WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:00.294 --> 00:00:00.594 Jethro D. Jones: All right. 00:00:00.594 --> 00:00:03.355 Welcome to a decade, never to be Forgotten. 00:00:03.775 --> 00:00:08.595 Um, today we have Savannah Dean who's joining us, and for those of you who 00:00:08.595 --> 00:00:11.955 are new and just hearing this for the first time, I'm Jethro Jones. 00:00:12.135 --> 00:00:15.075 Let me just set up what this looks like. 00:00:15.334 --> 00:00:21.515 Um, this is, uh, based on Elder Stevenson's October, 2024 talk where 00:00:21.575 --> 00:00:24.835 he talked about the next 10 years gonna be a decade, never to be forgotten. 00:00:25.945 --> 00:00:30.245 And so what we're gonna do with Savannah is every year for the next decade, we're 00:00:30.245 --> 00:00:35.605 going to share in the moment what's making this a decade never to be forgotten. 00:00:36.185 --> 00:00:40.845 And, uh, I'm really grateful to Savannah for participating in this. 00:00:40.905 --> 00:00:43.165 So Savannah, thanks so much for being here. 00:00:43.205 --> 00:00:43.845 I appreciate it. 00:00:44.615 --> 00:00:45.745 Savannah Dean: Yeah, thanks for having me. 00:00:46.005 --> 00:00:47.345 I'm super excited to do this. 00:00:48.215 --> 00:00:51.615 Jethro D. Jones: Well, uh, gosh, where do we start? 00:00:51.875 --> 00:00:55.375 You just got back from a mission, and so I think I'd like to start there. 00:00:56.205 --> 00:01:01.535 What are the things you want to remember for in 10 years about 00:01:01.925 --> 00:01:03.255 your experience on a mission? 00:01:05.280 --> 00:01:07.440 Savannah Dean: I think that, um, really the mission is 00:01:07.440 --> 00:01:08.600 just such a great experience. 00:01:08.600 --> 00:01:13.800 Like I learned so much in those 18 months more than I learned probably 00:01:14.020 --> 00:01:18.839 my whole life in those 18 months, just about myself, about the lord, 00:01:18.929 --> 00:01:23.039 about the scriptures, about the gospel, just about so many things. 00:01:23.859 --> 00:01:25.240 So, I don't know. 00:01:25.280 --> 00:01:28.720 I think it's really sad when missionaries like dedicate their whole lives for 00:01:29.039 --> 00:01:32.119 a couple years to go on a mission and after they kind of fall out 00:01:32.119 --> 00:01:34.520 of, out of the, those good habits. 00:01:34.740 --> 00:01:40.199 So one of my goals is really to just, just remember what I've learned and, and 00:01:40.199 --> 00:01:44.520 keep those good habits, keep doing those phone simple things to really springboard 00:01:44.520 --> 00:01:46.799 me into my future to really help me out. 00:01:47.685 --> 00:01:47.975 Jethro D. Jones: Good. 00:01:47.994 --> 00:01:51.255 So what are those small and simple things that you wanna keep doing? 00:01:51.695 --> 00:01:51.815 I. 00:01:52.874 --> 00:01:57.155 Savannah Dean: I think, for example, like reading the scriptures, because before the 00:01:57.155 --> 00:01:59.834 mission, I, I liked the Book of Mormon. 00:02:00.155 --> 00:02:03.315 I I thought it was true, but I just did not understand it. 00:02:03.414 --> 00:02:07.435 So I would read the book Mormon every day before my mission, just like a 00:02:07.435 --> 00:02:11.114 verse before I went to bed, just to like check, check it off the list. 00:02:11.775 --> 00:02:16.875 But, um, I was really nervous in, in the MTC 'cause I was like, oh my 00:02:17.035 --> 00:02:20.595 goodness, I'm going to have to read the scriptures for one hour every day. 00:02:20.605 --> 00:02:22.994 There is no way I can study for an hour every day. 00:02:23.174 --> 00:02:28.315 And I remember telling this to my parents and I just remember in MTCI just prayed 00:02:28.335 --> 00:02:32.035 for the desire to read the scriptures because I really did not enjoy doing it. 00:02:32.535 --> 00:02:37.275 And it was the most amazing experience because, um, in the MTCI just 00:02:37.275 --> 00:02:40.635 decided, okay, I'm gonna buy a brand new book of Mormon and some colored 00:02:40.635 --> 00:02:42.554 pencils and just start it over. 00:02:42.935 --> 00:02:44.755 And I said a prayer that morning. 00:02:45.964 --> 00:02:48.244 I could be able to understand the scriptures. 00:02:48.784 --> 00:02:55.545 And I started reading and that hour flew by so fast and I literally could 00:02:55.545 --> 00:02:57.064 not stop reading the Book of Mormon. 00:02:57.445 --> 00:02:58.144 It was amazing. 00:02:58.504 --> 00:03:01.265 I could not put the book down, which is crazy because I had never 00:03:01.265 --> 00:03:03.744 read it like that before and it just came together like a story. 00:03:04.404 --> 00:03:08.584 And really that experience in the MTC helped me just love the Book 00:03:08.584 --> 00:03:13.285 of Mormon so much and just, just appreciate it and learn so much. 00:03:13.304 --> 00:03:17.404 And I was able to get almost daily revelation from, from that 00:03:17.404 --> 00:03:18.885 throughout my entire mission. 00:03:19.265 --> 00:03:23.124 So I really wanna keep up those good reading habits, not just to check 00:03:23.124 --> 00:03:27.004 it off the list, but to really get something out of it every single day. 00:03:27.765 --> 00:03:29.894 Jethro D. Jones: Okay, so reading the scriptures is one. 00:03:30.085 --> 00:03:31.775 What are some other things that you wanna do? 00:03:32.694 --> 00:03:38.064 Savannah Dean: Um, I think also, um, these are all the, the primary 00:03:38.094 --> 00:03:40.864 answers, but they're really so important, I think praying too. 00:03:42.185 --> 00:03:45.585 I think part of praying that's really important is praying with faith. 00:03:46.365 --> 00:03:51.265 Um, one of my, we had like a zone conference and my mission president taught 00:03:51.265 --> 00:03:52.984 us this one time at a zone conference. 00:03:53.405 --> 00:03:56.345 So when we pray with faith, we're not just asking for things. 00:03:56.605 --> 00:03:59.145 So like, as a missionary, sometimes you ask for like, oh, 00:03:59.145 --> 00:04:00.865 help us to find the chosen people. 00:04:00.895 --> 00:04:05.575 Help us that we can, like put, put someone on baptism date. 00:04:05.575 --> 00:04:07.855 Help us that we can talk to 20 people today. 00:04:08.315 --> 00:04:11.535 But my mission president taught us to, before we leave the 00:04:11.535 --> 00:04:12.734 house, say prayers of faith. 00:04:13.035 --> 00:04:16.815 So instead of saying, please, please help us that we can find 20 people today, we 00:04:16.815 --> 00:04:20.575 would say like, heavenly father, thank you so much for the 20 people that we 00:04:20.575 --> 00:04:24.935 are gonna find today and we're grateful for, for the family that you're gonna 00:04:24.935 --> 00:04:28.655 put in our path and help us, that we can be brave enough to talk to them. 00:04:29.035 --> 00:04:33.495 So we would just kind of change the format of our prayers and that really 00:04:33.495 --> 00:04:39.775 helped me notice more than miracles and kind of rely more on, on God with it. 00:04:40.690 --> 00:04:43.630 So I don't know if it's really made , if this is really making 00:04:43.630 --> 00:04:45.790 sense, but, but instead of 00:04:45.885 --> 00:04:46.105 Jethro D. Jones: is. 00:04:46.660 --> 00:04:49.910 Savannah Dean: yeah, instead of just praying, kinda like wishful thinking. 00:04:50.500 --> 00:04:55.670 It's like applying that faith by like, okay, thank you for the family that 00:04:55.670 --> 00:04:57.350 you're gonna put in our path today. 00:04:57.810 --> 00:05:01.510 And like, we are promising you that if we see a family, like we are gonna do 00:05:01.510 --> 00:05:05.390 our best to go out and talk to them, and then we're gonna see a miracle. 00:05:05.930 --> 00:05:09.310 And sometimes you don't see the miracle right away, but, but I've had some 00:05:09.310 --> 00:05:13.230 pretty cool experiences where, where we have found those 20 people or we 00:05:13.230 --> 00:05:17.270 have talked to that family and even though maybe they didn't get baptized, 00:05:17.270 --> 00:05:19.150 like we, we saw a ton of miracles. 00:05:19.150 --> 00:05:24.600 And I think it was a way for, for us to, or for me to learn how to follow the, 00:05:24.660 --> 00:05:26.800 the promptings of the spirit better. 00:05:27.465 --> 00:05:27.755 Jethro D. Jones: Yeah. 00:05:28.035 --> 00:05:31.275 I want to talk about that a little bit more because we. 00:05:31.955 --> 00:05:39.065 We're taught how to pray, but then we so easily do rote prayers or Thank 00:05:39.065 --> 00:05:40.345 you for this, please bless this. 00:05:40.405 --> 00:05:42.065 And we don't put a lot of thought into it. 00:05:42.245 --> 00:05:49.265 So tell us about some of the experiences that made that, uh, praying with Faith 00:05:49.615 --> 00:05:51.425 come alive and what did that look like? 00:05:52.505 --> 00:05:54.085 Savannah Dean: Mm-hmm . Okay. 00:05:54.985 --> 00:05:55.205 Um, 00:05:57.345 --> 00:05:57.565 yes. 00:06:01.665 --> 00:06:03.205 I'm just like thinking for a 00:06:03.295 --> 00:06:03.915 Jethro D. Jones: That's okay. 00:06:03.915 --> 00:06:04.755 You're allowed to think. 00:06:04.755 --> 00:06:05.315 Take your time. 00:06:11.285 --> 00:06:11.575 Savannah Dean: Okay. 00:06:11.575 --> 00:06:11.855 Yeah. 00:06:11.875 --> 00:06:15.335 So I remember, um, in one of my areas, I just got into a new area 00:06:16.075 --> 00:06:18.175 and kind of a long backstory. 00:06:18.235 --> 00:06:19.255 So I'll just do it really short. 00:06:19.255 --> 00:06:25.055 Basically, I. Um, I had a really hard area early on in my mission and then 00:06:25.055 --> 00:06:29.975 I got transferred out and then a few months later I got the notice that I 00:06:29.975 --> 00:06:33.855 would be re returning to this area, my old area that I did not like. 00:06:33.875 --> 00:06:35.175 And this is not common at all. 00:06:35.175 --> 00:06:38.375 Missionaries rarely go back to the same ward that they already served in. 00:06:38.715 --> 00:06:41.255 So I got the news and I was so devastated. 00:06:41.415 --> 00:06:43.535 I was like, oh my goodness, that area is so hard. 00:06:43.805 --> 00:06:44.495 It's so hot. 00:06:44.595 --> 00:06:45.575 No one there is interested. 00:06:45.575 --> 00:06:47.255 Just like, I do not wanna go there. 00:06:47.915 --> 00:06:52.375 Um, but I, I ended up going there and I wanted to have a really good attitude. 00:06:53.115 --> 00:06:58.335 And I remember the very first day that I was back in the second area, um, 00:07:00.355 --> 00:07:02.815 um, we were just walking down the street and I was trying to have a 00:07:02.815 --> 00:07:03.975 good attitude and talk to people. 00:07:04.275 --> 00:07:07.045 And I talked to someone on the street and they're like, . I remember 00:07:07.045 --> 00:07:08.405 you from like eight months ago. 00:07:08.945 --> 00:07:10.165 I'm still not coming to church. 00:07:10.665 --> 00:07:15.045 And I ran into like, seriously, like eight people my first day back in 00:07:15.045 --> 00:07:18.245 the area that were like, I already know you, like you've invited me. 00:07:18.865 --> 00:07:21.845 So I was just so sad. 00:07:22.405 --> 00:07:25.685 I was just like, how am I gonna be here for a really long time? 00:07:26.485 --> 00:07:27.805 I, I cannot do this. 00:07:28.635 --> 00:07:34.795 Um, so I was, yeah, I was pretty sad and feeling pretty discouraged, 00:07:35.175 --> 00:07:38.875 but that night I just decided that I could not let that get me down. 00:07:39.095 --> 00:07:42.115 And I talked to my companion and we decided that we were going to 00:07:42.265 --> 00:07:44.515 incorporate those prayers of faith. 00:07:45.225 --> 00:07:46.005 And it was amazing. 00:07:46.145 --> 00:07:49.325 We would say these prayers of faith like heavenly father help us, that we can 00:07:49.325 --> 00:07:54.005 talk to 15 people today, or that we can, we can do these things or thank you for 00:07:54.005 --> 00:07:55.725 the 15 people we're gonna talk to today. 00:07:56.385 --> 00:08:01.325 Um, and we just saw such specific miracles come out of that and. 00:08:02.410 --> 00:08:05.350 Um, I mean, there's a, there's a million stories from this transfer 00:08:05.350 --> 00:08:06.670 of people that, that we found. 00:08:06.730 --> 00:08:11.870 But, um, one example is we were just walking, um, we're walking 00:08:12.220 --> 00:08:14.870 down the street and we had prayed to find a family this day. 00:08:15.090 --> 00:08:17.830 So we're walking down the street, down the street that I've walked past a 00:08:18.030 --> 00:08:22.390 thousand times and I've knocked probably almost all the doors on that street. 00:08:23.180 --> 00:08:28.680 And I, I just see this house and I told my ki, I just told my container, I'm 00:08:28.680 --> 00:08:30.940 like, I think we should knock this house. 00:08:30.940 --> 00:08:32.980 And like I asked her, have you knocked this door? 00:08:33.320 --> 00:08:34.140 And she's like, no. 00:08:34.280 --> 00:08:36.460 And I'm like, I'm pretty sure I knocked this door eight months ago, 00:08:36.560 --> 00:08:38.380 but we're just gonna go anyways. 00:08:39.000 --> 00:08:44.700 So we knocked on this door that I had already knocked before and out came a 00:08:44.700 --> 00:08:48.580 mother and her three daughters and they had just moved there a week before. 00:08:49.320 --> 00:08:53.340 And we just shared a really short message just out on the doorstep. 00:08:53.340 --> 00:08:54.100 We got their phone number. 00:08:54.120 --> 00:08:57.980 We asked to come back, um, a couple days later and invited them to church. 00:08:59.195 --> 00:09:03.335 And it was such a miracle because this family came to church and I've 00:09:03.335 --> 00:09:08.335 never met people so receptive and so prepared and ready to hear the gospel. 00:09:09.195 --> 00:09:13.015 And I do believe that we found this family because of the praise of faith 00:09:13.015 --> 00:09:17.015 that, that we had said, because we specifically asked God for their family. 00:09:17.235 --> 00:09:22.455 And, and when the moment arose, we, we decided to follow the 00:09:22.455 --> 00:09:25.095 prompting even though I had already knocked that door before. 00:09:25.275 --> 00:09:30.595 So that really was, was an answer, a direct answer to, to my prayer of faith. 00:09:31.430 --> 00:09:34.590 Jethro D. Jones: Well, and what's so fascinating is on the mission 00:09:35.150 --> 00:09:40.870 specifically, you have these experiences and so much of it is about bringing people 00:09:40.870 --> 00:09:42.950 to Christ and helping them be baptized. 00:09:43.570 --> 00:09:49.430 And yet you probably had this experience that the most, most of the miraculous 00:09:49.430 --> 00:09:54.390 things you saw were not people actually getting baptized, but were answers 00:09:54.450 --> 00:10:01.150 to your own prayers and experiences that were unique to you that, uh, you, 00:10:01.170 --> 00:10:04.390 you said it already, there's a long backstory, so I'll just say it short, 00:10:04.540 --> 00:10:10.270 like there are so many things that are interwoven into these decisions 00:10:10.410 --> 00:10:12.110 and the situations where you're like. 00:10:13.365 --> 00:10:14.625 How can this not be a miracle? 00:10:14.735 --> 00:10:19.265 There's no way for this to be anything but a miracle because of how all these 00:10:19.265 --> 00:10:21.185 other things happened and came to be. 00:10:21.645 --> 00:10:25.945 Was that your experience also, or was that unique to just my missionary experience. 00:10:26.965 --> 00:10:27.814 Savannah Dean: Yeah, for sure. 00:10:27.885 --> 00:10:28.855 It's just crazy to. 00:10:29.745 --> 00:10:33.245 To see that many miracles every, every single day. 00:10:33.465 --> 00:10:33.885 Jethro D. Jones: Mm-hmm 00:10:34.555 --> 00:10:35.695 Savannah Dean: On, on the daily. 00:10:36.075 --> 00:10:40.505 And yeah, it, it's very interesting 'cause like you said, I learned so 00:10:40.505 --> 00:10:44.945 much on my mission, but in the moment I wasn't really thinking about like, 00:10:45.365 --> 00:10:46.705 oh my goodness, I'm learning so much. 00:10:46.765 --> 00:10:48.505 I'm having so many cool experiences. 00:10:49.065 --> 00:10:52.505 I was more just thinking about, oh, the people that we were 00:10:52.865 --> 00:10:54.745 teaching and, and focusing on them. 00:10:55.125 --> 00:10:57.585 And then I feel like more, since I've been back home, I've been 00:10:57.585 --> 00:11:02.565 able to see like growth, the growth that I've had spiritually. 00:11:02.665 --> 00:11:05.525 And it's been, it's been very cool to, to see that. 00:11:05.685 --> 00:11:10.915 'cause it, it happened so gradually and it's not really your focus to build 00:11:10.915 --> 00:11:12.715 your own testimony on your mission. 00:11:12.875 --> 00:11:15.515 I mean, it is, but, but your focus is more on other people. 00:11:15.535 --> 00:11:20.055 But I think that turning outwards really, really helps you grow a 00:11:20.135 --> 00:11:23.575 ton on the inside and see those miracles that God has prepared. 00:11:24.645 --> 00:11:26.775 Jethro D. Jones: Yeah, because he really has prepared them. 00:11:27.115 --> 00:11:32.055 And the other aspect of that, and that's why we're doing this, is that it's easy 00:11:32.115 --> 00:11:37.175 to look back over time and say, oh, yeah, now I can see all those things. 00:11:37.335 --> 00:11:38.535 I can connect all those dots. 00:11:38.995 --> 00:11:43.175 And, uh, in the moment, sometimes it's difficult. 00:11:43.475 --> 00:11:49.095 And so as we talk over the next 10 years, you're gonna go through some major 00:11:49.315 --> 00:11:52.535 trials that are gonna be really difficult and you're gonna feel like there's 00:11:52.535 --> 00:11:54.255 just no way that I can overcome this. 00:11:55.040 --> 00:12:00.180 And yet as you do persevere and continue to overcome them, you are 00:12:00.180 --> 00:12:05.020 going to see, um, the blessings, the miracles, all those things. 00:12:05.440 --> 00:12:09.260 And it's difficult to remember to capture all of that when 00:12:09.260 --> 00:12:10.620 you're in the thick of a trial. 00:12:11.780 --> 00:12:13.080 And so that's why we're gonna do this. 00:12:13.150 --> 00:12:17.360 Even if you, life is difficult, even if you are going through some major 00:12:17.360 --> 00:12:19.800 tragedy, uh, we're still gonna do this. 00:12:20.160 --> 00:12:22.520 I may have to try to twist your arm a little bit 'cause you're 00:12:22.520 --> 00:12:23.520 not gonna want to talk about it. 00:12:24.020 --> 00:12:26.120 But those, those things are valuable. 00:12:26.500 --> 00:12:31.640 And, uh, for the episode that Stacey and I did, um, a a couple episodes 00:12:31.660 --> 00:12:36.040 ago, um, we're going through a trial right now and it's really difficult 00:12:36.180 --> 00:12:40.440 and yet we see all the blessings and all the amazing things that happen. 00:12:41.140 --> 00:12:45.520 So I want to go back to the things that you want to remember to do. 00:12:45.540 --> 00:12:48.120 You said reading the scriptures, praying with faith. 00:12:48.430 --> 00:12:52.480 What else do you want to make sure that you're doing the little things that you 00:12:52.480 --> 00:12:54.440 need to do every day, uh, to go forward? 00:12:55.690 --> 00:12:55.980 Savannah Dean: Okay. 00:12:56.320 --> 00:13:00.700 Um, I think also, I mean, this is more broad, but I think just being productive 00:13:01.010 --> 00:13:05.900 because as a missionary, you literally have every single minute of your day 00:13:05.900 --> 00:13:09.380 planned out from the time you wake up to the time you go to sleep at night. 00:13:10.040 --> 00:13:14.660 And I, I, I love it so much and even sometimes now I just 00:13:14.660 --> 00:13:16.620 like ride out my entire day of. 00:13:17.305 --> 00:13:18.395 Like how I want it. 00:13:18.855 --> 00:13:23.435 And I think, um, maybe a harder part about coming home is just not, not feeling 00:13:23.435 --> 00:13:27.275 super productive, like sleeping in one day and like, oh my goodness, how did 00:13:27.275 --> 00:13:29.075 I waste, how did I waste three hours? 00:13:29.215 --> 00:13:30.595 How did I sleep in until this time? 00:13:30.975 --> 00:13:34.875 But I mean, obviously it's very important to be patient with yourself, but I do want 00:13:34.875 --> 00:13:40.235 to want to stay, stay productive and try and do the most important things first. 00:13:40.555 --> 00:13:43.995 'cause as a missionary, we, we always taught people that, like, people would 00:13:43.995 --> 00:13:47.895 be like, oh, I don't have time to, to read scriptures, or I don't have time 00:13:47.895 --> 00:13:49.215 to go to church or do any of that. 00:13:49.715 --> 00:13:51.335 But really there, there is time. 00:13:51.335 --> 00:13:53.095 We just have to prioritize it. 00:13:53.155 --> 00:13:59.695 So, so I really wanna keep, um, prioritizing, keep my priorities straight. 00:13:59.795 --> 00:14:03.375 And I know it's gonna be really, really hard, especially in the future when 00:14:03.375 --> 00:14:07.615 I get, when I get busier, um, and later down the road and everything. 00:14:07.885 --> 00:14:11.455 Even like when I have kids, I know that's gonna be really, really hard, but. 00:14:12.540 --> 00:14:16.980 I think that is very important to keep your priorities clear and straight. 00:14:17.895 --> 00:14:18.185 Jethro D. Jones: Yeah. 00:14:18.685 --> 00:14:22.345 So how are you doing that now back in school, in college? 00:14:22.805 --> 00:14:25.065 How are you making that part of it work? 00:14:26.310 --> 00:14:26.600 Savannah Dean: Okay. 00:14:27.100 --> 00:14:29.720 Um, I'm trying, let's see. 00:14:30.160 --> 00:14:34.320 I think the first thing is just kinda like staying on top of my, all my 00:14:34.320 --> 00:14:37.600 classes on all my credits and try not to procrastinate work, but it's 00:14:37.600 --> 00:14:41.320 been a little bit of an adjustment coming back to school after, after 00:14:41.460 --> 00:14:44.800 not like writing essays or, or doing anything like that for a couple years. 00:14:45.300 --> 00:14:49.440 But yeah, for sure, just like staying on top of my classes and 00:14:49.440 --> 00:14:52.960 something that I'm trying to get better at is going to sleep on time. 00:14:53.310 --> 00:14:53.730 Jethro D. Jones: Mm-hmm 00:14:54.720 --> 00:14:59.440 Savannah Dean: I think that's like the biggest thing, which I, I have not, I 00:14:59.440 --> 00:15:03.360 don't know, I stayed up very late last night, but I'm trying to, I'm trying to 00:15:03.360 --> 00:15:09.760 get better about that, but I think just trying to like, um, have goals like I. 00:15:10.250 --> 00:15:14.580 Have goals in each category, like socially, like have those goals 00:15:14.830 --> 00:15:18.900 physically, spiritually, and intellectually, and trying to balance 00:15:19.310 --> 00:15:21.700 those, those four things and to get sleep. 00:15:21.880 --> 00:15:26.940 So I guess there's, there's five things, but, um, but yeah, I feel 00:15:26.940 --> 00:15:30.460 like something I've done is just like getting now my schedule's all mapped 00:15:30.460 --> 00:15:34.900 out and I'm, I, I just barely got a job, so I'm working like 10 hours a week. 00:15:35.240 --> 00:15:38.140 So I think that helps me, even though I barely work, it helps 00:15:38.200 --> 00:15:40.100 me kind of stay in the schedule. 00:15:40.280 --> 00:15:46.580 And then I always try and get my, my homework and stuff done like by six 00:15:46.600 --> 00:15:50.780 or 7:00 PM so I can have the night free to, to have that social time. 00:15:51.560 --> 00:15:56.060 And then like, I try and wake up earlier so I can read the scriptures, but 00:15:56.060 --> 00:15:57.820 sometimes it doesn't happen till later. 00:15:58.000 --> 00:16:02.000 And then, yeah, just trying to, to balance it that way. 00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:05.960 And it's been a little bit of a struggle to try and get into a good routine, but. 00:16:07.190 --> 00:16:08.850 . But it's, it's been good. 00:16:09.160 --> 00:16:09.730 It's been good. 00:16:09.750 --> 00:16:13.450 So that's kind of what I'm trying to do to stay, to stay up 00:16:14.010 --> 00:16:14.300 Jethro D. Jones: yeah. 00:16:14.330 --> 00:16:14.650 Savannah Dean: my feet. 00:16:15.200 --> 00:16:19.300 Jethro D. Jones: Um, so you, alright, so what's your job? 00:16:19.530 --> 00:16:20.540 What did you, what are you doing? 00:16:20.600 --> 00:16:23.500 Savannah Dean: Oh, I, it is not the best job. 00:16:23.760 --> 00:16:27.300 It is very basic, but I just clean, it's called Heritage Hall, 00:16:27.300 --> 00:16:30.820 just the dorms down at, at BYU. 00:16:31.000 --> 00:16:32.940 So it's, it's super chill. 00:16:33.020 --> 00:16:36.620 I just kind of sweep and mop and dust and clean the bathroom and everything, but, 00:16:36.875 --> 00:16:37.115 Jethro D. Jones: Excellent. 00:16:37.435 --> 00:16:37.555 I, 00:16:37.670 --> 00:16:38.590 Savannah Dean: it's, it's all right. 00:16:39.035 --> 00:16:42.855 Jethro D. Jones: all, almost everybody's done that kind of a job at some point. 00:16:43.435 --> 00:16:45.694 And do you have to get up super early to do it? 00:16:46.360 --> 00:16:49.860 Savannah Dean: no, it's, it's actually nice 'cause I, I just go right after class 00:16:50.305 --> 00:16:50.845 Jethro D. Jones: Oh, nice. 00:16:51.160 --> 00:16:53.020 Savannah Dean: so, so it's all campus, so 00:16:53.235 --> 00:16:53.525 Jethro D. Jones: Yeah. 00:16:53.560 --> 00:16:54.980 Savannah Dean: it makes it super convenient. 00:16:55.344 --> 00:16:55.505 Jethro D. Jones: good. 00:16:55.745 --> 00:16:59.545 I did the, uh, early morning, four 30 start time. 00:16:59.895 --> 00:17:01.064 That was, that was brutal. 00:17:01.240 --> 00:17:03.260 Savannah Dean: Oh man, that does sound brutal. 00:17:04.594 --> 00:17:06.994 Jethro D. Jones: I, I don't mind cleaning and that you actually feel, 00:17:07.264 --> 00:17:09.794 when you're talking about being productive, like making something look 00:17:09.794 --> 00:17:14.514 beautiful is really nice, but, uh, boy, getting up at five or 4:30 AM to do it. 00:17:14.514 --> 00:17:15.834 That is, that was tough. 00:17:16.134 --> 00:17:17.874 And I struggled with that a lot. 00:17:19.615 --> 00:17:20.625 Savannah Dean: That sounds so hard. 00:17:21.165 --> 00:17:24.835 Jethro D. Jones: Which is funny because now I get up at four 30 or five 00:17:24.984 --> 00:17:29.035 most days without an alarm, which I would've never thought was possible. 00:17:29.535 --> 00:17:32.435 And yet that's, that's what I do now. 00:17:32.435 --> 00:17:35.754 And it's just interesting how our life changes and different things 00:17:35.855 --> 00:17:39.435 become priorities and become easier and other things become harder. 00:17:39.815 --> 00:17:42.435 And it just, uh, that, that happens. 00:17:43.715 --> 00:17:47.815 So I, I've got four things, uh, that you want to keep doing, 00:17:47.815 --> 00:17:50.135 reading the scriptures, pray with faith, be productive. 00:17:50.635 --> 00:17:53.535 And then you didn't say this explicitly, but you put it in there, have goals. 00:17:54.035 --> 00:17:55.975 And so that's the fourth one. 00:17:56.315 --> 00:18:01.095 Uh, anything else that you think like, I gotta keep doing these things every, 00:18:01.305 --> 00:18:02.615 every day for the next 10 years? 00:18:03.735 --> 00:18:04.155 Savannah Dean: Oh man. 00:18:04.695 --> 00:18:04.915 Um, 00:18:07.165 --> 00:18:08.705 oh, I feel like there's so many things. 00:18:09.325 --> 00:18:12.905 Um, something that I do like that I did on my mission was I wrote an 00:18:12.905 --> 00:18:14.785 journal every single day on my mission. 00:18:15.095 --> 00:18:19.105 Like, I don't, I maybe skipped one day, but I wrote every single day 00:18:19.605 --> 00:18:24.805 and it was, it helped me so much just wind down and, and everything. 00:18:25.145 --> 00:18:29.605 And it's been really fun to, to read back a little bit some of my journal entries 00:18:29.605 --> 00:18:30.885 when I was going through hard times. 00:18:31.065 --> 00:18:35.005 So now I just kinda laugh at it because I just know the outcome, 00:18:35.575 --> 00:18:35.865 Jethro D. Jones: Yeah. 00:18:36.505 --> 00:18:38.365 Savannah Dean: you know, um, but. 00:18:39.624 --> 00:18:43.804 But yeah, I, I loved keeping a journal, so I've been kind of bad at it. 00:18:43.924 --> 00:18:47.445 I have it written every day, but I'm trying to figure out more of 00:18:47.674 --> 00:18:50.644 like an easier format that I can do. 00:18:50.784 --> 00:18:53.164 So it doesn't, it's not as time consuming. 00:18:53.264 --> 00:18:55.245 I'm just like, oh, everything that I did that day. 00:18:55.624 --> 00:18:58.884 But I do, I do wanna keep a journal. 00:18:59.684 --> 00:19:04.804 I think that that would be amazing to, to keep a journal like my entire life. 00:19:05.195 --> 00:19:05.485 Jethro D. Jones: Yeah. 00:19:05.905 --> 00:19:08.885 So I also kept a journal, uh, my whole entire mission. 00:19:09.305 --> 00:19:13.925 And then I went like 20 years without writing in my journal. 00:19:15.040 --> 00:19:19.460 And I looked down at my journal and I was like, oh my gosh, I don't have 00:19:19.659 --> 00:19:21.060 recorded any of my kids' births. 00:19:21.500 --> 00:19:25.180 I don't have these big life changes that I've made over the last 20 years. 00:19:25.379 --> 00:19:29.020 I don't have all this stuff that I wish I had. 00:19:29.120 --> 00:19:34.860 It is just, it's like, you know, you, you skip a couple days and 00:19:34.860 --> 00:19:38.340 then all of a sudden it's 15 years and you're like, what is going on? 00:19:39.090 --> 00:19:39.550 Savannah Dean: Oh man. 00:19:39.740 --> 00:19:40.030 Yeah, 00:19:40.100 --> 00:19:44.100 Jethro D. Jones: so, uh, so that's, that's, that's a important thing to do. 00:19:44.600 --> 00:19:46.820 Um, and I definitely wanna encourage you to do that. 00:19:47.240 --> 00:19:51.420 And one of the things that we're doing with this project is at a decade 00:19:51.420 --> 00:19:55.780 never to be forgotten.com, there's a community tab, and then you can 00:19:55.780 --> 00:19:59.300 click on that, and that's a 10 year journal where it's one single prompt, 00:19:59.800 --> 00:20:02.300 uh, every day for the next 10 years. 00:20:02.520 --> 00:20:04.580 And you just repeat it every year on that day. 00:20:05.200 --> 00:20:09.180 And, um, and that is like one to two sentences to just remind 00:20:09.180 --> 00:20:10.899 you about what you're doing. 00:20:11.360 --> 00:20:12.620 Did I invite you to that already? 00:20:12.740 --> 00:20:13.260 I can't remember. 00:20:14.200 --> 00:20:14.700 Savannah Dean: I'm not sure. 00:20:14.880 --> 00:20:15.740 Was it an email? 00:20:16.514 --> 00:20:17.774 Jethro D. Jones: No, I would've texted it to you. 00:20:18.080 --> 00:20:18.370 Savannah Dean: Okay. 00:20:18.530 --> 00:20:19.410 I don't think I've seen that. 00:20:19.410 --> 00:20:20.810 That sounds amazing though. 00:20:20.834 --> 00:20:24.644 Jethro D. Jones: yeah, so, um, so I'm working on making that a physical journal, 00:20:24.735 --> 00:20:26.205 which I think will be even better. 00:20:26.745 --> 00:20:29.884 Uh, but right now it's just digital and online. 00:20:30.104 --> 00:20:33.364 So I'll send you a link to that and then anybody who wants to go can go to 00:20:33.364 --> 00:20:36.725 that website a decade in average to be forgotten.com and then click on community. 00:20:36.725 --> 00:20:37.924 And you can do that too. 00:20:38.495 --> 00:20:40.435 Savannah Dean: Oh, maybe I did see something like that, 00:20:40.455 --> 00:20:42.355 but I wasn't sure what it was. 00:20:42.745 --> 00:20:45.955 Jethro D. Jones: Well now, you know, 'cause I just explained it to you, and 00:20:45.955 --> 00:20:49.794 look at you like jumping in, not knowing everything about what I'm talking about. 00:20:49.794 --> 00:20:51.235 And you're like, I'll do this anyway. 00:20:51.374 --> 00:20:52.354 That's, that's awesome. 00:20:53.254 --> 00:20:57.554 Um, all right, so after journaling every single day, anything else that 00:20:57.554 --> 00:20:59.995 you want to make sure you do regularly? 00:21:00.835 --> 00:21:01.125 Savannah Dean: okay. 00:21:01.725 --> 00:21:06.965 I think I also have a goal to keep in contact with all my companions and 00:21:06.965 --> 00:21:09.805 with the people that I taught and. 00:21:10.730 --> 00:21:11.660 It's been kind of hard. 00:21:11.820 --> 00:21:12.780 I mean, it's super fun. 00:21:12.930 --> 00:21:17.860 Sometimes it's a little time consuming and all the coast Ricans blow up my dms and my 00:21:17.860 --> 00:21:19.780 Messenger and everything, and my WhatsApp. 00:21:20.200 --> 00:21:25.380 But I really, I really do wanna like kinda stay, stay on top of it because I 00:21:25.380 --> 00:21:30.420 know it's super hard when you're join the church and, and when the missionaries that 00:21:30.420 --> 00:21:35.420 taught you left, but I really do wanna try and help them and then also stay in 00:21:35.420 --> 00:21:37.580 touch with my, my companions that I had. 00:21:37.800 --> 00:21:38.020 So, 00:21:38.115 --> 00:21:38.405 Jethro D. Jones: Yeah. 00:21:39.000 --> 00:21:42.500 Savannah Dean: so yeah, I'm trying to do, like, at first I was gonna do d 00:21:42.570 --> 00:21:46.180 like, um, weekly contact, but that's, that's too hard to do with everyone. 00:21:46.180 --> 00:21:51.500 So I think maybe like monthly contact with, with them is good. 00:21:52.435 --> 00:21:56.574 Jethro D. Jones: Um, can I give you a little, uh, suggestion on that? 00:21:57.220 --> 00:21:57.760 Savannah Dean: Yes, please. 00:21:58.425 --> 00:21:58.645 Jethro D. Jones: Yep. 00:21:59.145 --> 00:22:06.804 Uh, so what I do is I go into my messages and I scroll all the way to the bottom 00:22:07.425 --> 00:22:11.325 and I message the person that I haven't messaged in the longest amount of time. 00:22:12.145 --> 00:22:17.165 And then if you just go do that, then, and you do that on a regular basis, 00:22:17.504 --> 00:22:21.445 so let's say every, every day you're just gonna scroll to the bottom and 00:22:21.445 --> 00:22:23.565 text one person or message one person. 00:22:24.705 --> 00:22:28.165 That's a really easy way to stay on top of it. 00:22:28.784 --> 00:22:33.764 And then if you, if you message them and they, you don't talk to them again for 00:22:33.804 --> 00:22:38.405 a long time, then you can just go back in the next time they're at the bottom 00:22:38.784 --> 00:22:40.165 and you'll send 'em a message again. 00:22:40.264 --> 00:22:43.804 And honestly, Savannah, that could be like two to three years. 00:22:44.304 --> 00:22:47.885 And the amazing thing is, is that when you build these connections 00:22:47.885 --> 00:22:53.305 with people, you don't, um, I. You don't forget the impact that you 00:22:53.305 --> 00:22:54.985 had on them or that they had on you. 00:22:55.325 --> 00:22:59.665 And so, even if it's been five years since you talked to someone, they'll 00:22:59.665 --> 00:23:03.225 be like, excited to hear from you and you'll be excited to hear from them. 00:23:03.725 --> 00:23:08.425 And it's, it's a good way to just make sure that you're doing something every 00:23:08.425 --> 00:23:10.625 day, but not overwhelming yourself. 00:23:11.125 --> 00:23:16.225 Uh, because it is tough to stay in touch with 75, a hundred, 00:23:16.365 --> 00:23:18.545 200 people every single week. 00:23:19.125 --> 00:23:23.185 So if you just take a, a slightly different approach and say, I just wanna 00:23:23.185 --> 00:23:28.025 do the littlest thing that I can to, to make the biggest impact, then that's, 00:23:28.025 --> 00:23:30.865 that's one way that I found is beneficial. 00:23:31.165 --> 00:23:34.585 And then I find these people that I haven't messaged for a while and it's 00:23:34.585 --> 00:23:39.385 like, oh, I really love you and I miss you, and I'm glad that we could reconnect. 00:23:39.645 --> 00:23:43.669 And if you are connected with them spiritually, I. Then it doesn't matter 00:23:43.669 --> 00:23:47.750 how much time has passed you still, you still love them and they still love you. 00:23:48.330 --> 00:23:50.070 And that's a really powerful thing. 00:23:51.320 --> 00:23:54.679 Savannah Dean: I love that, that that's a great, I love that idea. 00:23:54.679 --> 00:23:55.520 That's a great idea. 00:23:55.879 --> 00:23:57.040 I will probably incorporate that. 00:23:57.490 --> 00:23:57.730 Jethro D. Jones: Excellent. 00:23:58.030 --> 00:24:02.370 it, it really makes it easy, uh, to, to stay on top and feel like you're doing 00:24:02.370 --> 00:24:05.129 something, um, and not feel overwhelmed. 00:24:05.469 --> 00:24:10.010 And now when this comes out, you'll have something to share with all of them also. 00:24:10.629 --> 00:24:11.730 So that'll be good too. 00:24:12.040 --> 00:24:17.330 Alright, anything else that you want to, to kind of like say, this is what I 00:24:17.330 --> 00:24:18.969 need to be doing for the next 10 years? 00:24:19.169 --> 00:24:20.649 'cause I'm gonna follow up with you on these things. 00:24:20.969 --> 00:24:21.090 I 00:24:21.205 --> 00:24:21.584 Savannah Dean: Oh good. 00:24:21.705 --> 00:24:22.705 I hope you do follow up 00:24:22.730 --> 00:24:25.330 Jethro D. Jones: we're gonna check in and see how are, how's it going? 00:24:25.330 --> 00:24:26.129 Reading scriptures. 00:24:26.290 --> 00:24:27.610 Anything else you want to add to this list? 00:24:28.314 --> 00:24:29.374 Savannah Dean: Oh, probably. 00:24:30.689 --> 00:24:30.850 Jethro D. Jones: probably. 00:24:31.885 --> 00:24:33.014 Savannah Dean: dang, there's a million things. 00:24:33.834 --> 00:24:36.245 Um, um, 00:24:37.070 --> 00:24:39.250 Jethro D. Jones: And there doesn't have to be like, this can be good enough 00:24:39.929 --> 00:24:41.330 'cause I got a lot more questions to ask. 00:24:42.004 --> 00:24:42.294 Savannah Dean: Okay. 00:24:43.294 --> 00:24:44.784 Yeah, I mean, there's a thousand things. 00:24:44.784 --> 00:24:48.824 There's a million goals that I have, but maybe this is a good, this is a good base. 00:24:49.205 --> 00:24:50.695 Jethro D. Jones: yeah, it's a good place to start. 00:24:50.755 --> 00:24:54.095 And then if you're like thinking about it, you can always add to 00:24:54.095 --> 00:24:56.935 this list that you and I have this shared note you can add to it. 00:24:57.355 --> 00:25:00.695 Um, and then also, um, there are some things that you're gonna 00:25:00.695 --> 00:25:01.775 be like, ah, you know what? 00:25:02.305 --> 00:25:05.055 Turns out praying with faith is actually not that important. 00:25:05.435 --> 00:25:06.015 I'm just kidding. 00:25:06.075 --> 00:25:07.095 Of course it's important. 00:25:07.475 --> 00:25:11.975 , you're not gonna stop that, but your opinion and your spiritual impression 00:25:11.975 --> 00:25:15.935 about what your prayers look like will change over the course of your life. 00:25:16.075 --> 00:25:19.135 And so you may need to adjust that and, and that's totally fine. 00:25:19.435 --> 00:25:22.135 That's part of the fun of this is, is seeing how you progress 00:25:22.135 --> 00:25:23.695 and grow over the next 10 years. 00:25:24.635 --> 00:25:24.855 Um. 00:25:25.934 --> 00:25:31.354 So let's, let's talk about you deciding to go on a mission because, 00:25:31.975 --> 00:25:37.235 um, I'm sure that that had some, uh, some challenges that you saw. 00:25:37.374 --> 00:25:40.594 I'm sure there were some, uh, obstacles in the way and there were 00:25:40.594 --> 00:25:44.634 some desires in the way of that, and yet you chose to do it anyway. 00:25:46.124 --> 00:25:50.654 What happened there and where did you, uh, where did you come from? 00:25:51.074 --> 00:25:53.254 And, and like what led to that point? 00:25:54.264 --> 00:25:54.544 Savannah Dean: Okay. 00:25:54.965 --> 00:25:58.544 So I've always thought it would be really cool to go on a mission and 00:25:58.544 --> 00:26:02.064 everything, and I watched like a lot of my cousins go and come back. 00:26:02.095 --> 00:26:03.945 Some friends go and come and go. 00:26:03.945 --> 00:26:06.705 And then, um, also my, my older brother. 00:26:06.925 --> 00:26:11.385 And I think part of what really motivated me to go was, was watching my 00:26:11.385 --> 00:26:15.705 brother come home from his mission and really seeing, seeing such a change. 00:26:16.054 --> 00:26:18.945 Because before his mission, he was kind of, he was kind of a jerk. 00:26:19.325 --> 00:26:21.945 And then he came back and he was so nice and. 00:26:22.655 --> 00:26:23.155 And everything. 00:26:23.215 --> 00:26:26.355 And I don't know, I just saw, saw his change and I thought 00:26:26.505 --> 00:26:28.195 that is the coolest thing ever. 00:26:28.505 --> 00:26:33.555 Like I, I wanna have that change or have all these experiences, but I wasn't like 00:26:33.925 --> 00:26:38.915 super sure, but I just remember, I mean, I didn't have like some huge crazy moment 00:26:38.915 --> 00:26:40.515 where, where I knew I was gonna go. 00:26:40.615 --> 00:26:44.755 But I just remember one day, I, it was either my junior or 00:26:44.755 --> 00:26:45.795 my senior year of high school. 00:26:46.255 --> 00:26:48.475 I'm not sure, maybe it was my senior year. 00:26:49.055 --> 00:26:53.195 Um, I went to mission prep, just some like mission prep activity. 00:26:53.815 --> 00:26:57.955 And all I remember is, um, Ray Vander low from the state. 00:26:57.975 --> 00:27:01.275 He was, he was like speaking or sharing something. 00:27:01.795 --> 00:27:05.875 I couldn't even tell you anything he said, and he, it's, it's very interesting 00:27:05.995 --> 00:27:11.325 'cause he's a converse, so he didn't actually serve a mission, but even know 00:27:11.325 --> 00:27:16.005 if he was talking specifically about missionary work, but I just like, I. 00:27:16.335 --> 00:27:19.014 I had the strongest impression, like, you need to go on a mission. 00:27:19.155 --> 00:27:22.014 And I don't remember much else, but I just remember I went home 00:27:22.365 --> 00:27:25.455 that day to my mom and I just said, I'm gonna serve a mission. 00:27:26.235 --> 00:27:30.295 And she was like, okay, that's great, . So there, I don't know, 00:27:30.295 --> 00:27:31.735 it's kind of an interesting story. 00:27:31.735 --> 00:27:35.615 There's nothing huge or crazy that happened, but I just wanted to go. 00:27:35.675 --> 00:27:40.254 So then, yeah, my plan was to just finish out high school and then do 00:27:40.355 --> 00:27:44.135 two semesters of, of college and then, and then go on a mission. 00:27:44.235 --> 00:27:46.335 And it worked out that way. 00:27:46.355 --> 00:27:51.175 And it, it worked out great and it was amazing and hard and, and all the things, 00:27:51.355 --> 00:27:56.455 but I, I'm so glad that, that I went and that I chose to go on a mission. 00:27:57.254 --> 00:27:57.604 Jethro D. Jones: Great. 00:27:57.639 --> 00:27:59.419 So let's talk about some of those hard things. 00:27:59.919 --> 00:28:02.260 You mentioned that you wrote in your journal some of the difficult 00:28:02.260 --> 00:28:05.860 parts about being on a mission and some of the trials you went through. 00:28:05.860 --> 00:28:09.459 And it's kind of cute 'cause you know the outcome now, but what were some of 00:28:09.459 --> 00:28:12.860 the trials that you experienced, um, either before your mission or on your 00:28:12.860 --> 00:28:18.379 mission that, uh, really impacted you and changed how you looked at things 00:28:18.439 --> 00:28:22.820 and changed how you understood different aspects of the gospel or yourself or 00:28:22.820 --> 00:28:24.020 your relationship with the savior? 00:28:24.689 --> 00:28:27.419 What were some of those trials and and what did you learn from 'em? 00:28:28.574 --> 00:28:31.134 Savannah Dean: I think the first thing, now this might sound sound a little bit 00:28:31.134 --> 00:28:33.694 dumb, but I just love to have a good time. 00:28:33.995 --> 00:28:38.014 I'm just always down to have a good time and I would always see 00:28:38.014 --> 00:28:41.495 my friends like missionary pictures and they were all so happy. 00:28:41.674 --> 00:28:44.854 And I knew a mission was hard, but I was kind of, I was very prideful 00:28:44.854 --> 00:28:49.294 obviously, so I was like, oh, like if everyone can do it like so can I. 00:28:49.354 --> 00:28:49.934 No biggie. 00:28:50.514 --> 00:28:53.534 But I just remember I got out, the MTC was so fun. 00:28:53.634 --> 00:28:54.334 It was a blast. 00:28:54.475 --> 00:28:57.694 We just like played spikeball and like hung out and it was super fun. 00:28:57.754 --> 00:28:59.814 So I remember in the MTCI was like, wow. 00:29:00.574 --> 00:29:03.614 I remember telling my mom like, wow, everyone's on the mission was hard, 00:29:04.034 --> 00:29:05.294 but this is the best thing ever. 00:29:05.294 --> 00:29:06.574 Like, this is so easy. 00:29:07.735 --> 00:29:11.435 And then let me just say the Disney, wait, the MTC is like Disneyland 00:29:11.754 --> 00:29:12.794 compared to the mission field. 00:29:13.314 --> 00:29:17.544 I got out to the mission field and I was just shocked on 00:29:17.544 --> 00:29:18.705 what missionary work was like. 00:29:18.824 --> 00:29:23.705 I don't know what I thought it was like, but I got out and I was like, this sucks. 00:29:24.205 --> 00:29:29.905 And I wrote, I think I wrote in my journal like, I cannot believe I signed up to 00:29:29.905 --> 00:29:33.155 do this for 18 years or for 18 months. 00:29:33.594 --> 00:29:35.114 I cannot do this for 18 months. 00:29:35.935 --> 00:29:37.594 And it was just not fun. 00:29:38.104 --> 00:29:42.554 Like we, we would, my companion, she didn't speak any English, I 00:29:42.554 --> 00:29:47.834 didn't speak any Spanish and I, it was just, it was just terrible. 00:29:47.945 --> 00:29:52.475 Like we, we would just do, do our studies and then we would go out 00:29:52.564 --> 00:29:57.754 every single day from like 12:00 PM 10 to like 9:00 PM or nine 30. 00:29:58.639 --> 00:29:59.439 I was just exhausted. 00:29:59.559 --> 00:30:01.239 I didn't really understand what was going on. 00:30:01.979 --> 00:30:05.079 And that was a really, my first area was, was a pretty hard area. 00:30:05.139 --> 00:30:09.559 We didn't have very much success in it, so I was just kind of like, what? 00:30:09.989 --> 00:30:10.679 What is this? 00:30:10.739 --> 00:30:13.479 How do people, there's no way people like being a missionary. 00:30:13.489 --> 00:30:14.279 There is no way. 00:30:14.860 --> 00:30:18.879 So, yeah, that, I think that was really hard. 00:30:18.879 --> 00:30:21.679 Just like not liking the mission at first. 00:30:21.829 --> 00:30:23.839 Just absolutely not liking 00:30:24.040 --> 00:30:26.180 Jethro D. Jones: And, and what was it that you didn't like? 00:30:26.180 --> 00:30:31.100 Because before, like we knew the outcome and now you, you're saying 00:30:31.100 --> 00:30:32.379 all these positive things about it. 00:30:33.020 --> 00:30:36.070 Like being confused, not knowing the language. 00:30:36.300 --> 00:30:37.870 What else made it so difficult? 00:30:38.939 --> 00:30:39.989 Savannah Dean: Yeah, I dunno. 00:30:39.989 --> 00:30:43.429 And it's interesting because I feel like not, it's not even the language, 'cause 00:30:43.429 --> 00:30:44.909 I never really felt super discouraged. 00:30:44.909 --> 00:30:46.749 It was more just like not, not having. 00:30:48.280 --> 00:30:48.500 Fun. 00:30:48.920 --> 00:30:53.620 And that sounds very silly, but I just remember, like, we were just knocking 00:30:53.670 --> 00:30:57.500 doors all day and I'm like, I don't know, I do not wanna knock doors. 00:30:57.570 --> 00:31:00.700 Like I, or I don't, I don't, I'm hungry. 00:31:01.010 --> 00:31:04.659 Like I want dinner and my computer's like, we don't eat dinner till 9:00 PM 00:31:05.050 --> 00:31:10.460 Like, I was just like, what is this, this, there's no way people, the way of this. 00:31:11.159 --> 00:31:13.180 And I don't know, it was just a shock. 00:31:13.580 --> 00:31:17.300 I, I just did not, I just did not enjoy it. 00:31:17.399 --> 00:31:18.100 It was not fun. 00:31:18.159 --> 00:31:23.940 And I think, um, like at that age I was 19 and at the age of 19, like usually 00:31:23.940 --> 00:31:27.740 you're, you're in college and everything that you're doing is for yourself. 00:31:27.810 --> 00:31:30.220 It's kind of a selfish point in life. 00:31:30.420 --> 00:31:31.860 'cause you're like going to college for yourself. 00:31:31.860 --> 00:31:33.300 You're working to make money for yourself. 00:31:33.639 --> 00:31:34.780 You like study for yourself. 00:31:34.780 --> 00:31:36.620 Everything you do is for yourself. 00:31:36.960 --> 00:31:40.300 So I had just done my first year of college, so I guess I was 00:31:40.300 --> 00:31:42.020 pretty focused on, on myself. 00:31:42.120 --> 00:31:46.500 And then I got to a mission and I realized that what I wanted did not matter. 00:31:47.260 --> 00:31:48.760 It did not matter what I wanted to do. 00:31:48.860 --> 00:31:52.680 It was all about what the Lord wanted and what other people wanted. 00:31:52.899 --> 00:31:57.280 So I think it was just a very humbling experience to just go from that stage 00:31:57.280 --> 00:32:02.440 of like doing everything for myself to just like being so tired, but pushing 00:32:02.440 --> 00:32:05.830 through because I knew I, I had to. 00:32:06.330 --> 00:32:09.950 So I think that was, that was really hard in the beginning. 00:32:11.699 --> 00:32:16.159 Jethro D. Jones: So that lesson of, of doing things not for yourself, I 00:32:16.159 --> 00:32:20.120 think everybody goes through that and experiences that in their own unique way. 00:32:20.779 --> 00:32:24.919 And so at what point did you figure out that that was actually worthwhile 00:32:25.219 --> 00:32:26.719 and that you could start enjoying it? 00:32:28.290 --> 00:32:31.860 Savannah Dean: Well, I don't know if there was a specific point, but I just 00:32:32.139 --> 00:32:36.020 remember I saw some other missionaries and they just looked so happy. 00:32:36.460 --> 00:32:39.379 I went to my first zone conference and I saw all these like sister 00:32:39.379 --> 00:32:43.260 missionaries and well, and others too, that were speaking the language. 00:32:43.290 --> 00:32:45.940 They just looked so happy to be there, and I remember thinking. 00:32:47.110 --> 00:32:49.450 How, how are you so happy? 00:32:50.350 --> 00:32:55.169 And one of the, one of the sisters just told me like, just keep pushing through. 00:32:55.169 --> 00:32:57.169 Like every day just gets a little bit better. 00:32:57.830 --> 00:33:01.169 And I just love that piece of advice and it's true every single 00:33:01.350 --> 00:33:02.649 day just got a little bit better. 00:33:02.990 --> 00:33:06.050 But I had to pray so hard for, for desire to be there. 00:33:06.790 --> 00:33:12.929 But you just, I don't know, you just had to take it, take the bull 00:33:12.929 --> 00:33:16.820 by the horns and just take it day by day and just learn to love it. 00:33:17.020 --> 00:33:19.740 I think learning to love the mission is something that a lot 00:33:19.740 --> 00:33:21.379 of people don't really talk about. 00:33:21.580 --> 00:33:24.820 A lot of people just look like they love their mission so much, and I do 00:33:24.980 --> 00:33:29.090 love it so much, but, but it's hard. 00:33:29.520 --> 00:33:34.210 It's, at least for me, it was very, very hard to love the mission. 00:33:34.995 --> 00:33:37.284 Jethro D. Jones: Yeah, so, so how did you finally figure 00:33:37.385 --> 00:33:38.685 out how to love the mission? 00:33:39.840 --> 00:33:41.020 Savannah Dean: Um, I think, 00:33:43.330 --> 00:33:43.760 let's see. 00:33:45.129 --> 00:33:50.449 I, there were different little moments, but one of the bigger moments was, and 00:33:50.449 --> 00:33:53.610 this was embarrassing 'cause it was so far into my mission where I really 00:33:53.610 --> 00:33:55.129 could say I started loving my mission. 00:33:55.870 --> 00:33:58.929 It probably took me a good like seven or eight months to, to be 00:33:58.929 --> 00:34:00.569 able to say like, I love my mission. 00:34:01.230 --> 00:34:07.469 So I started my mission in May and then in December, but I feel like by December 00:34:07.670 --> 00:34:11.790 I could say like, I enjoyed being a missionary, which obviously I had a lot of 00:34:11.819 --> 00:34:14.190 good, fun experiences like in that time. 00:34:15.170 --> 00:34:18.830 But that's, that's how long it took me to say like, I love being a missionary. 00:34:18.969 --> 00:34:23.190 And I think it was my, my first Christmas in the mission, and I remember I just 00:34:23.469 --> 00:34:25.029 set the bar so low for Christmas. 00:34:25.109 --> 00:34:26.389 I was like, all right, this is gonna suck. 00:34:26.509 --> 00:34:30.310 I know it's gonna, I'm gonna be far away from my family and I'm not really 00:34:30.310 --> 00:34:31.949 gonna do anything, but it's fine. 00:34:31.949 --> 00:34:32.830 That's how the mission is. 00:34:33.489 --> 00:34:37.350 And then we went to like his own conference with my, with my mission 00:34:37.350 --> 00:34:40.049 president and he said, guys. 00:34:41.164 --> 00:34:42.634 Don't feel sorry about yourselves. 00:34:43.084 --> 00:34:46.475 Don't feel, oh, poor me, I have to be away from my family. 00:34:46.574 --> 00:34:47.114 All this stuff. 00:34:47.624 --> 00:34:51.114 He's like, this is like, you only have one or or two Christmases 00:34:51.114 --> 00:34:54.914 in your entire life to just focus on others and to focus on Christ. 00:34:55.694 --> 00:34:58.834 So I don't wanna hear anything about you guys feeling sorry for selves. 00:34:58.834 --> 00:35:00.914 Just go out and make the best of it. 00:35:01.495 --> 00:35:04.754 So I realized in that moment, I'm like, wow, I've been feeling sorry for myself. 00:35:04.814 --> 00:35:06.954 So I was like, I'm just gonna forget myself. 00:35:06.954 --> 00:35:09.754 There's a quote by Hinkley, by President Hinkley, that's just like 00:35:09.774 --> 00:35:12.874 his dad told him, like, Gordon, forget yourself and go to work. 00:35:13.254 --> 00:35:15.475 And I feel like that's kind of like my little motto and the mission, 00:35:15.504 --> 00:35:17.754 just forget yourself and go to work. 00:35:17.774 --> 00:35:19.314 And that really help me. 00:35:19.314 --> 00:35:25.325 And o of course, like on Christmas, like our, our dinner plans got 00:35:25.524 --> 00:35:29.164 canceled like, like an hour before and we're walking around. 00:35:29.265 --> 00:35:30.444 No one wanted to talk to us. 00:35:30.504 --> 00:35:34.285 We tried to go to like, um, a retirement home to seeing Carols, 00:35:34.285 --> 00:35:35.245 but they wouldn't let us in. 00:35:35.745 --> 00:35:39.325 So we were just knocking streets, walking around the park like. 00:35:40.045 --> 00:35:43.555 Everything got canceled that day, so it really was like, did not even feel 00:35:43.555 --> 00:35:48.435 like Christmas, but I look back at it so happily and I loved it so much. 00:35:48.545 --> 00:35:49.795 Like looking back, I love it. 00:35:50.194 --> 00:35:51.275 I love it so much, but 00:35:52.330 --> 00:35:52.549 Jethro D. Jones: Hmm 00:35:52.975 --> 00:35:55.424 Savannah Dean: that was just really cool to just be like, it doesn't matter. 00:35:55.975 --> 00:35:57.904 Like it's just, just Christmas. 00:35:57.904 --> 00:35:59.145 We're just focusing on Christ. 00:35:59.384 --> 00:36:02.115 I don't need to feel sorry for myself. 00:36:02.214 --> 00:36:07.115 So I think that was a big like turning point in in my mission. 00:36:07.790 --> 00:36:09.319 Jethro D. Jones: Yeah, I that. 00:36:10.915 --> 00:36:16.085 It's so funny because, so what you said before about your life being focused on 00:36:16.285 --> 00:36:19.165 yourself and then you go on a mission and you realize you're focusing on others. 00:36:19.825 --> 00:36:21.405 It, it applies to so much. 00:36:22.145 --> 00:36:27.925 How do you see that now that you're back in college and doing things for yourself? 00:36:28.985 --> 00:36:33.165 How are you gonna apply that lesson today, this week, this year? 00:36:33.515 --> 00:36:36.365 Like, how, how are you gonna try to remember that and 00:36:36.365 --> 00:36:37.685 incorporate that into your life? 00:36:38.645 --> 00:36:42.575 Savannah Dean: Well, I think, I think it has been a little bit hard 00:36:42.794 --> 00:36:46.814 to now go from just thinking to everyone else, to thinking to myself, 00:36:46.814 --> 00:36:48.814 because I mean, you do have to. 00:36:49.575 --> 00:36:50.785 Have to focus on yourself. 00:36:50.884 --> 00:36:54.625 And even coming home, like when I, when I got home from my mission, 00:36:54.785 --> 00:36:57.705 I had like no clothes or anything. 00:36:58.024 --> 00:36:59.785 I don't know, I, I just like, had nothing. 00:36:59.964 --> 00:37:03.225 So I, I kind of needed to, like, I didn't have a phone. 00:37:03.305 --> 00:37:04.024 I had to buy a new phone. 00:37:04.105 --> 00:37:04.825 I had to buy new clothes. 00:37:04.904 --> 00:37:06.024 I just had to get a lot of stuff. 00:37:06.645 --> 00:37:10.585 And I just felt so guilty because my parents were like, spending so 00:37:10.585 --> 00:37:13.345 much money on me, and I'm like, I don't, like, I don't want this. 00:37:13.345 --> 00:37:14.865 Like, I don't, I don't want any of this. 00:37:14.884 --> 00:37:16.825 No one's bought me stuff for the past year and a half. 00:37:16.825 --> 00:37:17.865 Like, I don't want anything. 00:37:18.444 --> 00:37:22.745 So I think that's just an example of how I was like, I, I feel so uncomfortable 00:37:22.745 --> 00:37:25.544 with people giving me all of this. 00:37:25.575 --> 00:37:28.825 Like, I, I feel guilty thinking about myself. 00:37:28.904 --> 00:37:29.504 I don't want it. 00:37:29.924 --> 00:37:35.504 But, um, now, now that I've been home for a little bit and I'm like, 00:37:35.504 --> 00:37:37.544 okay, I'm fine now, but I don't know. 00:37:37.924 --> 00:37:41.305 Now I'm thinking more about myself, but I don't know. 00:37:41.305 --> 00:37:44.424 It's still something that, that I'm trying to balance and everything. 00:37:44.884 --> 00:37:48.585 But I think it's kind of what I was saying earlier about priorities. 00:37:49.104 --> 00:37:51.314 Just trying to prioritize the important things. 00:37:51.654 --> 00:37:55.874 And I've made a lot of mistakes, like being home, trying, like not 00:37:55.874 --> 00:37:57.555 having my priorities super straight. 00:37:58.134 --> 00:38:04.144 But I would say that's the biggest thing is just like, yeah, just really like try 00:38:04.144 --> 00:38:09.904 to go to the temple every week, um, and trying to really read their scriptures 00:38:09.904 --> 00:38:14.745 every day and, and serve others because honestly, like it's, it's impossible. 00:38:14.894 --> 00:38:17.984 It's pretty close to impossible to have that same like 00:38:20.384 --> 00:38:22.504 momentum as you did as a missionary, like now. 00:38:23.214 --> 00:38:27.575 But, but I wouldn't say that like the mission, I don't want my mission 00:38:27.575 --> 00:38:28.894 to be the highlight of my life. 00:38:29.015 --> 00:38:30.894 I don't want that to be like the peak of my life. 00:38:31.415 --> 00:38:33.854 I want it to like help me, like springboard me forward 00:38:33.964 --> 00:38:34.694 into a ton of things. 00:38:34.714 --> 00:38:38.515 So I think I just need to keep doing those small and simple things. 00:38:38.634 --> 00:38:40.674 I feel like I'm not really answering the question, I just keep 00:38:40.674 --> 00:38:41.995 going off on different tangents, 00:38:42.100 --> 00:38:42.720 Jethro D. Jones: That's okay. 00:38:42.950 --> 00:38:44.320 Yeah, that's all right. 00:38:44.460 --> 00:38:50.600 So, so that point about the mission not being the best, the peak of your 00:38:50.600 --> 00:38:55.040 life, um, there's this saying that it's the best two years of your life. 00:38:55.259 --> 00:39:00.640 And my dad a long time ago would say it's not the best two years. 00:39:01.100 --> 00:39:03.560 Um, the last two years have been my best two years. 00:39:03.860 --> 00:39:07.000 And he, he made that saying all the time. 00:39:07.299 --> 00:39:11.960 And that's like if your life is not continuing to get better. 00:39:12.180 --> 00:39:14.840 And that doesn't mean like all the worldly stuff. 00:39:15.040 --> 00:39:17.400 I mean, if you're not spiritually growing closer to Christ. 00:39:18.310 --> 00:39:22.740 Every year, every day, then that's the part that needs to be fixed. 00:39:23.470 --> 00:39:26.700 We're all gonna have trials, we're all gonna have, make mistakes and all that. 00:39:27.320 --> 00:39:31.460 But if you are not growing closer to Christ, then that's, that's the 00:39:31.620 --> 00:39:34.780 ultimate goal here, is to continue to grow closer to Christ every single day 00:39:34.780 --> 00:39:36.259 and take advantage of the atonement. 00:39:36.440 --> 00:39:41.100 And so my dad would always say, the last two years have been 00:39:41.100 --> 00:39:42.100 the best two years of my life. 00:39:42.160 --> 00:39:45.700 And that is the mentality that I've tried to take as well. 00:39:46.520 --> 00:39:51.980 And it's, it's been the case, except in those years where I've been in a deep, 00:39:52.009 --> 00:39:57.300 dark trial and then it doesn't feel like it's the best until I'm out of it. 00:39:57.400 --> 00:40:00.940 And then I'm like, oh, this is really awesome. 00:40:01.690 --> 00:40:05.259 This was a great year, even though it was exceptionally difficult. 00:40:06.665 --> 00:40:14.205 and just before we met you, 2019 was a really tough year, and 2020 was a really 00:40:14.205 --> 00:40:15.925 great year for a lot of different reasons. 00:40:16.195 --> 00:40:21.165 Even though it was hard for, uh, a lot of people, for us and for me 00:40:21.165 --> 00:40:22.845 personally, it was a really great year. 00:40:23.185 --> 00:40:27.835 And so even when things are difficult for other people, they 00:40:27.835 --> 00:40:29.355 can be really great for you. 00:40:29.855 --> 00:40:34.275 And, and so you said something in there that I want to go back to, which is, uh, 00:40:34.295 --> 00:40:37.995 you said you've made a lot of mistakes in prioritizing your time and things. 00:40:38.384 --> 00:40:42.835 What are some of the mistakes that you've made and why have they 00:40:42.835 --> 00:40:44.955 been mistakes in your mind now? 00:40:46.205 --> 00:40:46.495 Savannah Dean: Okay. 00:40:47.875 --> 00:40:55.620 Um, I. Um, that like reading, I think reading scriptures, like doing personal 00:40:55.620 --> 00:41:00.260 study has been a lot harder than I thought it would be, because personal study 00:41:00.290 --> 00:41:01.900 that was like the best hour of my day. 00:41:01.930 --> 00:41:04.620 Like during, during my mission, I loved it so much and I always 00:41:04.620 --> 00:41:07.340 thought, I can't wait till I get home so I can study more than an hour. 00:41:08.300 --> 00:41:11.000 And then you get home and it's just not the reality. 00:41:11.660 --> 00:41:16.740 So I think just, I just need to have realistic expectations. 00:41:16.800 --> 00:41:20.300 But I, um, president Cobb, when he released me, he told me, 00:41:20.300 --> 00:41:21.940 just be patient with yourself. 00:41:22.340 --> 00:41:23.380 'cause you're gonna mess up a lot. 00:41:23.440 --> 00:41:24.860 You just have to be patient with yourself. 00:41:25.280 --> 00:41:30.100 And it's been really hard because sometimes I, I, I like 00:41:30.100 --> 00:41:31.380 stay up too late one night. 00:41:31.400 --> 00:41:35.740 So then the next morning I can't wake up early enough to, to 00:41:35.740 --> 00:41:37.380 be able to read my scriptures. 00:41:37.720 --> 00:41:42.360 So I still, I still do it, but it's not as good as it could be. 00:41:43.020 --> 00:41:46.280 So I'm trying to give myself more grace on it, but also. 00:41:47.335 --> 00:41:48.705 Keep a, a strict schedule. 00:41:48.765 --> 00:41:52.745 So I'd say that, that that's been a little bit hard trying to find a rhythm 00:41:53.005 --> 00:41:57.145 to be able to read the scriptures and everything now that I'm in school. 00:41:57.245 --> 00:42:01.105 But, um, this past week, something that I've been doing that's helped me a lot 00:42:01.125 --> 00:42:03.705 is like if I have a lot of homework, 'cause I know I'll get my homework 00:42:03.705 --> 00:42:08.465 done always, but like scripture study, sometimes we'll just get pushed to 00:42:08.465 --> 00:42:11.945 nighttime because it's not as much my priority even though it should be. 00:42:12.245 --> 00:42:16.025 So sometimes while I'm studying I'm just gonna, like, I'll do an assignment 00:42:16.205 --> 00:42:18.945 and I'll say, okay, before I do my next assignment, I have to read 00:42:18.945 --> 00:42:21.115 the scriptures for like 10 minutes. 00:42:21.735 --> 00:42:25.755 And that's helped me a lot too because like scriptures is even 00:42:25.755 --> 00:42:27.805 more important than my classes. 00:42:28.105 --> 00:42:30.404 So I just need to make it more of a priority. 00:42:30.424 --> 00:42:34.645 So that's, that's helped me, um, that's helped me this past week that's been 00:42:34.645 --> 00:42:40.205 working pretty well is like pausing my studies to, to read for like 10 00:42:40.205 --> 00:42:45.735 minutes 'cause I know I'll get my homework done, you know, so that's been. 00:42:46.395 --> 00:42:46.975 Pretty good. 00:42:47.740 --> 00:42:52.430 And I think maybe another thing that's been hard is just like, um, 00:42:53.150 --> 00:42:56.790 I mean, I've slept in a couple times and I, I hate sleeping in so much. 00:42:56.860 --> 00:43:01.470 Like I think I, I hate sleeping in and I feel so lazy when I do it. 00:43:01.890 --> 00:43:06.630 But I have slept in a couple times, like on, on Sunday I set an alarm at 00:43:06.630 --> 00:43:11.710 like 8:00 AM which is not even that early, and I slept past it, and I woke 00:43:11.710 --> 00:43:13.910 up at 11:00 AM and I felt terrible. 00:43:14.650 --> 00:43:18.430 So like, stuff like that just makes me so mad. 00:43:19.410 --> 00:43:21.430 . So I'm trying to, to be patient. 00:43:21.610 --> 00:43:24.230 But yeah, I feel like that's been hard to, 00:43:24.745 --> 00:43:25.035 Jethro D. Jones: Yeah. 00:43:25.095 --> 00:43:26.154 So let me ask you this. 00:43:26.535 --> 00:43:32.194 Uh, your first year at BYU, if you slept until 11, would 00:43:32.194 --> 00:43:33.194 you have been mad at yourself? 00:43:34.970 --> 00:43:38.290 Savannah Dean: I mean, I still, I probably would've been like, okay, that was a 00:43:38.290 --> 00:43:42.009 waste of time, but I wouldn't have been as, I would've been like, oh, whatever. 00:43:42.009 --> 00:43:42.370 Who cares? 00:43:42.705 --> 00:43:42.995 Jethro D. Jones: Yeah. 00:43:43.214 --> 00:43:44.115 So what's different? 00:43:45.475 --> 00:43:48.354 Savannah Dean: I feel like now I just know how productive I can be 00:43:48.694 --> 00:43:53.555 if I don't sleep in and it bothers me to not, to not be productive. 00:43:54.584 --> 00:43:54.874 Jethro D. Jones: Yeah. 00:43:55.535 --> 00:43:59.794 So when you get this greater knowledge and understanding, then when you 00:44:00.115 --> 00:44:04.234 don't live up to that expectation, then you're like, I know I can 00:44:04.234 --> 00:44:05.754 do better and I should do better. 00:44:06.480 --> 00:44:09.940 Um, and yet I'm falling short of where I think I should be. 00:44:10.759 --> 00:44:18.379 And lemme tell you, uh, that happens to me to this day, even still after years of 00:44:18.379 --> 00:44:23.859 knowing that simple fact, uh, being able to apply it and have it actually work out. 00:44:24.440 --> 00:44:26.299 Uh, I still struggle with that. 00:44:27.000 --> 00:44:31.900 So, um, what, what would you say has been the greatest lesson that you've 00:44:31.900 --> 00:44:34.540 learned in the past 12 months or so? 00:44:36.104 --> 00:44:38.245 Savannah Dean: Oh, that's a good question. 00:44:39.984 --> 00:44:46.069 Um, I. I have learned a lot about, about the atonement of Jesus 00:44:46.069 --> 00:44:47.790 Christ and about repentance. 00:44:48.609 --> 00:44:51.710 And before I thought I would think about repentance more 00:44:51.710 --> 00:44:53.190 of something transactional. 00:44:53.190 --> 00:44:59.160 Like, okay, I, I stole this from the store and I'm gonna repent and 00:44:59.379 --> 00:45:02.879 I'm gonna return it and I'm gonna make it better and God forgives me. 00:45:03.690 --> 00:45:10.310 But I realized that repentance isn't just for, for big mistakes or mistakes that you 00:45:10.310 --> 00:45:11.830 make, but it's for all the little things. 00:45:12.210 --> 00:45:16.149 And in the MTCI was talking with, with some people, and everyone was 00:45:16.149 --> 00:45:18.990 talking about how they decided to come on a mission and they all had 00:45:18.990 --> 00:45:23.790 these really cool stories on how they like, made some huge crazy mistake. 00:45:23.899 --> 00:45:28.569 Like they sinned, like, like made a ton of sins and then they 00:45:28.569 --> 00:45:29.930 like had this huge coming back. 00:45:30.279 --> 00:45:32.210 Just kinda like the prodigal son type thing. 00:45:32.240 --> 00:45:34.330 Just, you know, like. 00:45:35.294 --> 00:45:38.355 And then they just had these huge testimonies, the atonement. 00:45:39.015 --> 00:45:45.234 And I was just thinking like, I wish that I, I even said this, or I think I 00:45:45.234 --> 00:45:50.075 thought it just like, I wish that I commit some grave, huge sin so I could have 00:45:50.345 --> 00:45:52.315 such a good testimony of the atonement. 00:45:52.674 --> 00:45:56.475 I totally thought that, I thought that you needed to make huge mistakes 00:45:56.654 --> 00:45:58.955 to, to have like a big testimony. 00:45:59.294 --> 00:46:04.455 But what I realized on my mission is that the atonement is not about that. 00:46:04.654 --> 00:46:06.335 I mean, it totally is about that at all. 00:46:06.335 --> 00:46:07.615 And their stories are amazing. 00:46:08.585 --> 00:46:13.404 But the goal, like you don't need to send more to, to have more of a testimony. 00:46:14.305 --> 00:46:18.535 Um, the atoma of Jesus Christ is just changing a little bit 00:46:18.825 --> 00:46:20.254 every single day to be better. 00:46:21.044 --> 00:46:24.895 Just, it's just literally just aligning yourself with God in all things. 00:46:25.435 --> 00:46:28.734 So there are things that we do every single day that we need to repent for, 00:46:28.734 --> 00:46:30.214 and I learned about daily repentance. 00:46:31.384 --> 00:46:35.665 I never really understood that before, but I think daily repentance is so important. 00:46:35.734 --> 00:46:40.845 Just like, um, just kind of giving a report to, to God. 00:46:41.265 --> 00:46:46.205 Um, I love how, I mean, I guess I shouldn't talk about this too deeply, 00:46:46.265 --> 00:46:53.444 but just how in, in the, in the temple it talks about like how, how like Jesus 00:46:53.915 --> 00:46:57.604 like would do the will of the father and how he would kind of report to, to God. 00:46:58.104 --> 00:47:02.765 And I just kind of love that idea of how we do what we're commanded, what we're 00:47:02.845 --> 00:47:06.124 supposed to, and then we report to God and then God kind of like gives us feedback 00:47:06.124 --> 00:47:07.365 and helps us get a little bit better. 00:47:07.365 --> 00:47:11.015 And how every single day we just work to be a little bit better. 00:47:11.595 --> 00:47:14.814 And how really when we repent, that is how we find joy. 00:47:15.694 --> 00:47:17.955 And joy is not just happiness. 00:47:18.854 --> 00:47:22.075 Joy is, is obedience. 00:47:22.174 --> 00:47:24.595 Joy is doing the will of the father willingly 00:47:24.930 --> 00:47:25.350 Jethro D. Jones: Mm-hmm 00:47:25.705 --> 00:47:28.564 Savannah Dean: joy is going through all the hard parts. 00:47:29.759 --> 00:47:31.140 So you can have all the good parts. 00:47:31.200 --> 00:47:33.859 You can't have a complete joy if you haven't suffered a little bit. 00:47:34.710 --> 00:47:39.640 And just, I mean, it's kind of a big concept, but learning how, how Christ 00:47:39.650 --> 00:47:45.509 found joy when he, when he was on the cross, because he was doing the will of 00:47:45.509 --> 00:47:47.270 the father and he was trying to do better. 00:47:47.890 --> 00:47:52.950 And how we can find joy when we repent and when we do the will of the father. 00:47:53.770 --> 00:47:57.549 So it's kind of like, there's a lot of kind of moving parts to this. 00:47:57.580 --> 00:48:02.390 It's kind of a really broad thing, but really just repentance and, and finding 00:48:02.810 --> 00:48:04.310 joy in Christ through the atonement. 00:48:05.020 --> 00:48:05.310 Jethro D. Jones: Yeah. 00:48:05.500 --> 00:48:11.750 Well, and, and that's beautiful because, uh, you don't have to be an evil person 00:48:12.210 --> 00:48:13.790 to take advantage of the atonement. 00:48:14.010 --> 00:48:19.550 In fact, the atonement is for everyone good and evil, no matter what we've done. 00:48:19.810 --> 00:48:20.950 And, um. 00:48:22.390 --> 00:48:27.410 You don't have to make bad choices in order to feel the 00:48:27.650 --> 00:48:28.490 blessings of the atonement. 00:48:28.490 --> 00:48:32.810 There's this quote by CS Lewis that, um, that I really love. 00:48:32.910 --> 00:48:35.930 I'm gonna read it to you because it's, it's one of my favorites. 00:48:36.510 --> 00:48:40.570 And he says, no man knows how bad he is till he has tried very hard to be good. 00:48:41.490 --> 00:48:45.490 A silly idea is current that good people do not know what temptation means. 00:48:46.120 --> 00:48:47.490 This is an obvious lie. 00:48:48.000 --> 00:48:51.490 Only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it is. 00:48:52.340 --> 00:48:55.370 After all, you find out the strength of the German army by fighting 00:48:55.370 --> 00:48:57.170 against it, not by giving in. 00:48:57.510 --> 00:49:00.650 You find out the strength of a wind by trying to walk 00:49:00.650 --> 00:49:02.530 against it, not by lying down. 00:49:03.910 --> 00:49:07.630 A man who gives into temptation after five minutes simply does not 00:49:07.630 --> 00:49:10.990 know what it have, what it would have been like an hour later. 00:49:11.620 --> 00:49:15.030 That is why bad people in one sense, know very little about badness. 00:49:15.340 --> 00:49:17.950 They have lived a sheltered life by always giving in. 00:49:18.694 --> 00:49:21.674 We never find out the strength of evil impulse inside us 00:49:21.765 --> 00:49:23.035 until we try to fight it. 00:49:23.254 --> 00:49:26.274 And Christ, because he was the only man who never yielded to 00:49:26.274 --> 00:49:30.794 temptation is also the only man who knows to the full what temptation 00:49:30.794 --> 00:49:33.154 means, the only complete realist. 00:49:33.814 --> 00:49:39.555 And what I love about that quote is that it says the more you resist, 00:49:39.774 --> 00:49:44.274 the more you know about temptation and how difficult it is to overcome. 00:49:44.814 --> 00:49:48.914 But if you give in and you do those things that you're tempted to do, 00:49:49.455 --> 00:49:53.475 you don't really know how strong the temptation can be because you've always 00:49:53.475 --> 00:50:00.154 given in and Christ because he never did give in despite all the temptations 00:50:00.154 --> 00:50:04.394 that he could possibly go through and experiencing all the pain that 00:50:04.455 --> 00:50:06.075 he did in the Garden of Gethsemane. 00:50:06.904 --> 00:50:11.595 He's the only one who really understands what it could be like and how difficult 00:50:11.595 --> 00:50:12.794 it is to overcome these things. 00:50:13.455 --> 00:50:19.205 And I just love that quote from him because it's so . So powerful 00:50:19.495 --> 00:50:22.565 about what, what the purpose of the atonement really is. 00:50:25.915 --> 00:50:27.555 Savannah Dean: I, I love that. 00:50:27.694 --> 00:50:32.365 And I love, I've never heard that before, but I love that so much and, 00:50:32.464 --> 00:50:37.435 and how you brought that up about, about Christ and how he truly knows. 00:50:37.734 --> 00:50:42.495 He is the only one that knows really how, how strong that temptation is. 00:50:42.615 --> 00:50:44.334 'cause he's the only one that's withstood it. 00:50:44.925 --> 00:50:45.215 Jethro D. Jones: Yeah. 00:50:45.715 --> 00:50:47.255 It, it's, it's very powerful. 00:50:48.125 --> 00:50:48.615 Alright. 00:50:48.915 --> 00:50:52.255 Um, so let's move to the present and the future. 00:50:52.645 --> 00:50:53.135 Alright. 00:50:53.755 --> 00:50:55.575 So what is your major right now? 00:50:57.205 --> 00:50:58.725 Savannah Dean: I still have not declared a major, 00:50:58.895 --> 00:50:59.515 Jethro D. Jones: Oh, good. 00:51:00.155 --> 00:51:00.355 Excellent. 00:51:00.785 --> 00:51:01.765 Savannah Dean: so yeah. 00:51:03.024 --> 00:51:04.615 We're still working, working on that. 00:51:04.755 --> 00:51:05.045 Jethro D. Jones: Okay. 00:51:05.785 --> 00:51:07.285 Are, are you leaning towards anything? 00:51:07.385 --> 00:51:09.205 Are you anything up for debate right now? 00:51:10.035 --> 00:51:12.714 Savannah Dean: I mean, before the mission, I really wanted to, to be a nurse. 00:51:12.874 --> 00:51:17.754 I wanted to do pre-nursing, but I've, I'm, it doesn't really call 00:51:17.754 --> 00:51:19.035 my attention as much anymore. 00:51:19.694 --> 00:51:26.754 So, um, I've thought my plan B is kind of just doing like early childhood education. 00:51:27.884 --> 00:51:34.104 Um, and my, my mission president also, he, he does a lot of stuff with real estate, 00:51:34.164 --> 00:51:38.144 so he kind of was telling me, oh, you should look into finance or real estate, 00:51:38.294 --> 00:51:39.944 like something more in the business realm. 00:51:40.484 --> 00:51:43.825 So there's kind of a lot of ideas floating around. 00:51:44.044 --> 00:51:48.464 So I, I'm still not a hundred percent sure, but this is kinda 00:51:48.464 --> 00:51:51.384 like my last semester that I, where I can take like just general 00:51:51.384 --> 00:51:52.785 classes and, and be all right. 00:51:52.805 --> 00:51:56.225 But by, by next semester, I, I will have more of an idea. 00:51:56.365 --> 00:51:58.184 And if I don't know what to do, I'll just do education. 00:51:58.964 --> 00:51:59.255 Jethro D. Jones: Okay. 00:51:59.435 --> 00:52:00.015 That's good. 00:52:00.915 --> 00:52:05.935 Um, so one of the ways that, that you and I have interacted is through 00:52:06.275 --> 00:52:09.895 how you have, uh, been friends with my oldest daughter Katya. 00:52:10.475 --> 00:52:15.375 And so if, if that is any indication, the kindness and love that you've 00:52:15.705 --> 00:52:22.174 shown her, shown her, uh, working with kids, I think that you would be great 00:52:22.194 --> 00:52:27.415 at, um, because you, you really have blessed her life and how you've, uh, 00:52:27.595 --> 00:52:32.775 how you've treated her and, uh, made her feel special and unique and loved. 00:52:32.955 --> 00:52:37.415 And so that is definitely a spiritual gift, I believe you have. 00:52:38.075 --> 00:52:43.214 And so, you know, maybe that is a encouragement, uh, a small 00:52:43.415 --> 00:52:44.535 encouragement in that direction. 00:52:45.765 --> 00:52:46.235 Savannah Dean: Thank you. 00:52:46.645 --> 00:52:47.435 Thank you so much. 00:52:47.715 --> 00:52:48.955 I love Ka so much. 00:52:49.315 --> 00:52:49.605 Jethro D. Jones: Yeah. 00:52:49.815 --> 00:52:52.155 Savannah Dean: But yeah, I, I have thought a lot about doing something 00:52:52.155 --> 00:52:54.455 with, in that, in that realm. 00:52:54.655 --> 00:52:57.255 'cause I do really enjoy, um, that type of stuff. 00:52:57.785 --> 00:52:58.075 Jethro D. Jones: Yeah. 00:52:58.095 --> 00:53:02.195 And it takes a, a special person to be able to work with 00:53:02.195 --> 00:53:03.195 people with special needs. 00:53:03.375 --> 00:53:08.035 And so, um, so that, that could be something where you have 00:53:08.035 --> 00:53:09.635 natural gifts in that arena. 00:53:10.295 --> 00:53:13.355 And, um, and I think that is important to think about. 00:53:13.425 --> 00:53:16.555 It's exciting that you haven't declared because next year when we talk about 00:53:16.795 --> 00:53:20.555 this, you will have probably had to have made a decision about this 00:53:20.799 --> 00:53:23.560 Savannah Dean: I hope I've made a decision by then We, I hope so. 00:53:23.560 --> 00:53:25.359 That'll be fun to see what I decide, 00:53:25.845 --> 00:53:26.505 Jethro D. Jones: it will be. 00:53:26.765 --> 00:53:32.745 Um, and uh, it, it's funny because most people change their major numerous 00:53:32.745 --> 00:53:37.145 times and then once they actually get a career, most people change 00:53:37.145 --> 00:53:38.785 their careers numerous times also. 00:53:39.005 --> 00:53:43.385 And so to think that there's like only one thing you could possibly do is 00:53:43.385 --> 00:53:45.725 kind of, kind of silly to be honest. 00:53:46.089 --> 00:53:46.440 Savannah Dean: right? 00:53:46.470 --> 00:53:46.759 Yeah. 00:53:47.225 --> 00:53:48.445 Jethro D. Jones: you can do a lot of different things. 00:53:49.555 --> 00:53:50.045 Alright. 00:53:50.385 --> 00:53:50.605 Um. 00:53:52.015 --> 00:53:59.155 So over the course of your life so far, you've had, uh, some trials, um, and 00:53:59.155 --> 00:54:00.355 you've had some great things happen. 00:54:01.265 --> 00:54:06.435 What is something that you feel God is preparing you for in the future? 00:54:08.169 --> 00:54:09.470 Savannah Dean: Oh, that's a good question. 00:54:13.180 --> 00:54:19.379 I, I think, I don't know, I just know there's, there's a lot of hope for ahead, 00:54:19.399 --> 00:54:24.620 but there's, I think it's gonna be a, a bumpy road, so I think I just need 00:54:24.620 --> 00:54:26.299 to buckle up and be ready for anything. 00:54:26.640 --> 00:54:28.740 But I'm, I'm really excited for the future. 00:54:28.810 --> 00:54:32.060 Like, I look towards the future with, with a lot of excitement and 00:54:32.089 --> 00:54:37.180 hope and everything, but I'm sure there will be trials with like, 00:54:37.979 --> 00:54:40.879 family and, and stuff like that. 00:54:40.939 --> 00:54:42.799 I'm sure there's gotta be some trials with that. 00:54:43.859 --> 00:54:44.080 Um. 00:54:44.095 --> 00:54:47.874 Jethro D. Jones: Oh, yes, I promise there will be like, guaranteed 00:54:47.874 --> 00:54:48.794 you're gonna have trials. 00:54:49.024 --> 00:54:52.915 It's not gonna be all sunshine, sunshine and roses the, the rest of your life. 00:54:53.365 --> 00:54:54.754 There are certainly going to be trials. 00:54:55.055 --> 00:55:01.115 And so that is one of the exciting things about life is that you have 00:55:01.115 --> 00:55:06.995 trials and then you learn so much through those trials, but nobody wants to go 00:55:06.995 --> 00:55:08.834 through them because they're difficult. 00:55:09.334 --> 00:55:12.714 And, and yet you can still look with optimism and excitement 00:55:12.714 --> 00:55:14.674 towards the future like I do. 00:55:15.214 --> 00:55:20.395 And uh, and you can still have great success even when things are difficult. 00:55:21.705 --> 00:55:21.995 Savannah Dean: Yeah. 00:55:23.104 --> 00:55:24.434 Yeah, that is. 00:55:24.504 --> 00:55:25.035 That is true. 00:55:25.384 --> 00:55:25.674 Yeah. 00:55:25.694 --> 00:55:30.154 I'm sure there will be trials with family, or if I get married 00:55:30.305 --> 00:55:31.834 soon, that'll probably be hard. 00:55:32.604 --> 00:55:33.334 Well, I don't know 00:55:34.285 --> 00:55:36.025 Jethro D. Jones: It will be, don't worry, 00:55:37.184 --> 00:55:37.404 Savannah Dean: but. 00:55:37.495 --> 00:55:41.705 Jethro D. Jones: Alright, so, uh, so now you have this wisdom of being 00:55:41.705 --> 00:55:46.185 back from a mission and you're, you're gonna look back to your freshman self 00:55:46.404 --> 00:55:48.785 and say, a freshman of high school. 00:55:49.005 --> 00:55:52.665 So what is that, six years ago or so, 00:55:52.875 --> 00:55:53.115 Savannah Dean: yeah. 00:55:53.384 --> 00:55:53.674 Yeah. 00:55:54.015 --> 00:55:57.625 Jethro D. Jones: what advice would you give to yourself then, or would 00:55:57.625 --> 00:56:00.985 you give to your sister who's a freshman, about how she should live 00:56:00.985 --> 00:56:02.425 her life, what she should focus on? 00:56:03.015 --> 00:56:07.025 What are, now that you have some wisdom, what are some things you'd say, this is 00:56:07.025 --> 00:56:09.145 what you should focus on in your life. 00:56:11.165 --> 00:56:13.535 Savannah Dean: I've, Hmm, that's a good question. 00:56:14.214 --> 00:56:21.154 I think I would just say like, just keep plugging along. 00:56:21.745 --> 00:56:22.515 Have a good time. 00:56:23.004 --> 00:56:24.674 Enjoy, enjoy a lot. 00:56:25.774 --> 00:56:27.035 Um, but 00:56:29.194 --> 00:56:33.924 yeah, I think just making, prioritizing the most, the most important things, 00:56:33.924 --> 00:56:35.725 putting the most important things first. 00:56:36.570 --> 00:56:40.150 Really, like, I mean, it's amazing that I got this testimony of the Book of 00:56:40.150 --> 00:56:41.910 Mormon when, when I was on my mission. 00:56:42.050 --> 00:56:46.870 But just imagine if I had that strong testimony that much like a 00:56:46.870 --> 00:56:49.910 couple years before that would've been amazing and helped me so much. 00:56:50.450 --> 00:56:56.360 So I think just, um, to be patient with yourself and yeah, be patient 00:56:56.360 --> 00:57:00.520 with yourself, prioritize the important things and, and have a 00:57:00.520 --> 00:57:03.440 good time to enjoy, enjoy the time. 00:57:04.950 --> 00:57:07.860 Jethro D. Jones: Again, so looking forward now. 00:57:08.960 --> 00:57:09.380 . 10 years. 00:57:09.570 --> 00:57:10.820 Well, we won't go 10 years yet. 00:57:10.910 --> 00:57:12.700 Let's go in one year. 00:57:13.290 --> 00:57:16.660 What things do you hope are true in your life one year from now? 00:57:17.800 --> 00:57:18.090 Savannah Dean: Okay. 00:57:18.770 --> 00:57:24.170 I hope that in one year I am, I, I hope that my testimony is 00:57:24.330 --> 00:57:26.290 stronger in one year than it is now. 00:57:27.009 --> 00:57:32.279 I hope that I'm more spiritually in a better spot than I am now in one year 00:57:34.840 --> 00:57:35.800 I hope that, um, 00:57:38.330 --> 00:57:41.530 hope that, um, my relationships with my family are just like a 00:57:41.530 --> 00:57:43.650 little bit better in one year too. 00:57:43.850 --> 00:57:46.170 I just hope everything is just a little bit better. 00:57:46.370 --> 00:57:49.090 I wanna just improve everything. 00:57:49.670 --> 00:57:55.010 Um, but I hope I am making, like going to the temple priority and then I'm 00:57:55.010 --> 00:57:57.970 making, just keeping my priorities straight, that I'm, I hope that I 00:57:57.970 --> 00:58:01.170 have a calling in a year and that I'm faithfully serving in a calling. 00:58:02.370 --> 00:58:06.230 Um, hope that I have a major declared in one year. 00:58:08.720 --> 00:58:09.010 Yeah. 00:58:09.010 --> 00:58:09.970 There, yeah. 00:58:10.690 --> 00:58:15.930 I think those are good like spiritual things to, to have done in a year. 00:58:16.640 --> 00:58:16.930 Jethro D. Jones: Okay. 00:58:17.470 --> 00:58:22.130 Um, so you, you, when we listed the things that you need to be doing, 00:58:22.630 --> 00:58:26.010 uh, the little things, you didn't mention the temple, but you've 00:58:26.010 --> 00:58:27.410 mentioned it a couple times since then. 00:58:27.800 --> 00:58:31.290 What do you want to say about the temple and what does that mean in 00:58:31.290 --> 00:58:32.570 your life, and why does that matter? 00:58:34.120 --> 00:58:35.680 Savannah Dean: I just, I love the temple so much. 00:58:36.120 --> 00:58:37.319 I, it is amazing. 00:58:38.059 --> 00:58:41.359 And after my mission, I, I was able to be an ordinance worker 00:58:41.470 --> 00:58:45.359 just for a month in the Spokane Temple, but I loved it so much. 00:58:45.720 --> 00:58:50.519 I just loved being there and doing all the, the ordinances and everything 00:58:50.519 --> 00:58:54.839 and, and just being with the temple workers, they're also amazing. 00:58:55.019 --> 00:58:57.399 So that, that was like the highlight of my week every week 00:58:57.569 --> 00:58:58.919 after I got home from my mission. 00:59:00.019 --> 00:59:04.549 Um, and I just think there's so much in the temple, and even after this last 00:59:04.769 --> 00:59:09.149 con, or maybe it was two conferences ago, but all the talk about temples and how 00:59:09.149 --> 00:59:12.149 President Nelson said, there's nothing more important that you can do than, 00:59:12.729 --> 00:59:14.539 than worship regularly in the temple. 00:59:14.720 --> 00:59:21.269 So I just think, um, the temple is so amazing and I need to make it a priority. 00:59:21.529 --> 00:59:24.589 So right now my goal is to go once a week and I know that maybe that won't be. 00:59:26.129 --> 00:59:30.499 Realistic always, but I wanna go like regularly, whether that's weekly or 00:59:30.499 --> 00:59:34.540 monthly, but I think at least monthly is, is a pretty reasonable goal. 00:59:35.285 --> 00:59:36.334 Jethro D. Jones: Yeah, that's good. 00:59:36.914 --> 00:59:41.455 And so maybe you are going to the temple every week in a year, but 00:59:41.475 --> 00:59:46.294 you're open to, maybe that's not the priority at that point in your life. 00:59:46.634 --> 00:59:49.015 And, and there's, there's truth to that. 00:59:49.015 --> 00:59:52.694 There are some times where, you know, I, I would only go once a 00:59:52.694 --> 00:59:55.774 year because of where we lived and I tried to go when I traveled. 00:59:55.914 --> 00:59:59.694 And other times, like right now where we live 20 minutes away from the temple, 01:00:00.325 --> 01:00:05.214 it's silly to not prioritize that and make that a regular occurrence each week. 01:00:05.274 --> 01:00:07.734 In my mind, that doesn't mean that's the same for everybody else. 01:00:08.434 --> 01:00:13.455 Um, but that's you prioritizing and setting goals for yourself 01:00:13.475 --> 01:00:15.334 and saying this is what matters. 01:00:15.914 --> 01:00:17.694 Um, that's, that's important. 01:00:17.914 --> 01:00:19.975 So I'm, I'm glad we, we mentioned that. 01:00:19.975 --> 01:00:20.334 Alright. 01:00:20.394 --> 01:00:21.654 Now, 10 years from now. 01:00:22.424 --> 01:00:27.164 Uh, what, what do you want to be your life and your goals? 01:00:27.475 --> 01:00:30.124 What do you wanna be focusing on 10 years from now? 01:00:31.200 --> 01:00:32.689 Savannah Dean: Okay, so in 10 years I'll be 01:00:32.745 --> 01:00:35.024 Jethro D. Jones: what do you want to happen 10 years from now? 01:00:35.919 --> 01:00:38.120 Savannah Dean: I hope by, in the next 10 years I'm married. 01:00:38.520 --> 01:00:42.600 I really hope that it's kind of a fear of mine like that I won't get married. 01:00:42.669 --> 01:00:43.600 That would be scary. 01:00:44.259 --> 01:00:49.399 But I do, I do hope that I'm married and I mean, by 31, I feel like I 01:00:49.399 --> 01:00:55.230 could have a couple kids by then, so that's so crazy to think about. 01:00:55.330 --> 01:01:01.609 But, but yeah, I hope I'm married, have some kids, um, have a husband 01:01:02.810 --> 01:01:07.250 and I hope that I like just have. 01:01:09.335 --> 01:01:10.924 Stuff more figured out, I guess. 01:01:12.165 --> 01:01:14.805 I hope that I'm smart financially in the next 10 years. 01:01:15.595 --> 01:01:15.884 Jethro D. Jones: Yeah. 01:01:16.504 --> 01:01:16.725 Savannah Dean: Um, 01:01:18.774 --> 01:01:25.274 yeah, I, I hope I just keep progressing and doing better and yeah, just I feel 01:01:25.274 --> 01:01:30.105 like kind of my same, I still have my same goals, but they're just like enlarged, 01:01:30.105 --> 01:01:31.944 you know, just keeping doing that, 01:01:33.090 --> 01:01:33.330 Jethro D. Jones: Yeah. 01:01:33.395 --> 01:01:36.424 Savannah Dean: those same things and, and improving my life. 01:01:37.020 --> 01:01:37.310 Jethro D. Jones: yeah. 01:01:37.410 --> 01:01:41.110 And here's, here's where the trials can come in, because 01:01:41.860 --> 01:01:42.990 what if you're not married? 01:01:43.220 --> 01:01:45.230 What if you don't have a husband? 01:01:45.620 --> 01:01:48.270 What if you do have a husband but he passes away? 01:01:48.740 --> 01:01:51.150 What if you have kids but you lose a child? 01:01:51.410 --> 01:01:54.830 Uh, in the first episode we did of this, uh, we talked to Courtney 01:01:55.150 --> 01:01:56.710 Thornton who did lose a child. 01:01:57.250 --> 01:02:00.910 And like those things are really difficult and hard to go 01:02:00.910 --> 01:02:02.670 through, but they're also real. 01:02:03.130 --> 01:02:06.430 And so I certainly don't want to like, scare you and make you 01:02:06.430 --> 01:02:09.230 think that these things are, these bad things are gonna happen. 01:02:09.330 --> 01:02:13.150 But we know that there are going to be trials and we 01:02:13.270 --> 01:02:14.710 have to be prepared for them. 01:02:15.810 --> 01:02:17.730 Mentally, but also spiritually, right? 01:02:18.430 --> 01:02:22.410 We have to spiritually be prepared for the hopes and dreams we have to 01:02:23.070 --> 01:02:27.010 not come true and understand that God has a bigger plan in store for us 01:02:28.070 --> 01:02:29.720 that we may not be able to understand. 01:02:30.260 --> 01:02:34.800 And I'm gonna tell you, Savannah, that is so hard to do in the moment. 01:02:35.380 --> 01:02:41.400 And it is heartbreaking when the dreams and goals we have don't come to fruition. 01:02:41.430 --> 01:02:48.090 Because we don't, we don't set goals thinking that, um, that 01:02:48.090 --> 01:02:49.090 we're not going to achieve them. 01:02:49.230 --> 01:02:54.050 And we don't set goals thinking that it wouldn't be great for 01:02:54.170 --> 01:02:55.570 those things to happen, right? 01:02:56.080 --> 01:03:00.890 Like, you're not gonna set a goal that you don't believe is the best 01:03:00.890 --> 01:03:02.210 for you and everyone involved. 01:03:02.870 --> 01:03:04.610 And yet we don't make those goals. 01:03:04.910 --> 01:03:06.570 We don't achieve those goals all the time. 01:03:06.670 --> 01:03:09.930 And so then we feel like, uh, we're not meeting the expectations. 01:03:09.940 --> 01:03:11.610 We're not living up to our potential. 01:03:12.354 --> 01:03:17.254 All those things, and that's a very real life thing to be experiencing. 01:03:18.075 --> 01:03:22.854 And yet we can still have hope through the atonement that it's going to be 01:03:22.964 --> 01:03:25.015 okay and that God has a bigger plan. 01:03:25.515 --> 01:03:29.174 And so as you have faced trials in your life and are going to face 01:03:29.174 --> 01:03:34.615 trials, what keeps you strong and faithful even when those trials exist? 01:03:36.305 --> 01:03:41.585 Savannah Dean: I think just knowing that that God has has a plan and if I make 01:03:41.585 --> 01:03:47.545 those goals spiritually, like if I consult the Lord and how I'm making those goals. 01:03:48.915 --> 01:03:50.634 I know that he can help them happen. 01:03:51.115 --> 01:03:51.515 I don't know. 01:03:51.634 --> 01:03:56.075 I feel like these types of goals are, they're obviously not a 01:03:56.075 --> 01:03:57.275 hundred percent in my control. 01:03:57.455 --> 01:03:58.915 It sounds kinda like being a missionary. 01:03:59.185 --> 01:04:02.755 Like you make goals of the people, you're gonna find the 01:04:02.755 --> 01:04:05.515 people you're gonna baptize, the people you're gonna put on date. 01:04:05.515 --> 01:04:10.315 Like all these things that really, like, they're not a hundred 01:04:10.315 --> 01:04:11.315 percent outta your control. 01:04:11.515 --> 01:04:13.634 'cause if you don't do anything, you're not gonna meet your goals. 01:04:13.895 --> 01:04:16.355 But if you do everything, you still might not meet them. 01:04:16.775 --> 01:04:22.085 And I think that's like a very hard concept because like in all my life 01:04:22.085 --> 01:04:27.805 before my mission, everything, all the goals I had were like on me. 01:04:27.805 --> 01:04:33.375 Like if I was doing a sport and if I like wanted to, to get better at a certain 01:04:33.424 --> 01:04:37.015 skill and if I worked on it, I would get better and I'd do better in the game. 01:04:37.805 --> 01:04:41.865 But that's not always the case with, with missionary work, you can't just 01:04:41.865 --> 01:04:43.384 like be better and always do better. 01:04:43.924 --> 01:04:49.555 So I think that it's just kind of that same type of . Faith with 01:04:49.555 --> 01:04:51.555 these goals, with your future goals. 01:04:51.975 --> 01:04:56.425 So like if I, if my plan is to like get married, like I 01:04:56.425 --> 01:04:58.505 need to like talk to people. 01:04:58.585 --> 01:05:01.105 I need to go on dates, I need to prepare, I need to do all these things. 01:05:01.405 --> 01:05:04.225 But even if I do all these things is not guaranteed. 01:05:04.765 --> 01:05:10.585 So I think just having the faith that, having the faith that it'll be all right 01:05:11.395 --> 01:05:15.575 and just doing the will of the Lord, I think that that is really important. 01:05:15.595 --> 01:05:16.895 And it's easier said than done. 01:05:17.495 --> 01:05:20.455 'cause sometimes it's so frustrating on a mission, you just do everything. 01:05:20.455 --> 01:05:26.245 You can talk to a thousand people, like work super, super hard, but you just 01:05:26.375 --> 01:05:28.085 don't see the fruits of your labors. 01:05:28.745 --> 01:05:33.365 But you just know that if you have faith, like, and you're doing 01:05:33.365 --> 01:05:35.485 everything you can, it'll be all right. 01:05:35.575 --> 01:05:36.365 It'll all work out. 01:05:36.985 --> 01:05:39.165 But I think it's, it's so hard to do. 01:05:39.395 --> 01:05:40.245 It's so hard to do. 01:05:40.465 --> 01:05:43.605 But I think that applies with these same goals that I have to 01:05:43.605 --> 01:05:44.725 have a family and everything. 01:05:45.459 --> 01:05:46.629 Jethro D. Jones: Yeah, absolutely. 01:05:47.089 --> 01:05:52.750 Uh, these are, that is such a beautiful sentiment and it is, it is so powerful 01:05:53.370 --> 01:05:58.709 and I hope that you can play that on a repeat for the rest of your life because, 01:05:59.450 --> 01:06:04.549 uh, that is exactly what I believe the atonement is for, that you're gonna 01:06:04.549 --> 01:06:08.430 have heartache and disappointment and challenges, but you can still have hope. 01:06:08.770 --> 01:06:11.709 You can still feel like you can make this happen. 01:06:11.890 --> 01:06:17.029 You can accomplish what the Lord has set out for you even if you don't understand, 01:06:17.410 --> 01:06:21.709 and you're gonna still set goals and work hard and hope for things, and then 01:06:22.730 --> 01:06:27.750 what's going to happen is going to happen, and you can rest assured knowing that. 01:06:28.570 --> 01:06:31.390 The Lord is in control and he's got it. 01:06:32.009 --> 01:06:37.190 Um, so is there anything else that you want to make sure you remember for 01:06:37.190 --> 01:06:41.230 the future or anything that we should talk about before we close out here? 01:06:42.630 --> 01:06:45.010 Savannah Dean: Um, I don't, just your last comment. 01:06:45.230 --> 01:06:48.130 It just made me think of a scripture in, in doctrine and covenants 01:06:48.130 --> 01:06:50.090 that says, I the Lord inbound. 01:06:50.090 --> 01:06:53.330 When you do what I say, but when you do not what I say, you have no promise. 01:06:53.990 --> 01:06:58.690 And I, I just love that so much because if we, if we really, if we 01:06:58.800 --> 01:07:02.370 keep the commandments, like we, we will be blessed, but not always in, 01:07:02.430 --> 01:07:03.770 in the ways that we want, obviously. 01:07:04.430 --> 01:07:09.410 But I think it's just having faith that like, if these big grand goals that I 01:07:09.410 --> 01:07:13.290 have like don't, don't happen if they don't come to pass, like I know that 01:07:13.290 --> 01:07:18.530 if I'm like doing what I'm supposed to be doing, I ha I, I should have the 01:07:18.530 --> 01:07:24.740 faith that that God's plan is greater and that like later, like, maybe I 01:07:24.740 --> 01:07:28.180 won't get married here on the earth, but like I'll later in the afterlife 01:07:28.370 --> 01:07:30.300 I'll, or just, just things like that. 01:07:30.370 --> 01:07:34.050 Like when little things don't go as planned, like, like who is the Lord 01:07:34.070 --> 01:07:36.690 to not, to not fulfill his promises. 01:07:36.690 --> 01:07:40.850 Like it's, it's written and he said it that he is bound when we do it. 01:07:41.320 --> 01:07:44.250 When we do it, he says, so really like. 01:07:45.305 --> 01:07:49.485 Us meeting our goals really is us doing it, but we might not do it in 01:07:49.505 --> 01:07:54.085 the, we might, might not do what we want in the time span that we want to. 01:07:54.665 --> 01:07:58.255 So I think that's just important to, to think. 01:07:58.335 --> 01:07:59.415 I, I love that scripture. 01:07:59.950 --> 01:08:01.160 Jethro D. Jones: Yeah, I love that too. 01:08:01.459 --> 01:08:04.439 And, and you are promised great things for sure. 01:08:05.140 --> 01:08:06.919 And as you said earlier on. 01:08:07.874 --> 01:08:10.605 Even on your mission, things didn't go exactly how you planned, 01:08:10.664 --> 01:08:11.924 but you still saw miracles. 01:08:12.305 --> 01:08:14.365 And, and that's how it's going to be also. 01:08:14.905 --> 01:08:19.165 So we're gonna pick this up again a year from now, and we're gonna 01:08:19.165 --> 01:08:20.525 have a similar conversation. 01:08:20.945 --> 01:08:23.525 And, um, I'm really looking forward to it. 01:08:23.945 --> 01:08:29.245 And I, I thank you for doing this and I, I'm sure that your posterity 01:08:29.265 --> 01:08:32.325 is going to thank you as well, hearing your thought process. 01:08:32.585 --> 01:08:35.405 You're gonna listen to this next year and you're gonna be like, 01:08:35.465 --> 01:08:39.685 oh my goodness, I was so young and so naive, and so whatever. 01:08:40.385 --> 01:08:40.605 And 01:08:41.095 --> 01:08:41.255 Savannah Dean: probably. 01:08:41.765 --> 01:08:45.125 Jethro D. Jones: that's the case and that you're not like, oh man, I was, 01:08:45.565 --> 01:08:48.965 I was way farther ahead than I am now and I've really faltered back, 01:08:48.975 --> 01:08:50.805 which may happen too, and that's okay. 01:08:51.105 --> 01:08:54.285 Uh, but we're gonna, we're gonna talk again in a year and I really 01:08:54.285 --> 01:08:56.245 appreciate, uh, you being here, Savannah. 01:08:56.295 --> 01:08:57.125 Thank you so much. 01:08:57.285 --> 01:08:57.925 I appreciate it. 01:08:58.635 --> 01:08:58.925 Savannah Dean: Yeah. 01:08:58.925 --> 01:08:59.645 Thank you so much. 01:09:02.025 --> 01:09:02.315 Jethro D. Jones: Okay.