Dear Sisters and Elders,

I have found that it is generally true that things that make life easier and happier or better in the long run are often harder in the short run. Examples include pushing away the dessert when you want to lose a pound, getting out of bed at 6:30 AM, getting out the door at 10 or 11 AM, or nightly planning when you have worked all day and are ready to quit.

We have been focusing on revelation through goal setting and planning. Planning demonstrates to the Lord that we can be trusted. We as missionaries meet myriads of people every day. When we treat those people carefully and treat the information about them carefully, we demonstrate to the Lord that we can be trusted. There are people praying in their own way to their Heavenly Father for help. They are His sons and daughters too. God is their loving father. How disappointing, even tragic is it when through the spirit one way or another, we as missionaries come in contact with those people and their information is treated casually. How disappointing is it if we as missionaries become casual in our planning and focusing on the needs of those individuals, so that now there are new obstacles that prevent the conversion of those people.

Sisters and Elders in an effort to treat these people carefully, a great day begins with a great planning session the night before. This once again must be a spiritual process that is linked carefully and tightly to the missionary purpose. Have you ever wondered why you as missionaries, are asked to have a planning session at night from 9 to 9:30 PM? The time of the day when you are most tired. The time of the day when you are physically, emotionally and spiritually spent. You may come home on a high with a spiritual experience. You may come home after a very disappointing and discouraging day. And yet, when you are most tired and most prone to give in or give up or give out; When you go that last mile and humbly get on your knees and approach the Lord for help; when you demonstrate by your diligence that you can be trusted; you put yourself in a position where the Lord will bless you. He is bound to bless you. I am confident and feel in my heart, that the Lord is especially merciful to those missionaries. That is when the Holy Ghost often comes most powerfully. If you can get that vision in your minds and hearts, you will become revelatory planners and will work effectively all day every day.

Planning is a life skill. I pray that you will make a decision today to become master planners. That will help you be happy in the long run. That is my goal-to help you become the best missionaries now and the best fathers, mothers, husbands and wives in the future. I love you and I know you can do it. I believe in you!

President Summerhays