your best. 

I have appreciated getting that learning this week. 

I had a training class all week at work. It was coordinated by Pres. Ward so I saw him all week. That was a nice thing. I learned much but it made for long days. We got done on average 9 PM. And Thursday was the capstone case study so we were meeting until almost 11. It was a bunch to learn about acquisitions, finance processes, leaderships competencies, innovation processes etc. but very insightful. It is part of my training to help be a better potential leader at Emerson. Ahh, come what may and love it!

Saturday we had a convert baptism and that was neat to be at. Then confirmed today. We also did the fall leaf cleanup outside and it was great to have so many people at the church. We have huge piles out at the street and also filled the dumpster to overflowing with sticks and branches that have blown down. 

Fall has arrived and we have built a few fires in the wood stove. It's so toasty!  I like it when we do that but I am not here enough to to keep feeding it constantly. But it sure is a sign of fall. 

Love you forever,

Dad

3 John 1:4

Why Does The Lord Do It This Way?

So I have been thinking about your personal email home last week. You mentioned some discouragement at working hard and seeing little progress. I can understand so acutely how you feel. 

First, I sure appreciate that you know that sending out a broader email that focuses on the positive and includes some of your personal gospel learning that week is the right thing to do. I assume you still blind copy a bunch of people?

Second, please don't hesitate to share the challenges as well with mom and I so we can pray more directly as well as ponder with you each week.  You are the purpose we are here to find joy in. I want you to be happy and I have found that way. I know you are discovering it too. 

Third, I recall in Norway having many days and weeks when I really struggled. I would work for hours and hours and get not even a nibble. I honestly believe I truly taught less that a dozen or two real lessons my entire mission. We tried, we shared quick thoughts, but there was really no interest. I had to fight through that and discovered as I focused on my personal study and faith, the work became easier. I found more joy even when rejected. I just felt closer to the Lord and found His joy. 

Fourth, I continue to empathize in a new way as bishop. I get so discouraged when people try to move forward in the Lord but just don't. I try to teach, to encourage, to motivate but for many it just goes nowhere or so very slow. And the worst is when someone doesn't even want to move forward. They have lost so much of their faith that they have no desire to come unto the Lord. They choose their worldly lifestyle and their sin more than they choose Him and eternal life. I feel the pains of the Savior as I yearn for them to get the desire, and I see what God wants for them, but they can't see beyond the daily indulgence and self service. When we really find joy we get outside ourselves and recognize that joy comes in others. 

Fifth, recall the scripture of bringing souls unto Him. I had to cling to that my whole mission as I realized that very likely (and it came true) I was the one soul I would bring to Him. I would serve, I would work, I would try to improve, but in the end that one soul that was being converted was me. I am eternally grateful He would be patient enough with me to work on me as I served that I might prepare myself for a lifetime of service. And it has been worth it every day since. And I look forward to many more. 

I honestly hope that you are finding that same eternal faith deep in your heart that will remain forever. That brings the joy in 3 John 1:4. 

Grandma Smith had it right. Work hard, study hard, pray hard and the rest the Lord will add unto you. Never give up in doing what's right. I am so pleased with your testimony growth and your love for others you have found. That love, or charity, will last you a lifetime. 

So why does the Lord work this way?  I am unclear but I have seen it over and over. As we serve those around us we get a love so deep that it hurts when they reject what treasure we have found and want to give. 

Dad

A Delight?

So we should all realize the focus on the Sabbath from Pres. Nelsons talk 2 conferences ago. And there has been a lot of training and discussions on how we can improve our Sabbath day worship. But a few have wondered in his talk "is the Sabbath really a delight?"

They may have long days, meetings, church, giving a lesson, visiting people, going to a fireside and such. With it so busy is it a delight?  Well you can count on your dad to be one who declares unequivocally YES, it is a delight. How can that be?  I just got done with a 16 hour day. Started at 5:30 in the morning. But it was invigorating and a delight. A pleasure to be involved with so many who are trying to find the path in life that leads us back to our heavenly home. 

Ask Gavin if his day is not a delight when he works hard, and then has that moment of teaching where the spirit testifies and he knows it. Or ask Kieren when she discovers how much God knows how to direct our loves that "it's embarrassing really!"  Sometimes the hardest things when we give them a chance turn out to be the most foundational to our understanding. Ask Ty as he gets a spiritual insight that just blows mom and I away as we try to follow his thoughts as he explains. Ask Alysia when she serves others beyond the veil and smiles the whole time she is there working that will benefit people she will never meet.  This is all a remarkable work and I for one am pleased to be counted one who can be trusted to carry it forward in a small way. 

So this week I have really struggled to put into words I can share with others, and graphically to try and take them through my words, the vision the lord has given me about the Centerville Ward and what we can accomplish. It has been a tough. It wonderful journey to try and figure out how to put in words the spiritual understand I have been given. When it is all boiled down I realize that "in the work of salvation, all roads lead THE ONE to the temple."  We can all help one person take the one next step to the temple which will bring us to Christ. That step may be a first visit to the temple to do baptisms. But it may be as simple as inviting them to come to our home for dinner, or to pray for the first time. Anyone, member or not, active or not, has a next step to take. (For Gavin and Kieren think of the progress record)

I had a busy work week. There is a lot going on now, and many major events coming up this month. I have seminars this week, a full week of leadership training next week, seminars for 4 days the following week that I am in charge of, and then yea, vacation the week of Thanksgiving. So November is about shot and it has hardly started. One of my peers that I respect and turn to a lot for help was assigned another role and is leaving the group I work with. I am pleased for him, it's good for the business, but I am NOT happy. I like having him around. So due to that I have the opportunity its to take on a large chunk of his role and learn new aspects of the business that will help me long term. It's actually a blessing for putting the Lord first in my life. I don't know if it will be a title change or just a role shift, but it comes at a time when I feel blessed because I have enough people reporting to me that I can shift other responsibilities to them to open up my time. It also is an opportunity for them to grow and learn more. It's important to realize who is really in change and ensure I am willing to let Him lead my life. 

I love your mom, she is fantastic. I hope you realize that. 

Enjoy the pic of Dan Waldron getting his Eagle Scout award. I am pleased he finished it. 

Love you forever,

Dad

3 John 1:4