Update

Well, I just got done watching the new video on the church's website  and it was motivational to get back to this blogging. First, I have to say that my job at Kohl's is getting a lot better. I complained about it and that's something I usually don't do. I have complained about some things lately and never have been a real complainer. My supervisors like me. The one that I work with for unloading the truck always seems to express gratitude that I am as hard working as I am - that makes the job a lot easier when you are appreciated. Some weeks I work only two days and others I work basically everyday. They aren't making me work Sundays which is a real great blessing! There are a small handful of other members working there in the store and they work Sundays. I feel bad for when we talk about going to church and them having to work when I don't. And it's interesting, each of them are on the brink of going inactive. One should be heading out on his mission soon and I hear of him going to parties. Another, a mom in my home ward, told me she already knows she's 'going to hell anyways, so why even bother?' I wish I could help these individuals out by my example by not working on Sundays and hopefully through other actions. I have had a couple of really neat missionary opportunities with other employees. One asked if she could come to church with me this last Sunday! She didn't come but that means I can invite her myself. Another, with a man named Tim. I work with him during the early morning shifts. He is very intrigued with Mormons and was a trucker passing through Salt Lake and always wanted to stop by Temple Square but never did. We have fun discussions and he knows he needs to be better with his life when we talk about the standards I have because of my faith. He's a bit older, so we'll see what happens with this one. Another, Cesar, he also works early in the mornings with me and he is looking for a church to go to. Yesterday we talked a lot about my mission and why I did it and what for. It was amazing to see his eyes light up as I talked about the sacrifices and changes people made to have the blessings of the restored gospel in their lives. I hear many negative things around work and it makes it so relevant to me how much the gospel has blessed my life.

So I have tried to keep skills I learned on my mission stick with me for the rest of my life. One of those is being productive and keeping a good study habit. So I created my own "key indicators" for the days and week. And below it I made daily plans and goals. Here is a look:

So it is based off of points to help me know where I need to improve on. I loved key indicators and to see them grow through my mission. Beginning of my mission I maybe taught 3 lessons a week, near the end we were teaching nearly 30 lessons a week and seeing much success. And I give most of that to the principle of keeping myself accountable. Which leads me to the goal of "Prayer/Accountability." This is an eternal principle I learned on my mission. Elder Arnold of the seventy came to my mission and taught it to us. He made us read Preach My Gospel pages 150-151 each day for 6 weeks. We account in so many ways, through our church leaders, family and prayer. I noticed I had quit that habit of giving an accounting to the Lord each night and evaluating my day, seeing what went well and what could have gone better. It was a big changing point on my mission. I feel so much more at peace when I do it. 

I also am trying to work on temple names from my family history. I have felt impressed on several church meetings to do it, especially while I am home. I think they would appreciate it. 

I have been taking a lot of notes again during church meetings. It was during President Uchtdorf's talk in Priesthood Session that I had this completely obvious and simple picture come to my mind. You guessed it, it was about missionary work. So often times we run into people who just aren't interested in the gospel, not even listening about what it is. Sometimes we feel that may have been a huge waste of time or effort. Or maybe we even become discouraged when we invite our neighbor, friend or coworker to church or a church event. So we don't bother to do it again because it didn't work. Well, the great thing I have learned is that everyone needs the opportunity to hear the gospel. It isn't up to us to force them into it, in fact it's no ones choice but theirs. So this idea popped into my head of what it means for someone to finally be ready: 

 

This is a picture of two buckets. One full and one not. If it is full they accepted the gospel and if not full, they either don't know about it yet, have not accepted it. And depending on their level of water it is compared to their level of accepting the gospel. Simple enough. And that is what it is like for all people here on this earth. Those that I met on my mission that readily accepted the gospel were at the top if not overflowing their buckets. And most people I taught and saw be baptized were 1/2 or 3/4's of the way there. My point is with this that it is those that are prepared that receive the gospel. We can invite them to be baptized all we want but it isn't until they  are at the top that they are finally personally ready. 

So here is another perspective of those that are ready to finally be taught. Same principle with water level but this time there is a bar at a point in the bucket. This bar shows when they are ready to finally listen. We have to be humble enough to accept this gospel so we first have to be humble enough to receive and listen to it. So where do we come in during this process? We are in it the whole time. Always inviting (not nagging) and if they say no, we can't become offended or discouraged. This is all in the Lord's hands, He knows what He is doing. If they say no, just ask someone else. Maybe that someone else is ready. So often missionaries and members find people ready to receive the gospel through others that are not. 

One other thought that came to my mind that I want to write down. I don't remember where I was, but it is in my notebook area near "Original Sin" notes. These are a few of the lies that Satan gives us before and after we sin. These are not in any particular order: 

1. It is ok to do it once - test it out. There is no harm in experiencing it.

2. I can repent later. 

3. I've done it already - I can do it one more time.

4. You are not good enough or capable enough to repent. You can never be in good standing in the eyes of the Lord. 

These are some of the major ones we forget that Satan's puts into our minds. It is rooted from selfishness or pride which often turns into doubt almost immediately. 

Some of you may laugh at me or think I am weird for thinking these things or even putting them up here. But it's just how I think. Missionary work has always been my life. The gospel is the best way of life. Through all of the different cultures and religions I have studied it's the only thing that makes perfect sense to me. It really is the fulness of Christ's gospel.