I never wore a watch before my mission. I never felt like I needed one. I would use the clocks around my house, around my high school, on my car dashboard. If I went to a meeting or athletic training I didn't check the time throughout; it was over when it was over.
But my Grandpa Chuckles insisted that I needed a watch as a missionary. Of course, he was right. Having never been a missionary, I had no idea.
He took me to Provo Towne Mall and walked me over to the G-shock booth and asked me which one I wanted. They were all so expensive, so I picked the cheapest one. He was wise enough to see through this ploy, however, and hassled me until I told him which one I actually wanted.
I think that watch was close to $200. I couldn't express my gratitude. It was one of the greatest gifts I had ever been given.
I entered the MTC a week later. And on the second day, I took it off to play basketball in the gym, and left it there. I didn't realize until after lunch, while Elder Martinez and I were walking to a workshop for new missionary arrivals.
Upon realizing I had lost my watch, I insisted that we hurry over to the gym and get it. Elder Martinez protested: we would be late. I dismissed his concern and took off toward the gym complex. Because missionary rules dictate that you might always been within sight and sound of your companion at all times, Elder Martinez was forced to follow.
We arrived at the gym to learn that all lost-and-found items were sent to the administration building. I insisted on going there immediately.
"What about the workshop?" Elder Martinez asked.
"There are dozens of missionaries there. Nobody will notice we're not there."
Which, by the way, turned out to be correct. No one even noticed our absence. However, my reasoning was far from correct. My actions were not justified by this fact.
So we went to the front desk of the administration building. Who then sent us to the second floor, who then sent us to a desk by the mailroom, and so on. To make a long story short, by the time we had exhausted all avenues, the workshop we were supposed to be at was over, and my watch was still lost. The entire time Elder Martinez, whilst assertion his objection, was forced to follow me.
That night, kneeled down for companionship prayer. I prayed, and I asked the Lord to help me find my watch. After the prayer, Elder Martinez looked me in the eye, and asked sternly, "Why would the Lord help you find your watch when you've been disobedient?"
I didn't have an answer.
Later that night, in my personal prayers, I asked the Lord's forgiveness for my disobedience. I asked him to, through his mercy, help me to find the watch, despite my error. And I promised him, then and there, that I would be completely obedient, to the best of my ability, for the remainder of my mission.
The next day, during a meeting, our MTC branch president, President Krueger, taught us this:
"Obedience brings blessings. Exact obedience brings miracles."
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