April 25, 2016

This week might have been the fastest in my entire mission... wait... did I say that last week too?? I don’t know, but time is going SO SO fast with Elder Johnson! I guess it has been a little crazy with earthquake stuff. Gratefully, Vinces is so protected. We did feel the other earthquakes... when one passed I was taking a shower, right for bed! Haha! I thought for sure I was gonna fall through the floor and end up in the neighbors house in an unpleasant way! Elder Johnson and I had a good laugh at that thought. But I am glad it stopped shaking after a short time ;) It indeed was an incredible week! Too many miracles to put down on paper...

I think one of my favorite things that happened this week was to see the change in a particular family. We are teaching a little, cute, old couple. They are so amazing. They have quite a few children with some grandchildren too! They have progressed so much and have changed so so much. The changes are so so beautiful. They have learned how to pray and are teaching their little grandchildren how to do it too! We had not even talked to the little grandchildren and one day the grandma gave us some fried bananas just as a snack... so Elder Johnson and I went to town on it... but before I knew it I heard a little voice say... “Querido Padre Celestial”... (Dear Heavenly Father)... I looked up only to see a little adorable 3 year old girl saying the prayer with her older brothers and sisters... all younger than 10... to bless their fried bananas. How humbling this moment was. How amazing the change in this family is. I was nearly brought to tears at the miracle that the Lord blessed us with in that moment. So that was something super neat this week... and I am sure we will continue to see some incredible things as time goes on!

It’s that time again!!! Time for a spiritual thought.

My dad and I basically lived in the weight room as I grew up... and our bread and butter always has been and always will be the bench press. We always had a certain number of sets and repetitions, but when those were complete we were always brought to the “death-set.” The most growth is always seen during this last set. It hurts the most, burns the most, and drains you the most. It is done by doing as many repetitions as humanly possible until you physically cannot do any more. There comes a point in this set where muscle fatigue kicks in after lifting the bar as many times as you possibly can and your muscles collapse and it becomes humanly impossible to continue lifting. The weight of the heavy bar leaves you pinned... helpless and hopeless.

Have you ever experimented “spiritual fatigue?” Perhaps you’ve lifted the bar of life as many times as you possible can, but now it has collapsed. Have you ever felt helpless, hopeless, or “pinned” by who you were, who you are, or who you are becoming? Do you feel the pain of this “death-set” that makes us feel like continuing is impossible? I felt the pain and failure that came from this death-set every single time I did it... and every time I did it I eventually got pinned by the bar... without hope... without help... until I heard a voice... EVERY SINGLE TIME. It was a proud voice.

“Nice job”... and then the bar was taken off of my chest by my father who was always right behind me.

I can testify with all of my heart that God’s grace is real. It is visible, it is palpable, and it is available to all that do all they possibly can just as my dad was ALWAYS available to lift weight off of my chest after doing all that I possibly could. “For we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all that we can do” (2 Nephi 25:23). What is all that we can do? What do you need to do to feel your nu-liftable bar lifted off your chest? What gives you hope? What will give you help? The following 2 verses give us the answer!

“And notwithstanding we believe in Christ, we keep the law of Moses, and we look forward with a steadfastness unto Cristo, until the law shall be fulfilled.” It teaches us that belief is required. Believe in your spotter, who is the Savior. He is ALWAYS there! He will not leave your side. We must also be obedient to have this spotter always there. Each time we disobey, the reaction of our Savior to our “spiritual-fatigue” is delayed... leaving the weight on our chest. We not only have to believe in Christ, our spotter... but we must look unto Him, and know His grace will save us. “...wherefore the law hath become dead unto us...” just as my muscles had become dead unto me and just as our ability to lift our doubts, troubles, and worries becomes dead to us, “...and we are made alive in Christ because of our faith...,” just as I was made alive by my father lifting the bar after doing all that I could, and just as our Savior will lift our bar after we do all that we can though faith in Him.

I bear my witness just as the prophet Moroni did that we are sanctified and purified in, through, by, and of the shedding of the blood of the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, by His grace. I testify just as Jacob did that the Lord shows us our weakness to make us KNOW that His grace is real and that it is saving.

Do all that you can, Brothers and Sisters. You will hear the voice of our Savior just as I heard the voice of my father... “Nice job”... and then you will feel the weight of the world be lifted off of your chest. You will feel the doubts that you have erased from your mind. You will feel the sins on your shoulders purified by the Lord’s blood. Permit His grace. Rejoice in His grace.

He is the Savior of the world. He is your Redeemer. He is your Spotter... full of grace and of truth to save you after all that you can do.

Elder Noll

April 18, 2016

Wow. What a week. What a weekend actually! 

I am sure that you have all heard about the earthquake that went down here in Ecuador. Elder Johnson and I are so blessed to say that we are perfectly fine and safe. Thank you for all of the prayers that have been sent our way, but more for the prayers that have been sent to those who are suffering. It hurts my heart so much- with the thought of the beautiful people of this country who I love so so much- suffering. These people are amazing. They are incredible. And they deserve the prayers of everyone. 

The earthquake did not damage much of our mission. I feel so blessed to not have to see the suffering of these people with my own eyes. Everyone we are serving is just fine! We are pretty far away from the trigger point...but that does not mean that we didn't feel it. I am sure it was quite the sight actually...we were mid prayer when it hit. The Brother who was praying hurried and finished and then we ran outside...it still had not hit hard. But about 10 second passed and we actually started to lose our balance. Things started falling from all around the place! It gave Elder Johnson and I much fear! We actually started hugging each other and jumping up and down like 10 year old girls. In Vinces, where we are at, the earthquake lasted about a minute and then the power went out for about an hour. It came back for about another hour and then went again for another 5-6 hours...we will get to that a little later in the spiritual message! ;)

 

I don't even know where to start with this week! It was incredible!

 

I think I will just share one experience really quickly!

We found a man who had JUST finished off his smoke...and he had a packet of 2 more. We felt the strong impression to stop and talk to him so we did. We first testified of God...of His existence...of His love. Then we went strait to the case. We testified that He is a God of commandments and of Prophets who talk with Him and that a Prophet received a commandment called the Word of Wisdom. We explained that smoking and drinking is against the laws that God has given us and that we are damaging ourselves as we partake of such substances. We asked him, "Brother, what would Jesus Christ do with this packet if He were here?" He thought for a second...gave out a grunt, smashed the packet between his hands, and threw it into the street. He told us he has kids and he needs to be a better example to them. He thanked us so humbly and so kindly and we were able to take out another visit for later this week. What a tender mercy to see. We were blessed with the chance to literally see repentance take place. How amazing. What a Christlike example. What would Christ say about the things we are doing in our lives? What are we willing to smash and throw away in order to follow the Savior?

Now on to the spiritual message...

The earthquake that just occurred here and the loss of electricity brought me to the realization that we were blessed with the privilege of reliving both miraculous and devastating events in history. "And there began to be great doubting and disputations among the people, notwithstanding so many signs had been given (of the crucifixion of Christ). And there was also a great and terrible tempest; and there was terrible thunder, insomuch that it did shake the whole earth as if it was about to divide asunder. And it came to pass that there was thick darkness upon all the face of the land..." (3 Nephi 8). 

I can testify with all of my heart that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to this earth and established His very church. Not a church of men, of tradition, or of habit...but a church of truth, of power, and of authority. There existed one single church...the church of Christ Himself. The very one that he constructed, formed, organized, and led. But the people rejected Him...they even crucified Him...and His death and absence caused the world to shake and the light to go away just as it did here in Vinces on Saturday night. Vinces was completely dark for about an hour. I thought of my Savior during this hour of darkness. How would it be to not have a Savior? Dark. I felt in danger. We had no communication with other missionaries. We were lost! Just as those who lived in darkness for 3 days in the account of 3 Nephi. But just as the light came to Vinces once more...the light came to the world once more. "And now it came to pass that thus did the three days pass away. And it was the morning, and the darkness dispersed from off the face of the land." There is no doubt in my mind or heart that Jesus Christ lives. He arose and because of his Resurrection these Nephite people were brought out of the darkness just as we were on Saturday night. We were ordered to go back to the house immediately because it was not safe outside - so we did. We got home, planned, got ready for bed, (snuck in a protein shake just like old times ;)) and RIGHT before we said the prayer...the power went out again. Just as the power went out in the world when Christ had ascended to the Heavens. "And they began to be divided into classes; and they began to build up churches unto themselves to get gain, and began to deny the true church of Christ." The TRUE church of Christ was denied and eventually withered away because of the pride of men. Because of the false teachings the light was taken from the earth once more just as it was in Vinces after it had returned. The only churches that remained are the same ones that we see today. Churches edified by men without direction from the One True God and without any power whatsoever to grow closer to the Lord, Jesus Christ. I lived this on Saturday night. This is called apostasy. And it was once of the most miserable things I have ever experienced in my life. I do not want to complain...because it was a marvelous experience that really touched my heart and has changed my testimony forever. Elder Johnson and I COULD NOT SLEEP. IT WAS ROASTING! The only thing we have that permits us to fall asleep is the little fan that we have. So when the power goes out...we are toast. The fan is also what keep us safe from the zeebra-squeets because the breeze from the fan blows them off of our skin when they try to bite us. So the mosquitoes got us pretty good. The fan also gives off a sound that helps us not hear the loud music from outside that never stops. It helps us sleep in peace. The fan is the gospel of Jesus Christ. After His ascension to Heaven the power went own and the fan stopped working. The heat of unbelief and false doctrine did not let people live in peace. Satan's temptations bit all continents and could not be blown away...and the world fell into darkness. These hours were miserable! The apostasy was MISERABLE! But what relief, joy, and gratitude we had when the sound of the fan was heard and its breeze was felt. The heat went away. The mosquitoes - millions of mosquitoes were blown off of our skin. And the music was no longer heard. We could fall asleep in peace. The power was back and the fan worked in Vinces just as the power came back and the fan started spinning once more in 1820. I promise all of you that if it were not for a 14 year old boy who entered a sacred grove on a beautiful spring morning we would have no fan. The gospel of Jesus Christ would not function. The heat of false doctrine would be unbearable, the bites from Satan would torment us, and the world's wickedness would take over our peace. We would have no access to the atonement of the Savior - had this 14 year old boy not of prayed. The restoration of the gospel and the life of Joseph Smith has been and forever will be the greatest blessing in your entire existence apart from the blessing to have a Savior and Redeemer and for the life He lived and gave for you. I know without a doubt that the heavens were opened that spring morning. They were opened because there was no truth. There was only tradition. They were opened because God is love. God is mercy. God is forgiving. And God is real. God would not be God if it were not for Joseph Smith. I know and testify that the fan is spinning. Jesus Christ has once again established the very church He Himself organized during His earthly ministry on earth. I don't know it because my parents told me, because I saw it on YouTube or because I read it. I know it because I talk to the Almighty God of the Universe. I talk to your God. I converse with Him who know all. I speak to Him who created the universe, the sun, and the stars...and I have asked Him if what I have shared is true...

I do it every single day...

and He never fails to tell me "yes".

Love you all!

Elder Noll

April 11, 2016

WOW.

I could probably finish the weekly report up with that. Elder Johnson and I are having the best of times sharing the gospel and spreading the Lord's love. The experiences that we are having are far to awesome to share over email! They will have to wait until we can share them in person! Much more interesting! We are still kicking it in Vinces and getting after it! Vinces is a little tiny District made up of 2 branches in Vinces itself and 1 branch about 2 hours away. Working with branches is always a bit different but I love it so much. Some of the most bright, loving, and dedicated members of Christ's church I have ever met in my life assist the smallest of branches.

 

 

We are living with an Elder from Bolivia and another Elder from Salt Lake so that is a good time! Each morning we pump out some circuits, drink a protein shake, and get after the study grind! It is so awesome! What I love most is to see and feel the change that has taken place in our relationship. There is nothing in this world that will bring a friendship closer than the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

One night we ended up getting out of a visit a bit later than we expected. We only had about 5 minutes to get back to the house to make it home in time. It has been years since I have run head to head with Elder Johnson! Haha! But we strapped on the laces and got after it. It was super late at night and raining but it didn't hold us back! We made it in time! :)

We are teaching some of the most amazing people. There is one woman and her children that are progressing so amazingly! We left her with the Book of Mormon and asked her to read the introduction. When we passed by the next day she was already asking questions about Nephi and his journey to Jerusalem to get married!! Haha! She is great.

If I start with the best stories I will never stop! So stay tuned for the next few months!!! ;)

I have been thinking a lot about how I can become what the Lord wants and expects of me. I have thought about what I want to become and how I can get there. As I thought about what it would take to become what the Lord wants of me,  I soon realized that it is a process...a process that requires patience, trust, steps, and practice. Those four words (patience, trust, steps, and practice) define a 4x100 Meter relay to a dime. 

The baton in a relay race is what delegates change. We must be patient as we wait for our baton or change. If we enter a race with desires to receive a baton or truly search for a change in our lives, change is what will come and better is what you will be. But some batons take longer than others. Be patient with yourself and with those around you as you become like your Savior. Change takes time!

 

A 4x1 is compiled of "blind exchanges". When it is your turn to receive the baton you are not to look back. You are not to look to your left nor your right. Rather, you are expected to trust in him with the baton and that he will deliver it to you with accuracy and precision. As we look to become "changed" or "converted" we must develop trust in the Lord that He will deliver the change to our hearts and get the baton in our hands. 

 

If you have a desire to change - are your eyes forward? Do you look back or to the side? Or are you set on who you want to become and what the Lord wants of you? How do we permit the Lord to deliver us the baton or the change? How do we permit the spirit to show us how to change?

In the book of Matthew a young man is searching for eternal life. He is looking for the baton and trying to figure out how to receive this change. He has waited ever so patiently and "he goes to the Lord", showing trust and faith in Him, and says, "all these things  (the commandments) have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?"

 

 Returning to our 4x1 relay...In order to have a perfect hand-off you have to measure steps. Each runner comes in at different speeds and whoever is receiving the baton has to find the perfect point to begin to run. For this reason it is required of whoever is going to receive the baton, to take an exact number of steps, depending on his speed and the speed of his teammate - to discover exactly when and where he should start running to receive the baton. This is a brutal process. As a track runner, I remember asking myself the same question that the young man asked the Savior. "What lack I yet?" As I asked myself this question, I ALWAYS KNEW. ALWAYS. I knew how many steps I needed to take off or how many I needed to add. After practicing and practicing and asking myself "what lack I yet" time after time a perfect exchange was developed. Brothers and Sisters, if you want to hear the voice of God...if you want to feel of His perfection...if you want perfection, eternal life, and glory...one simple question will get you there.

"What lack I yet?"

The heavens will open and you will know EXACTLY what to do. EXACTLY what to change. The spirit will tell you exactly how many steps to take back or how many to add to help you have a perfect "hand-off" in your process of change. The Lord will tell you what is keeping you from eternal life - just as the Savior told the young man what was holding him back; "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell all that thou hast, and give to the poor...". This young man found out just how many steps he was lacking in order to have the perfect hand-off.

 

I testify that the Heavens are open...God's voice is real...changes are possible...eternal life is reachable...and perfect hand-offs are attainable. All the Lord requires is that we ask Him, "What lack I yet?". After we ask the Lord this question we must wait for His loving and perfect correction in order to give us the perfect amount of steps to get to His Kingdom and to take home the gold in the 4x1 relay called life.

Be accepting and humble when the Lord tells you...because He will! Don't "go away sorrowful" like the young man did. have patience and trust. Measure and ask the Lord what your steps are and what you lack, and put it to practice. 

I have experienced miracles in my life with this question. I have felt the Lord's presence like never before as I have asked Him what I lack. He never fails to get me the baton and He will never fail you.

Love you all tons! Until next week!

Elder Noll :)

April 4, 2016

Hey all! 

Gotta write super duper fast! We are in Guayaquil for a conference tomorrow so it did not leave us with much time with the travel and what not!

 

WOW. Conference was LEGENDARY! Loved it so much. I hope everyone can keep the spirit...and if you did not have the chance to partake of the spirit...GET TO A COMPUTER! 

 

So...working with your best friend is the greatest thing ever. The unity is so unreal. The spirit is so strong. The visits are so personal. There is no doubt that a friendship centered around the gospel is a friendship that lasts, matters, and edifies. We went to town this week! Service projects (the rat did give us quite fear but we lived), had some amazing spiritual experiences, and were able to come to know a God a bit more. Sorry that is so brief...I will give some details next week!! ;) I really want to share a spiritual message...I have a lot of ideas on my mind that are really hitting hard so I am going to let the spirit write!

I LOVE THE BEACH. But when the day comes to an end there is something I cannot bare...

Sand on the bottom of my feet.

It can be on my hands, legs, in my hair, or ANYWHERE! But the sand in between my feet and toes rubbing against my sandals or the pavement makes me cringe. How many of us have things about us that make us cringe? How many of us have defects or faults that we cannot bare? How would it be if if I tried to take grain by grain off of the bottom of my feet after a long day at the beach with tweezers? How many of us nit pick every single fault we have with tweezers? How many of us find every single fault, error, or annoyance on the bottom of our feet and attempt to take them off one by one with tweezers? The Lord does not intend of us to look for and find all of our errors, imperfections, and faults...there are far to many, just as there are far too many grains of sand on the bottom of our feet. But how can we take away the unbearable annoyance of sandy feet, imperfect bodies, debilitated minds, or insecure hearts? Luckily, there exists a way.

 

As soon as you make it off of the sand at the beach there is always a fountain. This fountain washes all the sand off of your feet quickly and efficiently. What could this fountain be that could possibly wash away all of our insecurities, faults, and doubts? Where can we find water to take away the sand?

 

 "For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." (Revelation 7:17) I testify that the lamb of God, Jesus Christ, shall lead us to His everlasting, cleansing, purifying, and perfecting fountain of living water. His fountain is His everlasting Atonement. His water is what cleans our feet. 

 

How can we permit His water and atonement to clean our sandy feet?

 

In John 13 the Savior washes the feet of His Disciples. But when He gets to Peter, Peter says; "...doth thou wash my feet?" I would imagine that Peter, being human, had some pretty sandy feet just as all of us do. And instead of accepting the Lord's cleaning fountain of pure water he asks the Lord if it is really Him that washes his feet. I thought very deeply about this question and I came to understand that so many of us make the same question every day but in modern day language. 

 

Is it you Lord that can take away my grief?

 

Are you sure that the gospel of Jesus Christ is what cleanses us?

 

Is it not the world that cleanses us and tells us if we are or are not good enough?

 

Why didn't Heavenly Father just make me perfect? Why didn't He make me smarter? More patient? Funnier? How come I am not the best on the team? Why did Heavenly Father not make a more beautiful me?

 

The Savior's response to these questions will ALWAYS be the same response that He gave to Peter. "What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter."

 

How many of us have heard that before? I know I have.

 

"Don't you worry! You just gotta hang in there!", "It is for your good", or "Have faith! It will all work out. God has not forgotten you." I think Peter, like me and so many others, gets a bit irritated with that response. He says, "Thou shalt never wash my feet".

 

(In today's terms) :

Yeah...whatever. 

You can't help me Lord.

My parents don't understand.

My Bishop has no clue.

Christ's so called "atonement" shall never wash my sandy feet.

 

The Lord then gives us a brief, simple, beautiful, and perfect answer that is hard to understand but easy to rely on. An answer that gives us faith and hope.

 

(Non scriptural) You know what Peter (Elder Noll, so and so, and every other brother and/or sister of mine), you ask why you are not perfect? Why you have faults? Why is it me and the atonement that was brought to pass through me that has to wash you? I will tell you why...(Scriptural) Because "IF I WASH THEE NOT, THOU HAS NO PART WITH ME". 

 

We must drop the idea that there are so many imperfections on the bottom of our feet and accept the fact that the Lord needs something to wash in order to give us "part with Him". If we were perfect the Lord would have nothing to wash, no hearts to mend, no spirits to put at peace, no souls to save, no way to show love, and no feet to clean...therefore inhibiting us to live with Him and our Heavenly Father again. Only the Lord's atonement can take away sandy feet. Only it can take away errors, doubts, and afflictions. Do we have more than just sand on the bottom of our feet? OF COURSE! YOU ARE NOT GOD YET!

 

Let us use the water of the atonement for now to rid the imperfections that we have until we reach what I always did after the fountain at the beach. After the beach always came a shower. This shower will swallow up all sand and imperfection that has ever been known. This shower will make us perfect. This shower is the resurrection that awaits us all.

 

I have felt His washing in my life and testify that His fountain of living water is real and it is 100% dependent always. This fountain will wash our sandy feet and ready us for the shower of the resurrection to allow us to arise in perfection just as He did the third day. This I know.

In the sacred name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Elder Noll

 

    

March 21, 2016

What's good team? I don't have much time today. Just a funny experience and then a spiritual message maybe!! I will let you all know that this week was incredible as usual! We spent two days in Guayaquil in the Conference of Zone's and traveled quite a bit with President Riggins which is always an incredible chance to learn and grow. 

 

The other day we had lunch with the newly called Bishop. He is losing his mind. He is super stressed out...with reason! But his wife was gone and he had forgotten about the lunch appointment so he was running around with his head cut off while he was trying to prepare something for us. I am not sure what it was exactly that he did but I heard an explosion and turned around and saw a flame from the stove that reached all the way up to the ceiling! Haha! He totally fried the chicken! It was hilarious. I don't know what was more funny...his singed eye brows, his scream, the black chicken, or the fact that I did not feel even a degree of a temperature change in the house with a 6 foot flame because it was already so hot! ;) So I guess that was a funny experience. Obviously there are so many amazing stories and miracles that we were able to witness but they will have to wait!

"Follow Him and find a new life" is the name of the video that was released for this Easter season and it has touched me. I think one of the first things that comes to a child's mind on Easter Sunday is the Easter egg hunt. The prize is a candy or money but the trick is finding the egg. Just as small children rejoice in searching for eggs with chocolate, it is my prayer that we can rejoice in "looking for our Savior" to find a prize that only a God can give. In the 12th chapter of Ether, the Prophet Moroni commends us to "seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written". In the 5th chapter of Mark, a man with unclean spirits, just as we all have unclean spirits, would not settle for not finding his "Easter egg"...instead, "when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshiped Him." In the 19th chapter of Luke, a man of "little stature", just as we at times feel little, weak, broken, or insecure, could not see Jesus. "And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him: for He was to pass that way." What are we doing to search and find the Christ? How can we come to know Him? How can we come to feel His love? How can we come to hear His voice? In Doctrine & Covenants 93:1 it is revealed unto us how to see the face of the Lord. "It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments shall see my face and know that I am." In Junior High I literally COULD NOT talk to a certain girl I had a crush on because of how beautiful she was. I was SO nervous! But every once in a while...a burst of courage and a flame of bravery gave me the guts to present myself in her presence. Just as my nerves, because of the beauty of this girl, separated me from her...our sins separate us from Christ because of His perfection. But the miracle is that we have the miracle to obtain this burst of courage and flame of bravery every second of every day to be capable of presenting ourselves to Christ. The miracle is repentance. Just as this courage enabled me to stand before this girl, repentance enables us to stand before our Savior. "Calleth on my name" is a simple yet crucial lesson of prayer. We cannot know Christ if we do not talk to the Father through Him. It is through His grace that we can talk to our Heavenly Father in the first place and we must use this divine gift of prayer to come to find Christ. "And obeyeth my voice and keepeth my commandments". As a small boy, my dad and I went to an Easter egg hunt. My dad gave me a pep talk and got me all fired up to go get more eggs than any other kid out there when the gun went off. But me being my timid and shy self...stayed put when the gun sounded. Looking around, nervous, uncomfortable, sad while watching all of the kids load their baskets with the candy I wanted, my basket stayed empty. The others came to find their eggs while I was left with none. What would have happened if I had listened to my father's voice? What would have happened if I had "kept the commandments" that my dad gave me? How often do we not listen to the Savior's voice? When we fail to listen to the Lord's voice...we fail to find Him just as I failed to find eggs. I promise you that your basket will not stay empty as mine did if you listen to Him. You will come to know Him.

Brothers and Sisters, I know He lives. 

He breathes even as I do...but He does it perfectly.

His heart beats just as mine does...but His heart is filled with more love and compassion than I nor anyone could ever offer.

His hands are of flesh and bone just as mine are...but His have prints.

The prints that He offers us to touch. The prints that will help us find a new life. The prints that have given me a new life.

He bled just as I have...but He did it from every pore with perfect humility, love, and succor to give us life.

Just as I wake up each morning...He woke up the 3rd day and overcame death...but He does and will not lay down again as I will...

Hallelujah that the Lord has risen and hallelujah that He will be forever.

Find Him this Easter. Come to know Him. Search for Him.

Love you all! :) <3

Elder Noll

March 14, 2016

Hey All! What's going on in the hood?! Things are legendary here! Quevedo is the bomb and always will be. Love it here! Everything is great. 

 

How are all of you? Getting fired up for General Conference? I sure know I am! It is going to be incredible! There are so many awesome things coming up! A member of the Quorum of the Twelve is coming to our mission on the 11 of June to visit us! So let's just say I am fired up for that one. I guess they are forbidden to tell us who it is going to be but we know he is one of the Brethren from the Quorum so we are all super excited and working hard to make him proud! 

 

This past week was a great one as usual. On Monday afternoon right before P-day came to an end we took the clothes over to the sister that helps us wash them. We passed a park and saw a small family that called our attention quite a bit. We decided to contact them. I am sure it was a little odd with us and our giant bag of dirty clothes that I am sure was giving off quite an unpleasant odor but the mother of the family ended up being a less active. She lives with her children and husband and is super interested in getting back into things and developing a stronger relationship with the Lord. Her husband is even excited to learn. So that was a really cool moment...the spirit's guidance never seems to amaze me.

 

We had a movie night and watched "Meet the Mormon's". That movie is inspired by God...not a doubt. We have an investigator who has a very strong Catholic background. She has a very closed and defensive personality as well. This movie changed her though. COMPLETELY. Especially the story of the female boxer. The light in her eyes after seeing this movie and coming to know who we really are and what are purpose really is as members of Christ's only church was amazing. 

 

We printed off a list from the ward of "Birthdays". There are about 1,300 members in our ward with 160ish attending church. So there is A TON of work to be done in the activating side of things. We have been going through the birthday list and visiting all of the less actives who have completed another year. It is so funny because they have NO CLUE how it is we found them, knew they were members, or somehow knew it was their birthday. They are left with their jaws open when we say that the spirit led and told us. Haha! But we have found some great families that way. So grateful for all of the tools and resources that the Lord has blessed us with.

 

I did take a little fall the other day...I was descending from a bamboo house that is lifted off of the ground probably 15 feet because of the floods when it rains...I came to one of the stairs and told myself that it looked sketchy. It was super flimsy and wiggly but I went for it anyways...mistake. My foot went right through that sucker and I went right through the stair case. I managed to save my scriptures though...not a scratch ;)

Ahhh...so much awesomeness!!! I think I will just get to the spiritual message or else I will go on forever!

I found myself thinking about the Priesthood a lot this past week. What it is, how it is, whose it is. how it works, and how we develop it. Doctrine and Covenants 121 explains it so well. "That the rights of the Priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven..." I love this because it teaches me so many different lessons. I will just share my two favorites! When I think of my mother and my sister I think of heaven. The beauty and love that I find in them is something that only heaven can hold. Women are naturally born "inseparably connected" with the heavens. But us men...Let's just say that we have some work to do! These "rights", these powers, our calling, our duty, and what has been conferred upon us by the laying on of hands helps us men become inseparably connected with the heavens because we were not born with the natural connection like woman are. The Priesthood helps us become like God. It helps us develop the attributes that will qualify us for His Kingdom. One of the other things that I love about this verse is that God literally has gifted us His heavenly power. The power and faith that was used when the words "Let there be light" (Moses 2:3) were spoken before the universe was is upon the earth today. When "the Lord God, formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life" (Moses 3:7) He was using the very power that was lost but has been found and restored through the Prophet, Joseph Smith. How blessed we are.

 

In American Football if a Wide Receiver drops a well delivered pass the confidence that his coach, quarterback, teammates, and fans have in him decreases. Each time a well delivered pass is dropped the chances of being passed to in the future diminish. What would be a dropped ball as a Priesthood holder? What would take the confidence of our coach or Quarterback (God) away to the point where they don't throw us the ball anymore (give us power)?? D&C 121:37 says, "but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, or vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion among the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the Priesthood or the authority of that man." Each time we drop the ball or commit "any degree of unrighteousness" as receivers or possessors of the Priesthood, our quarterback -  or God -  stops throwing us the ball or giving us power and authority. 

 

So finally...what is expected of us? "...only by persuasion, long suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and love unfeigned; By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile." (41-42). These are traits that we must develop to get the ball passed to us. 

 

My favorite Priesthood duty is in verse 45 though. "Let thy bowels also be full of charity..." Pardon me for the example but when my bowels are filled, especially with Ecuador, you best be bettin' that I am beating Usain Bolt to the nearest bathroom! And you are all the same! When your bowels are filled you drop WHATEVER it is you are doing to empty your bowels. Are our bowels filled with charity? Enough charity to make us run to the nearest location to let our charity out and love? It goes on to say "towards ALL MEN, and to the household of the faith". Priesthood brethren, let us be filled with charity and rush to all men, members or not, to release this love unto them. Young men. It is a commandment from God Almighty to fill yourself with this love and preach it to "ALL MEN", all countries, in all tongues, to every ear that will hear. SERVE YOUR MISSIONS AND PREPARE TO SERVE NOW. Fill yourselves with this love as well for the family of the faith. Your family, church leaders, and the general authorities. 

I promise God will never stop passing you the ball if you do so. 

Love you all so much! Be safe this week.

Elder Noll

March 7, 2016

Hey Family and Friends!! How are you all?? Hopefully super duper good! :) 
Special shout out to my little brother Alec! I want all to know how much I love this soon to be 12 year old stud. I have grown up wanting to become like a kid that is 8 years younger than me because it is what would make me become more like our Savior than just about anything else. My little brother is one of the most submissive, meek, humble, and loving people that I know. Not to mention the most beautiful in the Noll crew...have you seen his hair?? A special congrats to him as well for coming to have the years to become a Deacon and receive God's gift to mankind, the Priesthood. I love you bud. You keep me going through the tough days! I could not be more grateful to be an older brother to a Nephi like you...you better be keeping Laman and Lemuel in line!! ;)

This week was a great one! As usual! I don't have tons of time so I will just share maybe my two most favorite experiences of the week!

One night, lesson by lesson fell through. We had made a goal to find 4 new investigators but had found 0 at this point in the day with only an hour left to work. We had changes last week and I am fairly new in the new sector so I don't know it that well...and it is HUGE. But we prayed to the Lord in the middle of that dirt road to help us find the 4. When we asked Him to give us the four we waited...about five seconds of silence passed and an image popped into my mind of a member family we had said hi to on of my first days. And of course it was the farthest away from where we were, but we got on our horses and headed there without looking back! We got there and treated this encounter as if it were life or death! Haha! We said..."Hermanos! We said a prayer and God Himself told us to come find you!" They got all wide eyed and insisted that we come into their house. We explained to them that we were looking for four people that have been waiting to hear of the plan that was created for them in the Heavens and invited the father of the home to say a prayer to find out who these four were. The prayer that he gave was simple but so beautiful. When he finished we waited in silence again. Then the brother spoke..."You know what? There is someone just down the street. His boys are members but they are inactive. He could really use some help. And in front of them is a family of 3. A father, mother, and child. You could visit them." We were so happy! We went strait to these homes and met these AMAZING people. We have visits scheduled with them for later on in the week! Revelation is incredible and prayer is direct communication with God the Father. I testify of that!!

The other happened yesterday. There is a less active teenager who we are working really hard with. He is super addicted to electronics. His parents and Grandma can't get him off of his computer or phone. His family is super worried about him and so are we. We visited him yesterday and asked if we could share a scripture and sing a hymn. He rejected and continued playing his video game. Then a thought came to my mind..."Sundays at 5: Family History"...I remembered that the stake worked in the Family History department every Sunday at 5. I was cunning...haha..."So (name)...you like computers, right? Do you like fast computers or slow computers? Obviously fast right? Do you like video games? Do you wanna play a game that only members of the church know how to play?? " He looked up with a grin and asked..."What kind of game are you talking about??" I told him he had to find out for himself. And he came with us to the church! It was the first time he had stepped foot in the church for years! We paired him up with a Family History Instructor and while they went to work we had a few meetings with different Presidencies. After the meetings we asked him if he wanted us to walk him home. He told us no. He wanted to keep kicking it with his friends and working on his family history. Right before we left he yelled, "Elders! Family Home Evening! My house! Wednesday at 7!' Haha! Such an amazing experience! He completely changed. It was unreal how drastic the change was and how instant the spirit of Family History was able to lighten him and touch him. How blessed we are to have such an incredible access to helping our loved ones on the other side of the veil...which brings me to the spiritual message of the week!! :)

I started to form questions in my mind this past week that really started to worry me. I was having trouble sleeping. I spent the majority of nights on my knees asking the Lord questions. Ever since I was a little child I remember my Grandfather, who passed away not too long ago, denying our faith as a family and as members of Christ's church. He spent YEARS investigating...but did not receive it. Doctrine and Covenants 137 explains that "all that have died without a knowledge of this gospel, who would have received it if they had been permitted to tarry, shall be heirs of the celestial kingdom of God." What happens to my Grandpa after having had the opportunity to receive it but didn't? Will his happiness be complete? Will he be forgiven for having denied the truth? Do we or does he have any hope after being "permitted to tarry" in the gospel but refused? What is he now? What will he become? I was led to 1 Corinthians 15:17. "And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins." I know that Christ did indeed raise himself. He is risen today...and forever will be. Because of this my faith and the faith of all...living and dead...is not vain. Because of the resurrection of Christ my Grandpa does not have to be "yet in his sins". Then the Lord got after me a little bit in verse 19. "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable." In Spanish it hit a little harder...I became "the most worthy of pity". There is hope in Christ in all times, in all things, and in all places...on BOTH sides of the veil. As I read of the "seeds" or souls not baptized, my love for temple work grew so strong. If it were  not for the house of the Lord my Grandpa would be "sown in corruption" (1 Cor. 15:42). If it were not for the restoring of keys given through Moses, Elias, and Elijah themselves 180 years ago, he would be "dishonored and weak" (1 Cor. 15:43). If it were not for a 14 year old boy in the spring of 1820 who saw the brightness and glory of God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, my Grandfather would be "sown a natural body" (1 Cor. 15:44). Which would then disqualify him of the Kingdom of God knowing that "flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God" (1 Cor. 15:50).

 

But the Lord's house is here upon the earth. Moses, Elias, and Elijah did indeed restore these keys to a Prophet in this dispensation. Joseph Smith did complete the prophesy in the 33rd chapter of Job, "He shall pray unto God and he will be favorable unto Him: and he shall see His face with joy; and he will render unto man his righteousness." And because of this my Grandfather along with so many other will be "raised in in-corruption", "raised in glory", "raised in power", and "raised a spiritual body". I know it and I rejoice in it! 

 

This came to life even more when I saw a sick, suffering, weak dog giving birth to 5 little beautiful puppies right outside of our house the other day. I felt so bad as I saw this dog suffer. It had already given birth to 4 living and breathing puppies. When it gave all it had left to give birth to the 5th I was so saddened when it came out dead. I then made a connection...this suffering, pained, and weakened dog is like our Savior when He performed His infinite Atonement. We are His puppies. Like the dog suffered to give birth to her living puppies, the Savior suffered so that He could succor and love the living. But the dog suffered equally to give birth to something that did not live. The Savior suffered equally for the dead. I testify that the Atonement functions on both sides of the veil and that temple work and Family History is real and is perfect. 

Love you all!

Elder Noll