"Do our Duty; that is best; leave unto the Lord the rest."

An old poet once said,
"Who does his task from day to day

And meets whatever comes his way,

Believing God has willed it so,

Has found true greatness here below.

Who guards his post no matter where,

Believing God must need him there,

Although but lowly toil it be,

Has risen to nobility.

For great and low there is one test,

’Tis that each man shall do his best,

Who works with all the strength he can

Shall never die in debt to man."

Joseph B. Wirthlin understood this duty spoken of by this poet. He gave us this powerful truth, "When we accept duties willingly and faithfully, we find happiness. Those who make happiness the chief objective of life are bound to fail, for happiness is a by-product rather than an end in itself. Happiness comes from doing one’s duty and knowing that his life is in harmony with God and His commandments..." 

It is my testimony, that nothing in this world brings us greater happiness than fulfilling the duties that we as God's children have. After all, the greatest duty, spoken of by the Savior, is to, "love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." (Matthew 22:37)

This may very well be my last blog post, as a full-time missionary. If so, I want it known to whoever reads this, that I know that God lives. Jesus, His Son, was a sinless sacrifice for us. I love Him. I know that the fulness of His gospel is found in this, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Book of Mormon is truly, another testament of Jesus Christ. Without that testament, my testimony wouldn't be what it is. It is my prayer, as well as the will of the Father, that, "every man [and woman] [may] learn his duty, and... act in the office in which he is appointed, in all diligence." (Doctrine and Covenants 107:99) Doing so will bring us to the Savior of the world. Yall stay classy!

Elder Hill

Know it, and do it: "Converted unto the Lord"

Elder David A. Bednar, an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, said, "We should know the gospel is true and be true to the gospel." In the trying time that we live in, the Lord is not just asking for soldiers who'll volunteer, He's asking for soldiers who will fight for His cause. This is undoubtedly a war, and all those who wish to take upon them the name of Christ, (Christians) have been drafted.
What is the essence of conversion? Elder Bednar describes it as, "constant devotion to the revealed truth we have received." And, "consistently being true to the gospel." It is not enough to simply know that Christ lives, and that His gospel is true, we have to stand by those principles in the heat of battle. When we find ourselves doing what we are supposed to do, ESPECIALLY when it isn't popular or practical, we can know that we are on the path to conversion.
The Apostle Paul is an outstanding example of one who was converted. He stood before rulers of both church and state, and never wavered from his testimony of Christ crucified. He was incredible! Here is the encouraging thing, though: Paul was still a mortal man. He wasn't perfect. In fact, he didn't get along with his first missionary companion, Barnabas. The scripture reads that, "the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other."(Acts 15:39) But Paul was a good man who could declare, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7) That my friends, is a man who knew it, and did it. He was converted.
I hope that we will all, myself included, wear out our days striving to become converted to our Savior, and His gospel. Elder Bednar concludes, "And as each of us becomes more fully converted, we will strengthen our families, our friends, and our associates." I know this is true. Stay classy!
Elder Hill