October 27, 2014

Hola Hola!

Hopefully everyone is doing awesome and all had a great week! Mine was pretty LEGENDARY! Not to brag... but every single day is just incredible out here! 

Okay...Monday night was a little rough... the Hermana who does our laundry didn't have it ready so I had to sleep without sheets for a night.  .and I got EATEN ALIVE!!! But I am still alive...don't fret! :) 

Every Monday night we have family night with the family that lives right below us... I LOVE them! The family is made up of two teenagers, their widow mother, and her parents. All are members except the grandpa... and this family needs some Priesthood Power up in that business so we are working hard! And it just so happened that our lesson for him was on the Plan of Salvation... THE SAME DAY I FIND OUT MY GRANDPARENTS WENT THROUGH THE TEMPLE. Let's just say that was a tough one to choke out. I told them about my grandparents and their story and where they are now and how they solidified an ETERNAL FAMILY! Boy were the tears flowing but the Spirit was too and this Hermano committed to prepare for Baptism!! So a public congrats to my grandparents. Thank you for your constant example in my life and for all that you have done for me... thank you for your decision to be sealed in the Temple and make this Noll Family an Eternal one! And thank you for being missionaries! Your story is converting people thousands of miles away! :) Love you guys!

We continue to reign in the Bananas! Those are for sure eternal too... that I testify of! 

Oh! Coolest thing ever!

We were tracting the other day and I heard a faint sound from the distance... a sound that was more than just familiar... IT WAS MY BOYS! HARRY, LOUIS, LIAM, NIAL, AND ZAYN!! A chicka was blasting some 1D and singing along and YOU KNOW I went straight up to the window and started singing along with her! She and her family thought I was a bit strange at first but it helped get us an invite into the house and a follow up appointment! :) So another shout out goes to 1D! Thank you guys as well for being missionaries! Keep doing your thang!

We are still teaching Haidee and her family... I LOVE THEM SO MUCH! I feel like they are family of my own. It is unreal to see the change in their life. This gospel is unreal, Brothers and Sisters. Absolutely Unreal.

We met the most incredible and most sweetest man. He is a disabled man who sits in his wheelchair the whole day and simply waves and says hi to everyone who passes by. He gets SO excited when the Missionaries pass by... but I am not sure who is more excited to see one another... him or me! We talk to him everyday for a minute and it lights up my entire world! He is BEAMING with the light of our Savior. 

On Friday night we had an activity for Recent Converts and Less Actives... President Riggins gave us permission to watch THE AVENGERS!! So that was rad! And I guess the 410 cookies and 12 Liters of Soda made it a little better too! The outcome was really good... and it helped a lot with getting people to attend church yesterday!

We did a service project that kicked my butt! Again taking me back to the construction days! Shoveling dirt, moving rock, and shoveling dirt after moving some rock! ;) But it was so fun! Later that day I went on a split with another Elder. He came down with something and we ended up needing to go back to the casa. When we got there I got to put my MAMA apron on! I cooked him a full-course meal and administered the Medicine! Man was I raised right! ;) Haha! I felt so nurturing!

I had such a tender experience yesterday. We were gathering our Investigators for church and we were with one particular, Hermana Rosa, and her house was going nuts. The television was blasting, the toddlers were running around, her smallest infant baby girl was BALLING, and Rosa was tending her disabled boy (the boy we gave a blessing to. WHO IS NOW DOING GREAT:)). There was just so much stress in the house. I said a silent prayer in my heart that The Lord's spirit might be able to attend the house and INSTANTLY after I said Amen, the little boy scraping the burnt rice off of the bottom of the pan for his breakfast, gathered his siblings, held his infant baby sister in his arms, and all the children watched cartoons peacefully until their mom was ready. It really was the coolest thing to experience. The Lord answers prayers... THAT I KNOW!

We just finished up soccer with the biggest stud! He lost his father recently and is having a really hard time. Somehow this kid still manages to wake up every morning with a smile on his face. It is these little experiences that are changing my life forever.

This weeks spiritual message is out of the Book of Mormon! One of my favorite chapters actually! I absolutely love 1 Nephi 17! For so many reasons... the list could go on forever! But my favorite part starts in verse 8 when The Lord commands Nephi to build a boat. Nephi simply responds, "Father, whither shall I go?" Wow... the world needs some more Nephi's that's for sure! Nephi goes on to inquire of The Lord, build the tools, and eventually build the ship in the following chapters. But before... Nephi needs fire for food and the construction of the tools as well I suppose. However, The Lord says, not to make MUCH fire, "for I will make thy food sweet, that ye cook it not."

What a marvelous blessing! Nephi... don't make MUCH fire because I am going to make up for your slack with my own fire. I am going to save you and your family the trouble and worry of making MUCH fire... and take what little you give me (and I don't ask for much), and make your food sweet, that ye cook it not. I believe The Lord made this same promise to all of us as well before this life:

I feel he said "I promise to be your fire. Give me what you can...though it will only be a fraction of what you need... but give me what little you can. ALL that you can... and I will provide the rest. I am leaving all of this to set an example for you. I am leaving the presence of our Heavenly Father to die for you. To suffer for you. To bleed from every single pore of my body... for you. I am leaving all of this so that I can be your fire. I am leaving all of this so you have a way back to our Father. And all I ask is for you to give me a little. Show me your faith. Your love. Your obedience." "For ye know that it is by grace ye are saved, after all that ye can do." 

Back to Nephi! One of my favorite verses of scripture of all time!

"and I will be your light in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments; wherefore, inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall be led towards the land of promise; and ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led."

Aren't we all in the wilderness? Lol... some of us more than others... but what a blessing it is to have a light in this wilderness! A fire! The ATONEMENT! Someone who has prepared the way before us because He Himself walked our exact path before us. And here he is walking it again... every second of every day our Savior is with you. And He will continue to walk with us, carry us actually, until we reach the "Promised Land." 

I testify that Jesus is the Christ and that He is the Light and Life of the world. He is the fire. He will light the way. Have faith. Hold on! This wilderness is brutal... but we can do hard things! Through the Atonement we can do all things! All we have to do is give Him our best... which is not much... but His everlasting sacrifice will make up for it. His everlasting and eternal sacrifice will light the way for you. 

Of this I testify of in His Sacred name, Jesus Christ, Amen.

Love you all so much! I know I say that every single week but I mean it! Keep holding on!

Elder Noll

October 20, 2014

Hi everyone! Is it already Monday?! I guess that means you all have to hear from me...AGAIN! Haha!

Hopefully everyone is doing so, so good! I say that with as much sincerity as I possibly can. I truly hope that you all are receiving an outpouring of our Heavenly Fathers blessings!

This week...I am not quite sure what else to say besides...AMAZING! We headed out to the border or the sector to a place called Los Angeles. Let me tell you... it is NOT the same Los Angeles as the one back in the US. PURE JUNGLE! Haha! But soo awesome! Tons of tracting in the wilderness which was sweet. I was fasting that day so walking through the wilderness and up mountains was not the easiest thing in the world... but hey! The Lord provided as usual... and I am still here! :) There is no doubt that I am receiving Heavenly Help with every single step that I take. We did get to take about a 30 minute truck drive from Ventanas to Los Angeles. You will just have to take my word for it... but we fit TWENTY-FOUR HUMAN BEINGS IN THE BACK OF THIS TRUCK! Some were niños... but still! I have never been more uncomfortable in my life! And the fact that I was crouched on the floor of the bed of the truck face to face with a dude that had drank a little too much did not make matters any better! Haha!

MANGO SEASON IS UPON US...WOOSH! The biggest, juiciest mangoes you can possibly imagine! it is unreal! LEGENDARY to say the least. ¿Que Mas?!

We were tracting and a family went nuts when they saw me! "Hello! Estados Unidos!" They started taking pictures and losing their minds! I don´t know what it is! Haha! They love Gringos here! I felt like Harry Styles!

On a more serious note... one of our Investigators has the sweetest little boy! I am not quite sure what his situation is but he has special needs. He is very sick right now and I was able to give him a blessing! Such an amazing experience. He has to spend a couple of days in the hospital so we are not sure how he is doing quite yet, but I am sure that The Lord will provide and fulfill His will and all will be well! :)

One of my favorite memories this week has to be one of the houses we contacted! It is this bamboo house... WWWWAAAYYY high off the ground. So we made the climb and they let us in! Such a cool house... if you like LIZARDS! Haha! We were trying to talk to this family while lizards of all different shapes, colors, and smells were getting all up in our grills! Mostly just crawling around our feet and what not... but STILL! And it didn't help when the cutest little niño with chocolate all over her face and hands came and sat on my lap and wiped all of her nonsense on my white shirt and then proceeded to fall asleep in my arms. Despite the chocolate and lizards... my heart still managed to melt! Haha!

We were fed some bad meat earlier this week... oh wow... that was quite the experience. Something my companion nor I will EVER forget! Haha! I am sure you can imagine! Actually... probably not. In the words of our good neighbors, we were having multiple "Faveo Moments." Ask Vaughn Johnson for further explanation! Haha! But once again... The Lord provided and I am still here!

Sunday night I was SUPER dehydrated... it is difficult to drink water here! It is very rare to find clean-pure water. Anyway... My calves AND booty started cramping! I felt like I was running the 400 meter dash all over again! Bad News Bears! When I saw a member carrying buckets of water up two flights of stairs I didn't think of anything else but to help her! I honestly do not know how I did it! I shed some manly tears with every step... haha! Not really... but stairs, heavy buckets, and booty cramps do NOT make a great combination! But once again... The Lord provided and here I am! :)

There honestly is not a whole lot to talk about this week! I am loving every second! Especially after our Baptismal Service on Saturday... which leads me to my spiritual message!!

This weeks spiritual message takes us back to about a week after I received my mission call. Shortly after I was assigned to labor in the Ecuador, Guayaquil North mission I was blessed with a very special experience that led me to KNOW that there was a woman here in Ecuador waiting for me. More importantly... waiting to hear the message of the true and restored gospel. Fast forward to just over 2 weeks ago. Elder G and I were tracting in the poorest part of our area... possibly the entire mission... and sitting outside her house (if that is what you can even call it) was a woman with her face buried in her hands. My companion and I felt the need to talk to this woman. With her head still dropped and her face still in her hands my companion and I knelt beside her and gently asked if there was anything that we might be able to do for her. When she looked up... never in my life have I seen more sadness. Tears filled this woman's eyes, her heart was broken, her body has been through the whirlwinds of life needless to say. This woman wept. She cried for what seemed like hours. Finally when she was able to compose herself she began to express her deepest concerns, her struggles, her fears, and her challenges. As I looked at this woman, I could not help but think of her as a Resurrected Being coming forth on the morning of the first Resurrection with a perfected body. And I could not get over the fact that I had finally found the woman that I saw a week after I received my mission call. We taught her very briefly of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and she asked us if we could please return in the next couple of days. Those couple of days passed and then we passed by her house again... and there she was! This time on her feet with the biggest smile on her face! As soon as she saw us she yelled "ELDERS! Please! Come in!" Haha! The change from just two short days ago was unreal! We started to teach her of the restoration of the Gospel. It has a few different parts. 1. God is our Loving Heavenly Father. 2. The Gospel blesses families. 3. God calls prophets. 4. Jesus' earthly ministry. 5. The Apostasy. 5. The restoration through the Prophet, Joseph Smith.

I didn't understand a whole lot of the lesson but when Elder G looked at me, I knew EXACTLY what I needed to share. As I held back tears and fought back emotion, I was pierced by the spirit and managed to share with her something that is very close to my heart. I told her the exact words of a 14 year old boy and his experience:

"I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!" As soon as the lesson was over she accepted Baptism!

Since then...we have discovered that she has a family! And they too have accepted baptism!

This past Saturday I was forever changed... as soon as I raised this wonderful sister out of the water I cannot put to words the feelings that were felt. Words just can not explain the happiness that this Gospel brings! And I want EVERYONE to partake of the happiness I feel right now! "For whosoever shall save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and for the gospel's, the same shall save it."

We are modern day pioneers to the millions of Heavenly Fathers children who have yet to hear the Gospel, says Gordon B. Hinckley. We make our contributions by faithfully carrying out the work of The Lord.

Brothers and Sisters, this Gospel is true. That I KNOW. I know that EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO READS THIS EMAIL AND EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO DOES NOT has someone waiting for them. Waiting to be brought to the truth. I believe many of us made promises to our Brothers and Sisters in the life before that we would find them. And that we would save them. Returned Missionaries, Future Missionaries, brand new Deacon or Beehive, 8 years old, or 80 years old... find a lost sheep and bring them unto the fold and into our Shepard's embracing arms. I believe I said this already in a past email, but we have already lost 1/3 of our Brothers and Sisters in Heaven! We can´t afford to lose more. YOUR brothers and sisters that you fight with, laugh with, live with, and share unbreakable bonds with are the same relations you had with all of God's children before you and I came to this earth. Find your brother or sister! Bring them home! I promise... "GREAT will be your JOY." Put a spiritual name tag on your chest EVERY SINGLE DAY!
This Gospel changes lives. Jesus Christ is the light and life of the world and how blessed we are to be able to share that light!

The church is true. Joseph Smith saw God the Father and His son, Jesus Christ.

"The standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop this work from progressing." However, every single unhallowed hand can help!

Love you all!

Now go share the Gospel with someone! :)

With as much love as I can offer,

Elder Noll

October 13, 2014

I feel like I was just at this computer yesterday! Time is flying! How is everyone?! It is my prayer that all of you are happy, safe, and above all, feeling the love of your Heavenly Father. It has been an absolutely AMAZING week! We have been blessed with so much! I truly do not even know where to start...

On Monday we showed up for our night appointment with a particular family, but one of the daughters was extremely sick...bed ridden, tubes, etc...we offered to give her a blessing. I anointed and Elder Gomez blessed. Seconds after we blessed her she was able to suddenly gather the strength to get up for the first time in a couple of days and go to the bathroom! The Priesthood is the power of God... and it is REAL! That I know! Later that night we went to another members house for Family Home Evening... we shared a quick spiritual message.. .and then had fruit smoothies!! The fruit here is UNREAL. Nothing compared to my Dad´s smoothies of course... but they were pretty dang good!

On Tuesday I went on an exchange with Elder Pagoada. He is a teeny tiny dude from Honduras! He is the biggest stud EVER! He knows English pretty well too which helped a lot... and guess how he learned English? FROM LISTENING TO ONE DIRECTION. If any of you know me I am sure you know that Elder Pagoada and I got along pretty well! ;) HAHA! Their area is pretty neat! Almost completely Bamboo and mountains...we actually got to help a family build their house for a little bit. Cutting bamboo and what not! Pretty sick! It makes me flash back to the construction days... only this time I wasn't wearing a tank top and I don't have lushus hair! ;) 

Wednesday...holy smokes... I. WAS. ROCKED. There is no doubt in my mind that The Lord was behind me the entire day pushing me up each step... lifting my legs each step... and lifting my spirits every second. There is no way that I could make it through these hard days without His strength. On one occasion we were just strolling past a Banana field and I LITERALLY slipped on a banana peel. I landed right on my booty! What is life? I thought that only happened in Mario Cart?! I guess not! Brothers and Sisters, I testify that 

banana peels are real life slippery! 

Que Mas??

We encountered a massive... ran over... RAT. It was gross! Right after that we saw two HUGE COCKROACHES! AH! They were nasty! If only my little sister was there to kill them for me! ;) 

Kind of a strange experience... we were just tracting and a woman came up to me and starting getting all up in my grill! She was yelling at me, spitting in my face, poking my chest, and telling me that I am a fool for being here and a fool for believing in Jesus Christ... amongst some other things...but all I could say is I know that Jesus Christ lives and I know He is our Savior. Then we left. I was heartbroken that a daughter of our Heavenly Father could be led so far from the truth. Right after that we taught a mother and her two daughters. We invited them to be baptized and the mom just lost it! Yelling at us...telling us to get out of her house... amongst other things as well... and again... heartbroken. All we said is that we were very sorry and that her Heavenly Father loves her. AND SHE SHOWED UP TO CHURCH YESTERDAY! I guess the moral of these two stories is that you never know what impact your words will have on people...so make sure they are positive and that your words ALWAYS edify our Master.

We helped build another house apart from the bamboo one...this one was made out of bricks! Haha! So that was fun! Service is the bomb here! 

On Saturday there were two girls who wouldn't stop staring at me and smiling...YOU KNOW I am taking this charm to the next level BOOM! 2 Contacts! Haha!

I am loving every second here! Honestly! The best has got to be when the little ninos run up to me and give me the biggest hug! Then the little girls hold my hand as we walk down the street and the little dudes jump on my back for piggyback rides. Nothing better! I am looking forward to another awesome week with new experiences! 

Thank you all for your constant love, support, and prayers! They are much needed! But our investigators need them more! Please pray for them! 

So many things this week seemed to remind me of home...not only because some of the people I have met or the things that I have experienced... but the things I have felt.

I sat in on a lesson where the INVESTIGATOR bore her testimony to her son. It truly was incredible. Every single day...I see parents... non members and members... fill their child's plate with food and leave absolutely none for themselves. Families kneeling in their concrete homes in prayer thanking their Heavenly Father for all that they have. Couples sacrificing their weekly earnings to go to the temple and be sealed for time and all eternity. A single mother giving up work on Sunday to go to church. A widow exhorting every last bit of her strength to lift her two adult children with disabilities into a bus. The list goes on.

Brothers and Sisters, the love of a parent is amongst one of the most powerful things on this earth. In General Conference, Tad R. Callister said, "Parents are to be the prime teachers of the Atonement and Gospel of Jesus Christ." It is incredible to see so many people here follow that principle...members and non members! 

The reason I am reminded so much of home is because every single time I see an act of love from a parent to their child I can't help but think of my parents and all that they are and all that they have done for me. I know without a doubt that my parents would lift me into a bus. They would sacrifice everything and have sacrificed everything to put food on my plate. They give me the entire world and they give others all that they have to offer as well.

If my mom were a Pioneer she would be pushing a widows handcart with her left hand, pulling her children with her right, dragging another with a harness tied around her body, carrying a struggling fathers cart on her back... and somehow managing to make the best chips and salsa the world has ever known... AT THE SAME TIME! As my mother does this... my father would be right by her side.... pushing her load right along with her. Making her load half as heavy... while carrying a full load of his own.... and somehow he would still manage to exercise his Priesthood and play catch with his son after fixing a '73 VW Bus as if that was a thing back then?? HAH! 

Obviously I don't know anything about parenting... but I know that a mothers job is to strengthen the family and a fathers job is to work and teach his children how to work. Parents have such a divine roll that I think it is often underestimated. Unlike any other calling in this world and life-time...the calling to be a father or mother is eternal! I was blessed enough to not be born of "goodly" parents but of amazing parents. I was not taught "somewhat" in all of the learning of my father but COMPLETELY in all the learning of my father. Like the Strippling Warriors, I was taught by my mother to not doubt. EVER. Parents have such a sacred obligation to build a home that is 100% based on the rock and foundation of Jesus Christ. With the family unit based on our Savior... we CANNOT fall (Helaman 5:12). 

"What parent ever let their child head out to the front lines without their helmet, shield, and sword? The same applies today for a parent who lets their child march out the door without a prayer, scripture study, and expressing love!"

I know blessings come to righteous families who build every ounce of their focus on Jesus Christ. I know that there is NO price tag for the sacred calling of a mother or a father. I know that families are eternal and that when built upon the teachings of Jesus Christ, we can fight the whirlwinds and turbulence that this world brings forth... together as a family unit. 

I am forever grateful for my parents and forever in debt to them for all that they have taught and continue to teach me. I would not be who I am today if they had not raised myself and my incredible siblings on the principles of this Gospel. They will never know how much I love them... nor will I understand how much they love me! 

A little side note...CHILDREN! Obey your parents! They know what is up! Stop what you are doing and give your mom and dad a hug! Tell them that you love them! They give you the entire world and more! And they love you more than you know. You will never know how lucky you are until you can't walk into their room 3 hours after curfew and tell them you love them and hear them say it right back.

Do remember... the incomprehensible... incomparable love your parents have for you is only a FRACTION of the love that our Heavenly Father has for you. 

He loves you without end.

I testify of the power that parenting has. I am more than grateful for mine and I hope that the day comes when I can repay them even for just a half percent of what they have done for me. 

I testify that there is no better way to raise a princess of the Almighty God than in and through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I testify that there is no better way to raise a Son of the Almighty God than through the true and Restored Gospel.

Don't underestimate your divine roll parents! Keep changing lives!:)

Love you ALL! Have an amazing week!

Elder Noll

October 6, 2014

AHHHH WHAT'S GOOD FAM AND FRIENDS!!??

I hope you all have had an incredible week! You all sure deserve it! I pray for you all each and every day and I want to thank you all for being such incredible examples in my life :)

This week was AMAZING! Still just smiling and waving! Haha! The language is improving though! I went on an exchange with Elder K from California. It was nice to speak some English for a day! He is a stud and it was cool to be in a different area/sector and see new things and teach new people.

Elder G and I were supposed to go to Guayaquil last Tuesday for a doctors appointment for his stomach, but we were running a little late and we missed the bus by SECONDS. Elder G was pretty down...as was I. We went back to the casa and he laid on his bed out of frustration. I suggested that we say a prayer and that is exactly what we did. As soon as we said "Amen" we both knew it was time to get to work! And that is exactly what we did! We were blessed with SO much success! The most successful day in my mission by far! Coincidence...I THINK NOT! The Lord works in mysterious ways and knew that there were people waiting to hear the message of the true and restored Gospel. I was SO tired at the end of the day - But it was such a good day! So, I came to the conclusion that the best days of a mission or of life in general are those spent in the work of the Lord and NOTHING else.

I officially saw the BIGGEST spider I have EVER seen in my entire life. I wet my pants...or my slacks. LOL. Most of the houses have lizards crawling all around too which is pretty cool!

Anyway...CONFERENCE...WOOOOSHHHH. TOO GOOD! Another Gringo Elder and I got to watch it in English in a tiny little room on the computer. It was unreal! Hold your applause...but I did not fall asleep...ONCE! I won't lie though...I was sad when my mom was not there to give me warm cinnamon rolls, eggs, and fresh orange juice :( Haha! But...conference truly was incredible. We even got 3 investigators to come! So cool! I just can't get enough of the words from God's Messengers! We are so blessed to receive direct revelation from our Heavenly Father through His servants. I hope we all, especially me, can support the Prophet and appreciate him more by standing by his side to fight for this church. I hope we can all become instruments in the Lord's hand. He needs us! No matter what our circumstances are!

Well...another week has just flown by! Another week of soup, rice, every possible type of banana you can imagine, spiders, lizards, tracting, teaching, learning, my shirts getting a little looser, my heart getting a little softer, and LOVING. I am IN LOVE with it here! It is the coolest place ever! With the most incredible people ever!

Missionary Work truly is marvelous. And nobody...NO HUMAN ALIVE...who has the opportunity and capability to serve The Lord should put it aside. It will change your life, others lives, and the lives of your future family. Like Lehi wanting others to partake of the fruit of the tree of life in his vision (often referred to as the fruit of the Gospel and the sweetness that it brings) I am desiring all who can to serve a mission because it is sweet above all that is sweet and is white above all that is white! YOU WILL NOT REGRET YOUR DECISION! I promise in the name of Jesus Christ that your life will be changed forever. I have only been out 3 months! Imagine 2 years!

There were a lot of things that really stood out to me during conference. A lot of them leading me to testify of the Prophet, Joseph Smith, and of the Book of Mormon. I know without a shadow of a doubt that Joseph Smith, a 14 year old farm-boy, saw Heavenly Father and His son, Jesus Christ. I know that same boy was called and ordained by the power and authority of God to act in His name and to preside over the fully restored and only true Gospel. Through the Holy Ghost, Joseph was capable of translating the most powerful, divine, perfect, and useful book that the world would ever know, The Book of Mormon. I know that its teachings are real and they are eternal. I know Joseph knew that they were and still are real and eternal. Why would a man sacrifice the way he did and to the extent he did for a cause that he did not believe in and know with assurity of its truthfulness? Why would Joseph and Hyrum leave to Carthage, to what they knew would be their death, leave their wives widows, and their children fatherless, simply for a book? They were willing to die before they would deny the divinity and truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. Don't take it for granted! I like what President Uchtdorf said about how we can come to know all things through praying to the Almighty God. It is so true! Accept Moroni's challenge and invitation and read, ponder, and pray about this sacred book! Receive your own special witness of its truthfulness. By doing so you can come to know that Joseph Smith was indeed a prophet of God, Jesus is the Christ, and the true and everlasting Gospel has been restored in these Latter Days (Introduction of BOM). Looking an investigator in the eyes and testifying to them of the BOM is very special. Looking them in the eyes and telling them that a 14 year old boy saw God the Father and Jesus Christ in the very words of Joseph Smith himself is miraculous. You can literally see the spirit of God enter their soul and manifest truth. This Gospel changes lives! Let it change yours!

Challenge: Read the BOM cover to cover, pray to know the truth. When you receive your answer, because in the name of Jesus Christ I promise you will, share it. Be a light to others. We already lost 1/3 of our brother and sisters in Heaven and we cannot afford to lose anymore!

Love you all! Keep being awesome! All of you!

Love,

Elder Noll

 

Time

• 30-45 minutes per session
• Four to five sessions each week

Stroke

• Don't doggie paddle. For a novice, the backstroke is the easiest, then the sidestroke, breast stroke, and freestyle.

Beginner

• Tread water for three minutes, then stretch on a mat outside the pool.
• Swim 10 lengths of 50 meters each. Rest 30 to 45 seconds after each lap.
• "Beginners should try to add 100 or 200 meters every week," says Smith.

Intermediate

• Swim 200 meters (two Olympic-size laps), then stretch out.
• Swim 100 meters, then hop out of the water and do 10 pushups and 20 crunches. Rest for 30 to 45 seconds. Repeat for 10 sets.
• If you usually perform an upper-lower-body split, substitute body weight squats for pushups on leg days.

- See more at: http://www.mensfitness.com/training/swim-it#sthash.OEnmeAWU.dpuf