I suppose one of the greatest challenges in our lives (my mission)will be living up to the divine potential that Jesus Christ has made available to us.
When I was back home, I think this is something I talked about a lot: "Divine Potential"
Here's what I mean :
16 The Spirit itself beareth
awitness with our
bspirit, that we are the
cchildren of God:
17 And if children, then heirs;
aheirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we
bsuffer with him, that we may be also glorified together
So, we are children of God and have the potential to become like him.
"In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain
earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally."
So, my friends, how do we fully accomplish all we are meant to do in this life, that we might "ultimately realize [our] divine destiny as heirs of eternal life"? By acting upon the will of God through the keeping of his commandments.
Sometimes we are put through times in our lives, in our missions (in my case), when we don't fully understand why things happen the way that they do, but for some reason, at the end of them we are left feeling broken, scarred, and often angry at the Lord because of our current situations. Whatever those feelings may be, we must always remember that the Lord, our Father, (who loves us) ALWAYS has our best interest in mind. He, more than anyone else, understands and wants us to achieve our divine destiny. He wants us to become the greatest people we can be. He is seeking to strengthen the foundation of our faith (see "Mountain of the Lord" by Henry B. Eyring) by testing us and giving us the opportunity to grow.
Here's a great video (mormon message by Elder D. Todd Christofferson):
For those who don't want to watch the video, here's what happens:
Elder Christofferson relates a story told by Hugh B. Brown (in the 1973 January New Era) of a small farm he bought in Alberta (ole!). When he was cleaning up the farm, he found a currant bush that had grown to over 6 feet in height (the currant bush is a berry bush... basically) and was bearing no fruit. So, understanding what the bush was supposed to do, he pruned the bush back. From here, I'll relate the words of Hugh B. Brown:
"It was just coming daylight, and I thought I saw on top of each of these little stumps what appeared to be a tear, and I thought the currant bush was crying. I was kind of simpleminded (and I haven’t entirely gotten over it), and I looked at it, and smiled, and said, “What are you crying about?” You know, I thought I heard that currant bush talk. And I thought I heard it say this: “How could you do this to me? I was making such wonderful growth. I was almost as big as the shade tree and the fruit tree that are inside the fence, and now you have cut me down. Every plant in the garden will look down on me, because I didn’t make what I should have made. How could you do this to me? I thought you were the gardener here.” That’s what I thought I heard the currant bush say, and I thought it so much that I answered. I said, “Look, little currant bush, I am the gardener here, and I know what I want you to be. I didn’t intend you to be a fruit tree or a shade tree. I want you to be a currant bush, and some day, little currant bush, when you are laden with fruit, you are going to say, ‘Thank you, Mr. Gardener, for loving me enough to cut me down, for caring enough about me to hurt me. Thank you, Mr. Gardener.’”
We will all walk through times of discouragement and difficulty. Sometimes we will sacrifice things that seem of great importance in order to live the gospel in the way which we know is right. And at those times, we may find ourselves asking "Why? Why now? Why this way? How could this happen to me?" We may even have times when, like Elder Brown (I encourage you to watch the video or read the talk), we may shake our fists at the sky and in our broken, uncomprehending language, curse toward heaven.
At times like those, I encourage you to, as did Elder Brown, humble yourselves and pray for the ability to understand. And as He lets you know that He is the Master, you will be grateful that He has loved you enough to cut you down.
If you will turn to the Lord you will be able to walk through any of the trials of life. If you will seek to do His will, then you will reach heights which will be more great than any you have ever imagined.
He will always help you achieve your divine destiny.
Now, the mission. As I have mentioned before, there are, unfortunately a few missionaries in my zone that, frankly, don't care about being obedient. They are here for them, not for the Lord. In my interview with my mission president (who is the best mission president in the whole world, in my experience :D) I expressed concern about what to do in times when I am having to choose between being obedient and doing whatever it is they are telling me to do(I didn't really explain what was going on, I just asked). He wisely counseled that obedience is never a compromise between right and wrong, and to never sacrifice it for any small measure of gratification, popularity, comfort, or fear. (I'm not perfect.... but I really really am trying my very very best) What has come because of my resistance to disobedience has often been ridicule from other missionaries. Another consequence of those decisions are blessings of success from the Lord. Again, I am not anywhere near perfect. Not even close. But, my friends, I know that if I will do as the Lord has asked---If I will be obedient that the Lord will bless me with what I need to feel happy, successful, and confident.
I have much to improve on. I know that the Lord has something great in store for me.
I know if we all will work toward achieving that divine potential through our steadfastness in Christ and our obedience to His commandments, we will be blessed by the Lord.
It will all work out
I love you all very very very very very very very (sideways 8) much.
Rock on. Peace, love, and temple marriage. In that order.
Elder Taylor J. Hill
p.s. Is there anything I can do for anyone? Please let me know (if you can't let me know directly, let my mom know and she'll let me know)
p.p.s. I love you, daddy & momma, thanks for taking care of my emails... and everything else... and me. :D
