6/30

Letter to the young men in our stake:
Knowing what I know now I wish I had better prepared myself to be a missionary by:

1. Consistent Daily Scripture Study. Even if you do it early in the morning before school or just before you go to bed at night. Even if you are falling asleep on your scriptures every time you try to study, it is so important to set a goal for yourself to finish the book of mormon and to read consistently everyday to be able to reach your goal. If you really don't have time some days, then read at least one page. I know that every single page of the book of mormom is inspired scripture and we can learn from it if we are open to the spirit. If you get into this habit now, it will bring safety for your soul. It will benefit you greatly for your mission and for the rest of your life.

2. Don't Waste Time. Fill your days doing and learning cool new things. Don't ever pass more than 15 minutes just sitting around doing nothing. Don't take hours to just listen to music or go on the internet. Instead of playing Halo for 3 hours straight, you could ask your mom if there's anything you can do around the house or ask your dad to teach you how to do something cool like changing the oil in the car or fixing your bike. I didn't gain anything from all of the pointless hours I spent listening to music or watching too many movies or video games. If you can't think of anything else to do, make sure you get outside and do some sports and exercise everyday. If you learn to use your time wisely right now it will help you for the rest of your life.