LEAVING

Hey everyone!  I'm sorry I don’t have time to send pictures or write a message for this week because I'm being transferred tomorrow morning. Been running around this morning trying to pack up and send stuff home and figure all of these things out.

It's bittersweet to me; saying bye to people that I've really gotten to know well over these past months. I have been in this county for 7 transfers; I know basically everyone within a 60 mile radius. Saying bye to people I met the 1^st of September last year is really hard; they feel like family to me.  I've gotten to know them so well, but I thank my Father in Heaven for putting them in my life.

Truly I will never forget Alamo, Magdalena and Socorro and all of the wonderful people I have come to love more than life itself.  All I desire is for all of them to continue in righteousness and to follow the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I look forward to the day I return and see all of the people who have helped change me into the man I am today!

New chapter of my mission starts tomorrow...  which means a new adventure that I can't wait to start!

Love to you all!

I'll tell you all where I am at soon!

Elder Taylor

Aquishi ( Laters ) 

Our Life On Earth

It's been a great week!  I've learned so much; from spiritual knowledge to secular knowledge.  We had zone conference, which was an awesome and stressful day, but it was great to be spiritually fed there with many missionaries and our mission president. I woke up first out of my companions and it was at 4:15 in the morning.  Then I drove us all up there, which was a hour and a half drive, to be there at 7 am. Then I went on exchanges with Elder Lish and the next morning we woke up at 5:45am to play tennis with some other missionaries.  Yea, lets just say I was really tired last weekend.

I saw baby goats or “ kids” that were like 1 hour old and saw them trying to survive and how that worked.  I learned how to garden, dig up and collect garlic.  I also learned how to drive in and put up dry wall on the ceiling of a trailer, and more about farming.

So, to the spiritual stuff … Like I said last week I want to write about what we need to do to receive the eternal blessings and happiness that we want.  For this analogy I'm using an "A grade" in the class.

Now, I taught this to a group of missionaries right on the spot.  I didn’t plan it but it just came out this way so I'm going to change a few things up to better apply to you all.

I asked what it would take for a “student” to receive an “A” in the class.  Here is a list of some things they said: Study, do the homework, pay attention, tutors, search text book, talk with the teacher, do the experiments,  review old tests, complete all assignments, etc.

After this list I had them ponder on how, as missionaries, this is the type of people that have a true desire to follow Christ and to join His church.  Well, to apply it to you all, how do WE do these things to get an “A” in the class I like to call "OUR LIFE ON EARTH?"   It is simply by doing all of those steps that I listed before. I'd like to add to those things even deeper and suggest the “spiritual” things we can do for our class of "OUR LIFE ON EARTH."  Here is what we came up with: 

- Do the homework (pray, read scriptures, help our family);  

- Pay Attention (Listen in church, listen to the spirit, watch and pay attention to general conference);  

- See Tutors  (Ask for help from leaders in the church, parents, the Holy Ghost for help and guidance)

- Look for answers in the Text Book (Use the scriptures, LDS.org, Ensign magazines)

- Extra Credit (Tithing and fast offerings, Using the Atonement ... think about that one)

- Doing the Experiments (Trials in mortality, hands-on experiments) 

- Review Old Tests (Lessons from your family history of mistakes your great-great grandparents made that you can learn from, stories in the scriptures)

- Complete All Assignements: (Magnify our church calling, keep covenants, try our best).

After we came up with these and saw how important all of them are then it came to me that if we took ALL of those things and broke it down to ONE statement what would it be what?   THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST.  If a teacher ever said in a class, "Hey guys, all that I've taught is great and is super important but if all you know and do is this one simple thing:  Remember these 5 steps and the rest will come later."  How much more would we all pay attention to what he said and actually do it?!

In our spiritual class of "OUR LIFE ON EARTH" our teacher, Jesus Christ told us to just follow His teaching or Gospel (which is Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Holy Ghost and Enduring to the End)  and that if we did that and remembered it and obeyed it the best we could then we would pass the class.  We would get an "A" and everthing else He taught would only be appendages to it.  The Savior didn’t say it exactly that way but He has countlessly mentioned similar to this all throughout holy writ. It is essential that we do all we can to pass the class with an "A" and remember the simple foundation that has been laid out to us.

I hope you all recommit to doing better on something;  either completing your assignments, listening to the tutor better or doing the homework.  Or most important: listening to the teacher and taking sacrifices and steps to accomplish to goal we all have... eternal life.

Yours truly ,

Elder Justin Taylor 

What you put in ... you get back

Hello!  Hope you all are having a great day and great start of a new week.

I'm grateful for those of you who are still supporting me while I'm out here and still sending stuff in the mail.  Its much appreciated and sorry if I'm not the best at writing back ... I get busy at times.

So, this past week has been full of ups and downs. Experiences need to be learned and asking to Lord for the purpose of some is important. This whole transfer is about patience for me, and I'm thankful I'm able to work on it.

I was able to have the opportunity to go back to Alamo on exchanges and boy was it so wonderful.  Guys, I can't even put into words how much love and joy I felt seeing some people I haven’t seen in just a short time.  I LOVE THEM so much.  Everyone told me "welcome home" and I called it home too.  I told them I'm just back home for a day then I'm back off to Socorro.  Even people I didn’t truly feel connected with expressed their love to me and how much they missed me and spoke often of me... I was truly humbled. Alamo will forever have a special place in my heart; everyone wants me to live with them after my mission and go back home to the rez! haha

My dear brothers and sisters who are reading this... I want you to know one simple thing that has been so ingrained in my mind lately and that is:  Everything you put in this life , you get back.  So its all up to you how much you put in.

This isn’t a gamble; you don’t go “all” in and have a good chance of losing everything. You go “all” in or you can  give your all to the Lord, put His will over your will, and don’t be selfish. This is truth!  I just heard that anytime there is a temple or church built that once it is  dedicated it then becomes the Lord's... not the president's but the Lord's.  It's His.  So, if we dedicate our lives to Him, to helping others and being Christ-like... then we are His. Therefore we must put our “all” in and He promises it all back and much, much more. I hope you all are putting everything you have into different aspects in your life and remember the more you put in the more you get back.

I have a new urgency in putting more effort and less sleep and less selfish desires because I am the Lord's and I will get as much out of it as I want but it is my will to achieve that level I'm seeking.

Have a great week everyone. Next week I'll have a lot better blog on how hard it is to receive eternal life and the tools we can use to achieve it.

Love ,

Elder Taylor 

Picture of me with Alice when i got to go back to the Alamo :)

Elder Zrimc and I with " matching " nike shirts

Elder Fenner and I with, who i like to call "OLD MCDONALD" or "Brother Paine" haha

Save

Good morning everyone!  I'm grateful for all of those who are still reading my blog entries.  Truly I'm humbled by how many have viewed them. I will continue to write the things of my soul and experiences or inspiration that has come to me. Honestly this my other journal to look back at and read.

Save… I've pondered on that and it's meaning and I pray you will grasp the way I'm trying to apply this to our mortal life.

Oftentimes, and in the Christian world, many say  “I've been saved for 7 years now,” or “I know I sin but I'm saved because I believe in Jesus,” or “Have you been saved?"

Im sorry for my blunt choice of words but that’s ridicules. Its one of the dumbest statements ive herd. Literally a man told me a few weeks ago that he knows getting drunk everyday is bad and that the Lord isn’t happy about what hes doing it but hes still “ Saved”. Come on people!  The Savior NEVER taught to go around and blurt out to the world that you are saved and it doesn’t matter what you do if you just believe in Him. In James it speaks of “Faith without works is dead”. We need to remain humble by keeping our personal commitments and covenants between us and the Lord; not pridefully blurting to the world that you are “saved”.  I have no intention to offend anyone but I'm just stating my personal opinion on this subject.  Now to the part I wish to speak on.

The Definition of "save" is : To rescue from danger; to preserve or safe guard; to spare.

To me “SAVE” or “SAVED” means a lot more that the typical Christian. My twist on that word goes with the definition and it applies to our life on earth.

We first must be saved in this life.  In this life I need a SAVIOR to “save” me from the danger in this life; to safe guard me and preserve me for the eternal blessing after my mortal death.

Of course our end goal is to be saved (meaning have eternal life) but I feel we must first focus on the beginning of the test... not what happens if I get a good goal. Focus on being saved here. Living in a way through your faith, and works in following Christ by being humble and not flaunting around that you are saved and can do whatever you want because you believe in Him.

That goal of eternal life will be achieved if we look at things here and now.  In Preach my Gospel  there is a quote that says, “Missionaries are to testify of Jesus Christ and invite all to come unto Him that they might be saved."

We must all teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a way of wanting to bringing ourselves and others eternal blessings but remembering the here and now as well. That we can help bring them to the Savior to be Saved in this life... to be brought from danger and safe guarded from the evils of this hard world we live in. As we live our lives in such a way and follow the commandments we will be “saved” in this life, and with quiet conformation from the Holy Ghost, a peaceful assurance of being saved in the next life and receiving eternal salvation.

Love always,

Elder Taylor 

Baptism and The Gospel of Jesus Christ

The title of this letter is exactly what I'm going to talk about.

First off Bruce got baptized which was so awesome. It was on the same day as my baby sister Jessica so it was special for me because I wasn’t able to be there for her baptism. Our mission president came down for the baptism and so many other people were there.  Bruce was approved by the First Presidency of the Church to be baptized because he needed that permission because of past problems. What was powerful was his testimony after his baptism; how the Lord has blessed him and how he studied the scriptures in prison and when he got out he wanted a new life and that now the Lords has given him just that!

Also, last Sunday all three of us missionaries were asked to speak on what ever we wanted. I decided that the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ was a powerful and essential topic to teach on. We had all of the members and us invite non-members to come. Well, it didn’t work out too well; we only had like 3 non-members, but it was still great to have 3.  We were blessed.

I would like to share with you the analogy I came up with to use for teaching in sacrament  about the Gospel of Jesus Christ…

I compare it to a school. Everyone knows about school. Imagine having a perfect teacher (Christ). We must have (faith) in the teacher; faith that, if we trust in Him and do as He says, then we will do great in the class. Well, our teacher is merciful; when we do bad on a test we can come to Him and ask to re-do it.  (Repentance).

Our merciful and perfect teacher says yes we can re-do it, but now remember to study hard and learn from your mistakes.   In order for the teacher to help you even more in the class he needs to meet with your parents. So there is a parent-teacher conference in which you promise your parents and teacher that you'll do better in the class and on the tests if they give you a second shot. The teacher responds in saying He will provide someone that will help you so much. For those who are smart they go to that person and get help from the tutor (Holy Ghost). The tutor is there as you are practicing the problems and going over your mistakes. The tutor can lean over and say “Nope start the problem over again; or no, go to the next chapter, your answer is in there."  He guides you on your journey of learning and helps in all ways for you to find the answers while you are still learning. Then the hard part is enduring to the end of the class, or in the gospel, until the end of our lives. Just as a hard class is at times we have resources to help.  We have to motivate ourselves to succed. We have to promise ourselves, our teacher and parents at times that we will do better and try harder next time.

The principle is like our Heavenly Father, and Jesus Christ the teacher and the Holy Ghost our tutor. Their motives are all the same; they teach the same, they help all of us children the same, and want the very best for each of us.  Let them HELP you!  Turn to them and follow the Gospel of Jesus Christ so that you may receive the highest “grade” you deserve.

May we all be diligent and receive eternal life is my prayer.

Love to you all,

Elder Justin Taylor 

Here's the picture of Bruce's baptism!!! So awesome.

Here is me and my companions after we went to a hospital to visit 2 members.  

They gave masks to us because there was a virus there that people were getting.

Ups and Downs

Hey everyone!  Hope you all are doing well and living happy. 

So, my thoughts this week are on how the Lord challenges and tests us to make us stronger. Not only stronger with the present trials we face, but stronger in all aspects of trials we can face.  There is a plan, a game plan, for each and every one of us and it was created even before we came here to earth. My thoughts are this (this isn't doctrine but it is just my thoughts). 

When we were shown our personal plan before this life we could see how great we could become  but we also saw all of the trials, challenges and hard times we would face. Then we were asked... do you accept this plan, are you ok with going through these hard times, making these sacrifices to be this great person in the end?  the person you were created to be? 

With that thought it has helped me so much have this eternal perspective. To know why I go through these things, and to think of the lesson that I will have coming out of it. There is ALWAYS an experience and a lesson attached to every trial ... which I believe is much larger than the trial itself.  As we look at life and the challenges you should rejoice that our Father in Heaven loves you enough to let you go through them and to grow through them because I know its even hard for Him to see his children struggling and that is why He has His gospel to help us as we turn to it. 

I pray each of you will see your life as a road map and a game plan to becoming who you were designed to be and fully accessing your divine potential. 

So my ankle is messed up; don't know how bad I messed up the ligament but I should be off basketball playing for like 6 weeks. I've never hurt an ankle before so it is a new experience but I love the challenge and am grateful for the support and help I have as I recover. I am still going out and doing missionary work everyday... NO EXCUSES! 

Also the MIRACLE is that we had a baptism!  Jacob was baptized this last Saturday and it was really special. The ward down here hasn't baptized in a year and a half and now the drought is over! We have another baptism this next Saturday.

The area isn't doing well and we have had to basically start new all over again and are looking for those who truly are prepared, not those who just want to "hang" and be friends with us and that is all. 

Love you all.  Know there are always great things ahead. "Come what may and LOVE it!" 

Elder Justin Taylor 

Pic of me in Hop Caynon. Its like 35 miles away from here and is still our " area" even though no one really lives up there. Beautiful place though, the only real trees around here. 

Here's the picture of my ankle, the reason why its swollen is different parts is because they put a hoarse shoe pad thing on it to help push the swelling out and then wrapped it everyday last week. Im blessed to have the Alamo Branch President be a physical therapist and help me with it and do therapy on it every moring. Looks pretty cool though huh? haha 

Jacob's baptism!  So awesome!

Hey Everyone

I apologize for not sending a very big email today... it has been a crazy past 2 days and I just picked up another companion named Elder Zrimc ( crazy name ) and now there are 3 of us missionaries together. Going be a lot of fun! 

Update on my mission the past 2 days:  last night we were at a lesson for a kid named Jacob, who's getting baptized, and after our lesson his older brother wanted to shoot hoops with me for a second.  Well, after playing for a little bit I decided to go up for a dunk for fun and when I came down I landed at the edge of the concrete and my foot got stuck in between the concrete and the hoop pole and my body went another way than my foot and I twisted my ankle! 

So, afterwards I tried walking it off and was trying to act like a tough guy and that nothing happened.  I had to go home quick to get ice because we were on our way up North to Los Lunas to stay the night before transfer meeting in Albuquerque. Well, I couldnt drive anymore because my ankle was super swollen so I put it on the dash and my comp drove as I iced it! 

I just went to President Stephens, who is a physical therapist, and he looked at it and wrapped it up a ton.  He said he will help me do exercises to heal it and stuff. I got a blessing last night by Elder Schneider (who is going home tomorrow and who was my trainer), and it was very special and I felt a lot better afterwards to be honest. I had 3 of my comps in the circle giving me the blessing and 2 other Elders who I'm very close with. I love my friends out here on the mission and am grateful for the priesthood.

Just this morning I said goodbye to Elder Schneider... one of my best friends and a true brother in Christ.  I won't lie... it was hard. We had gone through so much and I'll eternally be grateful for his service and for our fun times! 

Well, I'll let you all know next week how things are going.  Sorry again for not doing a good email ... a lot has been going on but I'm still going. Nothings going to stop me!! 

Love,

Elder Taylor 

Elder Schneider and Elder Taylor

Sacred feelings become Sacred memories

Hey everyone!  I've had a crazy last week that was really awesome but a ton of things happened. I don't know if I can type it all out but I'll summarize a lot of it. 

Wednesday we went up to Magdalena and visited a few people then I had to go and do a baptismal interview in Alamo for Tatiana. Then I had to rush back to get to our correlation meeting with the ward mission leader. We drove around crazy that day. At the end of her interview I had her pray, and it was the most sincere prayer ever. I felt her literally talking and thanking our Father that she's able to be baptized and join the church. Tears were in her eyes and I promised her as the Lord's representative that He is pleased with her and He rejoices in her decision! 

Thursday I had to get up at 5:30am to leave for a leadership meeting in Albuquerque. There were 2 brothers from the missionary department in Utah that came and taught us some really awesome things on the simplicity of sharing the Gospel. Having the Spirit and testifying, but focusing on the Gospel of Jesus Christ which is: faith, repentance, baptism, Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. It was great to see all of my buddies again. One of my best buds just got called as AP so that's cool! 

Friday we had zone meeting.  I got to share some things and insights from the MLC meeting the day prior. I did a ton of role plays and the missionaries really grasped the concept very well.  Great miracles will come from the training. 

Saturday was the lady from Alamo's baptism.  Her name is Tatiana Sam and she's my "Shi da." I really felt honored that she asked that I baptize her. I guess that is the benefit of being moved to the next area over and being able to baptize and attend that special day for her. Her family is all really solid; probably the best in Alamo when it comes to the Gospel. The water was SUPER shallow so I had to really dunk her low but all went well. I felt the Spirit so strong. 

Sunday had a big activity after church for lunch to help a non-member family get closer to the members and feel a part of the family. It was really cool. The newly married couples here that go to the Tech College are awesome and are always willing to help. 

Monday was "Missionary Monday" at the temple and boy was it special. Once we were walking up to the temple someone commented on barely remembering to bring their recommend and I came to realize that I forgot mine and were like almost 2 hours away.  So I told the people in the temple and they were really cool and one went to talk to Preisdent Miller to ask if I could get an interview real quick then go in. The guy comes back and said that President Miller told me to tell you that you owe him a chocolate shake!   haha He said to go in and change and enjoy your session.  SUPER cool.  I just got to go in and my worries all went away. Man I love my mission president. The temple was super special and sacred for me. I felt the Spirit so strong and to renew my covenants again was really powerful.  I felt forgiveness for my past mistakes from the last 7 months and now feel like a new clear man ... striving to do even better before I return in October to the temple again. 

I learned a lot and my mission president gave us a special promise and blessing that I won't share (just through a letter) but really was special and has changed my mindset on a lot of things! 

Well, my thoughts for the week are this... all of my most clear and fond memories have been the sacred spiritual feelings I have had in my life, even from before my mission. MANY have come to my mind the past few weeks and I love it. The baptism and then the temple were just so amazing to me, and gave me perspective on my purpose as a missionary and how real the Plan of Happiness is and how we truly are just here to be servents to those in this life as well as those in the next. Cherish all of the spiritual moments in your life when you have felt God communicate directly to you.  Then record it so that you and your posterity for generations down will feel that same Spirit you did when you wrote it. 

Love always,

Elder Taylor 

The baptism!! Love this family.

The boyz!  Love these Elders.  I have 5 companions in that photo right there.  Such a blessing to somehow be with almost all of my companions in the temple that day. 

Sister Brown.  She is from Laie, Hawaii and always gives me the Hawaiian goodies she gets sent to her.  Auntie Winnie was her teacher in Hawaii so she knows Uncle Morris and Amanda.  Also, Elder AhLoy is in the picture because he was born in Hawaii and is a 'lil Hawaiian! haha 

This is a real email i just got from someone I baptized. This is real and how hard the adversary works against those who choose to follow Christs example and be baptized a member of His true Church ... the adversary never quits and gives up on trying to lead us away from truth! So proud of how strong she is to realize that this gospel is the most important thing in her life, not her friends... we need to all follow this example and show this kind of faith. 

"Hi, i just wanted to write to you because i was feeling a bit down and everyone else I text and talk to aren't up listening to what i had to say. LOL Well ever since my baptism i've been feeling great except for today, i was doing fine until some person just got tell me "I can't talk to you and be around u anymore because ur a mormon now". I was in shock, i was speechless and of all my feelings were hurt. I feel like crying here and just let it all out but i said to myself in my heart "No matter how many friends or relatives or people i care about i lose just because of my religion is not worth my time fighting for because i know God/Jesus Christ have a plan for me and if his plans were to not have these people in my life then it's probably for the better" I don't know how to take this in or how to move from it all i know is that it's already making me think a lot and making me feel sick to my stomach. I'll just have to endure to the end. Sorry i just needed to vent and needed someone to talk to that i can trust".

Growing Experiences

Here in Socorro it has been quite strange in the weather... there has been 50 mph winds but not lately.

Well, I'm just going to start telling about my past few days and I hope I can put it in words.

Last week someone I knew on Alamo passed away.  I used to call him "Grandpa."  I didn't talk to him too much but he would wheel his wheelchair in to listen to us at times. He lived at one of my families house on Alamo so it was hard to hear he had passed. Well, the Alamo Elders called and told me that the Apachito family had asked that I:  1) say the opening prayer at the funeral  2) Be the Master of Ceremonies (conduct the funeral), 3) Give the scripture, 3) Dedicate the grave, and 5)  say the closing prayer.  There was only one thing on the program that I was not asked to do. Of course I was honored that they asked the elders to ask me but that was a ton to do for just one person. Well, after district meeting I had exchanges with my last comp Elder AhLoy and it was great to be with him as companions again and he was happy to be with his "trainer" again. Well, that day was just busy and we had to print off the programs for them because no one had a copy machine on Alamo and that ended up taking until almost 10. Then we had to get back, plan, change and then I still had to figure out what I was going to talk on at the funeral the next morning. I got to bed at midnight, woke up early and then talked to my mission president.  He explained how to preside over a funeral (especially at a funeral home and not a church), and then how to dedicate a grave.

When I got there I glanced over and saw my "Shi Ma" Anita who I hadn't seen since I left Alamo;  she had just lost a loved one and she began to cry and opened her arms to hug me and cried in my chest as I comforted her. A moment I won't ever forget was when I then saw my "Shada" Angelita (her daughter) and she came up and cried and hugged me. It was a special reunion for all of us ... they truly are family.  Then we went in and there was the viewing.  I stood at the door to welcome people in. After hearing a few people crying I got used to it. But, at the end it was harder; in the native culture they scream and wail and cry when they see the person one last time before they close the casket.  Then there are always two people who basically drag them out while they are crying and screaming, and saying something in Navajo that I couldn't understand... that really shocked me to see people I knew doing that and it made me even more nervous for this event. I said a prayer then we followed a line of cars a hour away up to Alamo to the grave site.

Now, for one side note, I felt sick that morning and felt bloated and stomach pains that were super annoying and on the way up to Alamo they got even worse. Also, something that came to my mind that morning was that the last funeral I have been to was my mother's,  and I spoke at her funeral as well.  This thought brought back a lot of memories and nerves as well.

We got there and I conducted the rest of the services, which were really short and sweet, and I got to bear my witness to everyone of our Father's love and of Christ ... and how we will ALL see and be with our loved ones who have passed. Also, mind you, it is all dirt where we are and there was a TON of wind at the current time which made it even more of an adversity, but as I walked up to the head of the casket and began to dedicate the grave all of the sudden the wind calmed down.  It became more quiet and the Spirit was present. Then, when I closed it got crazy and windy again. That whole morning I was pleading to the Father to make me feel better, to not be sick, and to not mess up a funeral (which I thought was insane that I'm just a 20 year old kid asked to do something like this but then again " NOT MY WILL ".)   As they began to lower him and put the dirt in I had to go to the car two times because I felt too sick. Finally I asked the Crofts (senior missionaries on Alamo) if I could go to their place to get some medicine. Well, as I got there I went into the bathroom and lets just say I threw up a ton in the tiolet and yea... no more details than that!  haha  I was like green and pale. Then I kept doing that a few times in and out then decided I should head back home.  As I sat in the jeep to go back home I had to open the door and began throwing up again. BUT the Lord did answer my prayer that the rest of the drive home I wouldn't have to go to the bathroom or throw up, and I didn't.  But that was the longest 1 hour drive of my life! When i got back my prayer ended its protection and it happened one more time.  Then I went to a doctor's house in the ward and he gave me medicine and a blessing and I got better from that point on... just super weak. 

Now, there are many lessons to be learned here. As I stated earlier "NOT MY WILL". I kept saying in my prayers all that morning and afternoon, "Father remove this from me.  Let me just feel good.  All I want to do is your work; help me not be sick. I don't want to mess up this funeral, BUT not my will but thy will".

And guess what... it really was His will. He had a sense of humor or something and pushed me to my ends, but He did take care of me and answered me but did it in His timing. The experience of taking on a great responsibility, which to me was big, of conducting and doing basically the whole funeral taught me so much and I felt that I matured more and grew. Also, I've experienced physical obstacles battling against me, and I've learned to sometimes just trust in God and keep going;  saying "not my will... and I'll just wait until you take this from me, but I'll keep doing what i have to." Then I had emotional and spiritual adversity as my stress and physical trials grew the adversary worked on my mental side; bringing up my mom and her funeral, and other flashbacks (which most were tough for me).  They weren't the best memories I have and it began pounding on my shield of faith. But, as I was about to drop my shield and weapon someone else came to help fight back... the Savior. I was using the Atonement that whole day.  I used it to ask forgiveness of my slothfulness, to make my weak mind strong , to pick me up and give me hope that I could do a funeral with no experience.  I used the Atonement to help me overcome the temptations of bad memories, to continue in my physical sickness and pains and to help fill the gap of any of my inadequacies that I had  that day.

The SAVIOR cares.  The Savior did much more than die for our sins... He created a way to help us in EVERY SINGLE aspect of our life; that if we turn to Him we might finish the task. He overcame ALL so that with Him we might stand TALL. Even if you have no strength to stand He will lift in all aspects and will continue to fight for you.

Sunday I was worried I might not be able to go out and do the work I love most in this life.  There were only 2 navajo members at church ...  the rest were non-members who don't believe in what we do.  I testified as a humble and feeble servant that there is a plan...that Christ was ressurected and so will Davis Lee Guerro.  We all will be resurrected and I know the words came not from me but the Savior.

That day and this last weekend has taught me so much that I can't even type it all out... or include  all of the other things that have recently happend, but my heart is full of love and appreciation to God and my fellow men in whom I serve.

I testify that if you look more deeply into your life, if you find out the "WHY ME" in all things, that you will receive more direction and insight as to why. Although there might be obstacles that may be present you can think, "OK, NOT MY WILL, BUT THINE BE DONE" and then you will recieve your growing experiences.

Will All My Love,

Elder Justin Taylor 

This is the closest thing I have to a beach here...when it rains a lot and fills up with water. Too bad I don't have a surfboard with me to go down on! ha

There is this less-active in our ward that I call "Old McDonald" because he's a awesome old farmer guy and he's got a ton of animals. This llama didn't like me too much when I was trying to feed it... I felt like Napoleon Dynamite right here.

Radom pic of reading the Book of Mormon on this train track...

 props to my companion for the picture.

Money Machine

Hey everyone!  For those who read this I hope and pray you all know how much I appreciate the support. It truly shocks me that people even like reading this. 

It has been a great last week, as always; every week is great as a missionary... it is just your attitude that determines it. 

So, last Friday the mission president showed up to my district meeting and that was great... but a surprise too.  I gave one of my favorite trainings. It was definitely revelation through the Spirit on this one and I wish I could share it with you all but it would be too hard to type out to really get the full affect so I'll just type the points and verses associated with it. 

It is in Joseph Smith History.  I spoke on how we can help our investigators follow similar steps as Joseph Smith did to receive his answer or to watch the investigators and see if they have had any similar act in our eyes. 

#1 Recognized a Problem (verse 6)

#2 Reflected (v8)

#3 Questioned (v10)

#4 Searched the Scriptures (v11)

#5 Guidance From the HG/ Revelation (v12)

#6 Real Intent (v14)

#7 Acted (v14-15)

#8 Courage/ Faith (v15-16)

#9 Confirmed Verity, ANSWER (v18)

 

Hope this makes sense.  You'll have to read it and see for yourselves but if not then I guess wait until I'm home and I can teach it to ya'.  It was really cool though. 

Anyways, after the meeting president had interviews and I was last and we talked a lot about things. We basically talked about progression and truly growing into a better and more Christ-like man everyday.  We talked about how much we need to see knowledge and experiences in this life to help us grow.  Well, I told him something that came to my mind two days prior: a mission (or in most of everyone elses case) life, is like a money machine. For me personally it is two years that I have in this " Money Machine of life."  When you get in to one of those money machine things they are blowing a lot of cash all around you and its flying like crazy and your object is to grab as much as you can before the time runs out...  what you grab is what you keep. So, for me, I'm trying to "grab" as many experiences as I can on my mission. The knowledge, experiences and habits I have right now I will take home with me and it will be extra "cash" I have to help make me more spiritually "financial" for when hard times come. I will have these 2 years to truly start my life off on the right foot.

I feel rushed and I hope and pray that I am grabbing as much "money" as I can while I'm on my mission so that when the time is out I will look back at the machine (or mission) and say I came out with so much more than I had when I first entered and I tried my hardest... no regrets. 

"I have learned by experience." Gen. 30:27 

May we all grab as much as we can each and everyday so that when time runs out we will be spiritually rich and full of blessings and mercy from the Lord.

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter remembering Him, but not just on Easter but everday of our lives.

He lives.

Love always,

Elder Taylor 

Hey! Here are some pics.  Sorry I haven't sent any for a long time... been busy!

 But we took some fun ones at the train track after our appointment ! 

Busy Week

Hey! I don't actually have a ton of time this week for a full blog email! 

There's a lot of work to be done here in Socorro and my companion and I are trying to figure out how to turn this area around and show the ward (who haven't had a baptism in almost a year and a half) that there are people here prepared! 

As I have been studying the great missionaries in the Book of Mormon I haven't just been reading them as stories; I believe the Book of Mormon wasn't made to be a book full of history or cool stories but as a guide and instructions to help us prepare to meet our Maker.

Read the scriptures in a way that you may receive revelation, instruction and personal peace. Take their experiences... not their stories! 

Thank you all for the support!

Elder Taylor

God always has His structure

Hey everyone!  Hope you all have had a great week.

CONFERENCE WAS AWESOME. I received great revelation and pray you all did as well.   May we all take from it, plant it, and watch it grow within ourselves. 

Well, I don't have too much to say this week... it was kinda a slow one but I will tell you one profound thing that came to my mind that I'm sure all of you have already studied or knew.

Elder Rasband, of the 70, spoke at General Conference and in the beginning of his talk (if I remember correctly) he said for all of us who raised our right arm to the square and sustained the prophet of God that it meant that we are telling him that we will help take some of his responsibilities from him and do our part in the kingdom of God and basically not leave it all up to the prophet.   

Well, I was reading randomly somehow in Exodus 18: 13-27.  I challenge you all to read it...  I think its really cool. 

Well, in verse 22 it says this: "So it shall be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee."

After this Moses called other leadership and DELEGATED to other worthy men ("priesthood holders") to help him with all of his responsibilities.  Then a few chapters later he calls 70 men... which is the same in Christ's church today. 

I know that God has to always have His structure of things. He has had order and organization for thousands of years and TODAY He has the same structure in His church and the same organization. 

I testify that there are living prophets and apostles on this earth. After General Conference I pondered on why I feel like I know each and everyone of them on a personal and friendship level...? 

Lets look at the Savior... why were people drawn unto Him? and also drawn to His apostles like Peter and John?  It is because those who truly have a open and humble heart and who are looking for guidance will feel the power and authority, will feel the spirit of God and will be influenced for the better.  Then will we know that they speak truth and truly are men of God; which in turn will DRAW you into them and their teachings to you. On top of that they show us through their very strongly-developed Christ-like attributes how the Savior is.  They are examples and all those who seek good things are drawn to Christ or His spokesmen... it is the same. 

Love to you all! 

Elder Taylor 

Picking Things Up

The work here in Socorro has grown even more. We have found 9 more people to teach... the past 2 weeks we have found more investigators than Socorro has had total in a few months! 

I don't have too much time this week to email.... it is transfers and that is why I'm emailing today. Good thing is all of us missionaries are staying so I'm excited about it. We are going to baptize hopefully a lot of people and help others come unto Christ and feel the blessings of the Gospel! 

Yesterday we met up with a couple from Alamo who knew a ton of the people I do and who we ran into on Saturday because the hand of the Lord was in it.  Then we went by yesterday to teach them. He is addicted to all sorts of drugs, had tattoos on his body and his face  with a long pony tail ... but if you looked on the inside of his heart and soul he is my brother; he is a son of our Living God who is the Father of us all. We cannot afford to be "scared" of what people look like or to judge how they might be; God does not... He only cares about who we are today and what will we do to change to be better tomorrow. 

They both have been searching and looking for peace and happiness and answers to life's questions that we were able to help solve. They both accepted the invitation to be baptized into Jesus Christ's true church on the earth and to receive the blessings that come with it. 

At the end of the lesson I asked the husband if he would offer the kneeling prayer and he said he was too scared because it had been too long but said for his wife to do it.  She accepted and gave the most humble prayer I have ever heard. She took a minute to think of what to say, then said, "Tell me if the book of mormon is true."  Then another 2 minutes kneeling and then, "Help us."  Then she wanted me to finish the prayer but I KNOW he heard that prayer and will answer that humble women who has faced the firery darts of the adversary her whole life and will bring light into her soul. 

This work is true and I have been losing sleep, gaining more stress, having more sleepless nights and been on my knees to commune with my father more and more because surely that is what He does for us. 

Love Always ,

Elder Taylor 

P.S. Thanks for all the packages and letters in behalf of my mother! 

Here are some pictures I took my last day in Alamo...Love 'em all!

They are all my family... miss them 

My Shi ma'sana ( "grandma" in Navajo) 

The Tightrope of Life and the Safety Net of the Atonement

Hey everyone,

Had another great week here in Socorro. We had the most successful week this area has had in months...  we taught 20 lessons and got 7 new people who are interested in hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ!! 

I feel on my mission that I am too BLESSED with success. I feel often times I am not working as hard as I could be or am blessed too much for what I am putting in, but that's how the Lord works.  He just needs us to be obedient and to have the right desire then He will fill in all the gaps! 

So, this last week I taught the missionaries and some people this (came up with it a few weeks ago)...

I draw out a tightrope and a safety net.

The tightrope is our life here on earth;  as many of us know it is extremely difficult in this place and many face financial difficulties, family trials, physical trials, etc.   Well, we often times feel unbalanced through all of these difficulties, stressed out, and worried we might fall off. DON'T be so hard on yourself. Think of it this way: how many of us have ever walked on a tight rope before? Well,  how many of us have come to earth before? No one!  This is ALL of our first time here. If we tried right now to walk on a tight rope our first time of course we are going to fall... its destined to happen.  Our Father in heaven understood it the exact same way when He sent us here to earth to be tested... He knew we would fall; we had to. So, don't be hard on yourself.

Next, is the safety net of the atonement .. meaning because Christ has gone through and suffered all of our pains and bad days, trials, sickness, and our weaknesses we too can receive strength from Him. When we fall, we are caught... you WILL be caught and that's a promise we all may receive. But, we are expected to take a breather, to think positive, to tell ourself we can go farther the next time, and to get back on then keep going. The Lord puts us after we use the safety net of the atonement a little bit further from where we fall because, through Christ, when we fall ... we fall forward! 

For all of those who know this already or have experienced this, it is our obligation to tell this to others. Now, imagine for the first time being on one of those tightropes and worried about falling far down and being hurt because you didn't " know" there was a safety net... that would be way more stressful. SO WE MUST ALL share with those who do not know that there is a net to catch them and tell them to not worry,  be their cheerleaders and to encourage them along the tight rope of life and trials. 

Satan uses darkness to dim the end of the tightrope and to dim under it creating the allusion that there is no help, no net but darkness and pain... Christ sends elimination light to brighten the end of the tightrope and to reveal the safety net below you and bring confidence and encouragement to our souls.  

Please share with those who lack this understanding, there is hope...

I have seen MANY many family issues here, and heavy poverty and drug use.  I have been teaching in a home where police can break down their door at any moment and arrest them because of their wrong doing, but seeing in their eye a need for a safety net brings honor to my heart in being able to provide that to them and to direct their paths.

 "But, behold, all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people shalldwell safely in the Holy One of Israel if it so be that they will repent. "

This scripture goes with the tightrope and the atonement. Christ provides this for all of us, if we are willing to give up something and change ans to use his atonement to catch us.

Love ,

Elder Taylor

PS. Its my moms b-day tomorrow.  I pray that all of us will feel of her spirit.  I would ask all who are reading this blog to email, text, call, write or do something for my family that day and tell them a story or experience you have had with my mom! 

I miss her dearly but know that we will be together again as an eternal family! 

Press on. 

New

So these past few days, as some of you know, I have been in a new area. It is Socorro, New Mexico, and it would be a small town to many of you but to me it is a BIG town. ha-ha This area was in my district and is where we would go to shop and stuff so I'm already very familiar with the town! 

I have mainly been doing busy work ALL these days but the few times I've been out we have had great lessons and we have 2 families we're hoping will enjoy our teachings this week. 

The ward leadership is very excited I am down here as a full time missionary and have already heard things about me through the grape vine... ( don't know if that's a good or bad thing) but they know we're here to work and wanna tackle it so they are already giving referrals left and right and wanting to really help us and the work here. They are on board for the Hastening of the Work. 

This area has been DEAD for a long time. There have been no baptisms for over a year, almost a year and a half...!!!  I don't know if there's some cure here but every time anyone gets close they all fall away and it's tough for the ward and especially for the ward leadership. They are kind of down by it ... so I asked if we could bear our testimonies this Sunday and if I could bear mine and they said yes.

I basically introduced myself and said we're here to work our hardest for this cause of the Lord and we need all the help we can get. I promised them that this year they will see MANY baptisms and that the Lord is really working in Socorro for a great cause. And I believe it 100 %!

I like this area because it is a challenge and I love a good challenge. 

Also, my branch president from Alamo has his physical therapy practice down here, so I see him all the time and other people I know from Magdalena and Alamo, so it's great. We work out at the gym, he is there every morning. 

We are teaching a guy named Bruce who got out of prison like 7 months ago and has tattoos all over his arms but he is one of the nicest guys I've ever met. Great heart. He just got married to a member of the church and they are great together. COMPLETE opposites but the Lord truly put them both in each other's life. He is a recovering drug addict like a hard core one.The only thing keeping him from baptism is his parole.  So my Mission President and Bishop and others all wrote a letter to the First Presidency asking for permission to do it sooner, so we will see!! He's SUPER solid. Calls himself a Mormon already. ha-ha 

I miss Alamo. I try not to think about it but I'm looking for every Native American I can find down here to teach! Members in the ward already have names of some Navajos they have tried to work with and are wanting to use me as a resource to help because I guess I "know the people and culture". 

Some of the people I said bye to last week were crying and I got very emotional as we hugged and said "Aqushi" ( Laters) meaning that it's not goodbye but just laters till we see each other again. One was crying in my shoulder saying that EVERY DAY she will pray for me in the morning and in the evening and that she will look out her window every day waiting and hoping for the day when I return again... 

I promised them ALL that I'll be back next February so that helped too :)  

The church is true, if it wasn't I wouldn't be here. I'd probably be in prison somewhere.

Love,
Elder T