You Just Never Know

I want to retell a story that a less active shared with us during a visit with her... She told us how she had run into major car troubles years back. One breakdown was so severe that she couldn't even drive to the mechanic shop but instead had to call him to come up to her home to see what he could do. When he arrived he began assessing the situation and during typical southern small talk the conversation turned to religion and he asked her which church she attended. She responded saying she was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. While many Tennesseans would respond with a huff and maybe even refuse to offer service, this man looked at her and told her that he knew a Mormon man who lived down in Chattanooga (this man she said just so happened to be a former stake president) She had told him previously that she was not in the position financially to pay for many more car repairs, but with this new knowledge of where she attended church he said that because he knew this man in Chatt and that he was an honest and good man and a Mormon that he believed her to be that as well: good and honest. He then offered from that time on to fix her car for free, whenever needed, she only needed to pay for parts.

Sitting there listening to this I was struck so hard at the realization of the effect a righteous example can have on others. I have always loved the idea of trying to be what I like to call an "unexpected example" someone who is an example without knowing it... but this story added further insight to that... I understand that my life and the way others see me, affects their opinions of the Church. BUT it can also affect the way others respond to people who claim to share my same beliefs, not only negatively but for GOOD. I feel like I have known that people who are hypocrites can influence peoples' perceptions negatively, however thinking about it in the reverse blew my mind. Perhaps the most intimidating yet greatest part of that realization is what I titled this whole schpill:  You Just Never Know. I'm convinced a lot of what missionaries do can't be measured. Hearts we touch, smiles we bring, spirits we lift, questions we provoke, motivation we stir, you can't put a  number on it and ultimately YOU JUST NEVER KNOW!

To illustrate I want to share a few instances from this past week that I really don't know what the end result will be.

I have mentioned before about our investigator who came up with a list of contradictions about the Book of Mormon and the Bible... the same woman who is the wife of a Baptist preacher. The same woman who listening to her seemingly endless biblical knowledge had me sunk in my chair feeling intense humility and insufficiency. We returned to her home this past week, and long story short we won't be returning any time soon. She said that she had read what we had committed her to read (Alma 32) she had gotten really caught up in verse 13 where it says "the same shall be saved" her idea of, and our idea of salvation are vastly different. Here in the south it is not uncommon to be asked if "we've been saved", in True to the Faith it spells out that the answer to the question is "Yes, WITH CONDITIONS" our perception of salvation is something to be worked for, not a one time event. (Flashback to a letter I wrote a few weeks ago, salvation is a PROCESS) We did our best to explain the gospel of Jesus Christ which involves Faith in Jesus Christ, Repentance, Baptism, and Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost and Endurng to the End. However she is firm in her belief that once you recognize Christ in your life that you turn over to Him your sins and He gives you His righteousness and that is all you need... that there will be consequences but you can know you have been saved. Which is partially true, the first step of the gospel of Jesus Christ is faith in Him and the second is repentance, we can know from having faith in Him and changing to become more like Him will be what saves us. Where we differ in our beliefs is the neccessity for baptism as part of salvation and the part that makes it a continual process and not a one time event: Enduring to the End. We ended up agreeing that her and the two of us are very much in the same position, we each believe we have the truth and the other (using her words) is "deceived." It was a sad conclusion to make, to thank her for her time and say that there wasn't much else we could do for her but to call us if she had any more questions in the future. Fortunately she is a very good woman and throughout every visit and lesson has been nothing but civil, loving, and almost motherly in her care for us. She asked us for our first names and also wrote down what our favorite scriptures in the Bible and the Book of Mormon are. It was hard to walk away and she even voiced that she was sad to see us go. (we were like: then even more reason to leave so she can hopefully recognize the absence of the Spirit when we left!) but ultimately I truly feel that in the future because of her sincere faith and intense desire to know truth that she will accept the gospel, whether in this life or the next... YOU JUST NEVER KNOW

I have heard every ward has one, and Rockwood is no exception, there is a stubborn old man that we affectionately call our "eternigator" he has investigated for a long time, comes to church with his wife (who is in the primary presidency), and he is actually going to teach the Gospel Principles class next week... interesting right? Anyway, we were over at dinner at his and his wife's home and we decided as part of our message to ask about his story. How he began coming to church and where his current beliefs stand. It was so eye and heart opening to hear from him, he was more sincere than I have ever before witnessed. I will openly admit that I have struggled in learning to love this man. He reminds me of "Uncle Si" from Duck Dynasty except cynical and mean... but after this lesson with him my heart decided to make room for him, and it was a humbling and happy realization. As we left, his wife hugged each of us and with tears in her eyes whispered into my ear: "Thank you both, I think that really got to him..." My response is: YOU JUST NEVER KNOW

About every week or at least every other week we have been stopping by the house of a less active woman that has yet to answer her door. However, that being said we have talked to her. Not over the phone like you may think, but actually through the wall. We will walk up the steps knock on the door and hear her yell "WHO IS IT!?" through the wall! We respond as friendly as possible "It's the sister missionaries!"  she invariably shouts back, "WHO?!?!" we repeat louder "IT'S THE SISTER MISSIONARIES!" then she responds with a different excuse each time, and we leave a note, a passalong card, and a promise that we'll come back another time. Which we do. I always crack up because I think we would really be a sight to any passerby who happens to see us standing on her porch yelling through the wall next to the door. But who's to say that in the future our persistance doesn't open her mind to answer the door or inspire her to talk to a ward member that sees her in the grocery store, YOU JUST NEVER KNOW!!!!

It's true what I have repeated: YOU JUST NEVER KNOW!  "I" just never know, "you" just never know, but I find comfort knowing that Heavenly Father ALWAYS knows. He knows what I will do, say, become, fail, think, whine about, find strength in, connect with, understand, misunderstand. He knows that about each and every one of us. He sees the big picture. Elder Neal A. Maxwell once said, "God lives in an eternal now, where the past, present, and future are constantly before Him. He knows the end from the beginning. God is fully able to do His work."
He sees the big picture and He uses us to do His work, we who are incapable people He increases our capacities into more than we could ever imagine. I never imagined the growth I would experience while out here, yet it has happened little by little, day by day, week by week, month by month. And it is happening in the lives of others that I have come in contact with. I may not be able to see it, may not be able to measure it, I may not know it's happening. But He does. And that is what I rely on.

I hope you all have a blessed week and keep in mind that YOU JUST NEVER KNOW what kind of influence you can have in the lives of others. You don't have to be a stake president, relief society president, or set apart missionary, you just gotta be you and know that Heavenly Father will work with what you give Him: your will.
I KNOW Y'ALL HAVE INFLUENCED MY LIFE, FOR THE BETTER!
Don't you doubt it nor forget it!
Love,
Hermana Hall