The Shot Clock of Life

In a professional basketball game, the moment a team gets the ball in their possession, they have 24 seconds score a basket or else they will have to turn the ball over, or forfeit it, to the other team. The "shot clock" was introduced to basketball to increase the pace and excitement of the game. Well, life is a lot like a shot clock.

The fact of the matter is, we are all slowly expiring. Whether we like it or not, the clock is winding down. This is an important part of the great plan of our Eternal God. And because our time here is so precious, we need to make the most of it.
I love the beauties of nature, especially sunsets. The effect of a sunset lasts but for a small moment, and then the sun slips entirely behind the mountains of Idaho, or it disappears into the hills of Tennessee. Wherever it is, the beauty is often remarkable. But, a lot like the shot clock, it comes to an end.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the heaven sent aid that helps us make the most of this brief experience of mortality. When we are living the Savior's teachings, the 24 seconds we have with the ball in our possession, is remarkable. When the glow of our life slips behind the mountains, it will have been a beautiful sunset. I can't tell you how bad I want this to be the case in my life.
I have spoken a great deal about prophets and apostles, and about General Conference. Their words will help us make the most of our lives. Their counsel, when followed, will bring a successful life, well rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I can't tell you enough how much I love General Conference!
Well my friends, I hope that you have a wonderful week, and I invite you to resolve to try a little harder to be a little better. Every day, and every way, we get a little better. Stay classy.
Elder Hill

 

Don't let the opponent psyche you out!

I love sports, and I can at times be pretty competitive. But that is neither here nor there. In any athletic contest that arouses a high sense of competition, a successful tactic that has been used throughout the ages is called "pshyching them out." What this is, in essence, is engaging in some sort of conduct that distracts the opponent from their goal, their purpose, and their strengths. It is a scare tactic, if you will. If used successfully, even the greatest teams can be psyched into believing they are weak.
Our greatest opponent, the adversary of us all, is doing his very best to psyche us out. He is trying to convince us that we are not strong enough, or capable of accomplishing the things our Father in Heaven wants us to do. At times, we find ourselves allowing him to convince us of this. But we cannot let that happen. He will try to tell us that we are not of any worth, but our Heavenly Father is telling us otherwise; He is telling us the truth.
Prophets, who speak God's words, are telling us that we can in fact do this. We can be victorious, and we are of divine heritage. We are not ugly ducklings, but in fact majestic swans. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf in this video entitled, "Our True Identity," continues on this same topic. Click on the following link, and enjoy! (Video)
I know that we are greater than we suppose. We are on the winning team, so don't let the opponent psyche you out and keep you from performing at your very best. Stay classy.
Elder Hill
 

Heeding a prophet's counsel

Now, I don't know a lot about a lot. I'm just a young buck, but I am learning things as I go. One lesson that I am still trying to learn, is receiving counsel from someone else. At times, it is easy to graciously accept it! When it calls for me to change my course to one I never considered, it gets a bit harder. Especially if that call, is the call to repent. We as human beings, don't typically like being told what we're doing is wrong. Fair enough?
God has a will, purpose, and plan, for each of us. A lot of the time, it differs from our will or plan. Like Isaiah says, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord." (see Isaiah 55:8) It is so important for us to remember that, and say as did the Savior, "nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." (see Luke 22:42) My question for you is this: how can we do the Father's will, if we don't know what it is? That my friends, is where prophets and the Spirit of God come in. We hear their counsel, take it to God in prayer, and by the Spirit we are taught, that that is what we must do to receive the blessings God has for us, and the path He wants us to travel. That is how we know His will, for us.
Next month, we will hear a prophet's counsel. We will hear God's will concerning us. It is our duty to take that counsel to the Father, and, surrendering our will to Him, follow that counsel. I promise you if we will, we will be so blessed for it. Have a great day, and stay classy!
Elder Hill

What is General Conference?

General Conference is amazing, and I want to help those who don't understand what it is, see why it is so amazing. It is a semiannual gathering of the Church, where the leaders of the Church speak to us the messages that God wants you and I to hear. It is held at this center (picture above) in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Have you ever wondered if God were to call an Apostle in our day, like Paul or John in their day, to write letters to the Church, what would they say? What would God command His representitives to say to the children of God? I have, and I've also seen and heard those words God has delivered to you and I, in our very day. They come in great abundance, in General Conference.
The Prophet on the earth, who is the President of the Church of Jesus Christ, will speak to us. Many of the 12 Apostles will also speak. I testify to you, their words are true, and they are from God. As you sit at their feet in an attitude of prayer and question, their words will feel deeply personal. You will find yourself saying, "Was that said just for me? Did he or she have me in mind when they prepared their words?" I have felt that. And such feelings have come because the Spirit will personalize their words, just for you.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the First Presidency of the Church, said, "The words spoken at general conference should be a compass that points the way for us during the coming months." If we will follow their counsel, we will be led to that path God wants us to walk.
So how do we watch this televised event? The Church has a way cool site that gives all the details, so check it out, and if you have any questions about it, please ask! (Link to this site)
My friends, come listen to a prophet's voice this October 6th and 7th. And stay classy.
Elder Hill 

And He gave some Apostles, and some Prophets

Looking back through the Old Testament, I ask, why did God call prophets? For what purpose were these men divinely commissioned to speak, sometimes harshly, to God's beloved children? To this question I submit this which is one of many reasons: to lead God's children out of Babylon, and into Zion.
Moses was a perfect example of this. When he was called to be God's voice to Israel, the covenant people were in bondage to the paganistic Egyptians. The next almost half a century was spent bringing God's people out of Babylon, and to establish Zion. This was one of his purposes, being a prophet of God.
Today, we believe God has again called a prophet to the earth. Beginning with Joseph Smith, down through his successors who walk today upon the earth. Twice a year in a conference that is held open to the public, God's prophets call His children out of Babylon, and back into Zion. He does the very same thing Moses, Abraham, and many of the ancient prophets have done.
I want to talk more about this General Conference, and about the significance of it, but alas my time at the library is up! So, stay tuned, and stay classy.
Elder Hill

Seek, and ye shall find

The Savior has given you and I the promise, that, "Every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." (see Matthew 7:8) Do you really believe that? I want you to know that I do. And I trust that our Heavenly Father will, "give good things to them that ask him." (v. 11)
Joseph Smith believed that, too. He was a young man, much like you and I, who was seeking for truth. God's will concerning this young lad, was the most important thing to him. As he read in the scriptures, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him," (see James 1:5) he resolved that the only remedy for his confusion was an answer from God. That conclusion led to an avalanche of revelation, intertwined with divine authority. In this video, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints describe the experience Joseph had of which I made reference to. As you watch it, think about how his feelings relate to yours.

 

I know that the experience Joseph Smith had was real. Because I believed Christ when He said, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." ( see Matthew 7:7) Trust in Him, and trust that promise. Have a great day, and stay classy!

Elder Hill

The Hand was not Stayed

One of the most touching stories from the Old Testament is the account of Abraham and his son Isaac. The scriptures teach that Abraham was commanded to sacrifice his son Isaac, who came at so great a cost. And to fulfill the commandment from the Lord, the preperations were made. Abraham placed the wood in order, and bound his son upon the altar. Moments before Abraham was to sacrifice his son, the deeply welcomed order came, "Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me." (see Genesis 22:9-10,12) This touching experience is a representation of the sacrifice God the Father would make of His Son, Jesus Christ. Except, there is one difference.
Jesus Christ came into the world to take upon Him our sins, and make salvation possible to the children of God. He knew that this would require a perfect sacrifice, He being the only one capable of doing it. Even as sure as He was of this glorious plan, and of the supreme yielding of His will to His Father's, the difficulty cannot be fathomed by man. When this Son was placed upon the, figuratively speaking, altar, the hand was not stayed. No call came from the heavens to stop the excrutiatingly painful suffering and death. The Most High God of the universe, watched His Son suffer and die. At one point, He even withdrew His Spirit, leading Christ to exclaim, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (see Mark 15:34) The late Neal A. Maxwell once stated, "I praise the Father for all that He experienced as He watched His Firstborn, His Beloved, and His Only Begotten, with whom He was well pleased, suffer all that Jesus suffered." (see full address)
I love my Savior, and will praise His name forever for all that He has done for me. I love the Father, Who sent His Son to die for us. His Atonement came at so great a cost. May we receive the fullness of the blessings and promises of that act I pray, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. Stay classy my friends.
Elder Hill