Rounded Edges

This is the start of my last transfer in the mission field. In just a

while I won't be in Texas anymore. That's an awful thought. Mainly

because I won't be a missionary anymore, but also there's a chance

that Idaho will have a snowstorm in the middle of July. It hasn't been

under 70 degrees here since January!

The remainder of my mission will be spent with my camouflaged-hearted

companion in the pleasant towns of Buda and Kyle. He almost wept when

he found out he because this means he's still within walking distance

of a Cabelas. I've never met someone so static. Everything relates

back to guns and hunting. Everything.

Missionary work has been great around here. I've been looking back at

my mission and thinking about the character of a missionary. The Lord

is all about the one. If he has his 99, he will do what it takes to

bring back the one. It's nice to have help out with a lot of baptisms,

and it's nice to find people to teach, but we are to make such a

personal relationship with Christ that He will do whatever it takes to

help anyone overcome the opposition that he has. He waits until we are

ready to listen, but once that happens there's no turning back.

Whether you like it or not, he'll be a part of your life. As

missionaries, we do our best to use our time wisely so we can help

whoever is the most ready.

Friday we were able to attend the wedding of one of our investigators.

Elder P and I were two of the ten people there, not including the

happy couple. It was on a beautiful piece of property and it was great

to see the two of them giddy. It's the second wedding I've been to on

my mission. Weddings are happy times. There is a sacred experience

that all attendants get to be a part of. That is why worthy members

are married in the temple, where you can feel the greatest amount of

peace and concentrate all of excitement and energy into a simply

covenant.

Recently I have been doing much study on the prophet Joseph Smith. It

is astounding. Say what you want about Joseph Smith, but if you were

to pour through the life and history of Joseph Smith, looking at all

the doctrines and discoveries, miracles and trials, etc. I would say

that his character alone is enough evidence that he is a prophet. And

don't even get me started on the Book of Mormon.

I got to talk with my family yesterday. My family is a naturally

unserious and unaffectionate bunch. Well no, they are affectionate,

they just have a strange way of showing it. Definitely not serious

though. I love them for that, because I'm strange as well. Terribly

serious at times, though. Families are special. I love them.

- Elder Richard Hall