One thing I've been lucky to have the chance to do while serving in Montana is branding cattle. I remember first watching a calve being branded and thinking "what in the world is going on?!" My first branding was with the branch president up here in Roundup, MT. When it was time for me to wrestle the calve, I was probably a pretty comical sight for many of the people there, even little kids, who had been branding before. My missionary companion at the time, Elder Owens, had already worked cattle and knew what he was doing. He tried to reassure me that it would be no big deal and I would do fine. I am glad that he couldn't see my feet shaking in my boots with fear! We later talked to some members of the branch who would be branding that day with us. They said they would bring a helmet for me to use. "Wait, what?" I learned they were joking with me, but it may "come in handy." "Peachy."
My nerves were running for quite a while. I questioned how this experience was gong to go down. I was praying hard that I would be able to work hard, and not get run over by a horse or chased off by the calves. Plus, I would be wearing a helmet. What could go wrong?
Well, now several hundred head of cattle later, i am very happy to say that I now know how to throw a calve (kind of) and I didn't get run over by a horse!
This experience has brought a few gospel-related lessons to mind. One is that of faith. We are told in Ether 12:6 that we must, on occasion, take a blind step of faith and trust in the Lord. James 2: 17 says "even so, faith without works is dead." I could have prayed all day for the Lord to bless me to be a good worker, but unless I get out and give it my best shot after having said that prayer, I would get nowhere.
Another lesson I learned is that of progression. No matter what we do, our first shot at anything, whether it be school or branding cattle will not always be perfect. That is why we learn. Even the most perfect person to walk on earth, Jesus Christ learned while in this life. Hebrews 5, 8-9 reads "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him." Christ learned from His challenges, and so can we. Every calve I try to wrestle, will help me to do it better the next time.
Another lesson I learned is patience. I was frustrated a few times that I hadn't done as good of a job that I wanted to with one calve. I had to learn to be patient with myself when I didn't measure up to my own standards.
All in all, I am so very grateful that I was blessed with this opportunity to learn. I love working cattle, now! I am also very grateful for the people that showed me how to brand and were patient with me as I learned. i am also grateful that the helmet was not needed!
This is one of the experiences I have been blessed to have while serving the Lord! I hope I get to have more experiences like it!
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