That Awkward Moment when You Realize You Actually Understand the Priesthood and Priesthood Keys -- 23 June 2014

I was wondering if that one would ever come :) I guess that's what happens when you study :)

Hello everyone! I have been transferred from beautiful British Colombia to the wonderful area of High River. Back in the Foothills Zone. I thought I had knocked it out, but I suppose it's time for round 3. Let's be honest. It really doesn't stand a chance this time. I'm faster, stronger, more faithful, and unafraid. Let's rock.

I'm serving with my mission grandson!!!! His name is Elder H and he's a fireball! I love it! He's a great worker and a phoenominal teacher. We're going to turn High River inside out (it's already inside out---remember the floods a year ago?). We're also serving along side Sister Missionaries in the area. We've created a plan to work together in making things happen, instead of dividing up the work. They are amazing. I can't believe just how blessed I am to be here.

My thought this week has to do with Charity. This morning I was studying D&C 121 34-46. This section is probably best known for the common place phrases in verses 7-9, which are God's promise to Joseph Smith that He will never leave him alone. The verses following are some of the best verses of scripture in my opinion, but as you make it to 34-46 God teaches the priesthood probably its most important lesson.

I've read this section many many many times on my mission. But I learned something interesting today. It says,

 34 Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen?

 35 Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, ---- 

I got to this point and thought, "I know people like this." Suddenly my world halted and I realized what had just crossed my mind. What was I doing? I don't have the right to put others down like that! Many familiar scriptures came to my mind about judging. Especially judging righteously.

Remember the mote and beam analogy in Matt 7?

After I realized this I realized what had happened to my priesthood power...

So, my thought is simply this, sometimes we accuse others of being something. Some times they really are that something or that someone, however. We have been admonished to be bigger than that. How do we do it in the moment? Well, we recognize that we are just as guilty as they are. We've probably had the past mistakes. We remember the mercy of Christ in forgiving us for those mistakes. And we forsake our own past, deciding within ourselves to also forgive the one we are confronted with. Then, as we follow the rest of the counsel in d&c 121 34-46 we are given priesthood power to do what he needs us to do to help others.

This is just a quick thought cause I only have a few seconds left, but I love you and I invite you all to read this section and figure out what you can do to be closer to your savior.

I love you all!

Rock on! Peace, love, and temple marriage.  In that order.

YSA -- 10 June 2013

I have been made a Zone Leader in the Foothills zone. It's been interesting. Very interesting, but not bad. :D I love my new companion. He is from Mesa, Arizona and he is a lot of fun to be around. He and I get along very well. We are also on a three leg with the Mandarin missionary in the zone. He spends a lot more time with other members of our District than he does with us, but you need to do wha tyou need to do to invite others to come unto Christ, hey?

So, I'm living in South West Calgary in a pretty cool apartment. It's exciting times :D It's a total mess, just like all of the apartments I've gone in to, but it will be cleaned up before the end of today. It's been good.

The ward I cover is YSA and is called the Spruce Meadows Ward. So far the members are hilarious, and I'm very grateful to be serving. Because of all the returned missionaries, everyone really knows why they need to do missionary work, but nobody really understands how it can be accomplished. Fortunately, that happens to be my specialty. I've officially decided that my role as a missionary is to pave the path for the ward to be self sustaining in missionary work. That's what I was doing in Okotoks, Medicine Hat (especially toward the end), and it's what I'm going to do here, so that, in the future, other missionaries can baptize the people that each of the members prepare.

My teaching has been improving since I've gotten here. I've had to be really technically correct and focus hard on the fundamentals as I've been working with people who have served missions and who are preparing to serve missions.

I love leadership. Not because I like being a leader, because I really don't like the firing line or the microscope. I really like it because it makes me stretch. I love that the Lord loves me enough to take me out of my comfort zone and allows me to grow and expand beyond my capabilities. I love to look back at the growth I've experienced so far on my mission. God is a genius.

Well, you've guessed it, I've been moved into YSA. :D

Yesterday, the bishop called me up from the stand and had me give a 10 minute talk without letting me know beforehand. It was sweet. :D Very exciting.

In the meantime, as you are all aware, we've been working on gaining member trust and getting wards to be self sufficient in missionary work. It's been great. I love working with members.

This is one of those times when I really just don't know exactly what it is I need to be writing about.

I love you all. You know that? I feel like sometimes when I write home, the things that I say tend to be a little bold and quite spiritually based. A lot of people email me and ask what I'm doing, and how I'm doing, and these emails all seem to be about the spiritual things. The truth is, I do that because I love it. I love my mission. More than anything. I love teaching, I love helping, I love hoping, and I love learning. I really love sharing that love with others. After all, that's why I'm here. That's why we're all here. To show the Lord whether or not we love Him. That's the test, right? Just turning to him? I just love you all so much. I hope you know that.

Maybe the shortest email ever, I just don't know what else to say.

The miracles this week were many. We had an activity fall through and we didn't know what to do, so we got down on our knees and prayed. A name popped in to our minds. N. We need to see N.

So, we got in the truck and went over to N's place. we shared a message of self-worth, hope, and divine potential. We talked about life, hope, help, and happiness. We invited him to church and he came. The truth is, the Lord knows His people. I hope these miracles never seem any smaller to me. It would be a terrible day to realize that I hadn't seen any miracles. We see them all the time. We see so much good. It builds our faith and helps us to be better than we really ever dreamed. Miracles happen every day. In my life and yours.

God is good.

Peace, love, and temple marriage. In that order!

Elder Taylor J. Hill