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This episode we talk with Elder Ryan McDowell, a returned missionary who served an "unconventional" mission during the COVID-19 pandemic. The episode delves into the principle of choosing to be "hot" (committed and active) over "cold" (rejecting the spirit) or "lukewarm" (indifferent and passive), a central theme highlighted by scriptures from Revelation and First Kings.
The episode traces Ryan's journey and the pivotal choices he made:
• Foundation in Tragedy: Ryan's initial "hot" choice stemmed from a personal tragedy: his mother's ten-year battle with stage four metastatic breast cancer, which she succumbed to when he was about to turn 19. This profound sadness challenged his passive faith and led him to consciously and deliberately feast upon the words of Christ, especially the Book of Mormon, often reading until 3:00 AM. This experience replaced his sadness with joy, peace, and the Holy Ghost, lighting a spiritual fire within him.
• Embracing an Unconventional Assignment: Called originally to Spain, Ryan was reassigned to the Minnesota Minneapolis mission for 18 months due to COVID-19. Despite the disappointment and the challenging circumstances (no in-person proselyting, not entering homes for 11 months), Ryan chose to serve with an enthusiastic, faithful attitude, determined to make his time in Minnesota "worth it" and "build his mission out of bricks," leaving nothing "on the table".
• Overcoming Lukewarmness in the Field: Initially, Ryan admits he slipped into a "passive lukewarm state" for about 12 weeks due to the lack of traditional proselyting methods and his trainer's indifference. However, witnessing another elder's diligent work ethic helped him snap out of it, realizing he "had tasted the bitter and wanted the sweet". He then creatively adapted by utilizing social media and paid advertising to identify and reach people genuinely interested in the gospel, even leading to a baptism.
• Deepening Relationships in Spain: For the last six months of his mission, Ryan finally served in Spain. Here, he made another crucial "hot" choice: investing significant time in building deep, loving relationships with members, not just using them as tools. This deliberate focus on nurturing connections with "lukewarm" youth and members led to a "perfect victory": a photo showing 17 people, including a family of nine, being baptized or reactivated, all supported by the strong network of members Ryan had loved and served.
The episode concludes by emphasizing that Ryan's ability to consistently make "faithful choices" at every crossroads was founded on his initial decision to "feast upon the words of Christ," which ignited his spiritual momentum and allowed him to serve with "no regrets," bringing immense joy.
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