Now On The Square

I've been on Temple Square since Wednesday and I've learned that missionary work isn't that easy. Approaching people isn't that difficult, but figuring out what to say next is usually a problem. A lot of the time they don't want to talk to you in the first place. But, I have a great companion, Sister Guanzon. She is from the Philippines. She is about as quiet as I am so we work well together. She knows a lot about being a missionary (even though she says that I'm training her, which is not true). We've had some neat experiances thus far.
 
We only spend about half of our day on Temple Square walking around and trying to talk with people. The rest of the time in spent in the referral center (RC) calling the referrals that people trust us with and waiting for inbound calls. The RC is hard. Probably about 75% of the time people don't pick up their phones and the other portion of the time they either don't want to talk to you or they're not interested. I'm going to have to learn how to love that portion of my mission. I'm not very good at it yet. We also spend time on the computers chatting with people that "chat with a missionary" on mormon.org. Most people just try to waste our time.
 
On Sunday we have sacrament meeting in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building chapel. It is the most beautiful chapel that I have had sacrament meeting in. This past Sunday was fast Sunday so lots of Sister missionaries bore their testimonies about the truthfulness of this gospel and how it has blessed their lives. It was really an uplifing experiance. One of the things that came to my mind as I was sitting there was Moroni 8:16 which says that perfect love casteth out all fear. I was thinking about that and how if I can feel the love that the Savior has for the people that I talk with, then I won't have to fear talking with them. And if they can feel the love that I have for them, they won't have to fear to learn more. It is so important to love the people you teach.
 
This past Saturday Sister Guanzon and I were on the square and we met Monica who was visiting Salt Lake because her husband was here on business. We approached her and asked if she would like us to show her arround. Much to my surprise (sadly) she said that she would like that. So we took her to the model of the Temple and explained how in the Temple we learn about our purpose in life and what happens after death. She thought that was neat. We also took her to the Assembly Hall and the Tabernacle. In the Tabernacle I did the acoustics demonstration. Just in case some people are wondering (you know who you are) there are pins and a nail at the desk in front of the Tabernacle that we use. The pins are not specially distributed to the missionaries. While she was in the Tabernacle she said that she felt good. I know that it was the Spirit that was touching her heart. We also took her to the Scriptures and Revelation section of the North Visitor's Center and watched a short clip about Joseph Smith and the first vision. I think she liked that. At the end she referred herself and so she's getting a free copy of the Book of Mormon from the missionaries! I could hardly believe it, but God is a god of miracles indeed.
 
On this past Thursday we were all called up to the front of the Temple. One of the sisters that just got off her mission this past Tuesday got married. I've heard stories about how people get married fast after their missions, but I think two days wins for the fastest. She's from Pakistan so I guess it's more understandable since there aren't any temples there.
 
Every day I learn more and more about how to be a more effective missionary. I know that Heavenly Father wants us to be happy and that He loves us. Feeling that love will cast out any fears.