Let it begin; Of Courage, Callings, and Covenants and Of Heroes, Helpers, and Holiness -- 7 April 2014

I hope the Spirit will guide me as I email this week.

The past 2 weeks have been an interesting turn in my mission life. It's certainly been an adventure, going from a lot of administrative duty to being actively engaged in an area again without much leadership responsibility at all. I keep finding things that can be done and thinking of ways to do them, then realizing that it's neither in my job or my stewardship, so trying to be productive has been an issue.

And so, what is it I have to say? Well, not a whole lot. All I really want to say is that I know the Gospel is true. It's been a blessing in my life. Which I think is a vague statement. It's been a blessing in many ways. It was a blessing to see pictures of my best friends living the Gospel. It has been a blessing to serve my God. It has been a blessing to feel the Spirit, which really is the "unspeakable gift." A feeling that leaves me feeling stronger, more hopeful, and most importantly---loved.

My challenges have reverted back to the simple ones from the beginning of my mission---opening my mouth being the big one. 6 months really did a doosy on me, but here's where I'm at: "Courage becomes a worthwhile and meaningful virtue when it is regarded not so much as a willingness to die manfully, but as a determination to live decently." (President Monson---I know of 4 talks that he's said that in now.) It's right about time I kicked it into sixth gear. It's about time we all did. Too often we are afraid to do what's right, so afraid that we allow our voices to be stomped into the dirt. As my companion reminds me often---"If Satan can simply bind the tongues of the faithful, he will have won." (Jeffrey R. Holland)

Well, he's not winning on this watch. Not now, not ever. Courage is still necessary, but I have been called of God to do his work and His will, in His way. Not only that, but I have covenanted to do so. I want to be a hero. I want to stand taller and stronger. I sincerely desire to be the helper that Christ can depend on to do his work. I hope to be able to say, like President Monson, "The sweetest experience I know in life is to feel a prompting and act upon it and later find out that it was the fulfillment of someone’s prayer or someone’s need. And I always want the Lord to know that if He needs an errand run, Tom Monson will run that errand for Him."

I hope we all will defy Satan. Don't let him silence you or push you around. Rise up. "Stand higher lift those with feeble knees, hold up the arms of those that hang down. Live the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

That is my commitment to you all this week, and to my Heavenly Father. I will not be silenced.

I love you all.

Believe him. Peace. Love. And Temple Marriage. In that Order.

Elder Hill

What do Weed, Polygamists, and Old People all have in common? -- 31 March 2014

Creston, BC.

Hello my dear and wonderful friends and family! I know you all know that I'm no longer in the mission office. Do you know that I'm all the way in the bottom lefthand corner of the mission? It's unbelievably beautiful out here. It makes me want to wipe the dust off of my camera (sorry mom) and take some photos.

We're here to work. We've already seen a few miracles, the first one just happened on my second day in the area. You see, they just called a new bishop and new ward mission leader. This is good news in just about every case, because it means their hearts are open. The Lord has a way of doing that. So we sat down with them in their first coordination meeting and our WML was suggesting he would really like at least 15 minutes in ward council to discuss the needs of the people we're working with. The bishop, cuts in and responds, "I'll gladly give you 15 minutes, and I anticipate it will take even longer as it get's going, even up to 30 or more, because that's what ward council is really about."

I literally began tearing up. He knows. He gets what it's actually for. The reality of it all was incredible. They asked me if I was okay, and I just nodded my head. Holy cow, the Spirit rushed into the room like a Porche 918 Spyder (saw it on the cover of a magazine today, it looks fast ;)) as we discussed how we were going to proceed with the Ward Mission Plan.

So, our ward mission leader has kept us honest and busy, both with administrative tasks as well as regular teaching and work. Elder K and I have had to practice planning and prioritizing. The good news about all of it is that it just makes you feel so good. I have already begun to feel closer to my Father in Heaven. I've also really struggled adjusting to being a follower, instead of a leader. I wouldn't say it's been hard to swallow that pill, because I'm really grateful for it, but it has certainly been difficult to remember what is and is not my responsibility. The load of regular missionary labors seems very light now compared to what I was doing before, and I'm very grateful for how the Lord is helping me to progress.

Elder K is amazing! He laughs all the time, even at my stupid jokes and just has a great way of helping people just feel like they are loved. He works hard and isn't afraid to do what the Lord wants done. He is teaching me a lot about being a better missionary and consecrating myself to the Lord. I really hope I can keep up.

Well, I've rambled on a lot, but I do have just one more thing (uhoh... here it comes).

Many of you are probably aware of the event in American History known as the "Shot Heard Around the World." I haven't taken a history class in an awfully long time and I don't really have the ability to look it up, but basically (if I remember correctly) there was a little bit of contention going on between the British Soldiers and the American colonists just before the breaking out of the revolutionary war. Tension was high. When, after an encounter with the Soldiers on a night in the street, a shot was fired. That noise was later coined by emerson(?) as the Shot Heard Around the World because it sparked the British Military into action (who at the time were stationed around the world) and was the spark which ignited the gunpowder that was the American revolution.

Well, Elder Hill, what is this about?

This is about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Someone was bearing their testimony in church yesterday and they quoted "The Standard of Truth." and reminded me of this phrase. The appearance of God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ to the boy Joseph was a shot that would be heard around the world. As was President Monson's announcement just a year and a half ago (can you believe it's been that long?). There are moments in history that mark the turning point of a nation, a people, or a soul. Those, "Shots" are all brought by our Father in Heaven to make us like our Father in Heaven.

This work---missionary work, the work of salvation, conversion, inviting others to come unto christ---call it what you will, is the shot that we give everyone who will hear. It is being spread throughout the world, and it is meant to change our lives. So, my dear friends. Give it a chance. There is a war raging around us, in us, and by us. We have neighbors, friends, brothers and sisters who need the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and they may never accept it if we don't open our mouths and honestly seek to give them a chance for change. Be the shot. Be that change. After all, "The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done."

I love you all. Don't be afraid.

Elder Hill

Transfer Week... -- 21 March 2014

...and I'm no longer AP.

I know, weird right? Or at least, by the time this transfer is finished I won't be. 

I've been pondering a lot lately. Just about life, the family, the mission, the work. I suppose it's strange to be transitioning from this position to another again... I suppose you become so much a part of the things that you are asked to do that it becomes difficult to change, but as I've been indexing my mission in my mind I've found that those have been the times of greatest growth. I think of the power of change....

So many people are terrified of change. I was with the Sister missionaries that serve in our ward the other day and one of them was expressing just how much she hates transfers. To be honest, I've felt the same way... sometimes for different reasons than her, but how can you blame her for fearing the unknown? Truthfully, as I've been an assistant I've realized the power of transfers, and the gratitude I've had for each and every single one of them. Also, the only regrets that I've had regarding transfers have been caused by my own pride, imperfection, and stubborn attitudes toward them. Thus proving to me that my personal growth is a personal choice, a choice I make every day the moment I wake up. I think we are all the authors of our own destiny, ultimately. God's power and wisdom and plan is frankly so infinite and so perfect that we have to choose to succeed, just as we have to choose to fail. 

That is the reality of my whole mission, that this life is a series of choices. Choices that affect our destiny, our attitude, our hopes, and our personal peace and righteousness. And the atonement of Jesus Christ is the motivating factor for all the positive, the power by which we are enabled to obtain it all, and the means by which we overcome the effects of our poor choices. We are limited by our choices, or we are set free by them. Thus we begin to see and understand that our decisions to break God's laws stop us from reaching Him not because he doesn't love us enough to look past them, but because if we would never choose to follow him, we would never choose to be with him. Decisions to keep his laws give us ultimate freedom, freedom in relationships with others, power to be an influence in the lives of those we choose to love, and liberty to begin to liberate ourselves from the captivity of our sins which keep us from reaching fully to him---all, again, by the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

So what have I learned as assistant? I've learned that we are simply assigned to these positions to foster our own personal growth---all in God's confidence that you won't get in His way of making happen what He needs to have happen. It's an assignment of sacred trust. To minister, to believe, to administer, and to choose to stand personally taller, and to be better than you have ever been before. It is an opportunity to choose to follow Him more closely, to put off the Natural Man and become a saint through the Lord Jesus Christ... and it will all happen according to your attitude toward it, toward others, and toward Him. 

In the meantime we'll be having a baptism next Saturday. I believe I will be transferred to Creston, BC. It is in the bottom lefthand corner of our mission and is almost the farthest away from the mission home I'll be... probably. And you know what? I'm ready. I'm ready for change. I'm ready for growth. I'm ready to just give it all up and put everything that I've learned for the past 20 months into effect... I'm ready to feel the hand of my Savior urging me forward toward those who need our help. I hope He will fill me... and in the same breath I hope I will be hungry. More hungry than I've ever been for Him and His work and His word. I pray He will make me feel so uncomfortable that I will turn to him in every moment, and that my faith will be strong enough to press forward through it all. I hope he will guide my work and my tongue. I want to be used, to give my all, and to never look back wondering if I was able to give it my all. 

This was a long email and I've just gone nuts in it, but what I know is nevertheless true. That Jesus Christ is the Son of God. That I have been called to Serve Him. My Heavenly King of Glory. Chosen Heir to Witness for His name. Far and Wide I tell my Father's Story, and Far and Wide His love I proclaim.

I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is restored. Joseph Smith was his chosen prophet in the latter days. Speaking of which:

Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. ^aCourage, brethren; and on, on to the victory! 

I love you all. Peace, love, and temple marriage. In that order!

Elder Taylor J. Hill

Canada Calgary Mission

Captain of the Host of Israel -- 3 March 2014

I came across a wonderful story in the Scriptures the other day. In Joshua 5.

Joshua had just arrived at Jericho when suddenly:

and, behold, there stood a ^aman over against him with his sword drawn in his hand

So, naturally, what do you do when you see a guy staring at you with a sword in his hand?

and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?

Naturally, you walk up to him and ask him which army he's in. He responds

And he said, Nay

In other words, "I'm not a member of any army."

but as captain of the ^ahost of the Lord am I now come.

Wait... what? 

but as captain of the ^ahost of the Lord am I now come.

In other words, "My name is Jehovah, and I'm here to lead you to victory."

Remember a few weeks ago when we talked about believing Christ? Trusting him that He would fulfill His promises. Well, Joshua marches up to Jericho, and who's standing there with a sword, ready to "fight his battles for you"? Christ. It was really cool to find scriptural evidence of Christ really being there for us. Not just in a "sit back and watch you work and give you some help every once in awhile" kind of way. But in an active way. Dressing up, grabbing his sword,  and working. Christ makes all the difference.

p.s. Wouldn't it be so cool to see Christ ready for battle? We always picture him in a robe, the sword image made Him that much cooler. 

This week was good. Zone conferences finished up... And that's pretty much what we did this week.

Anyway, this one was really fast and sloppy.

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

Elder Hill

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