Bucket List

Washington DC Temple. Photo from http://lds.org/church/temples/washington-dc?lang=eng

One of the many incredible things I have learned from my friend Sarah Anderson is to casually testify of gospel things at work - slip it into conversation, don't avoid the subject...that kind of thing.

It is never contrived. She just mentions something she did at church, or that she went to the temple, or that she went visiting teaching...just as she would if she were speaking to a member of the church.

I am the kind of person who, to avoid getting too personal will not speak of gospel things. I naturally want to talk about them because the church is a large portion of my experience, but I just have avoided it. Things changed when I worked at UNM and got to have lunch with Sarah everyday. I witnessed her subtle missionary work. She never pushed it on anyone, but everyone knows who she is. They know she is LDS, they know she really loves the church and that she serves regularly. Many people asked questions. One of the doctors who had been inactive since her youth, approached her about the church and has now returned to full activity including going through the temple. Sarah is a Celestial girl.

In emulation of her wonderful example, I have incorporated gospel stuff into everyday conversations ever since. I'm not as cool as her, but it is an effective practice. I have been able to testify of truth, answer questions, etc.

So, I was chatting with a co-worker of mine whom I don't know well but had the opportunity to work with for the first time. She is really nice. We were talking about the meeting we had at work and discussing previous work experiences. She said she had worked at the children's hospital in D.C. She talked about the different patient groups she worked with there and cost of living and all that.

Then, I said these exact words, "That's a beautiful city. We have a temple there." That's it, nothing else.

She got kind of excited and asked if I had been there. I said, "No, but it's on my bucket list." She said the greatest thing: "It should be on everybody's bucket list. I will never forget the feeling I had when I first saw it." HOW COOL IS THAT?

We then discussed how it rises from the road when you go around a bend and how they had to change the facade because people were getting in wrecks because it was so distractingly beautiful. We talked about it for a full 10 minutes.

ANYWAY! Small, but choice experience. Try it today. Don't hide who you are. Just slip it in, I really have never had a negative experience doing it. The great thing is, if the person is unitiated or uninterested, they just keep talking about whatever they're talking about. BUT, sometimes, it clicks and they start asking questions or mentioning great LDS people they know. It is a wonderful thing.

For more info, see this fabulous website:

http://mormon.org/faq/church-and-temple/