June 15, 2026

I guess I'm not going to the Celestial kingdom.  It's not for a reason you think (obviously) but we were talking with a friend who we haven't seen in a good while. In our conversation, I brought up how I LOVE rhe rainy season here. Best thing ever, and he was laughing so hard it was hilarious. 

So we taught him about the plan of salvation. When we got to the 3 kingdoms of glory, we described the usual comparisons of the sun, the moon and the stars. Then he looks at me and says. 

"Oh no, it doesn't rain in the celestial kingdom... you can't go." We were just dying at his joke, and he thought it was just as funny as we did. Really good moment. 

Ok, to start officially. How y'all doing? As you can tell, we had a great week. It went by so fast. but let's jump in

Spiritual thought:

I was doing a study yesterday on lehi's leaving Jerusalem story and found something interesting. Each member in the family of lehi recieved their testimony of their father's prophetic calling; except for Lamen amd Lemuel. Why was it? Well, they didn't seek after one. But Nephi, Sam, and Sariah each recieved theirs in different ways. I'm going to list them out and I want you to try to guess the method. *Side note: it applies to us*

Ok, here is the truth that is stated for people to believe. 

It's in 1 Nephi 1:13 and it says "And [Lehi] read, saying: Wo, wo unto Jerusalem, for I have seen thine abomination! Yea, and many things did mg father read concerning Jerusalem - that it should be destroyed" 

In short? Jerusalem will be destroyed. Now who's gonna believe that, and how can we recieve a witness? Like I said earlier, there were at least three examples given. Each by faith. 

(1st) -Nephi 

After hearing his father (the prophet) tell him his family must depart in the wilderness, he turned to the lord in prayer. I find it interesting the way he put it. 

"I did cry unto the lord and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken of my father" (1 Nephi 2:16)

He said his heart was Softened. To me that sounds like his heart was a little hard beforehand. So, this act of faith led to his personal witness, other than his original course that followed that of his older brothers. 

So after recieving this witness, he went and shared with Sam. Now we'll jump into Sam's peespective (love you Sam)

(2nd) -Sam

Just in the next verse over, we have sam coming to speak with us. 

"I spake unto Sam, making known unto him the things which the lord had manifested unto me by his Holy Spirit" (1 Nephi 2:17)

Sam recieved his testimony from his fellow brother. After that, Sam was blessed just as much as Nephi was. Sam, was quick to listen, and to believe. There is no mentioned rebellion before his father. 

Now Sariah's testimony came a couple chapters later. It was more hard-earned than that of Nephi or Sam. 

(3rd) -Sariah

Sariah had watched her sons go off alone into the wilderness with no assurance that they'd return. Lehi had recieved further revelation that his boys must return to Jerusalem to get the brass plates. 

I can assume that took quite some time. I'd imaging about a week and a half, maybe 2 or more. Now Sariah was not seekng a good outcome from this "vision" from Lehi. Its had been too long. Where were here 4 sons? 

She had started to murmure against Lehi and what he'd done to her sons. She was truely worried that they'd been lost to the wilderness. 

After their courageous expedition, theh returned with honor and plates in hand gave thsnks to the lord. The whole family was happy to be back again. Now this is what Sariah says about her testimony,

"Now I know of a surety that the lord hath commanded my husband to flee into the wilderness" (1 Nephi 5:8)

While writing this, I just found that the scriptures say she knows her husband was commanded to leave into the wilderness. Not that her boys were supposed to return to Jerusalem. 

So Sariah had a hard time for a while. But eventually found her testimony of her husband. 

-Lamen and Lemuel 

Now Lamen and Lemuel "would not hearken unto [Nephi's] words" and they hardened their hearts. They eventually were drawn from the spirit and fell away. 

In Lehi's vision, we see the result of all these. Lehi says Nephi, Sam, and Sariah "did come unto [him] and partake of the fruit" while Lamen and Lemuel "would not come unto [him]" (1 Nephi 8:16 and 18). They refused the love of God that the others had tasted and loved.

Ok, I hope you were able to list the 3 ways we see how Nephi, Sam, and Sariah recieved their testimonies. If not, try to guess before moving on:

Nephi recieved his testimony from the Holy Ghost. Or in other words, directly from God through prayer. We can do likewise through sincere prayer eith God. Revelation is real

Sam recieved his testimony from the action of another. Or the findings of another. After this moment, he took charge of his own testimony. I compare this type of testimony with listening to seminary teachers, stake presidents, bishops or others. 

Sariah recieved her testimony through her experience. She recieved a witness by the moment, no person needed. Maybe miracles can fit under this category. Think about powerful experiences in your life and they can be a great source of strength in moments of weakness. 

Thanks for reading that chonker and if you didn't, go read it. 

Quick weekly update: 

-Made 2 splits work this week and had a great time 

-Choir practice is really hype somedays, but not on others. 

-no-show baptism, but we got to film a video for President and Sister Budge who leave in about two weeks 

-I had a homeless crazy lady come right up to me and check me out. Very sad, but disturbing. She kept trying to sneak behind me, silly goose   

-Me and my comp ran for 20 minutes, I believe it was just over 2 miles. Great excersize 

That's my week, and if you ready all that, send me an email saying you read it. I'll send you a congrats email 

Ok, talk to you next week! 

- Elder Hill  

Wow what a foggy day. Can't see anything

Sector in  (c'est tres dangeroux)

Cleaning the font and the church for the baptism 

District date 

Sleepy comp