Elder Tyson Dawson: Week 54 in the Field - Elder Perez, Rejection, and Charity

Weekly Letter November 2nd 2015

Hey guys, I hope everyone has had a great week.

This week I was sad to see Elder Jepson and Hebberth leave the area. Both of them went to Zone 18 which is one of the most dangerous parts of the mission. They should be fine there though.

My new companion is Elder Perez from Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. He has 16 months in the mission and is really easy-going. I am now the Zone Leader1/ Lead Zone Leader in my zone. I'm glad to have this additional responsibility and I'm glad to be here with Elder Perez.

This week we were happy to find 8 new investigators and set 4 new baptismal dates with people. We were sad to lose a family of investigators, to whom we had given two copies of the Book Of Mormon last week. When we showed up on Saturday they returned the Book Of Mormon in a plastic bag, saying that it wasn't for them. A first for me on my mission. I'm glad to live and serve in a country where we normally face very little rejection.

This week we celebrated Halloween in the States and the people here celebrated the Day of the Dead. The celebrations normally take place in cemeteries and we don't have a cemetary in our area so we saw very little celebrating. Attendance at church was very low due to the fact that many were with their families. I did learn that here in the capital rich people sometimes celebrate Halloween. In malls they also give candy away to kids and Halloween decorations are sold at Walmart, all of the costumes and masks and inflatable pumpkins and stuff.

I came across an interesting scripture this week that I'd like to analyze a little bit in this letter. The scripture is found in the Doctrine and Covenants and reads:

"And above all things, clothe yourselves with the bond of charity, as with a mantle, which is the bond of perfectness and peace."

I love the use of the symbol of a mantle in this scripture. A mantle symbolizes power and authority. Thus, in the story of Elijah and Elisha, Elisha inherits the mantle of the former and straightway uses the article of clothing to divide the rivers of the Jordan River. Like a mantle, charity grants us with spiritual power.

Joseph F. Smith contrasts the symbol of a mantle with the symbol of a shell. The former is warm and soft while the latter is hard and cold. Although they both serve as a covering, yet they are very opposite in their connotations.

The prophet teaches:

"The cultivation of kindly thoughts and sentiments towards others is always helpful...to lift ourselves out of our own shells in which, by our surroundings and habits of thought, we are encrusted, and place ourselves in the positions which others occupy in life."

If we cover ourselves with the shell of our own happiness we will always be looking in. Others will see us as cold, hard, and encrusted. However, if we take upon ourselves the mantel of charity we will be looking outwardly. Others will see us as warm, soft, and tender. We will be enveloped in the powers of heaven. Thus, the Lord's constant invitation to soften our hearts rather than harden them.

"The test, then," teaches Joseph F. Smith, "of our soul's greatness is rather to be sought in our ability to comfort and console, our ability to help others, rather than in our ability to help ourselves and crowd others down in the struggle of life."

"Kindness is the essence of greatness," teaches Joseph B. Wirthlin, "and the fundamental characteristic of the noblest men and women I have know. Kindness is a passport that opens doors and fashions friends; it softens hearts and molds relationships that can last lifetimes."

My invitation to you is to throw upon yourself the mantle of charity. Emblazen everything you do with a stamp of kindness. Look out, not in. Clothe yourself with power and speak with the tongue of angels.

Certainly I too need to work on being more charitable. To achieve this goal, I have tried to follow the counsel of Moroni who said:

"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God, that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure."

I love you all, have a fantastic week.

-Elder Dawson