It's as Easy as a Clipboard!

Hey y'all!! 

This week was amazing! We were able to seal the deal with Jayda and she passed her baptismal interview so we are going to have another one this Saturday!! We are way excited for her to make such a sacred covenant with God!! 

This weekend we had the opportunity to head over to Cedar Rapids Iowa and spend the day serving and trying to fix all that the storm has done. It is still absolutely destroyed there. The derecho really came in and laid down the law!! We were able to cut down massive trees that had fallen on homes and electricity lines and just all over the place. Many many homes have been destroyed not just by trees but by the sheer winds. 

We saw houses literally torn in half because of it! It was insane. But I learned something that has stuck with me while we were serving. Towards the end of the day we started going from door to door with sheets of papers asking people what kinds of help they needed so we could assemble crews for the next day to go out and help. My companion Elder Timothy and I were using a paper plate as the back to the piece of paper we were writing on. After we talked with one house that accepted our offer to help, we left. As we were walking to the next house the man in the precious house, Mick, called out to us. He had a clipboard in his hand and gave it to us. He said "You guys are doing amazing things for us. I'm in no place to help out much but here's a clipboard to help you guys". It touched my heart so strongly. I immediately began reversing the roles. How many times am I in Mick's position? Receiving help when I am broken or in desperate need of it. But then I realized, I often times do not act like Mick. I accept the help but don't give my all even still. I feel as if I deserve to be helped. I sit back and accept the aid. But how much better I could be if I always looked to give and serve. No matter my circumstances. Mick taught me more about myself and my Savior than I think he will ever know. I hope to work and become better to be like Mick. It really can be as small and simple as a clipboard! We must lift where we stand. Whether it's lifting a lot or a little. We must lift! This world needs lifting. Let's lift like Mick!!

Love y'all

Elder Hixon 

Feasting on the Love of God

 Hey y'all!

Well, this week was crazy. Monday-Thursday we didn't have power at all because of the 

Derecho that came in and WRECKED the Midwest. There were over 100,000 homes in just the 4 cities we are in charge of that were powerless. Ours was one of them of course. This storm absolutely ripped through everything. I've never seen so many uprooted trees. And these trees were HUGE! Houses were crushed and damaged. Electricity lines were damaged as well from tree fall. There were giant silos that were ripped out from place and were absolutely bent and deformed because of the violent 80-100 mph winds that tore through here. It was a beach-less hurricane! It was awesome. We played outside in it. Tried to enjoy it.

But that's enough of that. This week I really was able to learn from the example of the Stripling warriors in Come Follow Me. Yes we all know the miracles that followed them. None of them died in battle and they fought valiantly and won many battles even though they were just youth. If we look in Alma 57:27 we learn why. It says
"Now this was the faith of these of whom I have spoken; they are young, and their minds are firm, and they do put their trust in God continually."

So there are 3 things they did. They had faith, they had firm minds, and they put their trust in God continually. 2 weeks ago I wrote heavily about the 1st point, faith without works is dead but works without faith is also dead! I want to talk about the importance of having firm minds.

In Jacob 3:2 we get a better insight on what we can do if we have a firm mind. It reads,

"O all ye that are pure in heart, lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love; for ye may, if your minds are firm, forever"

I think often times when we hear the word feast we automatically think about feasting on the words of Christ. But here it talks about feasting on the love of God. His love is Jesus Christ and repentance! So the only way to really feast upon, or take great advantage of, repentance or Jesus Christ is to have a firm mind on God. I think this is huge. President Nelson promises us that as saints we can feel joy regardless of our circumstances if the focus of our lives is on the Plan of Salvation and Jesus Christ. I believe that is because this firmness of mind fruits a feast of God's love. And repentance is a joyous process. I love how simple it is! If you don't know the Plan of Salvation, learn it! Focus on it! If you don't know Jesus Christ, learn about Him and focus on Him! It is the key to joy in this life.

Love y'all. Stay FIRM!

Elder Hixon 

Be Laborers!

I don't have a whole lot of time this week. So I only want to share my new favorite quote of all time from President Rusell M. Nelson... 

"Joy cometh in the morning to those who have earned the nights rest of a laborer"

This quote made me realize why my dad was always so happy in the morning! Anyone who knows my father knows he is one of the most hard working people on this planet. If we want more joyous mornings, feel more motivated and ready to roll, we need to earn the nights rest of a laborer. BE A LABORER! Don't shun the fight! Don't fear hard work. Embrace it! It will always bring joy in your life. I know it has in mine! 

I love you all. I'm very grateful for our Savior Jesus Christ and all that He has done for us! I am grateful that I am able to feel joy because of His sacrifice for me. I know that He is center of God's great plan of happiness for us! I am grateful Christ personally ministered to the ancient inhabitants of America and it is because of this that we have the Book of Mormon. Imagine the essential doctrine we would be missing if Christ hadn't ministered to His people on the American continent. He is my master, my Lord and my Savior. All the work I do is for Him! I love Jesus Christ!!

LABOR FOR JESUS CHRIST... AND IF YOU ARE MY SISTER IN LAW LAURYN... GO INTO LABOR THIS WEEK!! 

Elder Hixon

Just 2 Buddies

Well we had transfers this week and sadly Elder Forest was transferred out of here! So now it is only Elder Timothy and I! It has been a really weird adjustment. Sometimes the apartment is a lot quieter. And buying groceries for 2 people is different than 3. And teaching lessons and all that. So it's been an interesting shift. And it was a surprise to all of us. But I am certain that God knows what He is doing. He always does! 

I'm learning the importance of finding out what we want/need, then figuring out exactly what adherence to which law fruits such blessings. For example, if I want to feel self worth I will follow the Law of Chastity to the T. That's one of the promised blessings from that Law. Or if I want to feel healthier and have true marrow to my bones and strength in my navel, I'm going to buckle down and follow the Word of Wisdom. If I want to make better decisions and have the Spirit more abundant in my life, I will read my scriptures every day. These are just 3 laws with specific blessings to follow. And how do we really follow a law? I think it has to do with hard work and faith. True faith. Too often in the church we stress that faith without works is dead. Which it is... but faith is not just works. Faith is a true belief. You've got to really BELIEVE that these blessings can be unfolded in your own life. And of course the acts part of faith is trying your best to be obedient and working hard at it. But if we don't really believe the blessings and miracles can be wrought in our life, then they probably won't. Sometimes God takes liberties to try and help us, but if we want a more sure fire way to receive these specific blessings, we've got to believe that adhering to the law that brings the desired blessing WILL BRING THAT BLESSING. It's such an amazing principle and I'm so glad to really be learning it on my mission. I'm trying to learn how to apply in other aspects of my life. Right now the law and blessing I'm looking to do my best in is the law of missionary work. D&C 4. If I thrust in my sickle with my might(work hard) and have an eye single to the glory of God(true faith), I will reap. I'm really trying to better acquire this kind of faith and believing in the justice of God. He said He would bless this way so let's make sure He does. It's D&C 82:10. That's all it is. So I'm going to study laws and blessings from laws better now so I can have a better faith and understanding of what I "deserve" when i follow a specific law. I hope that makes sense. This is just something I've been really learning a lot this week. And this has really came to focus for me this week. Our area has been booming for the past 6 or 7 weeks and it has been amazing! But we share the area with other elders and they were discouraged because they weren't seeing the same "success" as we were. I prayed about how to help them and then in district council this week they asked if anyone had suggestions. I felt very prompted to basically just tell them what I wrote you two seconds ago. The very next morning they sent a miracle text into our zone group chat and said they had out of nowhere found someone and had an amazing lesson with them. And since then they have really been noticing more the hand of God in their life and seeing more miracles. Once we really believe and then pray to God and show Him our offering, He will open the windows of Heaven and pour down the blessing that we are asking for if it is in line with the law we are obeying.

I am very grateful for a God of justice. We read about this in the past week in Come Follow Me. And along with justice, He also is full of mercy. I'm grateful I dont need to be perfect to receive blessings. I am grateful for a God of miracles. The same God that existed in biblical times is with us today. Why did miracles happen more in those times than now? Well I'm not sure that's true but we can look and see that had very clear cut laws. And when theh followed the laws, miracles followed. We need to adhere to the laws God has given us and we will see many miracles unfold in our lives. I love this gospel. I'm so grateful for Jesus Christ and His Atonement. Because of Him, we can change!

Love you all!!

Elder Hixon