G’day! Its Adam Simpson. The fact that you are reading this probably means you followed me throughout my Mission by reading my weekly emails. If you did, you would know how passionate I was about them! They were an essential part of my experience in Sydney, Australia – without them, my Mission would be lacking greatly in significance and impact. That passion I developed for sharing my experiences led to a passion for gospel writing. That passion led to a talent, and as that talent grew, my passion continued to grow with it. And then, my Mission came to an end! All do. And all missionaries become returned missionaries. I could talk all day about cliché “RM” problems and mindsets, but I’ll spare you the redundancy of doing so. Point is, I would hate to stop writing about the gospel, and I don’t want to let something like moving back home stop me! What better way to keep writing than with a blog?
Now that you all know why I am here, let me actually do some gospel writing.
One thought has circulated throughout my mind upon coming home – how to find joy. I want to discuss this with you, and in doing so, I want to get far beyond the “primary” answers. You know, those answers that are true but not very profound? For example, to find joy, we can pray. We can read the scriptures. We can serve others. Great, those things are all true, but they’re quite general, and upon hearing them, I don’t really have any further, specific direction. How can I do those things effectively? And once I do them, how can I do them better? Maybe some of my thoughts lately can help with this endeavor.
I am currently working at a store in the mall that sells board games, toys and calendars. I love it! One day, as I was fixing a board game that was out of place on the shelf, I glanced around at the people browsing the store, and I was filled with JOY. This wasn’t just an “I’m content” or an “I’m in a happy mood” kind of thing, it was pure joy! The kind that brings tears to your eyes for a moment – the kind I felt at times on my Mission. The joy I felt that moment was the exact same joy I felt throughout my Mission. That shocked me; how was it possible? How could I simply stack a board game on the shelf and feel the same level of joy I felt when I had just spent 11 hours in one day serving and praying for others in Australia? Upon reflecting on this experience, I learned a couple of things:
First, Joy is a GIFT. I have often realized that joy we feel is not something we “earn” by doing something – rather, just like grace, it is something we qualify for if we follow the Savior. It is, in a sense, a biproduct of keeping the commandments. And, as President Nelson brilliantly said a few years ago, “the joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives.” That means joy has nothing to do with things going on around us – or, at least, “little” to do with that. Rather, it is something that comes when we, as Elder Uchtdorf said, “intentionally” choose and follow the Savior. Joy can come whenever and wherever. It can come on a boat, on a plane, in a restaurant, in an alley, with good friends, with strangers, while walking the streets of Sydney, or while stacking the shelves of a board game store. It doesn’t matter where we are or what we are doing, so long as we are keeping the commandments, representing Christ, and remembering Him, because in doing those things, we gain the Spirit, which Spirit bringeth joy.
Second, Joy comes by doing the will of the Lord. A classic Book of Mormon story is that of the Sons of Mosiah and Alma the Younger, arguably some of the greatest missionaries of all time. After much of their toil and strife, they spend a few chapters looking back on all that they have done. In fact, in 4 of those chapters – Alma 26-29 – the word “joy” is mentioned a whopping 27 times! Clearly, they fulfilled the will of the Lord, and miracles came because of it. But my thoughts turn to others in the story – how about King Mosiah? He didn’t go to the Lamanites and convert thousands, but did he not find joy? I’m sure he did by fulfilling what the Lord specifically wanted him to do, which would have included being a righteous king and faithful father. Or Abish? She would have found joy by acting in faith and trying to teach the people, even if it didn’t go as smoothly as she would have liked. Joy, then, is not a general thing, but more specific. We specifically find what the Lord wants us to do, and we do it. During my 2 years as a missionary in Sydney, the Lord had a will for me to teach strangers and help people progress towards baptism. I did that, and found joy. Now, while that purpose remains similar to an extent, I am in a different scenario – for me, working at a board game store. Because I did so diligently, smiled at people, did my best to help my boss and coworkers, and had righteous thoughts, I found joy. We seek the will of the Lord, and when we find it and do it, joy is a promised blessing.
I spoke to a good friend the other day at an Ultimate Frisbee pick-up game. He told me of some advice he received from his mission president right before finishing his mission in Japan. His President told him that when people ask him how adjusting to home life is going, he should say “adjusting to what? I just spent 2 years doing everything that I should in the gospel, and it has made me into an incredible man. Why would I need to adjust to anything other than that?” I found that interesting and insightful. People constantly ask me how adjusting is going. I think that the experience I shared before about finding joy in the board game store tells me that I’m adjusting just fine! If I felt joy in the mission field, why change anything? Yes, I add things like movies, music, and being without a companion, but why change how I thought and felt about the gospel? I am confident that if we are feeling joy, it means we are exercising faith, repenting daily, honoring our covenants, feeling the Spirit, and enduring to the end. And why would we need to adjust from that?
Let us all “discover joy” in our lives as we seek the will of the Lord in our individual, personal lives and do it. This is true even when challenges come. I’ll end with the words of Elder D. Todd Christofferson, a favorite church leader of mine. He says, “as we strive to overcome these challenges with the Savior’s help, it preserves both the joy we feel now and the joy we anticipate.” I know this is true.
Love you all heaps!
Adam Simpson
Now, enjoy a few pictures of me in my first few weeks at home!
So lovely! So insightful! I look forward to reading your first book.
I'm currently reading 'the continuous atonement' by brad Wilcox and you have such a similar writing style to his. I look forward to whatever the future, (or should I say the lord) has in store for you 👍😁
It's so nice to read your writing again. Very well done! :)