Moroni is the man, man!

As a kid, I looked at Chipper Jones as being the greatest man to step foot on a baseball field. He was my hero! He was and still is a great baseball player, but I viewed him as being immortal! Typical for a young kid, I would say. I still like the guy, but the whole "immortal" status is gone. My dad, is a hero of mine. For good reason! Captain Kirk (my paps) is the man. Many of my close family and influencial people in my life I view as heros as well. One in particular comes from the Book of Mormon. His name, is Captain Moroni.
Captain Moroni was a man of God. He led the armies to many victories that, statistically, they never should have won. The scriptures say that, "Moroni was a strong and a mighty man; he was a man of a perfect understanding; yea, a man that did not delight in bloodshed; a man whose soul did joy in the liberty and the freedom of his country, and his brethren from bondage and slavery; Yea, a man whose heart did swell with thanksgiving to his God, for the many privileges and blessings which he bestowed upon his people; a man who did labor exceedingly for the welfare and safety of his people. Yea, and he was a man who was firm in the faith of Christ, and he had sworn with an oath to defend his people, his rights, and his country, and his religion, even to the loss of his blood." Moroni was a real person. He was not a fictitious character or a well thought up hero for this miraculous literature. He was a profound example for a young man such as I. Matter of fact, for anyone! His life and his faith is reflected in this, my favorite verse, "Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men." I am going to live a life that someday, someone, will say the same thing about me. That is my goal. The more like Moroni I become, the closer I get to being the man my Father in Heaven and Savior want me to be. Moroni is the man. And quite frankly, you never get to old for having heros. Stay classy.
Elder Hill

And how do YOU know?

I have been blessed tremendously to be raised a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Most of my friends and relatives are members of this great Church as well. That being said, it is obvious to see that I really didn't know any different. I never doubted the things that I believed or practiced. Looking back over the years, I can see how this faith in Jesus Christ and His Gospel has brought me so much happiness. Because I grew up immersed in it, you could say that my testimony was based on other's. As I got older, my faith became less dependent, and more independent. I read the scriptures, lived the Gospel, and asked my Father in Heaven if they were true. Before long, I had my very own testimony in the Restored Gospel and the training wheels were off! A Prophet in the Book of Mormon named Alma, tells his brethren how he gained his testimony. In Alma chapter fives verses 45-46, he explains, "45. And this is not all. Do ye not suppose that I know of these things myself? Behold, I testify unto you that I do know that these things whereof I have spoken are true. And how do ye suppose that I know of their surety? 46. Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me."
Gaining a testimony takes work! We must study it out in our mind, and go to our Father in Heaven in fasting and prayer to find out for a surety. This I know with all of my heart.
When I hit the mission field, my faith was put to the test. I didn't waver, but I really did have to realize what I truly believe. And through this 'work' Alma speaks of, I changed my faith to a knowledge. It is very real! The joy that has been brought is indescribable. You can know these things to be true for yourself, if you will do your part and put forth the effort. That is my challenge that I leave with you! I love you all. Stay classy!
Elder Hill

Oh ye shall!

The other day I was digging through my scriptures trying to find an uplifting or motivating scripture I could share with a friend. I found some really good ones, but one really stood out to me and has become a personal favorite. This scripture is found in John chapter 16 and its verse 33. It reads, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." Notice how Christ says, ye shall? He doesn't say you might or any other form of an indefinite word. He says you will. I don't know why, but it kind of struck me as humorous. When trials come we are often a tad bit surprised. We find ourselves saying, really? Seriously?? Honestly, I do that daily. This probationary state we live in, life, is a test. The point of a test is to teach or provide oppurtunities for growth. Granted I have been graduated for almost a year now, so things may have changed, but I never attributed the word "easy" with most tests that I took. Likewise, life is not easy. It will be challenging at times. We shall face tribulation!
The beautiful reassurance comes at the end of that verse: Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. Our Savior has overcome the most difficult things in life that we couldn't ourselves: death and sin. The rest, though at times one would disagree, we can overcome. And we don't have to do it alone. Christ is always there for us! He is not a 'fairweather fan.' Allow Him into your life. He will help you overcome the trials and tribulations that will inevitably come. This I have a sure testimony of. How? Because I have felt His love and help through difficult phases in my life. I will be eternally grateful for Him! I love you all. Stay classy!
Elder Hill

An Admonition on Hope

Lately, the idea of "hope" has been on my mind a lot. What does hope mean? As a noun, it is described as the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best. Likewise, as a verb it means to look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence. In this life, what do we hope for? As a car crazed teenager, I constantly hoped that Ford would engineer a Mustang that would put the rest to shame. With the beginning of every sports season I hoped that my team would be able to hang a banner of uncompromised victory at the conclusion of the year. Typical things for a teenage boy? Fair enough.
Now as a missionary, understandably, my life has changed. The topics of contemplation and subjects of serious thought have moved to a much weightier subject: Hope for my salvation.
Hope is the driving factor that pulls us through the darkest days of mortality. In the six months that I have been a missionary, it hasn't always been peaches and cream. Far from it on occasion. But the hope that it is not in vain and something good will come shortly has helped pull me through. We must hope that because of Jesus Christ's atonement we can receive a remission of our sins. With every leap of faith we make we have to be hoping that something good will come from it. At the end of the long hallway of life, there must needs be a hope that therein lies eternal life, if we have been faithful. Hope for this, the greatest of all of God's gifts, is so vital. My friends, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of hope. No matter what kind of curveball or fastball life throws at you, if we have hope, we can slug right through it for a base hit. I guess I really didn't realize how important hope is until I came on a mission and put myself subject to such adversity. And now it plays an astronomical part of my work as a disciple of Christ.
Never forget where we are going in this life. Always look at the end result. Once we have done all that we have been commanded by our Father in Heaven to do, press forward and have a hope for the promised gift: Eternal life.
Never lose hope. For, once it is lost, we lose. I love you all. Stay classy.
Elder Hill

Let Your Light Shine

I absolutely love the Sermon on the Mount. Christ teaches some AMAZING things in that sermon. Can you imagine being there and hearing it?? Anyways. Pardon my fantasies. One thing that really stood out to me was the call to, "Let your light so shine before men..." The whole parable goes as follows and can be found in Matthew chapter 5. (14. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. (15. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. (16. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Followers of Christ have been given the charge to show the world the amazing blessing that we hold in our possesion. This blessing, meaning, the knowledge of our Savior. We need to be examples to everyone around us. We cannot hide this great treasure. And why would we want to? The world is changing all around us. One thing will never change: That is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. As His followers we must exemplify His teachings and His doctrine. In the world but not of it, mentality. When we are being Christlike and are doing Christlike things, we are glorifying our Eternal Father who is in Heaven. After all He does for us, are we unable to do that in return?

You never know who is watching you or looking at you as an example. In all places and at all times, be an example of the believers. And NEVER be afraid to let your light within you shine forth.

Stay classy. Elder Hill

Hand in Hand

It has always been amazing to me to see just how much the Book of Mormon supports the Bible. In all reality, it simplifies, expounds, and clarifies the sacred message that the Bible teaches. One example of this comes from the book of Alma. In chapter 7, the Prophet Alma teaches us about the Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ. It starts in verse 11 and continues on to thirteen. They read: 11. And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. 12. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities. 13. Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.
These verses of scripture mean so much to me. In them we learn more about our Savior Jesus Christ and His mission. And more truth of the Atonement that He went through has been made clear. He literally felt EVERY single pain or emotion that we have or will go through. He knows EXACTLY how we feel. And He does that so he can, like it says in verse 12, know how to comfort us. His care is one of sympathy. Not empathy. Knowing this has pulled me through the most difficult trials I have faced in my life. Even as a missionary. I cannot tell you the profound effect this has had on me. And I learned more about it from the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ.
As you study both, hand in hand, you will see the reality of the statement that I made earlier. It does not in ANY way, shape, or form take anything from the Bible. It builds it up and brings the life changing message of the Gospel in it's entirety straight to your heart.
I love them both so very much and I KNOW without a shadow of a doubt that they both are the word of God. You can come to know this to for yourself! So put it to the test. And let the Savior into your life. I love you all! Stay classy.