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

February 22, 2016

Hey Fam Bam and Friends! 

 

I love you all...tons! You all are the bomb! Seriously...

 

This week was a great one! We had Stake Conference which was great. The Conferences are always incredible opportunities to get people to church and have spiritual experiences! It was crazy to reflect for a quick moment because I was in the same Stake Conference exactly a year ago! I ran into a lot of people I knew from El Empalme which was soo awesome! It was so good to see them all so happy and so blessed! There is no greater joy. President Riggins talked as well as the Temple President...there is no doubt in my mind that the investigators that attended the Conference were hit with something that they have never felt in there lives. We are super pumped to follow up with everyone to see how they liked the Conference.

 

Shout out to my BEAUTIFUL sister! First real dance! It made me think quite a bit...I feel like it was yesterday that I was capturing spiders in plastic bags and putting them under her pillow, asking her if it was okay to wear a certain pair of pants with a certain shirt, or being forced to walk around the block holding hands because we would not stop fighting! haha! You best believe that nobody is going to have to force us into holding hands from here on out! Love you mac! I wish I would have had a date like you in High School!

 

Last Monday was really fun...we got together as a zone and ate lunch...then I taught all of the Latinos how to play football...real football! It was such a good time. I think I got more out of watching these dudes that had never even touched a football, let alone thrown one, than I would watching the Minnesota Vikings in the Super Bowl! Man have I grown to develop such a powerful love for every living creature south of the border or Mexico! 

 

We had a neat visit with one of the recent converts in the ward. He has been taking a lot of heat from his companions from his work. They make a lot of fun of him because he walks to church each week with his white shirt and tie and hold his wife's and daughter's hands...how cool it was to hear him say..."I don't even care though. I am not going to hearken to those who laugh and point their finger at me for taking the fruit most delicious and precious above all others. God has a whole lot more in store for me than they ever would." So that was a proud missionary moment. I wanted to beat my chest and get up with him as if we just had taken the pigskin for 6!

 

We had a Multi-Zone Conference with a Doctor from Australia which was awesome. He is the area Doctor and taught us a lot about the importance of the health of the mind. It was cool how he related health in such a spiritual way. The way back was an adventure...we got pulled over and had to exit the bus. They made us all put our hands up for quite a while...I started to break a sweat (as if I wasn't already sweating ;)) and then put our hands on the bus...they came by one by one and patted us down thoroughly. So that was great. But we all made it back on the bus safe and sound...well almost all of us...all of the Missionaries: Yes.

 

This week was a week of references. One of the members told us that their neighbor was having a lot of troubles. Their little boy had been killed. We figured that there is no greater message for such a tragedy that the message of the only true and restored gospel on the earth today. Never have I met such an open and willing family. Despite the felt despair and hopeless sadness...they willingly accepted us and we are excited to help them find out where their little boy is and how they can find him.

 

So many incredible things happened...not enough time! AHHHHHHHH! I will just have to skip to the spiritual message!

I know without a shadow of a doubt that there is a living Prophet today. How important is the Prophet in  your life? What is it that the Prophets you have heard throughout your life have done for you? What is it that the Prophet has that nobody else has? All throughout the scriptures we find "the GIFT of the Holy Ghost"...and on rare occasions we read "the anointing of the Holy Ghost". In Lucas 4 and Isaiah 61 it explains that this Prophet "had the spirit of the Lord upon him, because he hath anointed him..." In Acts 10:38 it also explains "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power..." In Doctrine and Covenants 132:7 it explains in depth the meaning of this anointing and who it is that receives it. "...and I have appointed unto my servant Joseph to hold this power in the last days, and there is never but one on the earth at a time on whom this power and the keys of the Priesthood are conferred..." There is only ONE person on the face of the earth today that has been anointed with the Holy Ghost...and his name is Thomas S. Monson. He has all keys and all authority. If we return to the question that I made at the beginning of the importance of the Prophet in your life this verse really brings things to life. "All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations, that are not made and entered into and sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise, OF HIM WHO IS ANOINTED..."

PAUSE!

That just about covers every single thing we do as members of the only true church over the face of the earth. All baptism, conferring, ordinations, temple promises, sealings, callings, repentance, etc. What is it that would happen to all of these sacred blessings without "him who is anointed"...without a Prophet? 

"...are of no efficacy, virtue, or force in and after the resurrection from the dead..." How eternally grateful I am for a living Prophet today...who is anointed to make our covenants eternal and bind "whatsoever that shall be bound on earth in Heaven" (Matthew 16:19). Had it not been for Gordon B. Hinckley the sealing of my family would be of no efficacy. Had it not been for Gordon B. Hinckley as well, my Baptism and my confirmation would be of no virtue. If it were not for Thomas S. Monson the Priesthood that my loving Heavenly Father has trusted me with and the sacred temple covenants that God's mercy permitted me to make would have no force. There is nobody else that has been anointed with this sealing power save it be the living Prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I know that Joseph Smith was entrusted with this anointing and was called of God as well. He did indeed see the Son of God and God Himself in the spring of 1820. He did restore the same church to the earth that was edified by the Savior Himself and destroyed by man. 

If you truly loved your family and really had a desire to live with them forever you would believe in the Prophet...you would follow him...because he is the only one that can give you what you want...He does truly "know the way". There is no way without him. If you are looking for spiritual or physical relief...if you feel lost or heavy laden...if you are looking for true happiness...as an individual and/or for your family...you would dedicate your every breath to looking and searching for this Prophet...the ONLY anointed one by God...Thomas S. Monson. Because with him we "won`t go astray".

This I promise!

Love you all to the moon and back!

Talk soon!

Be safe.

Be careful.

Have fun.

Have lots of fun.

You guys are the best.

Really.

Hopefully you believe me.

Because it is true.

Okay.

I am going now.

Seriously.

For reals now.

Elder Noll

February 15, 2016

Hello world! It has been a while! It has been a crazy past couple of weeks! Two weeks ago Elder Ashman and I headed off to Guayaquil and had hardly any time to write and a week ago I had transfers which left me with no time either. I am so good though. I’m sad I am not with Elder Ashman still... but I know the Lord has other plans for us to help bring to pass His work and His glory. I don’t have tons of time so I better get on my horse with this email!

I am back in Quevedo! It has been a while. Just about a year actually. I am in the same Zone as I was a year ago when I was in El Empalme and will actually get to head over there every once in a while to work which will be really neat. Quevedo is an awesome city. The ward is super neat so far. It is not as close to the mountains as La Troncal is... so it is a whole lot hotter. Haha! I am with an Elder from Peru. He is a stud. We met each other in Ventanas over a year ago so we are super pumped to work together.

There are some incredible families here. My highlight of the week was probably when I met a guy named Hyrum. He is the biggest stud ever! He loves soccer, the church, and never seems to stop smiling. He has Down Syndrome so that might be why I love him so much! He is just the happiest guy and puts the biggest smile on my face and the Lord puts so much love in my heart through this light to the world. He really made me miss my Uncle Charlie... so, special shout-out to you, Chuck! Miss you so much! It is so amazing how the Lord puts special people in the special path that He has carefully constructed for each and every one of us in order to feel loved and succored.

We met a guy named John Baptist. He was quite the character, as I am sure you can imagine.

We taught a couple that is so in love... haha... it was so funny. The Hermana is a less active and the Hermano is an investigator. We shared 4th Nephi with them and talked of Eternal Marriage and the Hermano just started to blush. He stood up and said “We are getting married this month and you will baptize me on the 15 of March!” So that was a little unexpected! But a miracle to say the least. I love how the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the most miraculous thing that the universe has to offer. The most incredible, inspiring, and life changing of all. Something that I realized as well is that it is the most romantic of all. How lucky we are to have capacity to live together with someone we love for time and all eternity. Pretty Nicholas Sparksish I would say! ;)

Those are a few of the cool things that happened this week... A FEW! SO many miracles and amazing signs of the Lord’s hand have manifested themselves in this work this past week that a million words could not describe!

In the gospel of Matthew, our Savior is referred to by different titles. Jesus, Son of Man, Son of God, Son of David, Master, Lord, King of the Jews, etc. He even asks His apostles who men say that He is in the 13th verse of the 16th chapter. After hearing the responses of “John the Baptist, Elias, Jeramias, or one of the prophets” I would assume that the Lord has a bit of a “you’re kidding” kinda feeling. After all that the people had seen Him do, after all the sick He had healed, and after all that He had taught NOBODY knew who He was. He fed 5,000 with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fishes and another 4,000 with 7 loaves and a few fish just DAYS prior... what would it take for these people to know who He was? Then the Savior asks the question to his very own apostles... “But whom say ye that I am?”

Perhaps the Lord wants us to answer that very question ourselves. For you... who is He? What is His name? When you think of Jesus what is the first thought that enters your mind? What is the first memory that enters your mind? What is the first feeling that enters your heart? I LOVE Peter’s response, “Thou are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” How was Peter able to come to know this without ever hearing the Lord being called such things? How was he able to call Jesus “the Christ, the Son of the living God” without ever hearing it before? The Savior’s response teaches us a marvelous lesson: “Blessed are thou, for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in Heaven.” Has flesh and blood revealed Jesus unto us? Do we rely on the testimony of others and how they see the Savior or are we “blessed because flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto us, but our Father which is in Heaven?”

Who is Jesus Christ in your life? When did He become what He is in your life? How? What makes you call Him what you do? Perhaps there are many of us who need to have it “revealed” unto us as it was to Peter if we have not had a personal manifestation from the Father Himself. How can we receive this personal testimony?

The Lord speaks in such a unique way to each and every one of us. How it will come, where, when, or what I cannot say... but I did ask myself the question... How can I receive revelation? And then 2 Nephi 30 came to mind!
“Wherefore, the things of all nations shall be made known; yea, all things shall be made known unto the children of men.

There is nothing which is secret save it shall be revealed; there is no work of darkness save it shall be made manifest in the light; and there is nothing which is sealed upon the earth save it shall be loosed.”

What is it they will do to have “all things made known unto them?”

Verse 1: “...except ye shall keep the commandments...” Obedience is required. Exact obedience. It is the spirit that speaks and it is obedience that permits us to have the spirit.

Verse 2: “...the Lord covenanteth with none save it be with them that repent...” Repentance OPENS our hearts...not only will it allow the message to be brought by the spirit...but the spirit will be able to enter our hearts and teach us who exactly is this Christ. “...and believe in His son, who is the Holy One of Israel.” We  must want to believe to come to know our Savior personally.

Verse 3: “...there shall be many which shall believe the words which are written...” To receive personal revelation we must read the scriptures and fall in love with them. We must believe in them and hearken unto them and their teachings and then “...carry them forth...” (share what we learn).

Verse 5: “...they shall be restored to the knowledge of their fathers, and also to the knowledge of Jesus Christ...” One way to receive revelation is through Temple work. As we help others on the other side of the veil come unto Christ we will find ourselves also coming unto Him in a more individual and personal way. With a deeper and more meaningful relationship.

Verse 6: “And then they shall rejoice; for they shall know that it is a blessing unto them from the hand of God.” To come to know that Jesus is the Christ we must realize the tender mercies from God in our daily lives. As we see and recognize His hand we will find ourselves more familiar with Him and come to develop a personal testimony of who He truly is.

So ask yourself the question... “What do I think of Christ?”...and then search for the revelation. Don’t simply come to know that Jesus is the Christ. Develop the firm conviction that Jesus is YOUR Christ. Let the Father reveal it unto you. Ask. Listen.

I know that Jesus is my Christ. I know that He is my Redeemer. He lives as I do, and loves more than I or anyone else can.

Have an amazing week!

Elder Noll

January 25, 2016

Hey All! I think my number 1, Elder Nadauld, could not have said it any better.
“How is everyone doing? I say it every week, but I can't
thank you enough for everything. In my extensive 19 year old
vocabulary… You guys are the sickest! I love you all and I'm super
grateful for you!”

Sorry Nicklaus...I had to steel those lines from you! Haha! I really do hope everyone is doing so so good and that you can all forgive my vocabulary as well when I say that you guys are the bomb!

Love you tons!

This week was...do you think you can guess? ;) Of course it was LEGENDARY! I guess that’s what you get when you wake up with an Elder you grew up with, you are serving the Lord, you are in the best country in the world, and the Lord never ceases to extend His merciful love towards you and those you come in contact with each and every day.

The past week has been BUSY. We have been running around a million miles an hour since the last time we wrote! However, this week seemed to have come and gone in the blink of an eye. Some great things happened...and like Elder Nadauld also said in his letter...some pretty devastating things happened as well. But the good always overcomes the bad. The opposition of this life is the most real thing EVER...but when the blessings of the Lord comes it just makes you realize that the tough times were just as much blessings as the peaceful times...because without the down we would not know the ups!

On Monday night we were having a hard time finding people to teach. We seemed to be walking around without a cause. I guess I took a step back in my Free Safety days and I started to observe everything that was going on. The world kind of stood still just like the field did...out of my peripheral vision I saw a house kind of far away with a light on. When I looked a little closer I could see a family...quite a large one! So Elder Ashman and I went on offense and committed ourselves to the ready! What a great family it was that we found. A family of 10 is always a good find! Especially a family like the one we found! They are Catholic but as soon as we shared a message of the Book of Mormon they seemed to really feel of the spirit and of God’s love to mankind for giving us another testament of the Savior, Jesus Christ. We gave them two copies and they committed themselves to reading it! We are really excited to see where things go with this family! They even hooked us up with some birthday cake because the Grandma had completed another year!

It was super funny...the phrase “ask and ye shall receive” really came into play this past week. Elder Ashman said...”you know what? I think I am going to buy some eggs this week. That sounds really good.”  Later that day we saw a woman carrying a big bag of corn and we decided to help her out. So we helped her carry her big ol’ bag of corn back to her house and she ended up gifting us 10 eggs! Later on Elder Ashman says, “I am kinda feeling like some bread right now”...so we decided we would go grab some bread after the lesson we were going into...but low and behold...when we finished the lesson the Hermano gave us some bread! Then right before we found the big family of 10, Elder Ashman said, “If someone invited us into their house right now and gave us something to eat...I would not even be mad.” Haha! And BOOM...Birthday cake! Too funny! I think my companion is magic!

On Wednesday we had a worldwide missionary conference. It was kind of wow moment for me. These servants are called of God...so many answers and ways for me to become a better missionary were given to me. It was such a neat experience to listen to the brethren and the revelation that they are receiving for the missionary work around the world.

We had a really cool lesson with a deaf Hermana that really impacted me deeply. I realized that the spirit does not need words to speak...but gentleness, true intention of heart, and love...truth. We wrote a question on a napkin and gave it to her. “What is your greatest fear?” She replied, “Being alone. I cannot stand the thought of not being with my boys. I lived in the United States alone for years without my children...and I never want to be separated form them again. I never want to be alone.” What a great experience it was to write the simple words...

“Thanks to the gospel of Jesus Christ, you don’t have to be alone. Thanks to Jesus Christ and HIS gospel that He restored through the Prophet, Joseph Smith, you don’t have to be alone. You don’t have to be separated from your boys.” It was a very spiritual moment for everyone. I am not sure if Elder Ashman knows it...but my eyes were sweaty for sure! ;)

Hmmm...One more AWESOME experience. So in early November we left a goal with an Hermano so stop drinking by the first of December. It would have given him about a month to stop drinking and prepare for baptism. He agreed...but my companion and I in that time never went back for some reason. The first of December passed and Elder Ashman and I did not go back to visit him either. I am not sure what it was but every time planning session rolled around at night we just did not feel like we belonged in the house of that family. However, the other day planning session rolled around and their name popped into my head...so we threw them in the agenda! They live quite a ways away and when we got there they were not there :/ We were pretty disappointed. We had come from far and felt prompted by the spirit to go there and we had failed. But right before our eyes we saw them. The hermano was holding his wife (member) by the arm and were walking very slow and carefully to the house. The wife did not look so good either. Come to find out the wife had been really sick. We had NO idea. They had been in the Hospital all of that week and the EXACT DAY we decided to go there...and the EXACT hour...she was released from hospital and they made it home...and there ran into us. We had a short talk with them and the husband told us that in the hospital he received his answer. He decided that he needed to be baptized. Talk about the right place at the right time!

I continue to be changed each and every day. I continue to be more blessed than I deserve. I continue to pray for each and every one of you every day. The Lord lives. I know it!

I am excited to see what this week has to offer! Now on to the spiritual message...

I absolutely love Christ’s invitation to the Nephite mothers and fathers, “Behold your little ones” (3 Nephi 17:23). How do you behold your children? What is it you see in your little ones? What role do your kids play in your life? Who would you be today without your children? How these Nephites behold their children teaches us such a marvelous lesson. In the following verse it says, “and as they looked to behold they cast their eyes towards heaven...”. Do you see your children as Heavenly gifts? As the Nephites look to behold their little ones the first place they look is to the Heaven. These verses teach us who and what children truly are and what parents should see them as...as Heavenly sent angels. When I came across this principle I was caused to go back in the Book of Mormon to find out how it is that the Nephites saw their children this way. How can you come to see your children this way? What do you need to do as a parent or future parent to behold your children by first looking to the heaven? What is needed by a parent to have a child from heaven? All throughout the Book of Mormon we see incredible examples of how the Nephites came to see their children as heavenly gifts and blessings. You could spend a lifetime finding teachings but I would like to look at a couple of the ones that I found though there are countless. At the very beginning of the Book of Mormon, in 1 Nephi 1:2, Nephi “makes a record in the language of his father...” Knowing the language of Lehi and his many revelations and testimonies I would assume that the language of Lehi was quite influential. How is your language? How do you speak to your little ones? In the 3rd chapter in the 1st verse of 1 Nephi, Nephi “returned from speaking to with the Lord, to the tent of his father.” Are your heavenly angels speaking with the Lord? Do your children converse with you often concerning the tender mercies that the Lord has shown unto them? Do you talk to them concerning the tender mercies that the Lord has blessed you with in your life? ``And it came to pass that after we had come down into the wilderness unto our father, behold, he was filled with joy, and also my mother, Sariah, was exceedingly glad...” (1 Nephi 5:1). Do you rejoice in the presence of your children? Do you make your happiness from their presence known unto them? “And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.” (2 Nephi 25:26) Do your children know of Christ? Do they trust in the remission of sins through Him? Is your home a Christ centered home? Do you read the “prophecies and preachings” of Christ daily with your little ones? “...and the words which I had often heard my father speak concerning eternal life, and the joy of the saints, suck deep into my heart.” (Enos 1:3) Do you speak of eternity often with your children? Do you often express the joy you feel for the chance you have to live with your little ones for forever? Do you speak often concerning the joy that comes from being a “saint” and what life would be without being one? “And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone from the sins of the world.” (Alma 36:17) When these Heavenly gifts of yours are “racked with torment” are they reminded of your testimony of the Savior, Jesus Christ? Do you share your testimony often with your children? Do they see you share your testimony with “the people?” “They had beed taught by their mothers they if they did not doubt God would deliver them.” (Helaman 56:47) Do you instill in the minds of your little ones the delivering power of God if they “doubt not”? Do your words remind your children to not doubt in a world where doubt is all there is?

The list could go on forever. I invite all parents and future parents...which basically sums up every living creature...to look in the Book of Mormon to find what it was the Nephites did, or did NOT do, to make their children into angels...to behold them in the heavens.

I want to publicly thank my incredible Nephite-like parents. I hope one day to be half the parent that they are. I hope one day to behold my own child...a perfect child of my own, directly sent from the presence of God, by casting my eyes to heaven from where they came and to remember what they are. I hope to become a Nephite parent through the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ...also known as...

The Book of Mormon: Readers Guide and Instruction Manual on “How to be a dad” Haha!

Love you mom and dad! And love you all!

Elder Noll

January 18, 2016

This week was another unforgettable one!

It started out with such a neat lesson on Monday night! The circumstances were kinda funny... so it was super dark... he lives down by a river and away from everything... and the mosquitoes were on the search for food... and for some reason I was the only option on the menu! Haha! Not a single other person got one bite but I came out of that lesson looking like I had chicken pocks! They were getting a pretty good laugh at the fact that I couldn’t stop scratching myself. But the lesson itself was SO cool... kinda funny too. The first words he told us were “You know? To be completely honest... I hated you guys before. Like what on earth are two white guys doing in my country?”

Elder Ashman and I were a little unsure about how to take that. I was speechless. But then he opened his mouth again, “But you guys are pretty great! I look so forward to our visits and I love the church! I love the Mormon’s! This whole “Book of Mormon” and “Joseph Smith” thing is really starting to warm up to me.” So we are super happy and grateful to be able to keep working with him. Isn’t it incredible the difference this gospel makes in our every day lives? How is it possible that an old man can go from a hatred of two young men and a message to a profound love for two messengers and a 14-year-old boy who saw God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ? How is it that an old man can go from denying the Book of Mormon to reading it each and every day and striving to learn and live by its precepts? Only God can perform such miracles. Only God has such power... that I am sure of.

We ran into an Evangelist the other week and were blessed with the chance to talk to him for a bit. After teaching the Restoration, we gave him a Book of Mormon and set up another appointment for later on in the week. When we came back to the appointment we asked him if he had his Book of Mormon and he said “OF COURSE! I carry my Bibles around with me everywhere I go! I am even sharing with some of the guys at work what I have learned from this Mormon Book!” We were so excited! He had read so so much and was ready with tons of questions and the Lord’s spirit was more than ready with answers. I am not just converted by the Book of Mormon’s power... but forever convinced that there is no other Book that will change the life of an individual like it can.

In Ecuador there are guys all around on bikes that have little carriages connected at the front to take people to and from destinations... it is probably the most popular job here... that or working in the banana field... but Elder Ashman and I decided to take one the other day. The guy was so awesome. He was like 70 years old and pushing us around like it was nothing. Such a champ. So we got a solid photo of our homie, Manuel and us.

We gave a CTR ring to an investigator and he just about lost it. It was so funny but so touching. He asked what it meant and when we told him he nearly fell out of his seat. The best was when he said “never in all of my 70 years and almost 7 months of life, in the Caste llano (Spanish) language, have I heard such words that make me tremble quite like CHOOSE THE RIGHT. Beautiful!” He is such a stud. It really made me think... Do I rejoice in the words “Choose the Right”? Do I rejoice in actually choosing the right? What are the things that make me tremble because of beauty? Is it something or the world? Or is it of God? I decided then and there to only rejoice in the things of God and even more so... REJOICE in choosing the right. Even TREMBLE with joy because of righteousness.

Another awesome experience began about 3 months ago when we started talking to a random woman outside of her house. She told us that her daughter was a member, but is not going to church. We were blessed with the chance to visit her and help her to return to the church. She is a faithful member now and had an interview with the Branch President that she was super nervous for. After the interview she called us and said she needed our help with preparing a class for Sunday. When we got there she handed us a booklet and, super content, told us that she was called as the new Sunday School teacher... then she handed us a stack of other papers... TO APPLY TO BE A MISSIONARY! She is going on a mission in July or August! We were and still are over the moon happy! What would have happened if we would not have talked to that woman that day or been brought by the spirit to her? We would not have met this member who had not been going to church. What would have happened if the spirit had not helped us find this girl? She would not be going on a mission! Super interesting how the Lord works... how is plan is set up... and how the Holy Ghost leads us to those in need. Definitely a tender mercy from our Savior.

So the fans in our house are super old to the point where they don’t even have the protectors on the front... I guess you could say that those suckers give us fear. I just know any day now the propellers are going to come loose and take off one of our heads! But because it is so hot we usually sleep with our heads at the bottom of the bed where the death fans are so they cool us down a little instead of having the fan at our feet. It is just a little scary with the propellers going a million miles an hour without the front cage that keeps the propellers in. Anyways... I woke up in the middle of the night with a throbbing pain in my finger... I didn’t think much of it but when I went to the bathroom there was blood oozing down my hand and all over my clothes... so I went back to the room and there was blood on my sheets... after I washed the wound off with water (which is pretty much just making it dirtier in Ecuador) there was a big old clean cut from the fan on my finger. Haha! We got a good laugh out of that one. So I have always contemplated the question: Does the Indian sleep with his feet of his head to the fire? Well... Does the missionary sleep with his head or feet to the fan? ;) What would you choose? I think I will go back to the feet to the fan... and maybe just sleep with my shoes on!

I was taken back by a lesson and principle of this perfect gospel that permitted me to “endure to the end” of this past week. It does not only apply to that of Missionary Work... but to the entire world! If we analyze the 26th chapter of Alma we find a few of the trials and emotions they experienced as they preach the gospel to their brethren. Many of the things that occur to them we feel as missionaries... and many of the obstacles and afflictions they experience we face as children of God as we strive to be more like Him.

(Alma 26:27) “And now when our hearts were depressed... ” What is it you feel in your darkest moments? A depressed heart seems like a lonely heart... weak, saddened, and shattered. How many of you have felt this? How many are feeling this? I do know there is at least another that has felt your depressed heart. The sorrow and heaviness we have in our heart is only a fraction of the depressed heart of the Savior when His “soul began to be exceedingly sorrowful, even until death... ” (Matthew 26:38).

Later in the 27th verse of the 26th chapter of Alma, the Lord counsels these sons to “bare with patience their afflictions.” How is it possible that we can possibly be expected to have patience through something that, in the moment, we don’t even think we can overcome? Why is it that when you are so weak and so vulnerable you are expected to have patience? How can we have patience when “nobody understands us”? Think of your darkest moment... think of the most despair that you have ever felt in your entire life... maybe it is happening now... can you imagine experiencing that all over again? Or starting over only to feel the exact despair all over again. How would it be to suffer what you can hardly bear twice?... three times...?

 “And He left them, and went away AGAIN, and prayed the THIRD time, saying the same words... ” (Matthew 26:44). Not only did the Savior feel His heart ripping from His chest once... but he felt it twice... then again. Not only did He fall on His face from an overwhelming and excruciating pain that would save you once... but twice... and then again. Do you think that took patience? Back in Alma we learn, “…and we have been casted out... .” Do you feel neglected? Forgotten? Alone? Rejected? “And He is despised and rejected of men... ” (Mosiah 14:3). So did Christ. What about when the sons of Mosiah say “...and mocked... ”? Do you feel unimportant? Made fun of? Insecure? Unappreciated? “And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe from Him, and put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him” (Mark 15:20). So did He who was crucified for you. Remember when these sons said “... and spit upon, and smote upon our cheeks... ”? Do you feel offended by the spit that the world tosses? Have you ever been smitten to the heart and asked yourself, “why me”? “And they smote Him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon Him... ” (Mark 15:19). The Son of God felt that. “... and we have been stoned, and taken and bound with strong cords and cast into prison... ” Have you been physically wounded? Are you overcoming physical pain? Do you tremble and cry because of the constant pain? Are you weak? Weary? Do you feel trapped? Taken advantage of? Used? Do you feel as if your thoughts and feelings have been bound inside? “And they laid their hands on Him and took Him” (Mark 14:46). Your Brother was taken by hands and taken advantage of. Your Savior was stoned. Your Redeemer was bound by nails. Do you think He knows? Do you think He has felt it before?

“And behold I say unto you, has there been so great love in all the land?” (Alma 26:33)

Brothers and Sisters, there is no greater love than that of a Father who sent His only Begotten Son for us. There is no greater love than that of a God who came so that he could succor us with all perfection and love. I know that He knows you. I know that He understands you. There is no wound that cannot be healed. There is nothing that can’t be mended. There is nothing that we cannot overcome, dominate, or triumph.

The Savior overcame all affliction, dominated all doubt, and triumphed every trial, tribulation, and pain. The Glorified Redeemer of the world has already won your battles...

Look to Him who knows. Search for Him who won your battles for you. Trust in Him. Find this Brother to find out how He won your battles. Ask our Heavenly Father to help you overcome your moments of despair just like Jesus Christ overcame that same moment... your moment. Take comfort in knowing what He became after having overcome your trials because that is your future.

I testify that the Son of God knows you. I know He knows me. I have asked God the Father to help me overcome my crosses in the exact way that the Lord overcame it during that very day that changed our lives. He gave us life because of the sacrifice that was made; and the answers have been so perfect, exact, and pure. And so will yours.

Missionary or not, He knows. He feels. He understands. That makes two of you. A bond that nobody else will ever share nor understand. Rejoice in that bond until it takes you to His everlasting and loving arms and presence.

Elder Noll