Entry Thirty Two: Grinding Eight Days a Week

August 25, 2025

Entry Thirty Two: Grinding Eight Days a Week

Would you look at that: another week has passed. How strange. Well, I hope you all are doing fantastic! We began a new transfer this week, and we’re already on the grind!

However, I must preface this with the harsh reality of our PMG app. We got basically nobody in our teaching pool right now, and the guy that we do have- we love him, but he’s a bit paranoid and slightly schizophrenic. But he’s been loving church, and we’ll see how things turn out with him. So, in the meantime, it’s grind time to go out and find! 💪😤🔥 (although the people here are tough and no one is really interested in meeting with us 😭)

It’s been a great week though! Our district exchanged last P-day (cuz why not) and unexchanged at transfer calls, which was a really fun experience. As you can probably tell, I’ve stayed in Jamestown, but I got a new comp: Elder Reed! He’s a 🐐 fs. It’s funny, literally 2 days in the transfer he brought out his Magic the Gathering decks and I was able to try it out for the first time. It’s a good game, and I’m definitely gonna play with @lexieandjoshhardy when I get back (and I’m gonna win 😈).

Other than all that, my studies have been fantastic this week! Some revelation came to me as I was studying my patriarchal blessing, specifically on principles. I was immediately reminded of the famous quote by Joseph Smith,

“Teach them correct principles and they will govern themselves.”

The realization I had is that Christlike attributes are simultaneously principles we live by. So, if we want to develop the attribute of humility (for example), we can apply the principle of “I acquire my strength from trusting in God.” As we remind ourselves of this principle throughout our day, these thoughts will become our words, our words will become our actions, our actions our habits, our habits our character, and our character our destiny.

It takes time to condition ourselves to think this way, but when we get there, there will be power in our words. As my mission president has told me time and time again, faith cannot work without a belief in ourselves. We can talk ourselves into defeat, or we can talk ourselves into victory. As we abide by the Savior’s principles, the only natural course we can expect to follow is to become more like him. To live as he lived and love as he loved. I testify to you all, that Jesus is willing to help us every step of our mortal and eternal journey. His principles are the way, especially that of faith in him, repentance, living baptismal covenants, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. I say these things in the name of Christ, amen!

On this day of joy and gladness, Lord, we praise thy holy name! In this sacred place of worship, we thy glories loud proclaim! Alleluia! Alleluia! Bright and clear our voices ring! Singing songs of exultation to our Maker, Lord, and King!

I seriously love you all! I look forward to writing to y’all every week! I hope that you find a renewed sense of joy and have a spring in your step!

-Elder Clayton

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