Missionary Journal – July 28, 1989
Day 59 of my full-time mission
Area: Layton, Utah (Layton Stake)
Today was a fun day. We did splits with the district leader, Elder Smith. They came over at 10 a.m., and we left here around 11:30 a.m. While we were here, we worked out of the missionary guide and did some pass-off work. I passed off my 20 memorized scriptures then. We had lunch at a member’s home. I kind of felt bad because we just descended upon her, but she was very willing to feed us, and I got stuffed.
After that, we split up. Elder Smith and I went to the mall so I could do some ‘open your mouth’ things for pass-offs. I had to speak with five members and five non-members, asking whether they’d been working with any non-members and whether they’d like to know more about the church, respectively. It was fun. We ran into several interesting people. One guy was completely anti-church and had fallen away from church and said, “Joseph Smith will lead more people to hell than any other man.” I can’t believe someone who was once baptized would say that.
Anyway, that was fun, and I really got into it. We biked over to his apartment around 5:30 p.m. We talked for about an hour there about being missionaries. It was (and is) great to work with a district leader who’s on top of things and could (and can) give me good practical advice. We had a good talk. I’ve learned that I just need to analyze the situations I get put in and do my best with the circumstances – the best that any one person could do.
We had a really terrific dinner appointment. Some people at the home who are Venezuelan natives made dinner for us. It was different, but very good. Apparently, she, the lady of the household, went to Venezuela on her mission and speaks Spanish. It was fun.
Then we raced to get to a stake missionary’s house to go out with him. We had a good talk with a member lady. That area over there is rich. It’s nice to be in neighborhoods like that—it feels more like my home, although I wouldn’t say we’re rich.
We rode back to Smith’s apartment around 9:30 p.m., and my companion didn’t show up with his companion until 10 p.m. Then we talked for an hour. So, Barnson and I rode home in the dark on streets I’m not familiar with, and there’s a steep section down a mountain and then back up between here and there. That was scary in the dark. But we made it, and we’re safe. It’s 11:45 p.m. now, a little late for bed, I guess.
Well, now that my scriptures are passed off, I need to start work on some new ones.
I’m glad I got these pass-offs done today. I’ve only got a ‘resolve concerns’ thing left to do, so I should have my bachelor’s in a week or two.
I’m so happy to be here. I like it a lot.