Will You... -- 24 February 2014

Dear Friends and Family and anyone else who may read this email for some reason, (#aknightstale)

Hi! How are you? If you're getting this email you can be sure that I love you and that I probably think of you often. Since the beginning of my mission, actually, I've probably been thinking of you. That's right, 18 months and counting and you've been on my mind.

This week we've been doing Zone Conferences, we have a lot to do this coming week as well. They've been a blessing more because of what happens outside of the conference than inside. I don't think anything I really say to anyone is any more special that what you  or my companion would say to someone. So, Zone Conferences, while important and revelatory are just really the small part of what we really do. 

I'm trying to be completely honest in these emails, I hope you know that. 

Yesterday at church we were sitting with a non member who just walked into church. The talks in the meeting were awesome. They were about enduring to the end, faith, and the Atonement. I was completely captivated by what the Spirit was teaching me, actually. Not necessarily by what they were saying, but rather by what I was hearing, if that makes sense. 

I was thinking of repentance. 

Repentance and I have something of an intimate relationship, for a long time it was really love-hate. It was a painful, fear filled thing that resulted in the joy that the savior has promised. 

Repentance is not a stand-alone principle. Rather it is a principle that is fueled by faith, which results in covenant keeping and covenant making. Repentance is the means by which we overcome every sorrow, hardship, fear, and imperfection in our lives, which are in our ability to control. Repentance is a change of heart, a change of mind. It is a fresh view about God, about ourselves, and about the world. 

Repentance is brought about by the Grace of Jesus Christ--- grace which ENABLES us to decide to change, and to make the necessary steps to do so. God does not simply pick you up, break you, and shape you into a new person. Rather, He enables you through his Grace to choose to follow Him. He makes the things that seem impossible, possible. Like the pioneers who prayed that their stomachs would be strengthened so they could eat the hide of cattle to survive the winter, so too is grace enabling us to repentance. Our minds and hearts are strengthened to overcome the bitter taste of sin which can be so addicting to us. You may hear of stories where someone is trying to quit smoking, and the very thought of it becomes disgusting for them. That is His grace. Or someone addicted to pornography not bearing to be around any kind of sexual temptation for fear of its bitter outcomes... they have been blessed by grace---enabled by it to conquer it. 

Repentance requires faith in Jesus Christ that He can and will change us. Faith relates directly to our desires. If we want to change, if we desire to be better, then we will choose to believe Him. But God will not force repentance upon any unwilling participant. We must choose to believe Him, and to believe in him. Not only to trust in His existence, but simply to rely on the promises He has given us that we will no longer feel the guilt, shame, or sorrow brought about by our poor choices. 

What about those without faith? Well, in the words of Mormon

40 And again, my beloved brethren, I would speak unto you concerning ^ahope. How is it that ye can attain unto faith, save ye shall have hope?

 41 And what is it that ye shall ^ahope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have ^bhope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life ^ceternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise.

This relates directly to what Alma said:

 27 But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than ^adesire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.

Do you have hope? Or desire? Do you really want it? Do you want it enough to try? He will fill your heart. 

Repentance leads to cleansing, though it is not repentance that cleans us. Repentance is simply a bridge to salvation, not the means of it. The way to cleanliness is through Covenants and Ordinances. In other words, we are baptized because we desire to be clean. We are not forgiven nor is the price fully paid for the sin, until we make promises through ordinances that we will change. In other words we are not fully forgiven nor can we be clean, feel peace or fully happy until we have partaken of the Sacrament worthily, having made the promise that we are willing to take upon us the name of the Son and keep his commandments. He makes this promise with us so that we can choose to follow Him, and so He can be enabled to take a more active role in our lives and assist us in change by the power of His spirit. Thus, we keep the promises that we make by living the commandments--- attending church, reading our scriptures, praying, and keeping our covenants. In exchange for these things, God cleanses us, makes us pure, holy, and righteous, and we are changed into "New creatures in Christ."

Repentance, when coupled with ordinances, brings us the Spirit, which acts as a protection and strives to keep us on a path leading toward eternal happiness and salvation with Christ. 

So, it is for this purpose that we are called to "declare repentance" and "invite others to come unto Christ." Because God wants us in His kingdom, and in order to get there, we must repent. 

Doctrine and Covenants 19 says it best: 15 Therefore I command you to repent—repent, lest I ^asmite you by the rod of my mouth, and by my wrath, and by my anger, and your ^bsufferings be sore—how sore you know not, how exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not.

 16 For behold, I, God, have ^asuffered these things for all, that they^bmight not suffer if they would ^crepent;

 17 But if they would not repent they must ^asuffer even as I;

 18 Which ^asuffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might ^bnot drink the bitter cup, and shrink—

 19 Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and^afinished my preparations unto the children of men.

 20 Wherefore, I command you again to repent, lest I ^ahumble you with my almighty power; and that you ^bconfess your sins, lest you suffer these ^cpunishments of which I have spoken, of which in the smallest, yea, even in the least degree you have ^dtasted at the time I withdrew my Spirit.

or in the words of Alma

 62 I speak by way of command unto you that belong to the church; and unto those who do not belong to the church I speak by way of invitation, saying: Come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye also may be partakers of the fruit of the ^atree of life.

So, dear friends, will you repent? I don't know what it is you're facing, but I love you. I think of you and I'm praying for you. I know that each of us struggles with our imperfections... but we can be clean. We can be happy. We can be confident. We can feel peace. We can feel hope for a better world. We are His children.

Will you follow Him? 

I love you with all of my heart.

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

Elder Taylor J. Hill

I Feel God's Love When... 17 February 2014

Hello Friends! I was perusing lds.org when I came across a web page that went a little something like this: "I feel God's love when..." and it had 6 photos and a bunch of sliced tweets on it. This one was my favorite.

http://www.lds.org/pages/gods-love?cid=HPFR021214493&im=true&lang=eng

http://www.lds.org/bible-videos/videos/young-jesus-teaching-in-the-temple?lang=eng

I also saw this video, and it inspired me. When Christ was just 12 he understood who he was. Does it occur to anyone else that we share the same divine heritage through Christ? Can we too know so strongly who we are that we amaze those around us with our character, hope, faith, wisdom, and understanding. If we will give Him the glory, He will through us. 

After all, who are we not to be His elect? :D 

I know it's just a quick thought, but let's be honest, you probably haven't even made it this far. 

Look, I know it must get old listening to me go... but the message that we share is too important. I have been called of Him through His prophet to proclaim His gospel to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. I know His message is true. 

So, do you want power? Hope? Courage? Change? a Second Chance? 

Stand. Be numbered with Him. 

Calling all to come unto Christ, and be perfected in Him. 

I'm in Medicine Hat. I love you all so much, you don't even know. Thank you for teaching me to be His through your wonderful examples. :D (zone conferences for the next 2 weeks)

Believe. Peace. Love. And Temple Marriage. In that order.

Elder Hill

Going Ham -- 3 February 2014

Alright (you know when I start an email that way, that I'm about to go, so, put your seat belts on, and get ready for 6th gear).

 

This weekend we were in a Mission Leadership Council, and the council question proposed was, "What will it take for us to make it to 80 baptisms per transfer in this mission?" (I know some of you in other missions are like, "80 baptisms? We do that in a week!" Well, we don't but we can. And that is precisely the point I'm going to make.) Well, let me lead you through what happened.

 

The question was posed.

 

Someone responded, "That seems a little unrealistic." Then the council followed.

 

*sigh* At what point do we stop worrying about what is a little unrealistic and start believing in what God has promised us? When do we believe that he has said, "I will fight your battles for you"? and that he will actually do it. There's a wonderful series of talks that I've listened to, and a book I've read (I repented, relax) that talk about the difference between believing in Christ, and Believing Him. 

 

Look, I understand that we don't all have the faith of Jared, or the Courage of Ammon. I understand that we are all insignificant in our own way, but when it comes to doing the Lord's will, we are entitled to His help. Do we believe that? Do we trust him? Do we really get it? Will we receive something from him, and give it all to him?

 

There's a story (I'm plagiarizing right here) from the bible where the Children of Israel had just arrived at the promised land---the first time. Moses sent in 12 spies to find out what was going on in there. 10 of them came back and reported on the goodness of the land and its prosperity, but they then said, "And there we saw giants, and were in our own sight as grasshoppers." 

 

Is that how we see ourselves? As you can tell, I'm going ham right now, but for heaven's sake, DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!? Do you get it? Really? Do you see yourself as a grasshopper? Or as someone called of God to do a marvelous work and a wonder? This message is not just for the missionaries here. 

 

My dear friends... I don't know what giants you all face in your life, maybe it's 80 baptisms, or 1. It could be friends, or family, or fear. Maybe it's school, marriage, or music, but whatever giants stand in your path I promise you that you can believe Christ. He is our Saviour and Redeemer. With His strength, you are strong enough. You are a son or daughter of a Father in Heaven who has delegated to you His power, and there is nothing that is too strong for you---not with Him. 

 

You can believe Him. You can be the difference in someone's life. You can be that missionary that baptizes thousands. You can be the difference in the life of a struggling friend. You can do whatever it is God wants of you.

 

I love you all. Sorry for the rant, but someone's got to say it, or nobody would ever get there.

 

Believe Him. Rock on. Peace. Love. And Temple Marriage. In that order.

 

Elder Taylor J. Hill

They See Me Revving the Engine... -- 27 January 2014

Of my beautiful white minivan!!!! #sisterrowley 

We've been all over the mission this past week for exchanges. We had an exchanges with the missionaries in Cardston, Ft. Mcleod, and Calgary South. They were really good exchanges. I met a whole hoard of YSA sisters while we were in South Calgary who hooked us up with Mexican food (my favorite) and a few referrals. One of them knows a member down in Medicine Hat who is less active. Don't worry, we'll be back in the Hat this weekend. :D This is gonna be good. I love the Hat.

Thanks to everyone who's wished me a happy birthday this past week. It was my brother's birthday yesterday, so a shout out to him! The B family took me out for lunch (MexiCAN) and bowling on Monday, I ate Mexican on Tuesday, and a YSA member fed me Mexican on Wednesday. Wanna know the crazy part? My companion isn't sick of Mexican yet. Why? We were on exchanges the whole time! 

On Saturday we were on exchanges in Ft. Mcleod and teaching a less-active YSA. He has been choosing not to attend church for quite a long time. We started the lesson by reading the Book of Mormon with him, because he didn't do his reading (p.s. if the missionaries ever give you a reading assignment, read it. If you don't, they'll read it with you and ensure a spiritual experience so you will continue reading on your own, just don't miss out on it). We read Mosiah 4. About halfway through we were talking about how we use the Atonement to grow closer to our Heavenly Father.

I can't remember what was said, but this is how we ended up--- Me and J (name changed for privacy purposes) having a heart to heart, because we don't always feel worthy of the blessings we receive. He then talked about how he didn't feel worthy to enter a church building, or to take the sacrament. He was scared to see his Father in Heaven and terrified of having to face Him in His own house. 

We discussed how the Church was a house of healing, a hospital, not a house of horrors (interesting how those two tend to collide). I had been reading Alma 36 that morning (go figure) and had noticed something I hadn't before. 

15 Oh, thought I, that I ^acould be banished and become extinct both soul and body, that I might not be brought to stand in the presence of my God, to be judged of my ^bdeeds.

Then, after he had sought for Christ he said,

2 Yea, methought I saw, even as our father ^aLehi saw, God sitting upon his throne, surrounded with numberless concourses of angels, in the attitude of singing and ^bpraising their God; yea, and my soul did long to be there.

Well, I suppose that's my message for today. Sometimes we feel really far away from our Father in Heaven, or we've done something to damage our relationship with Him, and we would rather have the mountains fall upon us than to face His glory and Majesty, well, I repeat the message that God will take you as you are because He knows who you are capable of becoming. He doesn't turn away the injured or the fearful because of their mistakes, rather he invites them:

...will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may ^cheal you?

Promising that 

42 Behold, he who has ^arepented of his ^bsins, the same is^cforgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.

My soul longs to be there. With Him. I know He hopes (and I hope) to see you there as well. 

28 ¶^aCome unto me, all ye that ^blabour and are heavy laden, and I will give you ^crest.

 29 Take my ^ayoke upon you, and ^blearn of me; for I am ^cmeek and^dlowly in ^eheart: and ye shall find ^frest unto your souls.

 30 For my yoke is ^aeasy, and my burden is light. 

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

Elder Hill

20 January 2014

Dear Family & Friends, this week has been really good. We went on several exchanges. 2 In BC, and 4 in Lethbridge.So, I guess if it's just the Zone Leader exchanges, we only went on 4, but that's a lot of people to go on exchanges with. Yup. It was sooo good. 

While we were in BC we contacted a family referred to us by the B family (shout out!!!). They were some of the nicest people I've ever met in my life. They had super strong testimonies of their Savior. It is amazing to me to find people who have such incredible faith. I hope that one day they will all accept the fullness of His Gospel. 

There were 2 missionaries that I went with in Lethbridge.. as soon as I got into their car, I could feel the Spirit. You could tell in every way that they were doing what they were supposed to be doing. It is amazing how the Lord puts his stamp on His faithful servants. Not that every missionary doesn't have something special about them, but... when you are doing all you can, and repenting of what you can't, you are endowed with power from on High. God takes care of you in ways that you can't even imagine. When you run out of money (almost a guarantee if you aren't being fed often) somehow, you always have enough food, someone pays for a meal, or some needed help comes out of somewhere you never would have expected. When you are doing all you can to find someone to teach, and you feel low on spirits, strength, and determination, He places in your path that 1 person who really needed it, and he strengthens your weakened knees often by allowing the burdens to drive you to them. You find yourself praying harder than you've ever prayed before, and hoping more than you've ever dared hope that he would be there, and he always is. He always answers those prayers. When He feels far, and you don't seem to be able to reach Him, but you are doing your best to seek Him out, he always comes. 

Serving a mission is incredible. I remember one time while I was working at Papa Murphy's, I was at the register when 2 young men came in. They were both about 21, clean cut, and had a different look about them. I asked them the obvious, "Did you just get home from your missions?" "Yes!" they answered. One had been home for 3 weeks and the other for just 1 week. "How did you guess?" they asked. I told them that it was how they looked. Now I realize that it was how I felt when they came in. You could tell from a mile away what kind of missionary they were as they served. You didn't need to ask, you didn't need to see, the Spirit made it very apparent. 

I hope I will be like that someday.

I love you all

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

Elder Hill

Just How Blessed I Really Am -- 13 January 2014

You know, in all my entire mission, I have never had less than 10 emails in my inbox on a Monday morning? Never. I'm not saying it to brag, or say that I'm better than anyone else, (in fact, I probably get that much, because I need it so much) I'm just really really grateful to be able to wake up on a Monday morning knowing that I will hear from at least 1 person that I love. :D I'm blessed with good friends, best friends.

Being honest, I only remember 1 time that I've been angry at my mother (p.s. that was a subject change--- my conversation skills have obviously developed greatly since I've been on my mission, eh?). That was just a few months before my mission. You could really hardly call it angry, but it was a definite measure of frustration. Why? Because I felt that my mission needed to be my mission, and nobody elses. I had to be doing this on my shoulders. The weight of my mission had to be on my back, and I didn't want anyone else pushing me to get there. (she wasn't pushing, I'm just a pride-sack [it means what it says--- a sack full of pride]). You know, since I've been on my mission how much I've regretted that moment? The more I teach, testify, and tell--- whether through email, on the street or in someone's home, I've realized more and more that this mission is not my mission. This mission belongs to the Lord. My Savior, Jesus Christ. Want to know something interesting? Everyone of us has taken upon us the name of Jesus Christ. 

I am blessed to be being transformed by the power of the Atonement, and by the true miracle that my mission has been to me, but it hasn't been mine. It hasn't been my power or my miracle. It has been His. I hope that one day, you will all be able to see just how much you've blessed my life. I hope that each of you in your own way will be able to experience the blessings of the Miracle of this Mission. 

Story time: This week was Mission Leadership Council. That is where the zone leaders, the Sister Training Leaders, the Mission President, and yes, us, get together and discuss the needs of the mission. We've done our best to make it a council. Meaning, we hope that everyone comes in to the meeting determined to council on what we need, instead of just planning events, giving reports, and not changing anything. #badwardcouncilmeetings We really got into it this time because something here needs to change. It's about time our mission went from being "just a place and a thing I'm doing for 2 years" to "where I serve my God." 

So, we discussed the culture of the mission and how we wanted things to change. We talked about setting a mission vision. Well, someone commented that, "This mission already has a vision statement." I was leading the discussion at the time and blasphemy leapt out of my mouth before I ever had time to hope to stop it.... "To be honest, I've never read the Mission Vision Statement."

The room went very quiet.

President N inquired, "Never?"

Well, I had to be honest.

"Never." I said.

I've had it on every wall in every apartment that I've been in for the past 17 months. It's in my planner and my scriptures and I've never ever read it. 

Well, that's a very dumb thing.

After that we obviously discussed actually applying the vision of our mission and of who we want to become into our lives, but it was emphasized that we wouldn't be able to do it if we don't read it. 

I'm quickly repenting. 

But you know what that made me think of? My scriptures. How can we ever know what we have hope to become, unless we dig in and find out? God has created a vision statement for us, and it can't be understood in 1 read or 1 glance over. It takes a lifetime of study and searching before we can ever possibly hope to understand the truth of who we really are as children of God. We are blessed to have a God who has given us a vision of who we are truly capable of becoming, and how to get there.

I love you all. I love this Gospel. I know that it is His Gospel and that it is only contained in its fullness in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. 

I hope you all will seek His vision for you.

Rock on. Peace. Love. And Temple Marriage.

In that order.

Elder Hill

Tracting Really Isn't That Bad -- 6 January 2014

The past week has been very good. Transfers were crazy, of course, and the aftermath is always full of drama and difficulty, but I'm learning a lot from the experiences that I've been having. 

We were on exchanges in downtown Calgary a few days ago. We participated in a Zone activity where we blitzed someone's area. It was very successful. One guy we ran in to said, "The Mormons! I've been wondering when you guys would come by!" My friends, there a people who are just waiting to receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Elder C got the flu this weekend, so he's been asleep a lot, which means we've been in the apartment a little longer for the past few mornings. That's been alright. I no longer feel sleep deprived (I can only study for so long without falling asleep) and I've been feeling a lot better because of that. 

I was at church yesterday with Elder L, which you may remember from my MTC group. He just purged into an area and I was on an exchange with him yesterday. My goodness.... is the ward he is in ever so solid... so solid!!!! It's insane! Sometimes you wonder what it takes... well, they came up to us and were introducing themselves, they took the non-members and helped them through church, they talked with us about friends they wanted to invite to church, grown men stood up and bore their testimonies outside of the bishopric, and the elders quorum lesson was incredible! I really hope someday to be one of those guys that you can always depend on to do what Christ would do. 

Well, I know this one has been short, but you know what I know: the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored in it's fullness to the earth by the prophet Joseph Smith. There is evidence of that restoration known as the Book of Mormon, which I have come to know is true by the power of the Holy Ghost. And as a representative of Jesus Christ, I invite you, all of you to read the Book of Mormon, and find out if Christ himself will not be manifested in your life as a result of its contents. 

I love you all.

Peace. Love. And Temple Marriage. In that order.

Elder Hill