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