Be ye therefore perfect ...wait. What?

There is a profound difference between doing, and becoming. When I was a little chap, I loved saying "what I wanted to be when I grew up." I wanted to be a train conducter! I wanted to be the dude who was in control of those magnificent locomotives. How sweet would that be? Aside from careers, what do we want to be when we grow up? Who do we want to become?
Our Savior teaches us what we need to become in the Sermon on the Mount. He tells us to, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." Sweet Baby Ray's barbecue sauce! I have got some work to do! So how in the world do we become perfect? Only the Son of God was perfect! Alright lets take a deep breath and take a step back for a minute. We must focus on what we need to become, rather than what we need to do. Checklists are easy. We can live the commandments that God has given us daily, but unless we are growing and becoming the sons and daughters of God that we need to be, it availeth us nothing. That is the difference between doing, and becoming. Let's face it. We cannot become perfect while in mortality. We will inevitably slip up! But Christ teaches us that if we live the laws and ordinances of the Gospel, we will receive eternal life. There we have the capabilities of becoming perfect, as the Master teaches us that we must be. That is what we want to become. James E. Talmage, a modern-day Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ gives a great analogy of this. "A college student in his freshman or sophomore year may be perfect as freshman or sophomore; his record may possibly be a hundred percent on the scale of efficiency and achievement; yet the honors of the upper classman are beyond him, and the attainment of graduation is to him remote, but of assured possibility, if he do but continue faithful and devoted to the end."
My friends, we cannot find ourselves focusing on the to-do lists. We need to have a vision of what we want to become, and focus on achieving it. Perfection is the end result we should seek. This is only found in and through the Savior of the World. But while we are in our "freshman" years, we can get straight-a's!  My prayer is that of Lynn G. Robbins, a General Authority of our faith, "May your efforts to develop Christlike attributes be successful so that His image may be engraven in your countenance and His attributes manifest in your behavior." I love you all. Stay classy.
Elder Hill

Anything like you, Dad

So when I found out I was going to serve a mission in Tennessee, I figured I better start listening to country music. It was tough at first, I admit. Many a time I threw in some Def Leppard to avoid insanity. Okay okay it wasn't that bad... During my country music extravaganza, I came across a song I quite enjoyed. The title is "Anything Like Me" by Brad Paisley. Seeing that it is the illustrious occasion of Father's day today, I want to talk about my old man. And the significance of that song.
"...I started wondering who he was going to be, and I thought heaven help us if he's anything like me. He'll probably climb a tree too tall and ride his bike too fast, end up every summer wearin' something in a cast. He's gonna throw a ball and break some glass, in a window down the street. He's gonna get in trouble, he's gonna get in fights. I'm gonna lose my temper and some sleep. It's safe to say that I'm gonna get my payback, if he's anything like me." There is no way of hiding it, I fit most if not all of the criteria spoken of in this song. And from the glimpse of my father's childhood that has been exposed, he was not that different. The man my father has become, is the man I hope to someday be. If you know my dad, you love him. He is the unsung hero of my childhood. Many sacrifices were made so that I and my family could have a great life. The Master was the ultimate example of who we should strive to be like. And trying to match my characteristics of that of my dad's will bring me closer to being like the Savior of the world. My dad is my rock, and I know that I can always count on him. He has never given up on me. How he is to my mom is how I know I must treat my future spouse. No exceptions. He is a hard worker, and never complains. He always puts my sister and I before himself. I love my dad, more than anything. I respect him, more than anyone. And I will not stop until I have become the man of God whom I need to be. Hoping to someday be like him. Happy Father's day dad. Thank you for everything. Your love and your laughs have had eternal signifiance on me. I will always be grateful for that. Happy father's day to the rest of the dads out there. Stay classy.
Elder Hill

What matters most

Alright so I've said it once, and I'll say it again. I really enjoy cars. Particularly Mustangs. They're sweet! But unfortunately, they don't last forever. At first they look like this Blue work of art shown above. Then, over time, they fade, they break down, and they rust. Eventually they do run out of miles. Somewhere down the line, they look like the sad delapidated classic on the stand.
A scripture from the New Testament comes to mind. Our Savior teaches us in my most favorite sermon He delivered, the sermon on the mount, (found in Matthew 6:19-21,) "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." My treasure is my family. And the doctrine of eternal families that was restored to God's Kingdom on earth ensures me that I will be with them forever. That my friends, is where my heart is. Besides my Savior, they are what matters most.
It is easy to set our hearts on the things of the world. These beloved worldy things aren't always bad things! But if we are not careful, they can take priority over what matters most. Ask yourself if this treasure on earth is eternal. Or if it will go with you past the grave and past the sentinels into the Kingdom of our Eternal Father. Never forget what matters most.
Someone I have grown to love and admire once taught me that we should center our lives around Christ and His Gospel. When we do that, everything else will fall into place or fall out of our lives. Don't be mistaken, I am guilty of this at times. But being a servant of the Master has helped me realize the true order of our priorities in mortality. And I am striving to put my life in the order it should be in. Doing so has brought me a lot of happiness. Happiness that doesn't end at the grave. I love you all and I council you to take a step back and think about what really does matter most. This is my treasure. Stay classy.
Elder Hill





We love our "Goofy" dads!

Anybody else love A Goofy Movie? I know that I sure do! It's a classic! I was a wee little whippersnapper when that movie came out. It will always be one of the greatest stories ever about a loving father and his son. And since Father's day is coming up in a few weeks, this is a great topic. If I do say so myself.
The record titled the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ begins by giving an account of a family in Jerusalem. The father, Lehi, receives council from the Lord to take his family out of Jerusalem because it was going to be destroyed. Well, Lehi and his family were very wealthy and had many temporal blessings. So when he broke the news to his family, you can imagine the response he received. Much like Max in our beloved Disney classic, many of his sons weren't too keen on their father's plans and they thought that he was a bit, well, goofy. One son, a valiant man of God named Nephi, had faith in his father and was willing to leave his home and follow. By no means was it easy on him, but his love and respect for the Lord and his father superseded all doubt.
Lehi was a great man. More than that, a Prophet. And he taught his sons how to walk in the ways of the Lord. Not all followed, sadly. But Nephi did. And he went on to do many great things and the first two books in the compilation of the Book of Mormon were written by his hand. In them we learn so many amazing truths about our Master, Jesus Christ. Without Nephi, we wouldn't have these other prescious words about Him.  Lehi had a profound impact on his son's life. And as you read the account, you truly can sense the love Nephi had for his dad.
I love my dad and I will be eternally grateful for the things that he has taught me. He, as Lehi, has taught me how to walk in the ways of the Lord. And he too has had a profound impact on my life. I love him! Never forget what our father's have taught us. Be grateful for them. Love them! And as Nephi, be willing to follow. Even if they are a little Goofy. I love you all. And I love my old man. Stay classy.
Elder Hill