Elder Slaugh my Second Son; Mission Weeks 41 & 42; Area: Dalcol; Ponta Grossa, PR, Brasil

 Yoooo, so a lot has happened so let's get into it.

 2 weeks ago

It was my last day with Elder Cutler and we went to a place called Buraco do Padre. Which was really cool. Some members took us out there and we had a great time. Definitely will be going back. Then the next day I said goodbye to both of the Elder Cutlers and I received my new companion…Elder Slaugh. Elder Slaugh is a pretty cool dude. A little quiet but absolutely funny when he speaks. He is from Draper Utah and is a State Soccer player. He has been fitting in perfectly down here. That week was basically walking around, easing him into the mission and helping him get his bearings. We visited many people and we practiced talking and grammar. It's been pretty fun to see his language growth in the past two weeks.

 Batismo!!!

Yo we had our first baptism of the transfer. Our friend Apolo ran up to us last week and said he could be baptized. To explain, his brother João Victor was baptized on the 30th, but his mom wouldn't let Apolo because she said he was too young. Well, on Wednesday, we walked down to the park where we always teach all the kids and he runs out saying “ELDER ELDER ELDER EU VOU BATIZAR, MÃE DEIXOU!!!” He was so excited and we were too. We got everything planned and everything went perfectly, we got him and all of his friends and some family to go and watch. He was so happy after and I gave him a shirt and a tie to wear. They are all great and wonderful kids, and it was Elder Slaugh's first baptism. So, pretty lit!!

 Flying Talk

On Sunday I gave the following talk to the ward. I had basically one night to prepare it so don't judge too harshly, lol.  I'll also send the version in Portuguese:

Good Afternoon brothers and sisters. I'm pretty sure everyone already knows me, but to be safe. I'm Elder Hyatt and I really love Planes. I love them so much that I'm going to talk about them briefly.

A few years ago I was training and practicing to receive my pilots license. A pilot's license is different from any other license because once you have it you are a pilot for the rest of your life and will never need to get a new card. In order to get your license you need to pass 3 tests: first the written exam, second an oral exam, and the last being the actual flight exam. I failed the written test the first time. My dad was not very pleased. However there is a nice thing about the aviation test, it tells you in bold all the things you are horrible at and need to do better. I felt sad and embarrassed because not only did I fail, I failed my dad who was helping me and guiding me and telling me what to do. My dad had paid for the test and to get me the resources to study, but I didn't do everything I could have and I fell short when the test came. It wouldn't be till many months later when I went to college that I would pass the written test after being placed in a large classroom with more people who were all trying to learn. How glad I was after all the effort I put in which allowed me to be a pilot today.

Brothers and sisters I tell this story not just to talk about planes, but because there is an interesting lesson I learned that can be applied to all of us. We are all taking these tests now. Our lives are us taking these tests which our Father in Heaven has paid for. He has given us the resources to study and to practice so that we all can live in the Celestial kingdom with him, but what if we fail in this life. What happens if we finish the written test, but never take the actual flight test? What happens if someone moves on into the next life without ever making a covenant with God? Are they lost forever destined to never return to the presence of the Father? No, they are not. We as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints know that our Heavenly Father had a plan for them and that plan included Temples.

Temples are the House of the Lord. They are the holiest place on the face of the Earth. Their purpose is to help families be eternal, and to help those who failed their tests or who never had the opportunity to take the actual flight test. We know from the scriptures that Christ after his death went and taught those in the Spirit world. I imagine they were probably all sitting down in a classroom taking notes learning so that they could pass the test afterwards. We know with assurity that God loves all his children and wants us all to return to his presence. The Temples are sacred places where we can help our loved ones by performing ordinances on behalf of them. I remember the time I had the opportunity to be baptized for my grandpa Valdo. The strong feeling of joy and peace that I felt, I will never forget. At that moment I knew that he had passed the tests. 

I have been very blessed to be a Missionary here in Ponta Grossa because every 3 weeks we get to go to the temple and I have the opportunity to do the work for my ancestors. When we are there I feel the peace and power of the Lord as a radiant testimony saying, “If ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me.” 

Brothers and Sisters we have a mighty work to do. We need to not take for granted the resources that our Heavenly father gave us. Not just here on earth but for our ancestors as well. They too need our help so they can pass their test and live as an eternal family with us in the life to come. I urge everyone to try and visit the temple as often as possible, for I have received many answers and blessings every time I have gone. I promise you all that you will come to a greater understanding of the beautiful Plan of Salvation the more you do family history and temple work. I'm forever grateful for our Savior Jesus Christ who gave us all a second chance so that we may inherit eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven. I leave with you these things in the sacred name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

 Traveling

As of right now I am on a 2 hour bus ride to Curitiba to meet with President Bikman tomorrow morning…well not exactly. All new missionaries have a training in their first transfer to ask questions to President. So yeah we will be staying with my good friend Elder Araujo who was my Zone Leader, how fun it will be to see him again. Anyway that's basically it for today. Here are some pictures for you all!!

Until next week!

Elder Hyatt

Natal, Ano Novo and Mr. Invincible; Mission weeks 39 & 40; Area: Dalcol, Ponta Grossa, PR, Brasil

 Wow the last two weeks have been interesting, so let's get into it, but first…

Google photos Link: https://photos.app.goo.gl/RsbD9gUFvaoUHSvJ6 

Week of Christmas

It started off with us visiting quite a bit of members the first day and then the following day we left with Luiz Thiago. That day was incredible because we taught 5 of our friends (Apollo, Danillo, João Vitor, Leonardo, and Luiz Paulo) and they all wanted to be baptized on the 30th of December!! It was such an exciting and fun day. We also we back the next day to talk to their parents and it went well, we were even followed by Luiz Paulo who is now saying that he is Elder Hyatt III. It's so cool. The day after we passed by again and talked to them briefly about a Christmas dinner at the church.

The Dinner

So apparently the church Christmas dinners down here are normally for just members because of some dumb reason. I even had a few members say not to bring our new friends to the dinner…well… I did. We brought 9 friends to that dinner and it turned out to be an amazing time where they were playing games and futebol and it just went well. I kinda felt like a single parent because out of the 9 the oldest was 15 and the youngest was 8 years old, so I was basically taking care of all of them alone as my companion was taking care of other things happening throughout the dinner. It was fun and exhausting. I almost wouldn't have eaten if it wasn't for Irmã Lina who noticed that I was doing 3 things at the same time and got me a plate a food. I was very grateful for her and her thoughtfulness.

Weekend 1

The weekend started off with heavy rain while we were at the chapel cleaning. As the downpour was occurring we get a call from Sister Bikman saying to open the back gate. We throw on our rain gear, which was not 100% prepared for the heavy downpour, and we walked outside and opened the gate. We then open the back of their car and President is in a state that I've never seen him before, No tie, top button unbuttoned. I know it's not that crazy, but it is for us when everything we see or talk to him he's in a suit and tie. Anyway we grab our presents from out of the back of his car and run inside. We finish cleaning the chapel, wait a little for the rain to calm down and then we went home to drop off the stuff and then to lunch. The rest of the day was going down with Luiz Thiago, talking to the kids and then yeah the rest of the day. Sunday was chill, all our friends went to church and then after a meeting we ate lunch, worked a bit then met up with Elder Dani Cutler and Elder Speirs for a dinner because the Boada family invited us both. After that we had a second dinner with the Leifields and it was more singing and talking than it was a dinner, but it was awesome. I truly enjoyed talking with their family and their friends who were over. It was a great opportunity to teach and have fun. It was a good Christmas Eve.

1st Christmas

Luckily for us Christmas fell on our P-day! So we started off the day like normal and had our district council meeting in person. After that we sang Feliz Navidad and ate cake and couscous. We then go back to the Leifields for lunch which was amazing as always. Then we met back up with Elder Dani Cutler and Elder Speirs and we went to a river in their area to look around for a bit…it was cool but not worth the time nor the walk, but we had great laughs and talked to a few strangers on the way. We then ate Acaí and called our families. Yeah, that was Christmas.

Week of New Year

Basically we spent the whole week with our boys. I wish I could say more but it's truly just been that and sending a bit of time with people.

Mr. Invincible

Had lunch with a one handed man. When I asked him what happened he began to explain a long and crazy story. When he was in his 20's he caught a grenade with his right hand, from a guy who wanted to kill him, and decided that it would do more damage if he threw it, so he held on and it exploded. (he was in the middle of Coronel Cláudio…a place where I worked…I know the place where it happened) He lost his hand, his body is full of holes, and he lost sight and hearing on his right side. This is just the beginning…he then goes on to explain how people were trying to kill him in the hospital and that he died four times there. He had to have a cow vein put into his left arm so that he could at least still have his left arm. Then he told a story as to how he went to the bank and was in the bus terminal going home when a guy tried to rob him and he broke the guys arm in 3 places. Then he pulls out some medals (all gold) from the Paralimpics where he throws javelin and shot put. He is truly a beast. He also is a president of an organization that I forgot what it is,

 but yeah. This guy was insane and I have an audio of him explaining it.

Baptisms!!

So our young friends all got baptized on the 30th and it was so great and funny. Our buddy Luiz Thiago baptized Danilo, Elder Cutler baptized João Victor, and I baptized Leonardo e Luiz Paulo. It was so fun and after I gave them white shirts and ties. It was lit!!

A Sad End to a New Year

Sunday was great also kinda sad. I received a call Saturday night that I'd be training again, but we weren't told anything else. On Sunday Elder Cutler began telling everyone that he was leaving and it was low-key depressing. We took a few photos and had a great Colombian lunch from Luis e Lina Rojas (basically Mr. and Mrs. Smith). We passed by the boys and told them bye before swinging by the Leifelds where we talked, laughed, and ate great food before having to leave because President said we all needed to be home by 6pm. We then raced to Luiz Thiago and told his goodbye and gave him a hug and then walked home. Within the next two hours we got a call from Elder Clawson (AP) saying that I'd be training here in Dalcol and that Elder Cutler would be transferred to Bonsucesso with Elder Canova. It was really sad because Elder Cutler got emotional and he slowly began to pack a few things with some tears in his eyes.

End of 6th Transfer

We have reached the end. Tomorrow I'll receive my new companion and begin his training and I'll sadly say goodbye to Elder Dani Cutler (he is being transferred to Curitiba and becoming a District Leader) and Elder Matt Cutler. It's kinda rough, but it'll all turn out as it should I'm gonna miss all the great and fun times that we all had on P-days. Oh well, I guess it's time to look on the bright side I fault 10 Transfers = 1 year and 3 months. That's pretty crazy. Anyway here are some pictures and I am wishing you all a Happy New Year!!! 

Spiritual thought next week I promise…

Elder Hyatt

Elder Indiana Jones Hyatt, Luiz Thiago, and a "Hit Man", ...3 Weeks Later; Mission Weeks 36, 37, 38; Area: Dalcol; Ponta Grossa, PR, Brasil

 Yoo!!

So I haven't written in about 3 weeks, but hey that's ok both a lot and not a lot of things have happened these past three weeks. Let's just hop into it.

The Story of Luiz Thiago

This story actually begins 2 months ago in the first week we were ever in this area. Elder Jenkins and Elder M. Cutler found him during a split where he was sad and feeling down because he lost his father only a couple weeks earlier. They talked with him briefly and they learned he was a baptized as a kid but fell away from the church when he was 12, but he didn't want to come back to church.. A week after Elder M. Cutler and I passed by him and we just talked and got to know him. A few days after that we went back over and I don't remember all that I said, but we invited him to church and I gave him a 10 minute talk. That Sunday he went to church and on Tuesday we passed by him and talked about church and the mission. He didn't want to serve, and his mother started crying because she made him a whole book for whenever he was going to go serve his mission, but she gave it to me. After receiving the book and peeking through it I began to speak directly to Luiz Thiago and the words I said I cannot recall, but the Spirit I felt was strong. That night he said a prayer asking God for something specific to happen and he promised that he would go back to Church and serve a mission if that specific thing happened. He never told us what he asked for, but the next evening it happened and the day after he told us he wanted to serve a mission. Since then he has been going with us to teach people for the past month and a half and it's been amazing. He has a crazy life story where he's basically broken all the commandments except for the 6th and has completely repented, recovered, and now stronger than ever. He alone stopped drinking and smoking within the week and completely changed. We had the opportunity to go with him to the temple for his first time this week and he loved it. He is such an incredible man and he's only 18. His whole story reminds me of a verse in the Book of Mormon: Moroni 6:8 ‘But as oft as they repented and sought forgiveness, with real intent, they were forgiven.’ We now basically live at his house because of how often we pass by to steal him to go do visits together. He gave me a São Paulo futebol jersey this week because that's his favorite team. 

New Fit!

A few weeks back we went to a country store where I bought short boots, basically they are called ‘botinas’. Then I learned that we could wear certain hats to block the sun, and my dad sent me a nice hat. Just this last P-day I got a new leather bag to do visits with, and I now have the fit of a very iconic character that I think most people know of. I am now Elder Indiana Jones Hyatt. I don't have a full body picture yet of me wearing it all, but I'll take one eventually. It's actually funny how many people called me that when I started walking around with everything, but let me tell you a hat is so freaking nice. When it's 98°+ humidity and an intense sun with no clouds in sight, a hat is a blessing. Not only does it provide shade and block out the sun it just nice in general.

That Happened

So we had a guy named Valdir that we invited to be baptized and he accepted and said he really wants to change his life around. We were so happy and excited. We set goals and plans for him to stop smoking and drinking and to get to church. It was going well up until one night we passed by and Valdir was a little tipsy. While we were there talking to him he told us that he was a hitman and has killed many people…and then he offered us burgers. It was a interesting conversation to say the least. So yeah, I have officially met and taught a Brazilian hitman on my mission! That's crazy.

Other Stuff

-Went to the temple with Luiz Thiago for his first time.

-Elder M. Cutler fell into a sewer drain as we were walking home one night.

-We had a Christmas devotional with the whole mission.

-We played basketball with random kids and they put us in a basketball group so that we can all meet up again sometime.

-Two kids we talked to went to church alone and one of the kids (Luiz Paulo) gave me a bracelet.

-I was completely drained of all the energy in my body yesterday, but it was still a good day.

-Elder M. Cutler got a tiny Christmas tree and lights, but he didn't understand the box of lights because when we got home and he opened it up it was all just red lights. So our main room just has deep red lights now.

-Today (12/18) we celebrate Elder Dani Cutler’s birthday so yeah today should be fun.

Honestly and sadly that's truly it for the past 3 weeks. Like I said both a lot and not a lot of things have happened. 

Miracles yesterday, today, tomorrow; Mission Week 34 and 35; Area: Dalcol; Ponta Grossa, PR, Brasil

 Bom Rapaziada? Tranquilo como um esquilo nadando em um rio?

(Ya Good Guys? Tranquil like a squirrel swimming in a river?)

Welcome to another week of the day and the life of Elder Hyatt. Last week was my last week of my 5th Transfer which puts me at 8 months on the mission as of today. I honestly am shocked it's been 8 months already. Man time really does fly when you forget yourself and go to work. I have had many great experiences in these past two weeks and an entire update in my mentality, so let's talk about it.

Past Two Weeks

To get started, last week was kinda not the greatest week for us. I don't know what happened, but yeah it was a little rough. I mean it wasn't, but looking back on it now it seems like it was a tougher week. I did have great experiences our ward put on a talent show and I participated in that and played two songs that I wrote. Then we also had our friend Daniel get baptized. It was a crazy lead up to the baptism, but it ended up going well so that's what really counts right. Also went back to Jardim Florença again, I guess I can't seem to fully leave my first area hahaha. The the great and marvelous Cristiano (our personal batman kinda) helped us out quite a bit. I'll talk more about him later. Lastly, our neighbors Kratos and his family moved to a new neighborhood. We got to help, but it was a little sad because they always made us a little something to eat every now and then. That was basically last week err two weeks ago whoops.

This week has been better. Started off by having transfers on Monday and yeah we are still in the same place. We left a few times this week with Luis Thiago to visit a boat load of people. Luis Thiago was a member since he was a little kid, but basically stopped going to church after wards. In our first few weeks we would pass by his house occasionally and talk to him and his mom. Now he has returned back to Church, stopped doing a lot of bad stuff, and is preparing to go serve a mission. He received the Priesthood Sunday and is preparing to baptize his sister and his cousin. Pretty cool right? 

Then of course Thanksgiving…which was just a normal day because they don't celebrate it here. For dinner we had fried chicken that Luis Thiago made us and we put it on bread and we ate that. Yep it actually wasn't a bad Thanksgiving, but not like how it normally is at home. We were able to call our parents and I looked and the table and saw all of the great food…I do miss a good turkey. We then did splits with Elder D. Cutler and Elder Speirs. I went with Elder D. Cutler my old companion and we had a great day visiting people and just relaxing. I realized I've been so tense that I haven't even been giving myself a chance to fully relax. It kinda sucks because I have never felt that way before. I was not the happiest the past two weeks if I'm being completely honest, but that all changed Saturday when I don't know what hit me but I felt amazing and full of energy. It was great. Maybe it's because I've ended up changing my mindset again…and probably because my companion challenged me to do 100 push-ups and now I do 100 everyday. Who knows what actually happened, but since then I've felt great and confident and ready to take on anything! It's funny how that kinda just happens.

Random stuff

-I've worn the same pair of shoes for the past 8 months… they are completely smooth on the bottom and have holes in the soles and somehow I have holes in the leather…probably from all the defending from dogs we do hahaha.

-Turns out it's pretty easy to do 100 push-ups everyday

-It's Summer and rainy and we are wearing sweaters and it's chilly… the only other place it does this is Missouri

-Met an opera singer who can speak 5 languages and sang with Andrea Bocelli (don't know how to spell the guys name)

-Turns out you can do anything you put your mind to

-Learning a new language is hard but not impossible...

-Sometimes you just wear a poncho because you can

-Try before you deny and after you fail try again until you win

The Batman: Cristiano

Cristiano is the greatest man alive and I know that's strong words, but just trust me. I've known Cris for about 8 months now and let me tell you he is a dedicated man and a man of miracles. He has a miracle that happens everyday and its because he is always looking for one. He says that the Lord is always doing miracles for and through us. We just need to actually learn to notice them. I started focusing on that and you really don't realize how many miracles appear. We have had so many great and many things that an email wouldn't cover it all. Now why is he The Batman? Because you call and he arrives and does anything and everything for you. He drives a Black car and can appear out of no where to assist. He is big and strong and saves many missionaries from situations like arriving late at home, or transferring to a new area, or just helping out in the area. He is just awesome and every time I talk with him I'm inspired to do better.

Miracles

Speaking about miracles I'd like to talk about them briefly. Miracles don't have to be something big or grand. They can small things that happen or occur that benefits you or another person. I have seen great and many miracles here on the mission.

One of which is a woman we are teaching, her name is Rute. She lost her husband a year ago and has been struggling with a few things recently. One day she was at a lake here in Ponta Grossa when two Elders walked up and began talking with her. She was very impressed by what they said about life after death because she explained that she isn't super religious but she doesn't like going to the internet to get answers, so she studied the Bible. During her study she formed her own concept of what would happen and this hope that she would see her husband again. As it turns out she formulated exactly what we believe and the Elders explained that to her. They then passed it over to us as a reference because she lives in our area. When we went to go talk to her she brought us in and then proceeded to talk about all the miracles that occurred in her life after talking with the other Elders. At the end of our conversation Elder Cutler invited her to come to church with us and she said, “I had a dream that I was sitting in a pew in a beautiful white church with my Mom (who also passed away) telling me to stay awhile longer, and then I saw him (pointing to Elder Cutler) with his hand outstretched inviting me to go.” It was a miracle. She went to church and found her best friend Irmã Adriane Valentim and loved the feeling and everything so much. She made us cake this last time we passed and she had a ton of questions, but we were able to answer them all. It was another miracle that that morning I studied all the scriptures that I would need to help her. It was awesome. 

Now why do I tell this story…because miracles still happen and sometimes they aren't grand. It is often the smallest and simplest thing that makes the greatest difference and sometimes that is also a gift from God. Be aware of the miracles that have been happening around you, and I invite you all for the rest of this week to focus on all the miracles that happen everyday. Find at least one miracle a day and write it down. Afterwards, I want you to look back at all the things you have written and realize how many miracles God has given you, is giving you, and will give you. God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow and will be eternally. Open your eyes and you will see all the miracles that he has in store for you. He wants to bless you. He wants to help you. Let him, and when you are done thank Him.

The Meek and Lowly of Heart; Mission Week 32 & 33; Area: Dalcol; Ponta Grossa, PR, Brasil

 Another two weeks have passed so I'm now going to explain what all has happened.

Two weeks ago we were working a ton in our area and have been working with the Rogalski Family. They are a family of 5 where the Dad is in a wheelchair. They are such an awesome family. They make food and tea and we have played some futebol with them. It's just been a blast. We had the amazing opportunity to help them get baptized that same Saturday. It was kind of a funny mess because I ended up forgetting to tell them the time of the baptism and when we showed up they were ready and had plans to go to a park. While I was beating myself up about that and praying that everything could somehow turn out alright, Elder Cutler with his broken Portuguese was talking with the family about going. I guess a mixture of the two must have worked because they changed their minds and got all excited to be baptized. The entire family went and brought one of their cousins Elias and the dad's caretaker Daniel. It was a very spiritual day and an amazing opportunity. Elder Cutler baptized the whole family by himself and it was his first time doing it all in Portuguese so I was very proud of him. I had to help carry the dad into the water and then help him so that he could also get back out. It was just a testimony of their faith that they went through all the trials and difficulties and they all were able to be baptized together. Since then we have been teaching their cousins who live across the street and it's going very well. Elias and Daniel both want to be baptized as well and so we are helping them gain that understanding and strengthening their testimonies. 

I also had the opportunity to do a division with one of the Assistants to the Mission President, Elder Child. Let me just start off by saying he is pretty darn cool. He is from Chicago and probably one of the most intelligent missionaries I have ever met on the mission. We had the opportunity to work in my first area 31 de Março e Jardim Florença again. I seem to keep returning to that area to help all the time. We had an awesome lunch with Irmã Glaurys e Irmão Luiz, went and visited people with America, Elias, e Douglas, and then to finish off the day Irma Cris made us an amazing chocolate cake before we had to Uber home. It was a great day to return and talk with a bunch of people and check on Mateus, Ariane, e Yan. It was just a good day of hard work and a lot of fun plus food.

That week we also had an opportunity to serve some people whose roofs got destroyed because of the hail that passed through. One of the days we helped get food, water, clothes, cleaning supplies, blankets, etc.. for many people who were in need. On Sunday after lunch we went to another area and we were changing the roofing with some of the members. It was an amazing experience that I will not forget.

This past week has been good as well. We have this awesome 18 year old young man name Luiz Thiago who stopped going to church a few years back and was big into drinking and smoking. Since we got here in Dalcol we have been visiting him every week. I remember the last time we were there, about 2ish weeks ago, he told us that he didn't think he'd be good in church or even as a missionary, and I remember talking to him about another missionary that I met here who already went home, who may not have been the greatest missionary, but he made a difference in the lives of the people he taught and in the lives of other missionaries. He had his faults and a rocky past, but he still served until the end and had many great experiences. I remember telling him some advice that was given to me by one of my greatest scout masters and mentors, Jim Caldwell. After a long conversation I invited him to pray about and ask to see what God would have him do. Let me tell you, when we went back there was a different light to him. He went to church alone that past Sunday and then told us that he prayed. He said that he asked God to tell him what he should do and that he will do whatever it takes to follow that advice. He then told us that he received a response to return to church and to serve a mission. Within a week he stopped partying, drinking, and smoking and is studying the scriptures to prepare himself to serve a full-time mission. On Thursday he went out with us and we visited a ton of people with him, and in each lesson I could feel the power of the spirit and I saw his large potential to make a difference in the lives of many. It truly made my whole week. He is bringing all his family, who also stopped going to church, back to Church and he walks around with his greater hope and joy like I've never seen before. It was truly a change of heart and mind for him.

We got to go to the temple this week, my companion and I left a little late and for the first time ever the bus actually left on time. The one time that we leave just slightly late is when the bus leaves on time. We were walking to the church with the bus insight, maybe 1-2 minutes away, and it just leaves. We call the LZs and luckily they didn't go far at all and we were still able to get on the bus and go to the Temple. It was almost a close call, but guaranteed will never happen again.

We also had Stake Conference and it went pretty well. Afterwards we had great food with a bunch of members and they just kept feeling us cake. Might gain back some pounds in this area.

Now I'd like to turn the attention to the title. I've been counseling a lot with my companion this past week and a few of the things he said made me stop and ponder about me and what I could be doing better. I ended up doing a study into an amazing talk by Elder David A. Bednar called "The Meek and Lowly of Heart". I'll link it later on, but it is amazing when you stop and ponder on what it actually entails. I'll only highlight a few parts. Firstly, what does it mean to be meek? Isn't it the same as humility? It's not the same. I love this quote from Elder Bednar's talk, "Whereas humility generally denotes dependence upon God and the constant need for His guidance and support, a distinguishing characteristic of meekness is a particular spiritual receptivity to learning both from the Holy Ghost and from people who may seem less capable, experienced, or educated, who may not hold important positions, or who otherwise may not appear to have much to contribute." You can be humble and still not be meek or lowly of heart. Meekness is a defining attribute of the Redeemer and is distinguished by righteous responsiveness, willing submissiveness, and strong self-restraint. In the talk, Elder Bednar uses great examples to illustrate the three. I was pondering on how I could do those same three things. Righteous responsiveness, what that entails is doing what you are asked to do. Pretty simple right? How about doing it as soon as possible and not pushing it off until way later. How often do we know we have something that we should do and we think it doesn't apply to us or we procrastinate until a later time. How often does that happen? The Meek will adhere to what others say and work immediately to do what was asked. I realized I was pretty bad at that. I would wait and push things off out of disinterest, laziness, or whatever reason I'd make up. In reality we should be more willing to listen and apply what people tell us to do. It's an attribute of meekness. You also need to be willing to submit. Now I'm not saying to always do what others say, but just like in the gospel if we want pure happiness we should submit and follow the commandments of the Lord at every moment. It's why it's called the Plan of Happiness because when we submit to the will of our Heavenly Father and do all that we can we will have more happiness in our lives. The most important aspect is self-restraint. I've been focusing more on that. It can be restraint on being angry, but also on judging others. Self-restraint also means to actually accept when you are wrong and not try to justify yourself. We all make mistakes and we all aren't the same, but that doesn't mean we always have to be right or be better than someone else. If you can't have a normal conversation with someone even in a disagreement then you have need to be more meek. "Meekness is strong, not weak; active, not passive; courageous, not timid; restrained, not excessive; modest, not self-aggrandizing; and gracious, not brash. A meek person is not easily provoked, pretentious, or overbearing and readily acknowledges the accomplishments of others." I could go on and on, but I invite all people to become more like the Savior Jesus Christ and be Meek and Lowly of Heart. I promise you that you will see differences. You will be happier. You will feel the spirit more than you do now and it's amazing. I would recommend focusing on the attributes of Christ and actually strive to apply them. I have felt more love of the Savior and have gained a greater understanding of myself. Trust in the Lord with all thy Heart! Love you all! Talk next week!

Elder Hyatt