Basically Just a Big Spiritual Thought

This week was awesome! Yesterday, we literally walked up hill for a mile in the dark, in the rain, in our suits, without an umbrella just to contact a referral that wasn't home! I felt like a real missionary! :)

I had the best study about Agency the other day!

"Reinforcement" is a psychological term that means:

If you choose to do something, and receive a positive outcome, you are reinforced to choose that thing again.

(for example: if you choose to study for a test, and get a good grade, you are more likely to study in the future because you enjoyed the outcome)

Alternatively, if you choose to do something and get a negative outcome, you are less likely to do that again.

God's Plan for our Salvation involves the freedom to make our own choices. (Good and Bad)

Essentially, whether we choose good or bad, we should ALWAYS learn SOMETHING. It should teach us whether we want to make that choice again based on the outcomes we see from it.

In essence, the more choices you make, the more you will learn.

Satan has always sought to destroy our agency. He doesn't just want us to choose poorly. He wants us to not choose at all!

His plan for our salvation was for us to just be idle. Not making any choices! We literally wouldn't learn anything because we can't learn from our mistakes OR successes.... which would never have worked.

That's why he wants us to sleep in through studies... more time sleeping and less time choosing. That's why he wants us to drink alcohol. If we're addicted, the choice is made for us... That's why he wants us to watch TV all day. More time zoning out and less time CHOOSING!

I hope to apply this principle more frequently with Elder Struve. I fear sometimes that I make too many of the choices for the both of us. I've been making an effort this last week to let him make more of the important decisions and then to analyze the results with him to decided if it would be worth repeating. It seems to be really helping him so far, and I'm going to continue with that strategy. Thanks Doctrine and Covenants!!

Fin.

Besides all of that, we had a great week! Tons of blessings. We still haven't done our street performing yet. We're working with the members of the ward to see if we can do a "joint effort" thing. Recently we've decided to fast and pray for finding a family, and one thing we are going to do is organize a "Primary Missionary Initiative". We figure... Primary kids have friends, and those friends are part of families. So if we can get those families to come to church, we've found a family! We've already spoken to the Primary President and we're working out the details right now. But I'll keep you posted.

Sorry this is so long, it was one of those studies that really affected me, so I was excited about it.

Love Elder Webster