My Music

Meetings, programs, plans etc. are as important as you make them. If you treat something like it's no big deal then so will they. If it's important to you it will be important to them.

When we tried to re-evaluate the ward mission plan in Altoona, Bishop Cross made it "not a big deal" and instead of talking about it in ward council he just wanted to pass around copies in the hallway.

Don't look at something you do and say "this is stupid, let's not do it." Instead, look at what you do and ask, "this is not as effective as it should be; how can we make it better?"

Elder Collier said, "be advised that using that as a measuring device is a tool, and in not using them you're not using a tool that the General Authorities have said is important."

The future is as bright as your faith. Sometimes you'll try something; it will work brilliantly. The next time you try it, it blows up in your face. Often times God makes something a little harder each time so you can really think about the details.

In Wintersville they shot me down when I tried to redo the area book. Then in Altoona, Elder Neuder taught me that I need to have faith even if other people don't.

We invite others to come unto Christ, not just non-members. If you don't believe that people can change then you'll be right 99% of the time.

Elder Bradley Nilsen said this in a zone conference.

Writing things down is important. Revelation left unrecorded is unappreciated. How you record things is not as important as the fact that you record it.

I came up with this when I read a talk by Richard G. Scott about journals.

Routine is the murderer of missionary work. If you're doing something because that's how it's always been done then you're standing in the way of progression. Evaluate and grow.

Elder Brady said this but I applied it to something I had learned about missionaries who do things because that's just how it's always been done.

If your primary focus is your relationship with them then you are damaging their future progress. If your primary focus is their future progress you will have an unbreakable relationship with them.

I learned this coming to Freeport — the missionaries had been more worried about their relationship with people than about their progression.

Talking with everyone is never not awkward. If you try to make it cool you just look silly AND awkward. If you embrace that it's awkward and that it's necessary then it becomes fun.

I would say this every time I went on exchange with a young missionary as a Zone Leader because they were always surprised by how awkward it is.

If your mission is the best two years of your life ten years from now then you're not married, you don't have children and you're not active in the church. If the MTC is the best two weeks of your mission then you're doing something wrong.

Elder Kenley said this in my last zone conference and then Elder Packard came up with the part at the end about the MTC.

No experience, for bad or for good, is a waste if you learn from it.

Elder Leavitt lamented about all the time he had wasted being disobedient and this, by revelation, is what I told him.

We're not in the good lesson business, or the good OYM business. We're in the good people business. This work isn't about building areas it's about building you.

I said this frequently to Elder Curl when he wanted me to just talk to people instead of him.

Meaningful service is not measured by the amount of physical exertion, it's measured by how much you actually want to help. It's not loading up a barrel of apples to impress your mom, it's caring enough to want to make your companion's bed.

This story happened back home when I was trying to get out of being grounded. I filled up a big barrel of apples and Mom pointed out how that didn't help her at all.

No matter how many times you go fishing you won't keep your catch if your net is broken. No matter how many people you baptize, never leave an area without helping them become more effective.

President Hinckley said this in his talk, "Find the Lambs, Feed the Sheep." I've always felt this way about missionary work.

Remember the last time you messed up. What happened the next morning? You woke up. Remember the last time your performance was outstanding. What happened the next morning? You woke up. Don't stop the future from constantly being better.

I said this in a district meeting in Ephrata when the district members were being pretty hard on themselves.

Righteous seekers of truth think "I just need to be better." Those who study the Atonement think "I can try to be better." Those who understand and apply the Atonement declare, "I can be better."

"I just need to be better" was my catchphrase with Elder Christensen. As my understanding grew, my idea became this phrase.

Prepare for the worst; expect the best to come. In every situation prepare yourself for the worst case scenario; then, move forward exercising faith, expecting the best no matter the outcome.

Mom told me this when I ran for Student Body President. It transformed into a real solid statement regarding faith throughout my mission.

If you want something you've never had you have to do something you've never done.

Elder Collier said this during one of our first companionship studies in Altoona.

Studying for your investigators does not mean you ignore what comes to your mind in order to focus on a lesson plan. Studying for your investigators means you try to figure out how the things that come to your mind apply to them.

David O. McKay said "you tell me what you think about when you don't have to think and I'll tell you what you are."

The greatest missionary is a thief. If you're constantly trying to learn from other missionaries you'll never be stagnant. The Lord has blessed others for your benefit. Be teachable. Be an idea sponge.

Elder Bradley Nilsen said this when he came on exchange with me and Elder Curl.

Doing a good deed daily is like peeing your pants. Everybody can see what you've done but only you can feel the warmth.

The Stake Young Men's President in the York Stake said this. I thought it was funny.