September 5, 2022

From Ben - To Wrap One's Head Around it

"Can you help me lift up my friend?" asks the blind drunk man. 

Elder Gallup and I look at each other, then look at this massive man, laying on the ground. 

"He's had one too much to drink, and we just want to get him standing"

So I position myself in a titan squat and open the gate to the reserve of strength and energy that I keep secret (it grows by every short person joke I hear. I store my anger and use it to my advantage) and Elder Gallup positions himself on the other side, and we HOIST. 

After much grunting, and a couple of curses from our friend laying on the concrete, we got him seated on his walker. 

After a salute, Elder Gallup and I walk away. 

Downtown Sudbury will provide adventures. One just has to walk the streets. 

We got to go on exchanges with the Assistants this week! 

Elder Gallup and Elder Christensen are basically perfect men. They both have prince charming jaw lines and physiques, and have natural leadership qualities. 

I love Elder Christensen. I've said it before, but this Elder ministers one by one, and is really humble. He was my Zone Leader in Weston and made a great impact on me.

Elder Gallup, who I had the exchange with, is a champion as well. He led me through some of his thoughts about being an Assistant, and the difference he wants to try to make. 

He shared with me that one of his goals is to help the missionaries of the Canada Toronto Mission cherish deeper in their hearts the scriptures, and to love being missionaries. 

Together we walked the streets, taught the people, and hoisted drunk men from the pavement. 

They slept the night at the Ice Castle then left on their way the next morning. 

To their tragedy, they forgot their protein powder. 

On Saturday we got to baptize our friend, Lesley. 

The service went well despite all of its slight intricacies. 

The member who gave a talk on the Holy Ghost spoke for 15 minutes instead of 5, the baptism dress wasn't a perfect fit, we had to perform the ordinance three times because of said dress. But when all was said and done, the Spirit was felt, and a covenant made. 

The joy isn't necessarily in the baptism, but in seeing someone change, and to see a commitment towards living a godly life. 

Seeing the difference in someone's countenance, the change in their confidence, their resolve to be kind. 

Seeing that change is one that I love to witness. That is where I feel joy. 

The process of repentance in myself is a rewarding part of the missionary process as well. 

This morning, I sat at my study desk, and just pondered for half an hour. 

Literally just stared at the trees outside my window and thunk. 

I'm still pretty talented at getting stuck in the theology of the Gospel and forgetting the reality of it. 

The deeper I can actually get the truth that I'm a beloved son of Heavenly Parents, and understand what it implies. 

To know that my Father in Heaven is expecting me to magnify my Zone Leader assignment, that he expects me to care about and support Elder McNabb, to be bold in sharing His truths. 

To know that when I get stuck in pride, or get discouraged or unmotivated, that He can help me out. 

To understand deeper that Jesus Christ is a personal Savior. 

I hear it all the time, but often forget to give myself the opportunity to let myself wrap my head around it. 

To actually recognize that it is more than just a passive story, but a personal relationship. 

Also understanding that He is my Savior not through a passive arbitrary decision, but that He achieved that title through sacrifice, sorrow and sadness. 

He is a Redeemer not because it just is so, but because he voluntarily, selflessly faced everybody's demons, shouldered everybody's weaknesses, 

then conquered. 

And from His pain, His grief and sacrifice, He broke the bands of death and was granted the power to heal, forgive, strengthen and purify. 

Not because it is just so, but because he suffered, then conquered. 

This thing matters. It matters a lot. 

Then finally, to write on the tables of my heart that God and Jesus Christ are intimately and practically involved in my, and everyone else's progression. 

That they called Joseph Smith to be the Prophet that was the instrument in Their hands to bring about the Restoration of Their plan of happiness. 

A Plan, a Church, a Priesthood, all intended to bless us. Or, in my specific stewardship, to bless the individuals I meet in Sudbury. 

To bless the missionaries I love. 

I love Christ and His Gospel. I realize so often just how little I actually get, and how much I still need to learn.  But again, for the little I do understand, it has made all the difference. 

I love you guys! Truly. 

Each of you on this email list, individually, are kind of elite. 

And if you want to be even more elite, you need to "align yourself with an unstoppable force" and consciously cherish the covenants you have made or will make with a very real Father, and a very real Redeemer. 

Love you! 

- Elder Smith

1) This guy we taught just had this randomly massive snake in the back of his house. 

2) A Sunday night Zone call, we went over some goals, some Presidential announcements, and attempted to play the legendary game 'Contact' over the Zoom Call. 

3) Elder McNabb, the legend, prepping the font for our friend Lesley. 

4) Remember the picture we took in the kitchen, Mom? 

Remember how we didn't think much about it? 

Well, it is now the only picture that I go by as a missionary. This was in the ward bulletin I'm Sudbury. I still have no idea where they found it. 

5) We taught this lesson to our friend Geramie on this rock mountain hill thing. Had to record it for posterities sake. 

6) Had to get this one because of the sunset in the background. This lesson was spirit filled. 

7) The farewell to the Assistants after their sleepover in the Ice Castle. Gosh, these Elders are champions. 

8) This old Finnish member is one of the great delights of serving in the Sudbury ward. He always encourages healthy living, and loves "the Mormon Book"

9) The day schedule of our exchange with the Assistants. I'm also experimenting with the Area Book colors. Not many people enjoy these ones as of yet 

10) Lesley's baptism

11) This is legit what I was watching while writing this email. Elder Conrad getting straight dunked on. 

From Dad - Back to normal ... kind of ...

So it was back to school week for Abby, Mia, Mom and Sam, with Josh a close follow up starting Tuesday. So things are settling back to normal for the most part. The difference this year for us is that Mom is going to school and working part time. Also, with Abby driving, that changes the dynamics as well. So not the same normal we're used to :)

So far the girls seem to be loving their teachers and classes for the most part. Early days, but we're grateful for good teachers that inspire. Of particular mention is Miss Acorn who greets the class with a hearty "Good Morning Bio 20" and expects a robust reply. Mia says she is so passionate about Biology that it rubs off on her students. And of course, Mr. Kruk, with his ability to inspire excitement and passion about how the world works. Abby loves the deeper thinking that this invokes about freedom and world events. The question she came home with was "is the world really constantly progressing better and better as per the Liberalism trajectory theory?". Some good discussion both at home and with school friends.

Last night we had a great talk about relationships. Mom and I shared again our story of how we fell in love and talked about hopes and dreams and fears for the girls to find wonderful husbands (like their dad of course :)). Probably our favorite thing as parents is to have meaningful and uplifting conversations with you, our children.

I enjoyed an extra long week-end as it is Labor day (today) and I had a "GE Rest" day on Friday, kind of a mental wellness initiative at work. I was grateful for the time to get lots done, from shampooing the carpets (we got a carpet cleaner) to spraying the lawn for dandelions and clover to changing the oil on the new car ("Derrik") and helping Mom clean the stove :).

Sam and Josh came over yesterday and we had Mark and Tina Woodruff over with their 3 little kids ages 8, 4, 2. They loved playing with Coco and playing on the trampoline and playground. It does my heart good to have our land be a blessing to others.

My new favorite scripture is in Proverbs 3. The classic scripture from this chapter is verses 5-6, but I found myself pondering more about vs. 11-21. The theme of wisdom and understanding permeates the Proverbs. I love the idea that we can endlessly learn and grow in wisdom and understanding especially as we turn to the Lord and accept his chastening and corrections and that as we seek out of the best books that we will gain what Heavenly Father and Mother and Jesus have which is the wisdom and understanding that is more precious than rubies as it enables us to gain all we need and more to find prosperity, happiness and peace and become as they are. I bore my testimony in church on the power of learning from others and from how much we are influenced by what we read and learn. I mentioned 3 things that brought this more fully to my attention this last week. 

1. When we went to Church with Grandma last week, we were so comforted to see her in such a friendly ward. I was powerfully affected when her Bishop came into the Priesthood and Relief Society and challenged everyone to make an extra effort to minister in person in the month of September. It has become a little too easy to just send a text and call it good these days. I was inspired and called/texted my ministering families to find a time to meet in person. 
2. Mia and I took the time yesterday to read/listen to the talk you sent Mia on "Wrestling with Comparisons". It deeply affected me and gave me the desire to truly be happy for others in their successes and to seek to only compare myself to myself and look to improve a little each day.
3. In my calling as Temple and Family History leader, we laid out a monthly theme for the ward. The theme this last month was to take a picture in front of the temple with you / your family. We invited members to share those photos and I was inspired by the response and was affected by the faithfulness and desire of our ward members to be in or at the temple. Unfortunately each time we were at the temple this summer, I forgot to do my own challenge! I'll compare myself only to myself and just resolve to do better going forward :)

I'm grateful for the principle of eternal progression and love to see how much each of my kids is growing and learning along their particular journey's and so grateful they still intersect with Mom and I's journey once and a while!

Love you Ben!

Dad.

P.S. Your birthday package is on its way! Not sure how often you get packages delivered to Sudbury, but hope you get it as close to your Birthday as possible! Happy 21st old man!

P.S.S. Here's another few fun pics from Mom and I's Calgary visit last week:

Super cool 12 m tall mesh head in front of the Bow building

Some crazy cool architecture in this downtown high rise. (What do you think Tyler?)

Check out this steam punk horse statue! (Josh!)