January 5, 2026

You're not going to beleive it. Here's the story. Me and my comp go out looking for a friend of ours. So we go contact a house to find her house (previous contacts were at the church) and we got a general location. So we found this these two dudes and we got talking. One was a pastor and the other was an evangelist. But they were listening. So we taught. Then a third guy shows. It was an apostle Whhaaattt!!!

Sorry it wasn't an apostle of our church, so its not any apostle we know. So we're not the only church with apostles I guess. Interesting things go on here.

Spiritual thought: I was listening to a devotional give by President Nelson

Here's a nice quote I've heard from him

"When the laws of God are obeyed, wanted blessings will always result, not just MAYBE or SOMETIMES. Divine law is dependable! Divine law is incontrovertible!"

-President Nelson

I have totally seen this a bit throughout my mission. It is the times that I am SURE with myself and god, that miracles or blessings come. Little things and big ones. ALL IT TAKES IS FAITH, and trust that whatever comes is the will of god. When Jesus was found walking on water, and called for Peter to meet him. It was his fear, or maybe self doubt, that led to him falling into the depths of the ocean. Only for Jesus to come save him. Peter had the faith, and the miracle worked! But what shook his faith? The storming waters round about him.

In our own way, we are asked to do the impossible. To not be a part of the world, to not follow the traditions of man, but of God. For his understanding greatly exceeds ours. Again back to the same story. If we are like Peter, the ocean can represent the world. Its raging all around us, and we are asked to walk over it. To be DISTINCT from it. Jesus calls us, and when our faith falters, where do we go? To the depths of the world where raging waters don't just look bad, they are bad. This gospel keeps us from so much harm. Yet, when we falter, our fears become reality.

We all will find ourselves in the depths of the raging waters we all fought to hard to stay above. We're human, it's why Jesus is there to save us. He is always there to reach his hand in and pull us out. But never by force. We must cling on to him as he lifts us back out of that "gall of bitterness" as Alma the younger explains.

"My soul hath been redeemed from the gall of bitterness and bonds of iniquity. I was in the darkest abyss; but now I behold the marvelous light of God. My soul was racked with eternal torment; but I am snatched, and my soul is pained no more." (Mosiah 27:29)

In Alma's case, he was compelled to be humble. But God is gracious and gave Alma the younger another chance. How loving is that? Alma the younger actively sought against the church, and because of this, was compelled to be humble. Which turned him into the most zealous member of the church.

I don't think that its far off to say that he received the same joy that the sons of Mosiah did when they all returned from their long, rewarding mission.

I hope that we all can place more trust in god and trust ourselves to make the decisions that God allows US to make. We have agency, why not use it. As Mike loves to say, "do the next logical step."

I say these things in the name of Jesus christ amen

Random things of the week.

-We got to play soccer and basketball this week

-This little girl tried kissing me on the lips when I was sitting down. Came out of nowhere

-The new year started and I was already awake when my family celebrated it

Thanks for reading guys! Love you and have a great new year.

-Elder Hill

Amazing clouds this last week