This is the eve of the local College Football rivalry. Where I live, it's University of Utah (Utes) vs. Brigham Young University (Cougars). I know there are others through the United States that have similar games. The media goes as far as to call this a "Holy War". It isn't really a true war, but a mutual opposition. Lines are drawn throughout the state. Newspapers show demographics of which city is for the Utes vs. those for the Cougars. Unsurprisingly, the closer one is to the stadium, the more allegiance lies toward that team.

Since I live much closer to the Utes, you guessed - the red flags, shirts, banners on the cars are more prominent. And since I work in Salt Lake City, a mere 6 blocks from the stadium, it is even more pronounced. But, I guess I'm a rebel since I cheer for BYU in the heart of Ute Country. So, as an experiment today, I wore my nice BYU pullover to work and walked around during lunch. I wanted to see the effects of the blue in a sea of red. :)

The results were mixed. I know I got some stares from people, and jeering. I got "the silent treatment" from a few co-workers who were obviously Utes fans. Did I make a difference to anyone? Did I convince them to change their loyalty? I seriously doubt it. But, what I know what I did was to stand my ground. I wore my BYU jacket and didn't back down from the jeering or the silent stares. 

I have sat through many missionary homecoming talks and I spoken with many. Their mission experiences vary from area to area, but what always caught my attention was the areas that they felt like they accomplished nothing at all. They walked the streets to get some jeering or blank stares. They knocked on doors only to get them slammed into their faces. But they ventured into "lands unknown" because The Lord called them to do that. They come and go in their white shirts and ties or their modest dresses, but they always had their badge on which identified them as a servant of The Lord. Did they make a difference to anyone? Did they convince the people to come unto Christ? They may never know. The seed was planted on hard ground, but there is a chance that the tears of their trials might fall upon the hard ground, giving the seed a chance to take roots. It is through humility and tears of true sorrow, that can change a person.

In the Book of Mormon, the story of the sons of Mosiah is one of my favorite missionary stories. Those brothers who started out to persecute the church, their marvelous conversion and great missionary experiences show how a person can change. Their faith excels as they listened to the Spirit to guide them where they would have success. And even when they were thrown in prison, captured, and faced the unknown, they had a positive disposition. They had complete trust in The Lord to help them. By their examples, many - whose spiritual ground was hard, became softened that they became receptive to what they had to say. Conversions happened, lives were changed.

We can use these examples in our everyday life. We will encounter those who mock us, who give us the silent treatment, and those the fight to destroy the church. If we exercise faith in The Lord even in the face of the unknown, strive to have the Holy Ghost as our constant companion, place our complete trust in The Lord, and strive have a positive disposition on life - we will be noticed. It may begin as King Lamoni did when he noticed Ammon and his willingness to obey and become a servant. Notice Ammon did not preach until the "ground" was ready to plant the seed. And when questioned, he answered the Kings questions. Ammon and his brother did make a difference in unfamiliar territory. We can truly become better member missionaries and help to turn the hard ground into pliable, soft soil - where the seed can be planted to take root. Just as those missionaries, we may never see the result of what we do, but at least the seed has been presented, waiting for the ground to receive it.

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