Week 5: Live the Gospel

Challenge: Rise above worldly fears and live the Gospel.
Promise: Love will become the governing factor in your life.
Dunn begins with two scenario's of "One" who is not sinning and "Another" who is trying to do good. The psychology behind this (which we just discussed in class a couple weeks ago-- I actually am learning at college : D) consists of three steps in moral belief. The transition between these steps generally occurs naturally as a person ages. Children obey to not receive punishment: "Don't throw a tantrum or you'll be spanked;" slightly older adolescents simply follow the rules because "they're the rules;" and-- hopefully-- adults do good because "it's the right thing to do" or to help someone else. Dunn combines these first two processes into one "founded on fear."
He also gives an example of a Bishop's interview in which the Bishop asks if you would like the hard or easy interview. The easy one asks if you are living the law; the hard one asks if you are living the Gospel. "Living one will keep you out of hell, bu living the other will return you to the presence of God."
One thing he specifically promises is that if you live the Gospel "you will thereby have a particular ability to inspire others." Reflecting on this in context of the mission I will soon be serving and my friends' experiences who are currently serving, I can testify to this. I know and pray that I will be able to live the Gospel well enough in the future to inspire others, through the Holy Ghost, to come unto Christ, and I have seen this ability at work in current missionaries.
This week just happens to be Helaman Residence Halls Mission Week. For this purpose I have been "called" to Ireland Dublin. I am hereby formally accepting the challenge to retire at 10:30, rise at 6:30, dedicate an hour to scripture study every day, and attend as many of the functions of the week as I can (I would dress like a missionary if it weren't so cold haha). Beyond these tasks I will try to spend more time in service and prayer for others around me. I will practice abandoning the confines of fear for the liberty of the Gospel and the embrace of love, and as I do...I hope to be able to focus more on others and inspire a Spirit of obedience to a higher law in others.
I would recommend trying to improve in one area of living the Gospel this week, or whatever you feel you should do to forfeit fear and live the Gospel. Good luck! God bless your efforts!

My Decision

I will post about the next challenge tomorrow, but I just wanted to quickly comment on the last one.
In applying the concept of decision making, I have made one....a big one:
I'M SERVING A MISSION!!!!!!!!
I will submit my papers in January, finish winter semester, and then "forget [myself] and go to work!"