Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Miracles of Heaven. Light.

Hey everyone, this week there's a lot to talk about, so hopefully I don't bore you. Well, many of you know how important this last week was. It was a week I'll never forget. I've had to muster up much faith and prayer and diligence to accomplish the impossible. My companion has been a great help to me personally as well and is a great support.

Know that our Father in Heaven is very aware of our lives, and knows the desires of our heart. Well, on Friday I had to plan a district meeting that the Zone Leaders were going to be at. I didn't have time to really sit down and plan it until that early morning but had been pondering the topic which was the Doctrine of Christ and our Purpose. At the very last moment my mind was opened to new revelation. That was LIGHT. Now I wrote down definitions of light and there are two meanings. One is to 'Illuminate' and the other is to 'Not be Heavy'. In the meeting, I turned all the lights off and had a Sister follow the light; me and my companion both had flashlights and guided her to the 5 points which were pictures of Christ representing the 5 points of the doctrine of Christ being: Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Holy Ghost and Enduring to the End. I put a chair in between repentance and baptism because this is always an obstacle for those we teach. Now I explained the two definitions of light, its double meaning. I used the scipture in Luke 1: 79 that says "To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."  It shows that the Lord uses people and Himself to help guide our feelings in darkness just as the sister had me and my companion guiding her feet on the path with our flash lights;  there may always be light if we choose. 
The next one was Matt. 11: 30 "For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." 

This shows that Christ can always lighten our load and He uses it in the other context to help teach us of the two different lights that He has. Well, it came to me while I was teaching it that the 2 points of the atonement cover this subject. Light is so very key. If we follow Christ and His gospel then His atonement will take effect. Our Savior is the " Light" that shows us the way, the path , the truth and helps us as we follow the 5 steps to get out of that darkness. He also will make our souls and loads " Light" again. If we ourselves are to press forward in this life and return to our Father, we need Christ, we NEED our Savior's Light. I drew a picture of the yoke and basically I wrote on one end "you" and said you can try to pull the load yourself, I have and it doesn't work. On the other side, I wrote "Him". If we teach and understand and help others understand this concept that the Savior will help pull with us then we will come to see the true joys in this life and the purpose of the Atonement. Christ LIGHTENS our LOADS and gives LIGHT to our LIVES. 

If we show people these two concepts of Christ and His gospel; and help them feel the Savior shedding light into their life and that he will lighten the tough times then ALL will be converted to the Savior and His true Church. This is true. I received this revelation directly and am so grateful for it. This is His doctrine. A doctrine means a teaching or a tenet. A tenet is a religious principle or a dogma. And a dogma is a strict belief concerning faith and morals. I found all of that out that morning as I read from the dictionary about it. So a doctrine expands to so many things, so Christ's "doctrine" is a strict moral and belief. There is no other way to salvation. That is why he stresses it so much and that is why we MUST give light and be the Light to those who are in darkness searching for a Savior. I hope this makes sense, it's hard trying to type it out! 

So, the next day after exchanges with the zone leaders we met back up in Socorro, as we were switching back, an elder pointed out a flat tire on our truck. There was a screw in it. We hurried and drove to 4 tire shops and ALL were closed on the weekend! So we had to find the tools in the truck and lower the spare down and change the tire haha everyone was looking at these 4 guys dressed up changing this tire. After, I suggested we go to this China Buffet. While there, I was talking to a lady as we were grabbing food and she asked where the church was. I mentioned that I have sister missionaries that can go over to her house and tell her where the church is and the times and stuff and she accepted. Then she mentioned that her father is a member in Albuquerque and has been telling her to go! I looked and told her two daughters who were smiling with so much joy that they would love church and everyone would be friends with them. The spirit overcame me that this was important and special. I gave them the sister's phone number and they left. Afterward, we went to Walmart and SHE happend to be there. She instantly told me that she had already called them, and that they were coming to her house after she ran her errands!! WOW, I was shocked. The sisters called with so much joy and gratitude for giving them this referral. I told them that in my fast I was fasting that they would find a solid person to teach and baptize because that ward has had only  one baptism for over a year now and that she was an answer to my fast and they agreed. It was a complete answer and miracle to find that woman and her family. Currently the sisters have seen her twice already! 

After, we drove home with our spare tire, I could see that Satan was trying to stop me that day, and putting obstacles in our way. Well, that night we gave out 17 flyers for church the next day and ran all over the reservation. That night I couldn't sleep, I had been practicing just that day "How Great Thou Art" because I was going to have to play it for a special musical number and also practicing 3 other hymns I'd have to play for church and worrying about if we will get 85 to a 100 people to church so we can possibly get an expansion. On top of that, our mission president texts and says they are coming down for church!

Sunday morning I prayed so hard. I prayed that ministering angels would be sent to their posterity on the reservation and that these Navajo ancestors would help in getting people to church. For me, I kept saying it's game time , it's game time. Our mission president and wife and another senior couple came first and then many others filtered in. Vans full of people were unloading. Tons of Navajos from Magdalena drove up for church. My heart began to fill as I witnessed the hand of the Lord. Then our speaker wasn't there and I had to play piano and my companion had to bless the sacrament with someone else and all these other things but it ALL worked out perfectly. The speaker came at the end and spoke in Navajo and the spirit was so strong.... at the very end I could see Brother Nelson looking around and counting all the people here, my heart began to swell. That room was SO packed that people were in the hallway but I still didn't know how many truly were there. I had to play the closing Hymn but almost couldn't because of my emotions. After the song and end of the meeting, our mission president comes up and says "Do you know how many people are here? I said "No, I wanna find out." He said, "Elder there are 132 people here at Sacrament meeting, Great Job elders!" .... Words cannot express the joy that came over me. We had over the amount, we doubled our average!! 

The prayers and fasting and hard work and diligence and stress then all payed off, we received so much more! Our ward mission leader came to us after church was over and sat us and the Crofts (the senior couple) down and said that he will eternally have us in his heart. He said,  "You'll go on with your lives after you leave here but when I look at a bigger building someday in the future, I will picture you 4 and the work you did to bless this reservation!" 

That's when it really hit me how much our Father answers prayers and makes miracles happen. I Love Him, I Know Him, and I Glory in Him.

Thanks for all the support everyone, hope this blog helps your friends and family as I know some of you are sharing it!

Also, on Thursday this week I got to meet up with the Butterfield family from El Paso and it was so awesome! We ate a lot and I showed them ZW's blacksmith shop and it was great. Such an awesome week I've had! 

Love and Gratitude, 

Elder Taylor 





Tuesday, December 24, 2013

CHRIST"mas"

This week may be the most important week in my whole mission ... I've got big news. 

My mission president has been working with us on getting a baptismal font out here and an extension to the building. The stake president was here for Christmas Sunday and pulled us in with the other leadership in the branch and told us about getting an extension. If we are to even have a possibility to get this to happen we need to show growth and progress with our church attendance.  Well, they take it from the whole year. The past 3 quarters we have been growing but this last one (because of the holidays) we have been struggling.  In order to show progress this quarter we need at least 85 people at sacrament ... but the best would be 100 people!! The best way to explain it is, of course, by basketball! ha ... It is the 4th quarter and there's 5 minutes left and you are down by 20 points and EVERYTHING is on the line... if you lose you might not have this chance again. 

This is important! I love a good challenge and I'm not stressed about it because I have faith that we can make it happen! If we take what comes and have a positive attitude and MOST importantly do all we can do then we'll have no regrets. For me I'm doing everything and anything in my power this week to make this work and happen because this will change everything here for Alamo, but if it doesn't work I'll have the comfort of knowing it is not God's will and I gave 110%. 

So, it's Christmas and I want to talk about the Savior.

I got an email from a buddy of mine on a mission here asking for advice and I feel prompted to share it with you all. It can definitely apply to you in your life, and how to help your family and share the gospel with your friends in this hastening of the work. 

"Think about this, i said in zone meeting with pres and sis miller present that i feel missionaries kinda forget christ. Well hes the most important part right? If we are to get anyone into the water or to stay active or get a calling or when "crap" hits the fan they stay or if at church get offended that don't leave is simple... the SAVIOR! Now for you i want you to think... am i truly using the savior EVERYDAY... are you using his atonement to feel his love. People these days are like me ... i came up with this my 3 month out on my mission, right at the end of training. Say i had a large wound in the left side of my chest... well i ALWAYS used to patch it up my self, im strong enough, i believe in christ but i can do it on my own. Well what happens is satan can see that large bandage so he will hit it and reopen it, you see it then put another one on. This is a continual process, but until you yourself and your investigators truly give everything to the savior you really WONT know him. So Christ is the great Physician , he will sew your wound, the skin will join together again and begin the healing process which takes time, but at the end of it you'll be whole again, there will be a little scar left, just as christ hands have them for the reminder . Remember the mercy and power and love of Christ every time but dont dwell on the wound and how you got it.
Teach this principle those investigating the church, help them to REALLY know Christ, who he is, why he does what he does, how do we know him, how can i feel him? And most importantly find these out for yourself. 
I PROMISE you elder that if you teach principles and speak with reverence every time you say the words Jesus Christ they will be emotional and feel His influence. Elder thats our purpose if for us ourselves to love and feel the savior more and then to help others do the same. Dont focus on the area book and numbers and teaching the about the word of wisdom or importance of prophets more than our Lord and Savior who is the MOST important. IF ... If you do this and help them Know our great Physician , they will truly be converted and will want to do ANYTHING else you ask them to do. They truly will follow Him. You can Teach this to your zone in the next meeting or anyone, we all need to know the Lord Christ. Dont get mixed up in the other things of life , focus ALL on Christ first as your purpose then all will follow ! "


What a wonderful season this is. I feel so privileged to be here on my mission and on Alamo. I've come to know the Savior this season.  Each house we go to we invite them to give a gift to the Savior.  I can't wait to give mine tomorrow. I want to make Him happy and by growing closer to Him and being more like Him I know i can.

We had a very powerful experience last district meeting.  I based it ALL on Christ. His importance. How we can know Him and feel Him! Elder Foster talked about Spirituality first and then Skills.  I felt we know the skills great but we forget how important our own spiritual nourishment is, and this meeting was! We all bore our testimony of the Savior and there wasn't a dry eye in the room; our spirits were lifted and testimonies solidified! I KNOW that He was there with His spirit helping His servants feel His love, appreciation and atonement! I've come to know my Savior more and more as I serve WITH Him. That's the key... we are not serving alone; we are not serving all the people we help each day by ourselves. He leads us and we follow. He is alongside of us using us for His divine purposes. All people must know that we are "with" Him. He is my older brother.  He knew of all the dumb mistakes I was going to make in my life.  He wanted to help me through those mistakes so He decided to go through them even though He would never before want to and didn't deserve the pain, heartache and trials but He did it anyways to help His younger brother... Me. He did it for each and everyone of us! Now He asks us to ask Him for help and advice on how He got through it to help us with our past, present and future in this hard world. My brothers and Sisters who read this I hope you know how truly important Christ's Atonement for us is ... which was His suffering the sins, pains, and sickness of each of us and how we NEED to us Him.

I testify that the Savior can fix every wound we will ever get.  Let the Physician fix and sew you.  Remember His grace but forget the sin or mistake. 

I'm gratful for mothers... my mother and Mary. The mother of Jesus suffered so much; she saw the persecution her son, who was perfect and loving, faced. She witnessed His suffering and agony on the cross. No parent would ever want to go through that. Christ's father was a righteous man who led by example in raising our Savior in such way.  He was hated for taking a woman who was pregnant but he loved and cared for her knowing of the baby who was to be born of her.... The Christ, the Lord of Lord, The Great Physician, The Holy One....and my favorite, The Prince Of Peace.

Let His Peace be upon you this Christmas as you give Him something back; give Him a gift of something you will give up or do better.

True and everlasting love,
Elder Justin Williams Taylor 


MERRY CHRISTMAS ! 



This is My Shádí ( Older Sister) in Navajo. She calls me lil brother. 
We are in front of a small Christmas tree! 

This morning we wont on a hike in Magdalena to see the old Kelly Mine.

Then went to the VLA which is Very Large Array. They are a world famous satellite spot and have had alot of movies and music videos filmed here too. Really cool! 

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Adventure, Adversity, Acknowledgment, Accomplishment

This week has been CRAZY in every way possible. I will be following the order of this post title to structure this email. 

ADVENTURE: The adventure happened on Sunday night.  We were driving in what we call Ghost-town and on the right hand side saw smoke. Well EVERYONE here burns trash so that was our first impression.  All of a sudden I felt impressed to hurry and turn in. We were past the house and went through the neighbors property and might have "jumped" the truck hurrying to see what it is. I could barely see while driving because of all the smoke. When we got closer we saw flames in a little house. We jumped out.  A recent convert lived nearby and we saw them grabbing water so we joined them and were the first ones on site.   I ran in to get water and told my companion to put our jackets in the truck. As we threw the water onto the burning house TONS of smoke blew into our mouths and eyes but, of course, that is not going to stop us so we continued to do that for about 15 minutes running back and forth until the fire grew too strong. The firetruck and ambulance finally came. The ambulance lady came up to us because she could hear us coughing and said we could have carbon monoxide poisoning and the effects of it and that we could have tar in our lungs from breathing in a lot of smoke and getting it into our eyes. Well, we said we have never fought a fire before so we didn't know what we were doing!  haha  Right afterwards we got our jackets back on and went and taught someone before the end of our night. They thought we were crazy!  At the end of the evening I thought we should give each other blessings to help and so we don't have to go to the emergency room. The spirit of the Lord was in our humble trailer that night.  I also felt my mother's presence and it was said in my blessing that she was there when we were fighting the fire. Towards bedtime we began feeling more and more sick but woke up okay! 

ADVERSITY:  On Saturday night I began to feel sick. I woke up feeling worse on Sunday morning and thought about sleeping while my companion was in the shower but had too much stuff to get done. So in my morning prayer I pleaded that I'd have health and strength sufficient enough to go about this day. Well, the Lord answered me and I did, but after the fire my throat began to hurt a lot more and it still is a little off but I'm totally fine! As I've been obedient and pushing through physical adversities I've been sustained in my tasks and the Lord's angels have been pushing along by my side. We had an investigator that had a baptismal date but he stabbed a guy out of revenge in Albuquerque and is going to prison for a few years so looks like we can't teach him for a while.  Many other solid people we had have fallen through the cracks or have had a tragedy happen recently but we never lose faith. As weird as it is, whenever I see adversity I have joy; that's because I'm on the right path because obviously Satan is attacking me in all aspects and attacking those we teach. We grow so much through our trials, and I'm a living testimony of that! 


ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:   This last Saturday we were privileged to have a member of the 2nd quorum of the 70 visit our mission. His name is Elder Foster!  He is the first person I've ever really met from church leadership. It was so cool. He was saying that our mission has one of the best mission presidents he has seen and a really good mission as a whole. Also we have the largest amount of cars in the whole world, more than any other mission, we have 112. During the lunch we happened to sit by two stake presidents.  I was with my companion, my trainer Elder Schneider, and my best bud Elder Magalei! Well, the Los Lunas stake president said a lot of humbling things at the table to me and for my trainer to hear it was really cool. My trainer was super proud of me and they said that even though Alamo is out in the middle of nowhere our work isn't unnoticed! It was humbling for both of us to hear. I love the mission I serve in so much! 

ACCOMPLISHMENT:  Ever since Elder Ahloy has gotten here we have had a lot to do and meetings and stuff so the work hasn't progressed as much as we want. But we have seen great things recently. As we continue to press forward with faith and diligence the Lord has us blessing others. Yesterday I just walked up to two boys playing basketball outside and started shooting with them.  One is in 6th grade and the other is in 4th. After the 2-on-2 game we invited them to family home evening that night but to ask their parents and they can maybe come next week. Well, by the time we got into the truck they came out running saying they can go and they did go! We are hoping to teach the family later this week :) Then, when we were talking to the boys someone yelled and said to come here. We went inside to this guy's house and talked to him and his wife. He said he wanted to know the difference between Mormons and Christians .... haha  I gladly explained ! We taught the Restoration and the Spirit of the Lord definitely was working on them.  You could see one of them didn't want to open their heart but still felt the Spirit. We got a return appointment. A family we got a baptism date with is progressing more and more. They need to get married soon but they have been working together and not hurting each other physically and emotionally anymore! 
I love how the Lord blesses those who endure and who continue to be obedient in all things and in all places.
Never lose faith.  Never give up. There's great things to come. Just as a car cannot function and operate without GAS, neither will we if we do not FUEL ourselves with faith.  Sometimes we run low... so don't sit and pout and ask someone for gas money. They can't give you faith - you yourself have to FUEL yourself by reading, praying and loving Christ.

Thanks for everything everyone! I'll be emailing on Christmas Eve :) 

Elder Taylor 

 Here's my tow buds going home in two weeks ... had to say goodbye to them!  One is the A.P. right now and the other was my Zone Leader a few transfers ago.  Going to miss them!


 Here is a picture of Elder Foster ... he's a member of the Seventy
 I think I broke the record for having the most groceries on each hand!
 Here's the fire!!!  That's the house ... I took a quick pic of it.  Intense!
 An awesome sunset last night

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Personal and Professional

This week a lot has happened ... I don't have too much time to write, but its been wonderful! A LOT better than the previous week.
 
 I played piano in Sacrament meeting for the branch.  That was scary but I didn't do too bad I guess? ha I was thanked by the 2nd counselor during Sacrament for doing it. 
 
 
We had zone meeting and President Miller and his wife showed up; it was awesome. I had to give the closing prayer too but it was a good meeting. I had to go up in front of everyone and give advice on what I want to work on with my district to help us baptize more. I spoke about how we need to focus on the MOST important thing ... Christ. I feel that we all teach too much of the other things rather than focusing on the Savior...  if they are converted to Him then ALL the other things fall to place.  All the other District Leader's agreed with me and are doing the same so i guess I didn't say anything too stupid in front of President!  haha
 
Just yesterday I had a District leader training at the mission home with President and it went very well. It was great to hear his instructions. The kind of weird thing was he kept saying how much certain things will help us as future fathers and husbands and business owners, but it was great advice. Many things that he taught that helps with being a powerful leader I have already been applying ... which to me REALLY helped me know that the Holy Ghost can give us guidance.  Then my mission pres just solidified it!  He talked about praising people then correcting them...  that's the only way to help people know you love them and know they can progress more! 

The title of this email is Personal And Professional. I've found out that having these two things will help in so many ways. I taught my trainee this a few weeks back and Pres. just said something similar to it yesterday.  ALL of us can do this.
 
Personal: does the person you are talking to know that you care about them?   I hate when you are  trying to talk to someone and they are looking off or have something else on their mind. NO. WRONG. In order for someone to trust and love you, you must give all attention to them.  Ask them questions... PRAISE them for their accomplishments both big and small. Then, of course, crack a few jokes so they know your just a regular person like them. 
 
Professional: Now in order for people to respect you, you must professional. Now i hate this... its mixed up in people's minds that in order to do this you must be a robot and serious ALL of the time. No... WRONG again. Be yourself, but be your better self. They now trust you because you are personal with them , and because you actually care you need to be an example that they would want to follow. Help them know that you have a purpose in ALL things; you are an organized, clean and "real" human being. Joseph Smith would crack a little joke before a meeting , or go wrestle with some kids but when it came to business he was professional.  For school, church, parenting, work ... wherever it may be, remember to be yourself, focus on the person and remember who you truly are. Our beloved prophet, I know, can focus on the one but have his heart for the whole world... so can we all. Help others if they are off the path or don't know of the path.  Do these two things, in order, and I PROMISE that all you know or come in contact with will want to change their lives even more after you meet with them. The Lord is hastening His work so this means we must be examples to all in the world.

Much Love to all those who read this.  I continue to be humbled by how many read this ...  thank you!
 
 I love my  Shibizhee' Ya' 'aashidi ( Father in Heaven). 

Elder Taylor



Only two pictures this week!  Been busy!

This is a gift my dad sent me for my bday (a blanket).  It's so legit.  They are the best pictures and I think my two girls look so beautiful in it (my momma and Jess!)
 Here is a pic that my comp took a week or so ago with a cool sunset by our trailer



Wednesday, December 4, 2013

The 3 C's

Hey everyone!

First off,  I want to give the biggest thanks and gratitude for all of the love and support that has come my way for my birthday and for Thanksgiving! Words can't express how loved I felt... I do not deserve any of it at all but thank you everyone so much! It was a really slow past week, but this week will be better. My trainee, Elder Ahloy, is awesome.  We get along great. We are making Hawaiian food together now! ha 

I've thought about what I wanted to write this week. Not much has happened except for the fact that I've seen people drawn away from the Gospel here, and seen the buffetings of Satan. So, I want to revisit what I wrote a while ago.... about the 3 D's of the Devil that my dad sent me, and then I added my C's of the Devil I am doing my C's again because I added and took stuff out and I feel inspired to share it.

So here it is ....

Elder Taylors 3 C's Of the Devil
Satan will use ....  

1.  Confusion/ Corruption : D&C 123:7 

2. Contention: 3 Nephi 11:29 

3. Captive: 3 Nephi 18: 15. 

I invite all of you to read each scripture, apply the meaning to your life and think about how often the Adversary uses it on us to pull us away from the light of Christ. As we follow Christ we want to be more like Christ. I wrote a quote using the C's to go along with it that says....  


"As we develop Christ-like qualities we will never CONFORM and COLLAPSE from the CUNNINGNESS of the Adversary, but we will receive COMFORT and CONFIDENCE through our Master, Jesus CHRIST. "


We all know that Satan will use everything against us so we must put on that armor of God and live righteous lives so that, through Christ, we can get that comfort and confidence to keep enduring to the end! 

I bore my testimony in Church on Sunday and didn't really know what to say, but my mouth was filled and the words came out exactly as to what I needed to bear testimony of.  I call everyone in the branch "family" ... because they are. In Alma Chapter 17 it talks about how Alama and the sons of Mosiah reunited and how happy Alma was to see them. I said for me how happy I was to see everyone here at church or around the reservation because I love you. In Alma, right after it says that, it says that he had more joy knowing that they still were his brothers in Christ and that they have searched and pondered the scriptures and prayed and fasted ... these very things brought him more joy than just being reunited!  So, for me, I love visitng everyone in the branch and in Alamo but what brings me the most full joy is knowing that they are growing closer to the Savior; that we both are living the Gospel and that they are reading and praying and fasting for help and direction. I bore testimony on how important that is and how happy our lives will be when we do it! 

For everyone not on Alamo reading this, I want you to know that my joy is most-full knowing that you are turning to the Savior and following the commandments our Our Father, the most High God.

Please continue on this path.  I feel as Alama at this time: my joy is full in love and appreciation for all of you! 

God Lives.

Love always,
Elder Taylor 




My aunts gift to me: new sweater (my companions idea to look off!) 

SNOW !! This was from 2 weeks ago ... I just didn't send them out 
last week.  It got really cold and then it snowed! 



MY BOYZ!! One of them just went home.  They call us the "El Paso Legends" haha 


This is Crystals kids, they all kept saying "take our picture take our picture"
Love these kids 


My BDAY!  Stuff I got in the mail.  Thanks so much everyone! I'm so grateful! 

 This is Kathy and her grand daughter.  She beaded me a necklace... it is so legit! 
She also made me a cake and Navajo Tacos for my bday! 






Thanksgiving day!! 

Wood Chopping with Louie bright and early in the morning then ate a ton after!