I love the Scriptures!

So the other morning I was reading in the Book of Mormon. The apartment was quiet, the heat was on, and I just finished a bowl of Chocolate Marshmallow Mateys. Life at this point, is awesome. I came across a scripture that really struck a chord with me. Seemingly impossible, life got even better. This verse reads, "...whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction." (1 Nephi 15:24) This testimony is given by one of my personal favorite Prophets from the Book of Mormon, Nephi. I paused momentarily, then continued on as the Spirit filled my soul. The next verse reads, "Wherefore, I, Nephi, did exhort them to give heed unto the word of the Lord; yea, I did exhort them with all the energies of my soul, and with all the faculty which I possessed, that they would give heed to the word of God and remember to keep his commandments always in all things." Nephi has an incredible amount of love for the Word of God. The record that he kept, which we now have, he went to great lengths to preserve and protect. This record was everything to him! Why is that? One may ask. Well, here's why, "...they are the words of Christ, and he hath given them unto me; and they teach all men that they should do good." (2 Nephi 33:10) Jesus Christ is OUR everything. The scriptures, are His words. They teach us what we should do. They strenghten our faith in Him. And they can calm the greatest tempest within our souls. I love the Word of God. I love the Book of Mormon which I know without a shadow of a doubt IS another Testament of Jesus Christ. In these words I find myself. I find peace. And I find the Son of the living God to be more real than I could ever imagine. My friends, feast upon the words of Christ. So many men have risked everything so that we could access them so easily. They are true. And I can promise you that you will 'draw nearer to God by abiding by it's precepts.' Please don't ever allow yourself to take them for granted. I know that I never will. Jesus Christ lives! Read about Him. That promise Nephi gave his brothers in verse 24, is applicable to you and I. I love you all. Stay classy.
Elder Hill

Charity: the Pure Love of Christ

"And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing." (1 Corinthians 13:2) What is charity? According to the Book of Mormon Prophet Moroni, it is 'the pure love of Christ.' This pure love of Christ, 'endures forever.' Love is an eternal principle. And our Father gave us the greatest example of this love by sending His Son, Jesus Christ.
The children of Israel were taught to, "love thy neighbor as thyself." (Leviticus 19:18) But this law, as were most of the laws constituting the Law of Moses, was superseded by the coming of the Savior. He gave His disciples a new commandment, which was to, "love one another; as I have loved you." (John 13:34) Greater love has no man than the Savior for us. He was our greatest example in all things. Especially in love for God's children.
The commandment is to love others as He loves us. So how exactly do we do that? Moroni suggests that we, "pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love." (Moroni 7:48) That is the first step. Another suggestion, study the scriptures fervantly. Learn just how much the Master loves YOU personally. The learning of that love will instill a desire to emulate it towards others.
Another, look at people through the eyes of God. My favorite example is that of David in the Old Testament. The people looked at him as just a child. But they were reminded, "the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7) In our lives we will clash with other's personalities. It is inevitable. But that is no reason for you to love them any less. Take a minute and look at them through the eyes of God. Doing so will hep us to be more patient and uderstanding. Remember, God loves all of His children more than we can imagine. That sometimes stubborn child, is just as loved as His most devoted servant. What a great example for us. 
Moroni teaches us, "charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things." (Moroni 7:45) Those are the attributes of the pure love of Christ. They were manifested in every action, and word of the Savior. Pray with all of your heart to receive this love, then act with all of your power to manifest it. "By this shall men know that ye are my disciples." (John 13:35)
I wish to conclude where I began. If we have not charity, we are nothing. Stay classy.
Elder Hill

Remember Lot's Wife

"Remember Lot's wife." (Luke 17:32) Without going into a lot of detail, I wish to explain the meaning behind this statement made by the Savior Himself.
Lot and his family were commanded to leave Sodom and Gomorrah. Wickedness prevailed, and after countless warnings by the Lord's servants, it came time to destroy it. And destroy He did. The city was leveled. As Lot and his family left their 'old life,' they were commanded not to look back. Unfortunately, Lot's wife's heart remained in that once great city. We presume this because of her longing look towards their abandoned home and plentiful belongings. This action brought the punishment that was promised. She was destroyed with the city.
The Savior reminded His disciples of this tragic event to teach them a lesson. As we follow Christ, we are to do so with full purpose of heart. To truly follow Him, repentance and the accompanied sanctification is prerequisite. Sanctification comes from "yielding our hearts unto God." (Helaman 3:35) As we yield our hearts unto God, we desire to walk away from our old lives and never look back. Paul taught, "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:4) My friends, true and enduring happiness comes from yielding our hearts unto God. This I have a personal testimony of. The only way we can sincerely follow Him is to walk away from our old lives. We cannot look book. If we dwell on our past, we cannot turn away from our old life. Nephi, a Prophet from the Book of Mormon, declared, "Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, o my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul." (2 Nephi 4:28) If we continue to look back at our old lives, we are giving place for the enemy of our souls.
If we have sinned, we can repent and come unto Christ. Follow Him with full purpose of heart. Be born again. Walk in a newness of life. Sanctify yourself. I can promise you that if you will, He will receive you. And there, in His arms, we will receive a fullness of joy. Isn't that what we all want?
Forgive me for the short length, but I hope that you will recommit yourself to follow the Savior. Here are only a few ways we can truly do so. I love you all. Stay classy.
Elder Hill