Who is Jesus, the Christ?

As Jesus stood before Pilate to be judged, the interrogation climaxed with the Savior's declaration, "To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice." (John 18:37) Today my friends, I wish to declare this selfsame truth.
First, who is He? And to what 'end was He born?' Jesus Christ is the Son of the Living God. He was chosen in the "determinate council" and "foreknowledge of God" (Acts 2:23) to come forth and redeem the world from it's fallen state. Every aspect of the Father's plan of salvation is enabled by the suffering and death of His Son, Jesus Christ.
It is pretty safe to say that Jesus Christ is everything, am I right? Even though He is everything: the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end; We must know how personal He is with us. We are everything to Him. Consider the parable of the prodigal son. (Luke 15:11-32) That story was given, to teach us His incredible joy in the soul that repents and returns to God. (Doctrine and Covenants 18:13) What about the allegory of the "good Shepherd?" (John 10) He knows His "sheep" by name. He knows you, and I, by name. But it goes so much deeper than a mere acquintance.
I have written quite a few different blogs about His atonement, but I wanna tell you my personal feelings about Jesus Christ. I know that He lives. I know that He satisfied the demands of justice by standing in our place and taking upon Him all of our sins, on the conditions of repentance. I have felt His hand more than once. He has supported me and comforted me when I really needed it. He has never abandoned me, or given up on me. He stands at the right hand of the Father in celestial glory, yet, He stands at our side when we are far from it. He is the good shepherd. And He is calling after you and I all the day long. Heed is call, and come to Him. Pray to the Father with all the energy of heart, that you may realize who you are in His eyes. My faith in Him has been strengthened dramatically through the scriptures. Especially the Book of Mormon. If you want to have engraven on your soul the reality and divinity of Jesus Christ, I invite you to read it prayerfully. My testimony of Him doesn't stand alone. Hear also the testimony of modern day Apostles and Prophets. The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles. I love you all, and I love our Savior Jesus Christ. True, He is everything. But He is my everything, too. Stay classy.
Elder Hill

Who is God, the Father?

So there I was, immersed in the scriptures, like always, and I found something interesting that I wanted to share with you all. The thing that I learned, can be illustrated in the Book of Mormon as well as the Holy Bible.
Today, I wanna share it out of the Book of Mormon. In Alma chapter 22, there is a story about a missionary named Aaron, and his teaching the king of that land. As he began teaching the king, the first question he asked was, "Believest thou that there is a God?" (v.7) The king's response is, "I know that the Amalekites say that there is a God..." This man, did not fully understand his relationship with God, the Father, or His Son Jesus Christ. Aaron goes on to teach him, expounding the scriptures, and testifying by the power of the Holy Ghost that God lives. The king, after receiving this truth, prayed to the Father, "O God... wilt thou make thyself known unto me, and I will give away all my sins to know thee..." (v.18) This man would do anything to know God. Do we feel the same way?
Who is God, the Father? A modern-day Apostle, Elder Quentin L. Cook, taught, "God the Father is the Supreme Governor of the universe, the Power that gave us spiritual being, and the Author of the plan that gives us hope and potential. He is our Heavenly Father, and we lived in His presence as part of His family in the premortal life." He goes on to say, "The purpose of all that the Father has revealed, commanded, and initiated for the inhabitants of earth is to help us come to know Him, emulate Him, and become like Him so we can return to His holy presence." Sound like life eternal? Knowing the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom He has sent? (John 17:3)
In what I am going to say next, I do not for a second want it to be interpreted that I am demeaning the doctrine of another faith. Nor would I dare disrespect them. That is not what the Savior would do. But I must share what I believe, and why I believe it. "We do not accept the Athanasian Creed. We do not accept the Nicene Creed, nor any other creed based on tradition and the conclusions of men," said President Gordon B. Hinckley, the late President and Prophet of the Church.
And why do we not? Because God is not a mystery. He doesn't want to be. "How are we to trust, love, worship, to say nothing of strive to be like, One who is incomprehensible and unknowable?" (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland) Remember, life eternal is KNOWING God. Knowing our relationship with Him.
We gain a witness of this truth, by praying in faith to our Heavenly Father, and receiving a confirmation from the Holy Spirit.
Like I said before, my intentions are not to prove others wrong. I wish, as did Aaron, to help others realize their relationship with the Most High God. He lives. His Son, Jesus Christ, stands at His right hand. Both, in resplendent glory. I hope to hear some feedback! And for my next blog, I'm going to write about who Jesus Christ is. Stay tuned! Same time, same channel. Stay classy.
Elder Hill

see also:
 http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2007/10/the-only-true-god-and-jesus-christ-whom-he-hath-sent?lang=eng&query=only+true+god
http://www.lds.org/liahona/2012/02/the-doctrine-of-the-father?lang=eng&query=doctrine+father
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/1998/10/what-are-people-asking-about-us?lang=eng&query=people+asking

"The Holy Ghost... bring[s] all things to your remembrance."

It has once been said, that God gave us memory so that we could have roses in winter. Ohh man is this true! Winter in Kentucky and Tennessee is so dull and lifeless. But after a quick stroll through our internal archives, we can call to remembrance the beauty of this so-called "God's country," and we have great reason to rejoice. As one of many aspects and blessings that flow from the Holy Ghost, this principle I have a strong testimony of.
The Lord told His disciples that the Holy Ghost will, "bring all things to your remembrance." (John 14:26) The Lord also told Enoch, that the Holy Ghost deals with "the peaceable things of immortal glory." (Moses 6:61) So after reading these 2 verses, we are taught that the Spirit of God will bring to our remembrance, the feelings and peace of immortal glory. The peace that we feel when the Spirit is present, is a foretaste of eternal joy. It is also a glimpse of what it felt like to be in the presence of our Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ.
If the thought of roses helps us get through the bone chilling cold and gloom of winter, then it is my firm belief that the fruits of the Spirit can get us through the overcast days of mortality. I have felt this before, many times. And it is truly amazing. Our lives are not all spent in the climate of southern California. There will be winters, on occasion. But with the memory of eternal joy, the 'roses' of immortal glory, we can get through them and find joy therein. It is my prayer that we will feast upon the fruits of the Spirit. Leave me some comments and share a few examples of this in your life! But if anything, have a great day. And stay classy.
Love Elder Hill 

Teachers Without a Desk

I really didn't know what to write about today. So as I was sitting here, I couldn't help but overhear an employee here at the library instruct a few people from the community how to use a computer. These select few, it is safe to say, are computer illiterate. But here they are! Resolving to learn how to use these marvelous devices. To many, this would appear to be a bit foolish with their vast comprehension of how to use these contraptions. But there are still scores of people who don't know how to use them. Such it is in the Kingdom of God.
With the Gospel of Jesus Christ, there are many things that are easy to comprehend or come naturally for most folks. The principles of the Gospel are to some, as easy as booting up a computer and logging on to Facebook. While on the other side, there are those who still don't know where the power button is located.
That is the genius of this life. All around us are teachers, men and women of God, who teach others whether by their actions or by their words. Instructors, if you will. Which is wonderful! For we are all students in this school called life.
It is up to us, to teach and assist others along this journey. Especially the children of today's generation. Many obstacles lay in store for them. They need to be taught the principles of the Gospel, high morals, standards, and a whole lot more! If you think about it, isn't that why God placed His spirit children in the hands of His spirit children? Someone who is a little seasoned in the ways of mortality? It is all a part of the divine program.
I realize that I am not yet a father, a husband, or the head of any family. But I do know the magnitude of the things my own parents have taught me. It doesn't stop there, either. I have had so many leaders in the Church who I have learned so much from. They have helped get me to where I am today. People who are not of my faith have left their mark on my life, as well. I will be forever grateful for all of them.
My friends, I hope you see the impact you will have on others. Each day thousands of teaching oppurtunities will arise. What are you going to do with them? We know what the Savior would do. I love you all! Have a great day, and look for oppurtunities to teach others around you! Stay classy.
Elder Hill