Elder Dallon Smith in Chile: Active in the Gospel

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Active in the Gospel

Dallon is anxiously engaged in doing missionary work. He hopes to be able to see all his current investigators baptized before he comes home. He has also developed a desire to do family history and encouraged us all to get involved. He shares that it is important to our own salvation, as well as, our ancestors. Dallon also answered some of the questions we asked him.

"My days are pretty crazy. They are all the same in schedule. We wake up at 7:30 and pretend to do exercises. haha It's pretty pathetic because we are so tired in the mornings and it's cold! We take an hour to get ready and basically each take 15 minutes to shower. Then we start our studies with an hour for language, personal, and companionship study. As a zone leader our studies generally get all mixed up with extra stuff we have to do. It feels like there is always something that makes us lose our studies. I don't like that about being a zone leader. It throws off my groove. haha We usually leave for an hour and try to contact some people, then we eat lunch, come back to the pension for a half hour to rest and prepare for the day, and then we leave again. Luckily we have a lot of citas with investigators that are progressing, so we are running around all day sharing the gospel. We come home around 10:30, plan really fast and start calling the district leaders. By 11:30 we finally go to sleep. We wake up the next day and do the same thing, over and over and over, day after day. It doesn't really feel the same everyday because things are always changing. Elder Holton and I have been having fun. We've really been blessed with people to teach."

"What do I snack on? I eat Doritos with cream cheese all the time. haha Everyone makes fun of me because I basically survive off chips. I'm never really hungry and when I want a snack, there is no way I am going to cook something. I need time to relax and take advantage of it when I can. I actually found out that I've lost a bunch of weight. I don't know why because I really do eat a lot and healthy too. I get exercise and am always working and on the go. Maybe it's the stress, but I don't think it's anything to worry about. All the hermanas get mad at us because we don't eat a lot compared to the other missionaries in the past."

"I've actually loved every single one of my companions and I'm grateful for the lessons they have taught me. I think companions are the hardest thing in the mission. It sucks being with one person all the time, even if you like the person. Sometimes the only blessing you secretly want is time to breathe on your own! haha I think your companions are the ones who really end up changing you and you can learn so much from them."

"Before I come home, the only thing I really want to do is to baptize the people that we are teaching. I don't want to leave any of them behind and I want to see them through their whole process. I just want to finish the mission well and love these people to the end. I've already come to the realization that although I might not be the best missionary, I have done the best I could. There are a lot of things that I would have done differently if I could start all over again, but I'm grateful for the experience that I've had and for the things I've learned. I'll be sure to give Jake a lot of tips before his mission. I wish I could have known some of these things before my mission. There is so much that I could have taken advantage of to prepare me better."

"This week we had a capacitation about family history. We are really focusing on that and it's gotten me excited about it. I love family search and I can't wait to open my own account and get started. It's so interesting and the programs that the church has are incredible. There are so many of our ancestors that are waiting for us to do our part. After the mission, I hope that I'll have time to do family history. I think it is the coolest thing. We need to understand how important it is to our salvation as well as theirs. If we do family history, we will be active in the gospel and not just active in the church. We are working with it and some of our recent converts are going to go to the temple at the end of the month to be baptized for their ancestors. Everyone is so excited and the spirit is really strong. It's going to be awwwwesome!"

"We also had leadership capacitation. I got to see a lot of my buddies. I'm not going to lie, but it can be really boring because we talk about the same things every time, but it is always good to see my friends. Elder Smart is getting trunkie and talked to me the whole time about what we'll do after the mission. It's crazy to think about!"

"Andrea's baptism was really awesome. She had changed so much and was so ready. Her family all came, except for her mother, but they were all really touched, I think. I'm hoping that we can send the Elders from her ward to teach her family. That would be Elder Salines and Ramirez. Elder Holton and I sang, "How Great Thou Art." We changed it up and sang a verse in English and even had a key change on the last verse. It sounded great and the spirit was so strong. I also overcame my fear and played the piano for everyone. It is a lot harder to play when everyone is singing, but for the first time, I played flawlessly without a single mistake. I felt so proud of myself. haha The baptism went great and a lot of investigators came. I was so happy for Andrea and all the people who got to be a part of it."

"Our next baptism is Manuel, our dear Grandpa. He and his wife are taking us to their wedding on Thursday morning. They are so excited and they have their sights set on the temple. Manuel told us about his past and all the stuff that he went through. I love older people so much because they are more humble and can accept the gospel because their pride isn't in the way, so they can feel the spirit easier and recognize answers. Manuel and his wife, for some reason, have a strong connection with me. They call me their son and Manuel asked me yesterday if I would baptize him. He wants us to call him "Tata", which is like saying Grandpa. I hope that my abuelito converts will be great missionaries, even beyond the veil."

"Time is flying by. All my buddies are getting excited for after the mission. I'm excited too, but I'm also sad. I'm just glad I will be working till the end of my mission and have a lot of people to teach. I feel so blessed. Elder Holton is a great friend and I'm sure we'll be friends after the mission too. Anyways, I love you all very much. Never be afraid to stand up for what you believe and to encourage others to do the same. If you do this, blessings will come. I promise because that is what has happened to me. I miss you all and pray for you every day."

Elder Dallon Smith

Andrea's Baptism Day

Elders with Tity and Andrea

Andrea with Elder Smith

Elder Smith in Talagante, Chile

Alma 29: 1-3, 9

"Oh that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people!

Yea, I would declare unto every soul, as with the voice of thunder, repentance and the plan of redemption, that they should repent and come unto our God, that there might not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth.

But behold, I am a man, and do sin in my wish; for I ought to be content with the things which the Lord hath allotted unto me.

I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy."

ANSWERS by Elder Dallon Smith

The morning starts in a rush.
All I want to do is tell the alarm to shush!
I get out of bed and start my daily exercise.
Why is it so early when we have to arise?

I hurry to get ready
and then immediately start to study.
So many things that I need to learn.
Will I be able to answer a question when it's my turn?

Before I know it, my companion and I are off.
Our sector is so big, I hope we don't get lost!
Everyone is really busy running here and there.
Are you sure you don't have time for a two minute prayer?

Lunch time arrives and we're ready to eat.
We get to the table and quickly take a seat.
It's humbling to see how much they give us, though they are really poor.
Oh dear Sister, do you have to ask us if we want more?

The day then begins and we're ready to go.
We get to the first door and loudly yell, "Alo!"
A man answers and coldly tells us to go away!
If it was Jesus knocking, would you let him stay?

We continue to search 'til our voices grow thin.
Once in awhile, someone will actually let us in.
We start to teach about Joseph Smith and the things that he's seen.
When they ask us a question in Spanish, we think, "What does that mean?!"

The sun goes down and the night grows cold.
But we're still out walking, seeking for those of the Lord's fold.
We want to know where else to look.
Who else is waiting to receive the message from this book?

Finally, the time arrives to go back to our home.
We strategically run back, making sure to stay in our "safe" zone.
We silently travel in the light, our safety starts to become a doubt.
Are the Lord's angels really all about?

We reach the pension and start to plan.
We talk about everyone we teach, every woman and man.
We scramble to cook, eat and shower.
Are you sure it's already been an hour?

We crash on our beds, ready to relax in a dream.
Eight hours of rest sounds better than it may seem.
I remember to pray and offer up my humble supplication.
Oh Father, did I meet your expectation?

Sweetly and softly a response starts to echo in my head.
The words feel familiar as if I've already heard them said.
"My son," he begins in a voice that I know.
"Do you realize that I love you even more than I can show?"

"I'm aware of where you are and I know what's going on.
Always remember I've sent you right where you belong.
I have a plan, but you'll have to trust in me.
Do you have faith in the promise, My kindness shall not depart from thee?"

"Don't be nervous about the language, that will all come.
Just keep my spirit near to guide you and he will work your tongue.
Be strong and courageous, and teach with the authority you've been given.
Are you remembering, you represent he who was risen?"

"Reflect on his example and guard him in your heart.
His very words will give those you're teaching a brand new start.
Be obedient, follow in his footsteps, and don't go astray.
Can you feel his presence walking beside you day by day?"

"Go and rescue my children and fight with all your might.
Remember Christ said, "My yoke is easy and my burden is light."
He loves his missionaries and knows all that you can be,
so how will you serve to answer your brothers' question, "Do you love me?"

My conversation with my Father ends and I am left in a state of peace.
So many feelings rush inside me, a joy that I can not release.
My attitude changes and my love overflows.
How can I not be happy with all of the blessings God bestows?

I will change and do my best to do as the Lord commands.
I want to place myself completely in his hands.
No matter how many questions we have or how inadequate we might feel.
We can always find our answers when we are willing to kneel.

St. John 14: 26 - 29

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the
Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father; for my Father is greater than I.

And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe."

Moroni 9: 3 - 5

"Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.

And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things."