June 20, 2022

From Ben - Till We Meet Again

On Thursday, after the last District Council of the transfer, we had exchanges with the Zone Leaders. 

I got to go with Elder Clawson. 

I love this Elder. He has ADHD and plays it like a champion. His humor is genuine and his confidence is commendable. 

It was fun to learn from him. 

One of the conversations we held circulated around the subject of leadership. 

On how one can actually make a difference. 

And the conclusion we drew, especially in my case, is again in learning to have and hold hard, but needed, conversations. 

Conflict is something that my personality naturally despises and fears. 

Whether or not it would be more beneficial to engage in it or not (and we're talking about needed conflict, not necessarily about contention) 

Despite logically understanding the need for it, despite knowing it's always better to address challenges instead of putting them off, despite having it possibly suggested by the Spirit the need to engage, it is still a tricky business for me. 

Anyways, from the conversation arose a better and more clarified vision of how I can start having more of these needed yet harder conversations with others, and it came into play quicker than I first anticipated. 

On Saturday we held another exchange. 

This specific Elder is a genius in his assignments, he has a sincere heart and a deep rooted faith that others can change.  

Bur he's also got some tricky habits. 

When some of these specific habits came to play during our exchange, it was a unique feeling to be able to express to him the thoughts that I felt needed to be expressed for his benefit. 

I explained it something like.

"Elder, my role as a District Leader is to help you become someone who holds greater Spiritual power. 

This music you're listening to, or this habit you have, neither of them are helping you" 

It was a wild experience because we had to have the conversation more than once in the day. It happened seven or eight times. 

So I was pretty beat by the end of the exchange. 

But I learned that as long as I was able to keep in mind what this Elder could become I could say things that were usually pretty hard for me to say. Or things that if done while motivated by pride, would have quickly led to a conversation far more conducive to contention. 

So some needed growing happened on that particular front. 

And to the Elder, as he makes a couple changes, he's going to make a huge difference. 

I think if the adversary, through his assortment of temptations and techniques, is unable to have us give up or call it quits, I'm of the opinion that he will try very hard to make us be average. Mediocre. 

If he can't necessarily beat us in the large fights, the grand battles, then he'll tear us down through winning the little ones, claiming the small victories. 

We then get comfortable. We get used to the easier road. 

And often, if no-one invites us to engage in the harder fight, the steeper climb, we stay comfortable. 

But to have someone extend that invitation. 

To enter the arena, then commit to fight alongside us, though often uncomfortable, it is so needed. 

That's what Elder Clawson did for me, and I hope what I was able to do for this other Elder. 

I'm not sure that the me of today is smart enough to help me become who I need to be tomorrow. 

I think that's one angle to explore in why God asks us to follow His Son. To explore His words. To attend His school of Divine Learning. 

Because we don't know how to become divine. We just don't know how, and cannot solve it or do it alone unless there is help. 

On the same day of the exchange with the other Elder, I heard about Grandpa.

The difference a single man can make as he lives a life of faith and Christlike discipleship holds ripple effects that cannot be measured by man's most complex and advanced instruments. 

In a very real sense, he can literally change the world. 

Grandpa Smith was one of those men here on earth, and will be one of those spirits in the life to come. 

I'm curious to what work God has asked him to fulfill in the Spirit World and I'm excited to one day shake his hand again. 

By the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, we'll get to one day see him eye to eye, grin and all.

It really grounded me again in the things that matter most. 

Love you all! Hope your week is triumphant and successful. 

- Elder Smith

1) The last sentence had a spelling error and a funny grammar situation. So we had to rush to the
Content Creator's aid

2) Random action shot during a YSA geocaching activity. One of the YSA brought a friend who wants to be baptized.

So that was epic.

3) A personal study mission statement that arose as I pondered some ways I needed to motivate myself.

4) Social Media Transfer doctrine that Elder Blum and I were solving. The doodles are a very important part of the process.

5) Elevator shot during the exchange with Elder Clawson

6) A panicked rush to get to a lesson led to the emergency Pizza Pops. 

7) The two Filipinos and Elder Wynder came back from a 14-0 run to beat us 14-15. 

Benjamin Smith

From Dad - Remember Grandpa

Dear Ben. 

As you know, Grandpa  passed away peacefully in his sleep Saturday morning. I sure love my Dad. He just got called to serve in a new area !  And for a few eternal moments he had to leave behind some of his earthly companions. I’m excited for him to have his full faculties and be able to function at his full capacity now. 

One of my favorite things to do since we’ve come down to help has been to read one of Dads early journals that spans from 1970 to 1980. Fascinating to read about the years right after I was born and get some insights into who he was and what he was thinking about, worrying about and working on. Your grandpa Smith was a lot like us, full of hopes and dreams and big ideas. And manifest in almost every page is his love for his family and his hope and faith in God and a thread of gospel faith underlying the whole narrative of his life. 

I’ve decided to stay in southern Alberta this week to help with all the arrangements. I’m grateful for the spirit of the Lord prompting to do that. 

I was grateful the girls were able to come down with us despite their busy exam schedule and experience the coming together or family to support Grandma. 

The timing of Tyler, Steph and Bowie coming up was wonderful. They arrived shortly after we did. Bowie was a bright ray of sunshine to raise everyone’s spirits. 

Mom, Amelia Reanna and I went to the 1 hour Lee crest church with Grandma yesterday. We really enjoyed the Sunday School portion soaking in the wisdom from the aged teachers. One phrase that I wrote down was “Don’t say woe in a mud hole!”

I decided to stay down south and help with the preparations this week. Mom and the girls headed back as Mom has to work and the girls have exams. I’m grateful that I could be a father to all of you kids. Thanks for choosing to come to our family and make it such a wonderful adventure. 

I want you and all our family to know that I know that God is real, families are part of his plan and death is not the end. Grandpa is with loved ones and continues his earthly work in heaven. I pray we can all live to be together forever with him and each other in that future day. 

Here’s a few pics from the week. 

Have a great week Ben. 

Dad.