Missionary Blog 1970

 April 19, 1970

                      

I’m now a District Leader Companion in Kent.  My companion is Elder M.B.  He’s quite a fellow.  It seems as though his mission has changed him somewhat.  Nonetheless, he’s still very liberal.  Elder B. is a serious thinker.  He is highly critical and examines things closely.  I doubt that he accepts anything at face value.  He is really concerned about missionary work.  The Lord’s work is important. He came on a mission because a girl he liked wanted a Returned Missionary.  He wanted to be the type of guy she would want.  Since then he has dedicated himself to the Lord’s work.  He admits to his own weaknesses, but still maintains his goals.  I believe he’s attaining a great deal of humility. Elder B. is extremely perceptive, extremely sensitive. 

 

In development meeting on Tuesday we read The Little Prince.  We talked on goals and “matters of consequence.”  Right now I am seriously wondering: what is success? Where should my goals be? What are “matters of consequence” in missionary work?  I am terribly ambitious—even “overbearing.” Now I’m trying to set realistic goals and work at an efficient rate.  Already I have the reputation as an unfairly hard worker. (another “machine”?)  I know success on a mission is not constituted by numbers or offices held.  It is something “within.”  Yet, I must know where I want to go. (I want to be DL by next January.)  I need something to measure my progress.  I know I have the administrative talents.  Do I have the personal maturity  to handle people properly?

 

Goals have been the subject of a great deal of discussion and controversy lately.  Goals are necessary—they give one direction and should spur him on to optimum achievement.  They must be clear cut and understandable.  They cannot be too easy to attain lest a person not work his best.  When the goal is set too high a man cannot meet it.  Thus, he falls short and fails.  To fall short of a goal is to fail; even if the goal was an unrealistic one.  As goals are consistently out of reach one loses confidence in his abilities.  So, goals must be set wisely—not to low; high enough to cause a man to reach, but not so high that they can never be attained.  Setting goals; consider three things—current prospects, past performance, personal abilities.

 

Elder Mc. and I had a good chat on Wednesday.  He aske me if I were taking Fridays off!!! News travels quickly in the mission!  He cautioned me not to be a work horse.  Elder B. has also reminded me of the importance of balance.  It seems to me Andy Kimball* gave an excellent talk on balance before I left on my mission. Elder Mc. Told me as I kept my goals within reach, I’d be happier and more successful.  Elders who set their goals too high often fail, then become discouraged, and then underachieve.  Apparently Elder Mc. was once a very strict missionary –( now he’s just strict!) At any rate he told me he had loosened up enough to get better results.  It’s part of that balance.  We talked about our conversion to the gospel.  He too is a convert….a Presbyterian!  We will have to get a chance to talk to each other.

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**Andrew Kimball (1927-2020), Son of President Spencer W. Kimball, was a High Priest in the Short Hills Ward, the first building in New Jersey. This was the ward that supported Bill on his mission. 

 https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/deseretnews/obituary.aspx?n=andrew-kimball&pid=195022742&fhid=13417

Andrew Kimball