Working the District

Just in time for Halloween - a spooky shot of Elder Griffiths with Elder Jones.

(For context, Elder Griffiths was recently made the district leader of the second largest district in his mission.)

I won't go into all of the details of my responsibilities as a district leader, but I will say that my primary responsibility is to serve and love the missionaries in my district. Throughout my mission I've noticed different qualities of leadership that have helped me, and I've wanted to exemplify those same attributes. One of those traits that I've noticed is when a leader makes you want to be better, instead of just correcting every mistake you make. Leaders who show those they serve that they want their success typically have a greater impact on those around them. 

This role changes my perception of missionary work quite a bit. Now I have about 16 more people I need to worry about and I need to understand how to help every single one of them. It's almost like I just got 16 more investigators and I need to discern their needs to help them reach their potentials. 

Sometimes the greatest missionary work we can do is for other missionaries. I know the Lord helps and qualifies those whom He calls.

The Keyword Is "Answers"

Elders Coleman, Jones, Curtis, and Griffiths

Oh my goodness I could talk about how prayers are answered for the next seven-and-a-half months. Every single day of my mission prayers are answered. Whether they are my own prayers or the prayers of others, it doesn't matter.

Meaningful prayers can be a challenge. As one of the ways we talk with people, Elder Jones and I ask right off the bat, "Can we say a prayer with you?" Think about how many people we see in a day. Most people are willing to say a prayer so we get the opportunity to say quite a few during the day. Trust me, I know what it is like to get into the habit of monotonous prayers. An important concept I've learned about making my prayers meaningful is by following these three things:

• First, ask Heavenly Father inspired questions. If we pray by the Spirit, we will know what we need to pray for and what we need to ask.
• Second, listen. Prayer is a conversation, not a "to do list" that we just hand to a secretary. Heavenly Father answers prayers. The keyword is "answers." We must listen and look for an answer.
• Third, we need to discern how that answer will apply to us that day, week, month, or even throughout our lifetime. Doing each of these things in our personal prayers can increase the power and impact of them.

I would also like to talk about prayers being answered. I cannot tell you just how incredible it is when I get the opportunity to see an investigator's prayer be answered. It's priceless. Before we tract a street, Elder Jones and I will pray to find a specific number of people on that street. Nearly every time, we find that number of people. Recently, we prayed to find two new investigators (people we've taught a lesson to and have a return appointment with) on a street. We found two people, but we didn't get a return appointment. Two days ago, we stopped by their house and taught them again. They became new investigators. Two weeks after the actual prayer, we received an answer.

Heavenly Father answers prayers. There is no doubt about it. Ask in faith, believing that you'll receive, and it will be given to you.

Even a Twig of Faith

Elder Jones (far left) and Elder Griffiths (front, center) on transfer day.

The interesting thing about coming on a mission has been to look back on the past seven months of being out here, and seeing what the Lord has done to strengthen my testimony. Looking back on various experiences allows me to see just how much He has changed me in order to be a better missionary. At the times of those experiences, I had no idea that I was being shaped into something better. Don't get me wrong, I've still got a long way to go, but I've definitely learned how to recognize God's hand in my life a lot more easily. 

Before my mission, my testimony didn't grow very quickly because I never asked Heavenly Father to teach me. Now, I can't afford to not listen to Him. I've realized just how important it is to listen to the Spirit, read the scriptures, pray, attend church, fast, pay fast offerings, be kind to others, be charitable, be humble, and to learn. Those are just a few of the things I've learned. 

My testimony has become much more personal and much less generic. I gain more and more experiences that reaffirm my testimony and make it into something that cannot be shaken. It's a blessing to know that as long as I have even a twig of faith, it allows God to grow it.

Not Just Another TV Show

Elder Griffiths and Elder Jones at a recent baptism.

I love conference because it's an opportunity to find ways to improve. I've been studying about different prophets and the kind of faith they have, and I've really been trying to become more like them. It seemed to me that nearly every talk showed me a different way that I could reach my goal. 

I love that conference talks are always about the same basic gospel principles, but we can learn more about each of these principles from every talk. The catch is that we must be willing to change. If we don't change, it turns conference into just another TV show that we watched. 

A subject in this most recent conference that stuck out to me was the principle of having faith. Faith is something that I've always thought I had, but never really understood. I'm grateful to have prophets who can teach us how to increase our knowledge, and how to strengthen our relationship with the Holy Ghost as well.