Rocktober!

Ok, so as almost every week of my mission, this one has been equally up to par with all of them ''amazing'' after general conference I look over a lot of my notes that I wrote down, things that I felt prompted to write down, and a lot of them I forgot what they were just a few days after general conference, and this Sunday my bishop in one of my wards stood up at the start of fast and testimony meeting, and talked a lot about how so often we forget the moments that mean so much to us at the moment, but we lose sight of them throughout the trials of life. 

So while listening to him speak, it brought back so many memories that I forgot, and at the end of the day, I was laying in bed, trying to fall asleep and my mind is always running 1000 miles per hour, so I was laying there just pondering about the things that happened that day.  I remembered a trek experience I had, at the start of trek bishop lee gave every family in our party a bucket of rocks, and said that they were our trials and our sins in this life. We had to carry these around everywhere we went, so we pulled our handcarts all day, and got to our campground and set everything up, and the next morning we went on trekking again, still with the rocks in our handcarts. Almost towards the end of the day, when we were coming towards the end of our pulling and pushing of the handcart for that day, we stopped at a small river that ran across the valley, I was asked to grab a hand full of rocks. Doing so I walked over to bishop Lee who was standing at the edge of this small stream, he talked to me about the love that our savior has for us, that how much burden I was carrying and how I didn’t have to, he then took the rocks from my hand and tossed them into the water before me. It was a wonderful experience where I felt the spirit, it made me want to be better cause I felt an instant lift off my shoulders, just knowing that Christ paid for those little rocks that eventually becomes a big burden.

And so while I was lying there thinking about this experience, I thought of how easy it is to have these huge spiritual moments, and our testimony is so strong at that time, we feel like nothing could prove us otherwise, but what about when we are weak? When we don’t have those moments to push us forward, helping us, it’s really difficult. So while lying there I guess it made me feel like even though, I’ve had wonderful experiences, I need to stay focused and prepare myself for when the weak times come, cause it’s easy to forget those huge moments when we are weak.

 Something that I’m going to do, and I would encourage anyone else to do it also, is keep a small note pad with you, and  write down just a brief explanation of when you feel the spirit reveal something unto you! And when you look back on your notes it will surprise you.

I wish I had more time, but I am still in Wichita, been here for 6 months, transfers are on the 27th, so if you’re going to send a letter or anything be sure to do it pretty soon so that I don’t leave before it gets here! Love ya family you are the shiz! Thanks so much for all the awesome pictures you send! They are so great! Oh and for all who don’t know, Conor Andrus got his mission call!!!! He is going to serve in the Scotland/Ireland mission!!! So be sure to give him a congrats when you can! Have an awesome week!!! Elder Spencer Dahl

General Conference Missionary Style:

So First of all, I must say that this general conference was so amazing. I’m not sure if it was because I paid more attention, or if because I am a missionary and I just was able to understand more, but the best thing ever was that I was able to listen to the servants of our father in heaven. I wrote down a few questions during this general conference that I needed help for the answers, and everyone was answered, almost perfectly to what I needed. Not only that, but in past general conferences I’ve heard speakers talk about how they wish that we would be able to hear their message, but have the spirit tell us something that is completely different then what they are talking. Before Saturday night, never have I ever seen that come true. There were times when I was trying to keep up with the things coming into my mind, and I know that there was things that I missed, many things happened this week on a spiritual standpoint for me. I feel that my testimony has grown so much over the past 5 or 6 days that I can hardly imagine what I was doing without realizing it. I guess God just has a way of giving us what we need to get by, not everything that we want right now. I know that if we continually search for the answers to our questions, we grow, more important things come into view only when we are ready to handle them I think, that has been my case at least.

In regards to the missionary work out here in Kansas, I’ve been blessed, immensely, God has been preparing the people in the world, and I have been able to see the fruits of his work here in Wichita. Although people will reject the promptings of the spirit from time to time, I know that God still loves all of his children. I am brought back to a former member of the church that my previous companion and I went and saw. There has only been 2 times on my mission where I have felt the spirit strong enough for me to actually cry, this one was during this appointment, although the outcome of the appointment didn’t end how I wished it would, and thinking that it was a complete failure, we got in the car and drove home in complete silence. I have thought about that moment a few times sense, and yet I still don’t think I truly understand the reasoning behind it. I was able to feel of that spirit to confirm, my testimony that He is watching over us, that He cares about all of his children.

Looking over the notes that I took during general conference I can’t help but think, that God wants us to know to be as his son was. A lot of the talks were about humility, being virtuous, serving others, and more then all being an example. I remember someone told me once, to look at those who have been that example, benefit my life off of what I see them do, and so even now, I’m realizing that a lot of my life I have been blind you could say, not noticing the subtle examples I’ve had in my life, but I can thank all of you! For allowing me the opportunity to learn, although there is a lot I still have to say I think this will wrap up my email for this week, but for anyone who missed watching general conference, at any point, I think you should watch it, cause I’ve seen changes in my life in the past 48 hours, cause I know that God is real, that He loves all of us, that’s why He gives us these wonderful chances to hear His words during general conference!

Love you all so so much! Thank you for the support you show me, and the willing sacrifices you each go through promise you that your efforts don’t go unrewarded, I love to hear from all of you, it brightens my day, so be sure to send an occasional letter or email! Even if I don’t respond they uplift me! So thank you! Have an awesome week my family! You guys areBOMB.COM! Been awhile sense I said that!

Love ya!

 Spencer.