Repentance

Hello!

This week has been fabulous! We had a baptism for Jay, but the other one.....that's a sad story we don't need to dwell on. But we had a great week. Jay's baptism was fantastic and so much of his family came which was unexpected. 

Dallas Daze 

This week the members we live with were out of town, and they have a Roomba to vacuum their house. It's name is Fred according to them so Fred goes off and does his thing every Thursday. Well it would be a missed opportunity if we didn't take advantage of the situation and give Fred some personality while he had some freedom so see the attached pictures. I also won 8 stuffed animals out of a claw machine and it was legit. 

This week I pondered a lot on how I could better team repentance in its true light and really a concept of life in general that motivated me even more to spread the word. I thought about football. Now obviously there are many many many many analogies that come from football and I would like to focus on the game as a whole, not just part of it because it really teaches powerful principles. 

Imagine yourself, born into a family with no concept of God, no belief in Christ. As sure as they live and Christ being the key to happiness in this life and the next, truly without a knowledge of them one can be spiritually deaf and blind. Put yourself on the field as a running back, the one that runs the ball. Simple enough but imagine being blind folded and ear plugged and then being left in a field that you yourself don't even know your in. You feel a ball type thing in your hand and it's all you've got to you. So you hang on for dear life. All the sudden some force comes smacking you down to the ground! Pain and rough ground come and hands are all the sudden grasping endlessly for the object in your hands. You get a feel that you have something some other force wants and this is life to you. 

This is what life is like without the gospel. Being born Into a family with said knowledge you at least are able to see and hear and have some guidance on choosing a coach and players. But many are left on a field to get bruised and battered. The enemy team constantly grasping for the ball, which is their agency. Now as we learn about the savior we learn we have many who are willing to be our coach, and many are good, they've got good play books that can get some yards but the enemy team is dang good at defense. And so we are stuck in this battle of how on earth we can obtain a first down and make our way to the end zone. Well we eventually sooner or later discover the savior is a pretty darn good coach, because other coaches can supply maybe a couple players to help, but with the savior you've got 10 guys with you to help. These are commandments and teachings. They know the play perfectly. That ball is hiked and they go, they're the best blockers in the business but man say you didn't choose to follow the word of wisdom, your lineman is gone. Some defensive player comes barreling through and hits you hard before you even get 1 yard. So you call that player back in. You run a play but oh man you decided to be dishonest today, your lead blocker isn't there. Hit hard again. You gotta have all the players on the team to get somewhere, you can't leave holes. Now repentance is this, does the game end after one play? Are football games played to only have one play to score and if you don't, ah man tough luck. No! The game gets going again! The only reason it doesn't is because you decide to stay grounded and wallow in the hit you endured! Yes sin hurts, yes it seems hopeless at times and like you'll never make yards! But you've got your coach, picking you back up, telling you to run it again, it's not him keeping you down, it's ourselves. So get back up and run that play again. Follow your blockers, don't miss a single one, you need em all to cover the gaps. Sometimes to help us learn we gotta tell the coach what we did wrong so he can help us see what we gotta do right, that's why Christ had offensive coordinators, defensive coordinator, line coaches. He's got help to assist us with each play and of what we can do differently. After trial and error you realize you just made a first down, man that's a milestone! A checkpoint! This is baptism! So in this game you make first downs, until you reach the end zone. You follow the coaches plays, follow your blockers, make first downs, get hit a lot but you get back up. You're not condemned for getting tackled, you are encouraged to get up and go. You do this and make it to the end zone. 

In this life we learn of Christ, we one day choose to set him at our head. We mess up with some commandments and get knocked down, but mistakes happen, get back up and go. We follow ordinances such a baptism. Milestones on our journey to the end zone. There is an enemy team and they wanna take you down, they want you to give up your agency so the can score and take you down for good. So hang onto the ball and don't let go. Follow those blockers, have a full team. The game was already won. Christ took care of it, he alone won this game already, so you keep trying, don't give up. Make headway and don't run backwards and you will make it to the end zone. 

I thought of this because I viewed repentance for so long as bad, as something I shouldn't be needing to do if I was only good. And it was a fear. But just like it's what makes sense to get up and run the play again, the savior is not angry that we got tackled, he's broken hearted when we choose to stay down, so put on his armor, warn your neighbors and take off the blindfold and ear plugs. Let em know there's a team for them, a team that has already won the game. Get your first downs, follow the ordinances of God. And don't give up your agency to the adversary. Don't let them score on you. 

Keep.getting. up. and don't ever stop trying. The other team is vicious, but the savior has the perfect playbook. Put on the whole armor of God, let the full team on the field, and win. 

I know repentance is true. I know God lives. I know there is one team, one true team, that Christ is the head of. There are many copies with similar play books, but go for the source. Seek Christ as your coach, we can't afford to have any gaps. 

I love y'all and hope you're well. 

Love elder Hiatt.

Intense Blessings

Hello everyone!

This week had some intense blessings from heaven!

We have had this investigator that was atheist and started dating a girl in the ward. He has been coming to church for 6 months now and seminary also. But he just hasn't been seeing his answers. Well recently I have been really trying to change my focus as a missionary and focus on what the prophets of old told their priests and teachers.
To teach nothing save it be repentance and faith on the name of Christ. So we first had a lesson with this mindset with an investigator we just recently got. She has been doing great but conflicted because she sees blessings coming from meeting with us but her family is attributing it to the devil and is telling her we are evil people, her aunt who is a missionary in Germany came in to try and help her stop meeting with us even. So she's very conflicted and just wants to know and be sure of it all. Well instead of teaching the
next lesson in the set, my companion and I threw out the order and went to figure out her needs, her desires in meeting with us, where she is at, and how we can help her see repentance and recognize her answers. Essentially, to love her and preach repentance and remission of sins as Alma and so many others had. Well the lesson went absolutely incredible. We discussed her worries and how as she's repented she's felt good but isn't sure where it comes from or how she can know she's really doing what God wants her too. She always would say how she feels the blessings but we realized she doesn't know what answer to look for. So we read Galatians 5 :22-23 and talked about it. She began to cry and we just sat, and she looked at us and we said, "have you ever felt those before?" She couldn't respond but just nodded and finally got out, "that's what I've been feeling, this is what my life has been like since I have been learning and living it." She got an answer right there....she wants to be baptized this next Saturday and it was so joyful!

The next day we then had a long time investigator we haven't talked to in a while text us, "so....can we meet today?" And we said of course and he said, "also...do I talk to you or the bishop to be baptized?" We like FAINTED. We went and talked with him and had a similar lesson as the girl, and he also received an answer right in front of us and recognized when the spirit speaks to him.

It was such a fantastic week and I really have never felt the spirit so strongly. Repenting is where true joy comes from and where power is found. I pray y'all know that joy. It's positively liberating.

Dallas Daze.

We got challenged by the girls aunt to basically bash. She wanted to "show her what we truly believed" So she had our investigator present for it. It was just like the lawyers with Alma and Amulek. My DL and his trainee and me and my comp withstood her jabs, she kept trying to catch us in our words but by the end we finally were like, "what is
your goal here?" And after that it was fine and dandy and we ate delicious food. So it was good 👌🏼👌🏼

Hope all is well! Love yall!

Service!

Hello everyone!

This week was normal, we did get a new investigator though. The Spanish elders were teaching a girl that only knows English cause she was dating a member in the Spanish branch and we had a pass off lesson this week. She is really awesome. She's 19 and receives a lot a lot of flack from her family about how we are bad people and dangerous to be around. They say a lot of crap to her meanwhile her aunt is on a mission trip for whatever her church is and is coming back to persuade her away. But here's the plus. She says there is undeniable changes and blessings that have developed in her life since she began meeting with the missionaries and she knows all the junk anyone says is misconceptions or false. We, at the beginning of the lesson talked about people conversion stories similar to that. Talked about before our missions things got harder than ever to go and how before we do anything good, Satan tries to hammer us because he'd rather us sit still or move backward. It was good to talk about. We then taught the
plan of Salvation and it went great. It's been a while since I've taught a full discussion, as sad as that sounds to say, but it went fantastic. She has a baptismal date and plans to be at church in the English ward this week.

Another cool thing is our ward was asked to send two teams of 10 to 12 to Houston to help. So a bunch of people were gone this weekend from Friday to Sunday evening. One of them came back Saturday cause he needed to and told us of the experience in priesthood opening exercises. He talked about how it was the best experience he's ever
had, how they were only assigned two houses to help and they got it done quick, cutting out moldy drywall and all that. So they literally went tracting. Tons of yellow shirted Mormons knocking on doors nasty dirty asking if they can come help the house. He said so many people were in absolute tears at it all, they'd say how since it happened all
they've seen are looters and have had to protect their house and to see of all people, the Mormons come and save the house, they were astonished. Someone said how they were like a polite biker gang that rolled up, helped them save their house, then moved on to the next. Another one they said was they walked up to this house with a man
unloading drywall and they began helping him, the man looked and said...."Well...yeah I guess if you'd like to help," and they began on his house, which had the most damage of the ones they'd seen that day. They got it all done and drywalled and mudded that day and after they got done the man was very somber and just couldn't express how
thankful he was for the help. As they were walking away, turns out some members lived across the street from that house and they came and said, "how on earth did he let you in there? We have been neighbors with him for years and he's never allowed us to talk to him, he says he hates Mormons." Hurricane Harvey might have done a lot of bad. And
I know I for one, as I know many have kept the country in our prayers that the hate can cease, the walls that divide us Americans can fall, that we can be a united nation again. Natural disasters can be devastating and lives can be lost, but with evacuations and preparedness, lives don't need to be lost. Because the greatest thing I've seen from this, is the unification between man and his neighbor. Service supersedes race, religion, political party, and age. And right now a disaster struck in Houston that is now working a miracle in the lives of the children of God. Sometimes God answers our prayers in different ways, and as a country under him, I for one believe he's sick of the hate and dying love this country has for itself. Houses are important, but God cares a lot more about our lives. Our Salvation. And maybe this is an around the bend answer to prayer to
heal our country, or rather to prompt this great country to heal itself. Throw this hate down and remember what so many fought for. Regardless of any dividing opinion. If you struggle, find a way to serve in the community. It is the best medicine you'll find in your life. I am continually in awe at the miracles and stark difference we see in people after this hurricane hit.

Dallas Daze

This week we had a very fun experience! We were outside, talking to our ward mission leader when we saw a possum stroll on by. We followed it and got it cornered. Well Elder Hadley just stoops over and snatches it and it was NOT HAPPY about the hahaha. So we caught a possum! Pretty dang sweet if I do say so myself. We also made some
bomb pie! So yeah, good week!

Love yall!

Elder Hiatt

Come Unto Christ

Hey Yall! 

This week was good. Not all that much of a unique week. But I will share a spiritual thought.

Dallas Daze. 

See attached picture for a rather odd church name we found

So my thoughts this week are on a new witness I've gained about this church being the true one. In the world we have a way of treating symptoms. When something inside us makes us sick for example and the side effects might consist of a runny nose. We take some medicine, not to fight this thing inside us making us sick, but we take something to mask the runny nose until the bad thing stops festering or we just deal with it. Now medicine does often fix this but for the sake of an analogy I say such. But when we look more into our behavior, there are two sides. Good and bad. Now whether people like it or not there is good and bad behavior and consequences for both. In my own life when I see bad behavior, typically it would make sense to treat the behavior. Metaphorically, say I have a potty mouth and use vulgarity often. Typical fun ways to treat this can be a swear jar, soap in the mouth, a physical consequence, etc. We put a wall between us and bad behavior. That bad behavior might cease to manifest, but it is still rooted in our nature. This nature is the key to it all. This is your heart. This is the true problem that if cleansed, the rest will fix themselves. Well there are tons and tons and tons of self help books to try and address this changing your nature business, they often don't see it as changing nature though. They have great ideas and fantastic methods, but they are missing the key ingredient, the means that will not just fix our behavior, but change our hearts that the behavior itself ceases to exist within us. This key is Christ. The world finds "life hacks," self help books, Ted talks, all these resources but what they don't know is they are trying to teach the very same things Christ himself taught, and Christ is the true and lasting means that we can not only change our behavior, but change our nature so it's  automatic to do good. Now I know Christ is that, but where do I find such help and how do I invite that change in me? I have found such. 

A verse says perfectly, "5 And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just--yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them..." The word. The words of Christ. This is backed up when Amulek testifies of Alma's words, "6 And ye also beheld that my brother has proved unto you, in many instances, that the word is in Christ unto salvation." 

So the word that has a more powerful effect is in Christ, and so where do we find him. There's plenty of churches, but what this church challenges is that Christ speaks through a prophet today, that he provided MORE word today, untampered and not corrupted. It is said, "the Book of Mormon [is] the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man [will] get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.” this is a bold claim! And if it be true, who wouldn't want that! Does it really hurt to try? If that book gets people closer to God and his Son, a spitting image of him, changes natures, where is the harm in seeing if this does such a thing? Who wouldn't want that! If it is true, you've found where the "living Christ" is directing and leading (because he does live,he was resurrected and I doubt he's just sitting in heaven relaxing) if not then you're left to what you already had. 

So here's my point, I've deepened my testimony of this church because I want it known to everyone, that I am imperfect, I struggle, and alone I am in every sense of the word nothing. I am powerless to change my nature. But there is one, the very Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, the Creator, who can. And I have been studying more than I EVER have in my life recently this book. Reading every word aloud, imagining the events in my head, empathizing with its people, drinking deeply from this word. And it is slow.....but I want to let all who read this know, that I see myself changing...I feel different. I feel better. I feel closer to God than I ever have before. I dont have walls between me and behavior because my course is being entirely redirected, divinely choreographed. In simple terms, this book is changing my nature. Something I know only Christ could ever do. And if reading this "word" which the word must be in Christ, that has a more powerful effect on the minds of people, word that can change blood thirsty and idolotrous people that relish in murder and plunder and transform them into a so polar opposite group of people willing to be slain in prayer unto God than to touch a weapon in defense for the fear of sin, is changing my very nature, something only Christ can do, then it is from him. This is his word. This book is true, and what a domino effect that fact has. 

Now any who do not yet believe this, who wonder, who question, who are unsure, or even who know, I beg of you, listen to one who lived long ago when he says, "10 And now, my beloved brethren, and also Jew, and all ye ends of the earth, hearken unto these words and believe in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ. And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, and he hath given them unto me; and they teach all men that they should do good.

11 And if they are not the words of Christ, judge ye--for Christ will show unto you, with power and great glory, that they are his words, at the last day; and you and I shall stand face to face before his bar; and ye shall know that I have been commanded of him to write these things, notwithstanding my weakness." 

I add my witness, that these are his words, and notwithstanding my weakness, my sins, and my imperfections, I know they are true and will do my best to live them. For they do indeed teach men to do good. I add my prayer to Nephi's when he says, "12 And I pray the Father in the name of Christ that many of us, if not all, may be saved in his kingdom at that great and last day." 

I know the book of Mormon is true, I know God is there. I know he leads this church, I know this because Christ is the only being with power strong enough to truly change human nature, and reading his words and seeing such miracles and wonders from growing closer to God is changing me. I am not perfect, but in Christ we one day can be. I pray please, read that book, drink deeply and don't stop, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him. We are children of God, and this is designed for God's children, if you don't believe it works for everyone, rethink that thought and give it a try, because it's real. I am not someone who's easily convinced of anything, but this I testify is true. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.