"He'll Meet You There": Trusting Christ in Your Inadequacy - Elder Thomas Harris

In this episode of the Mission Stories podcast, Shawn sits down with Thomas Harris, a missionary preparing to serve in Santiago, Chile, to discuss the vital transition from a "halted" or lukewarm state to a 10/10 commitment. The conversation centers on Principle One: Agency and Principle Two: Revelation, exploring how a young man move beyond spiritual stagnation by making a definitive choice to follow the Savior.

The Poverty of Being "Halted"

Shawn and Thomas examine the scripture from 1 Kings where the prophet Elijah asks, "How long halt ye between two opinions?". Thomas shares that during his senior year of high school and his first year at BYU, he felt this sense of being "halted" or stagnant—neither fully rebelling nor fully progressing. He admits to "dipping his toe" into the world during his senior year, which resulted in a lack of the peace and joy that the Gospel brings. However, he reflects that experiencing this "bitter" state was a necessary part of his growth, helping him to eventually prize the "sweet" joy of the Spirit.

Repentance as a Foundation for Confidence

A core transformation in Thomas’s journey was his move toward active repentance. He emphasizes that the confidence he feels today is not because he has mastered the scriptures or "knows everything," but because he has experienced the reality of the Atonement. Shawn highlights that learning to repent is one of the most vital skills a missionary can possess, as it is the very process they are inviting others to undergo. Thomas testifies that the Lord is most pleased when we use our agency to turn back to Him, and that this process fuels the faith required to serve.

Learning from "Hot" Examples

Thomas recounts a pivotal experience at Lake Powell where he was inspired by the "fiery hot" testimonies of returned missionaries. Their core message—that "you’re never really ready, but you can be fully committed"—helped Thomas shift his mindset from one of inadequacy to one of total trust in Christ. He realized that while he would never have all the answers, the Lord would make up for his deficiencies if he gave his full effort. This lesson in humility and reliance on the Savior replaced his hesitation with a deep sense of "comfort, peace, and surety".

The Fiber Internet Lesson: Rejection and Love

Reflecting on a brief job selling fiber internet, Thomas shares a practical lesson about handling rejection. He learned that some people will say "no" regardless of how perfect the offer is, a principle he now applies to missionary work. He notes that a missionary's responsibility is to serve with all their heart, might, mind, and strength, offering the Gospel with pure love while respecting the agency of others to choose whether to accept that joy.

Closing: An Invitation to Act

Thomas concludes by inviting those on the fence to stop being "halted" and to start proactively preparing through daily scripture study and temple attendance. He specifically encourages listeners to engage in the joy of repentance, promising that it will fill them with an absolute joy from Heavenly Father. Shawn reinforces that the field is "white already to harvest" and that those who serve with a "burning desire" will find salvation for their own souls as they bring others to Christ.