August 23, 2020

 Last week I didn't get to talk to Elder Trezise on Monday because my Skype wasn't working.  I thought he didn't try to call but I guess for some reason I was signed out.  Anyway...he called on Thursday - we got it figured out and was able to speak with Max for a long time.  It made my heart happy for them to talk for so long.  Here is his letter for the week:

Hey family, 

I've been thinking a lot about what I want to email about. About what I want to say, and I haven't been able to come up with anything good. I have no idea what to say or write here. 

So I figured I'd just write about some cool stuff I studied this week. I was able to listen to a talk given by a man named Hyrum Smith called, "Goal Setting and High Moral Values." In it he talks a lot about the importance of setting goals, and how to set goals. He explains that less than 3% of the united states citizens have written, concrete goals that they are working towards. And because of that, many people feel out of place in their lives. Goals give us something to move towards. They help us stay focused and determined on a point. They are not the end itself, but they are the means to the end. 

 

He goes on to give a story of a group of priests he had in his ward earlier in his life. He had been called as the "Explorer Group Leader" for his calling, and was so excited to teach the Priests about what's out in the world. He showed up his first night there, and there were 5 priests, who seemed indifferent to his arrival. He introduced himself to the priests, explaining that he was born and raised in Hawaii, and asked them if they'd like to go to Hawaii next summer? He said it'd take some work but they could save up and go. The priests laughed and mocked him, and dismissed the idea. He was blown away. Confused he went to the Bishop, who told him that those 5 priests had gone through 4 other explorer group leaders over the last year, each of them promising a lavish trip, and none of them delivering on it. Well, Brother Smith showed up the next week and told them he was serious about the trip, and that he was going to go next summer. And if they wanted to go, they could. But it would take work. Slowly, over the next few months the priests started putting on fundraisers, doing yard sales, acts of service, farming, etc. Whatever they could do to earn for their trip. Brother Smith also gave out points to them if they did specific things. Things like getting a military haircut, or wearing a uniform to school and church. Well these 5 priests put the work in. They got the haircuts. They worked at it. And slowly, Brother Smith came to realize that there weren't 5 priests. There were 17 of them. 12 were inactive. As they saw their friends at school with their haircuts and their uniforms, and wanted in on the project. Over the course of that year these 12 inactive priests were not only re-activated, but transformed. He instilled diligent work, and determination into these 17 young boys. They worked and worked and worked for their trip. And he made each of them memorize a short poem. It was their ticket onto the plane. 

 

The poem goes as follows;

"There is no chance, no fate, no destiny;

That can circumvent, or hinder, or control;

The firm resolve of a determined soul." 

When the time came, one by one these young men in their uniforms and with their haircuts went up to the flight attendant, recited the poem, and stepped on the plane. 

 

The story continues after that, but that's the point I wanted to stop at. That poem has been one of my favorite things I've gotten out of my studies this week. And that story is such a good example of its truth. There is nothing that we cannot do. Yes, some things are harder than others, but we are children of God. With divine potential woven into our very beings. We have the capabilities to do anything we want to do. If we want it bad enough. And that's the key. Determination. Determination to reach the goals we set. Determination to accomplish our dreams. And I've seen that so much since I've been out here especially. 

 

So whatever your dreams are. Whatever your aspirations may be, go out and reach them. Write them down. Work towards them. And do it. I know you can. 

 

I love each of you and am grateful for the support you've given me while I've been out here. I'll see you guys soon. :) 

-Elder Trezise