Runner's High

So this week I started running again and I think there is an analogy with running that can be very applicable to missionary work and life. So I was thinking about it and if you like running and have done it for a while then you have probably reached that runner's high before. The first couple times you run or in the beginning when you are just starting out it is hard to get to that runner's high. You try super hard and maybe at like 3 miles in you just stop because you can not push any more and never really do reach that high. I think that this can be very applicable to the gospel because there are a lot of members and investigators who never actually reach that runner's high. Their road blocks can be many things, but until they keep pushing through the hardest time of the run they can not get to that high they are chasing. That is why I think that a lot of people fall away from the church because they get to the difficult part of the run or journey and they just quit, but that is when the missionaries and members need to be there to pull them through that difficult part. Think of the times that you have been running alone or with other people. How much easier is it to keep running when you had someone else running with you? So don't think that when they become active again or just get baptized or are regularly coming to church our work is done. We need to be the person that goes and befriends someone that is feeling lonely and bring help them to reach that runners high or what I am going to say now is that spiritual high. Sometimes it is hard to reach, but when we really try to do the Lord's will we will be able reach the spiritual high and get through the most difficult part of the run. This doesn't mean that the run still won't be hard. We still have to keep running, but we have already gotten through the hardest part and learned lessons from that. So when we start running the next time we will be able to feel that spiritual high again. This is just something I have been thinking about because me and Elder Christensen have been getting up and running lately. The other day I wanted to see how fast I could run a mile and I ran one in 5:57. I was surprised because that was the first time I have ever broken the 6 min mile. 

Other than that I have started reading the Book of Mormon on faith and am loving it. If you want a topic to read about it really is a good one. There are a lot of instances in 1st Nephi where there is faith shown and when faith is not shown. I really loved studying the difference between faith and knowledge because Lamen and Lemuel had a lot of knowledge, but no faith, and that is why they fell. I would say that faith is probably the most important principle because it leads to everything else.

I know that the church is true and if you have never felt that spiritual high it is probably because you have never pushed through the difficult times. It is when we try our faith and push through that we feel it the Savior's presence the most. If there were no trials we would never grow. I love you all and have an amazing week. 

Elder Sproul