Week 75- Merry Christmas! #ShareTheGift

Random bird we found at our apartment complex!

My companion Elder Price & I 

(and some photo bombers)!

Merry Christmas!!

What a wonderful time of the year when so many more people in the world remember our Savior and his priceless gift to us--The Atonement.  As I've learned to more fully use that Gift, I've been able to feel more joy in my life.  I can testify confidently that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ and that They want the best for us. I can feel my Savior's love.  It amazes me how Heavenly Father can change us, when we do our best to have a Christlike character and help others around us. Truly remarkable!

Although serving in the Young Single Adults Stake is soooo different than serving in Family Stakes, I am LOVING it!! We cover 4 wards. Our area goes up to the University of Utah Campus, so we cover two student wards!  Our area also reaches down to 40th South in SLC, which is about 20 blocks out of the mission boundaries!  But we are given permission to go because two of our YSA wards meet down there :)  It's so much fun!  We are teaching quite a few people.  Liz is an investigator from Vietnam.  Aubreyis an investigator from Maine. Darius is a recent convert from Chicago!  And there many more!  We were able go with a recent convert to the Salt Lake Temple to watch her do Baptisms for the Dead for the first time!  We were able to do confirmations and be the witnesses for the baptisms :)  I love being able to meet new people and for the opportunity that I have to bear my testimony so frequently. I love the mission!

My mission President, President Hansen!

This past week we had our Mission Christmas Party. President Hansen (Mission President) shared a story once told by President Hinckley that I wish to share with you, because it touched my heart.  If you have just a second to read it, please do.  I promise you won't be disappointed.

“Years ago there was a little one-room schoolhouse in the mountains of Virginia where the boys were so rough that no teacher had been able to handle them.

“A young, inexperienced teacher applied, and the old director scanned him and asked: ‘Young fellow, do you know that you are asking for an awful beating? Every teacher that we have had here for years has had to take one.’

“‘I will risk it,’ he replied.

“The first day of school came, and the teacher appeared for duty. One big fellow named Tom whispered: ‘I won’t need any help with this one. I can lick him myself.’

“The teacher said, ‘Good morning, boys, we have come to conduct school.’ They yelled and made fun at the top of their voices. ‘Now, I want a good school, but I confess that I do not know how unless you help me. Suppose we have a few rules. You tell me, and I will write them on the blackboard.’

“One fellow yelled, ‘No stealing!’ Another yelled, ‘On time.’ Finally, ten rules appeared on the blackboard.

“‘Now,’ said the teacher, ‘a law is not good unless there is a penalty attached. What shall we do with one who breaks the rules?’

“‘Beat him across the back ten times without his coat on,’ came the response from the class.

“‘That is pretty severe, boys. Are you sure that you are ready to stand by it?’ Another yelled, ‘I second the motion,’ and the teacher said, ‘All right, we will live by them! Class, come to order!’

“In a day or so, ‘Big Tom’ found that his lunch had been stolen. The thief was located—a little hungry fellow, about ten years old. ‘We have found the thief and he must be punished according to your rule—ten stripes across the back. Jim, come up here!’ the teacher said.

“The little fellow, trembling, came up slowly with a big coat fastened up to his neck and pleaded, ‘Teacher, you can lick me as hard as you like, but please, don’t take my coat off!’

“‘Take your coat off,’ the teacher said. ‘You helped make the rules!’

“‘Oh, teacher, don’t make me!’ He began to unbutton, and what did the teacher see? The boy had no shirt on, and revealed a bony little crippled body.

“‘How can I whip this child?’ he thought. ‘But I must, I must do something if I am to keep this school.’ Everything was quiet as death.

“‘How come you aren’t wearing a shirt, Jim?’

“He replied, ‘My father died and my mother is very poor. I have only one shirt and she is washing it today, and I wore my brother’s big coat to keep me warm.’

“The teacher, with rod in hand, hesitated. Just then ‘Big Tom’ jumped to his feet and said, ‘Teacher, if you don’t object, I will take Jim’s licking for him.’

“‘Very well, there is a certain law that one can become a substitute for another. Are you all agreed?’

“Off came Tom’s coat, and after five strokes the rod broke! The teacher bowed his head in his hands and thought, ‘How can I finish this awful task?’ Then he heard the class sobbing, and what did he see? Little Jim had reached up and caught Tom with both arms around his neck. ‘Tom, I’m sorry that I stole your lunch, but I was awful hungry. Tom, I will love you till I die for taking my licking for me! Yes, I will love you forever!’”

To lift a phrase from this simple story, Jesus, my Redeemer, has taken “my licking for me” and yours for you."

This story brought quiet tears to my eyes as I thought back to the times when I have so fully depended on Christ to take away my shame and guilt for my mistakes. I have felt the enabling power of the Atonement--the cleansing power.  I cannot accurately describe it to you in words. How merciful our Redeemer is, to take our "licking" for us.  I am eternally indebted to Him.  I know I must devote my life to serving and following Him.  It is the least I can do.

We recently watched a video series by Elder Christofferson called "Daily Bread". He outlines the importance of daily scripture study, prayer, and other simple yet essential things to help us keep on track to joy in this life, and on the road back to our Heavenly Father.  If you haven't (or if you have) seen these three, 3-minute videos, I invite you to watch them (again)!

Daily Bread: Pattern

 Daily Bread: Experience

Daily Bread: Change

So many great things are happening. Life is good. I wouldn't ask to be anywhere other than here in the Utah Salt Lake City Mission. The Lord is good. I hope you have a very merry Christmas and that all is well! Stay close to the Lord and I promise He'll bless you!! :)

#ShareTheGift #HeIsTheGift

Love,

Elder Carroll

My favorite quote this week...

"As I walk daily here on earth,

Give me thy Spirit as I seek

A change of heart, another birth,

And grow, dear Lord, to be like thee." - With Humble Heart (Hymn 171 v. 4)

WEEK 74- Things Erda,Utah Has Taught Me!

Heeeellloooo!!

First things first. Got a call from the Mission President yesterday and he informed us that both Elder Burt and I will be getting transferred this Tuesday! They are combining 2 zones into 1 and so a lot of things are getting switched around. I'm headed to downtown Salt Lake to serve in the Pioneer YSA stake! I'm sad to leave Erda and the many friends I've met here, but I'm excited to see who and what the Lord has prepared in Salt Lake City!

I have learned so much over the past few months here in good ol' Erda. Here's a few of them:

1.) You can never have enough property to live on.

2.) How to castrate cows.

3.) Steak is the best meal a farmer has to offer.

4.) How to harvest honey from over 100 live bee hives.

5.) Many hands make light work.

6.)Farmers be packin'.

And now for more of the spiritual lessons learned:

1.) Patience is a virtue.

2.) We must care about others needs before our own. Turn outwards rather than inwards.

3.) The Lord is willing to give if we are willing to act.

4.) We must work hard to bring our standards/will up to God's, not the other way around. That's called apostasy.

5.) God is very aware of all of His children and their circumstances/needs.

6.) God knows what we need better than we do.

7.) We must always "stand in holy places and not be moved" (D&C 45). The second we put our guard down, the adversary can jump in. And he will.

8.) We must do all we can to keep our faith strong. Satan feeds on doubts. CPR.

9.) We as members have an ultimate duty to do all we can to help the missionary work move along in our wards. It's the only way.

10.) There is nothing the Atonement can't handle.

I love the mission and what the Lord and His Gospel have to offer. The Gospel is very true, therefor, very important that we do all we can to learn of it and of Him. We'll all be much better off, I promise.

I know Jesus is the Christ and salvation is gained through, and only through, Him.

Love,

Elder Carroll

My favorite scripture this week-"Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself." (2 Nephi 2:16)

Write me at:

Elder Hayden Carroll

1535 S. Edison St.

SLC, UT 84115

WEEK 73- What Does The Gospel Have to Offer Us?

DECEMBER 8, 2014

SALT LAKE CITY TEMPLE pumpkin carving!

Our ZONE!!

People in Erda, love their guns!

Hey!!

I am eternally grateful for this marvelous opportunity that our loving Father in Heaven has given me to serve Him and His children full time here in the field.  My experiences have shown me many things.  I know what I want in life.  I know what can bring true and everlasting happiness.  I know what can happen when we start to think that we know better than God.  Being able to talk to so many different people and see all of their different viewpoints, I now see things in a different light than I ever have before!  Some of the things I've seen and learned hadn’t even crossed my mind before.  I'm grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and all that comes with it.

So what does the Gospel of Jesus Christ have to offer us?  Well just to name a few... Salvation, joy, peace, comfort and knowledge, just to name a few!  Are these things that we as individuals want?  I don't know about you, but I crave them!!  What is this life for if I can't find joy in it? It is sad to come across individuals who don't believe or can’t see how the Gospel can bless them.   All we can do is invite, testify, promise blessings, and live so they can see the fruits of it.  The rest is up to them, if they truly wish to have these blessings.

Recently, we have come in contact with a family who, just a few months ago lost their 13 year old son to suicide :(  They are great and wonderful people, but have never taken the Gospel to heart or considered what it has to offer.  The father mentioned to us that he was an Atheist up until a few months ago, at the loss of his only son.  They are now meeting with us regularly and have so many questions such as… what will happen to their son since he never was taught the Gospel or will they be together after this life? They are turning to God in their time of need.  Please forgive me if this might sound harsh, but it's really sad that it took their own son passing away for them to believe in God.   If we only turn to God when we're in trouble, then we're already in trouble. The Atonement is real and it is never too late in this life to turn things around.   But it would be so much easier if we would only turn to him NOW rather than later or after a horrible tragedy occurring in our lives.

Elder Bednar once said:

"Can the spiritual strength that results from consistent obedience to the commandments be given to another person? Can the knowledge obtained through diligent study and pondering of the scriptures be conveyed to one who is in need? Can the peace the gospel brings to a faithful Latter-day Saint be transferred to an individual experiencing adversity or great challenge? The clear answer to each of these questions is no." (Converted Unto the Lord - Oct. 2012 General Conference)

If you haven't seen or read this talk, I invite you to do so. He outlines the vital importance of being converted for ourselves so that in time a need or tragedy, we will have something worthy to fall back on.

READ Elder Bednar's talk HERE!

WATCH THE VIDEO!

The Gospel has everything to offer us.  If only people would test it out and see for themselves, the blessings it has to offer.  I know the Gospel has these things to offer because I have seen it work firsthand.  I have witnessed  the divinity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.   Joseph Smith saw what he said he saw and  I have no doubts of that!

Joseph Smith's First Vision of God & Jesus Christ

Hope all is well, stay close to the Lord.

Love,

Elder Carroll

My favorite scripture this week: Alma 36:24-25 (24) Yea, and from that time even until now, I have labored without ceasing, that I might bring souls unto repentance; that I might bring them to taste of the exceeding joy of which I did taste; that they might also be born of God, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

(25) Yea, and now behold, O my son, the Lord doth give me exceedingly great joy in the fruit of my labors;

My favorite quote this week: 

"I need thee ev'ry hour;

Stay thou nearby.

Temptations lose their pow'r

When thou art nigh." (I Need Thee Every Hour - Hymn #98 v.2)

Week 72- HE is the GIFT! #ShareTheGift

Tagging, branding, and castrating cows!!  OUCH!

Hellooooooo!!

I am happy to say that I am still alive and well (and 15lbs heavier) after having FIVE Thanksgiving meals this past week!!  Life of a Utah Salt Lake City missionary! Haha  They take good care of us :)

Thanksgiving "card" from my family! lol

So now that Thanksgiving is over, we roll into the great season of CHRISTMAS! What a wonderful time of the year. The Spirit is more constantly in the air. Why? Because there is MORE Christ! Mas in Spanish means… more! Get it? Haha I thought it was pretty clever!

For this wonderful Christmas holiday, the Missionary Council of the Church (or the First Presidency and the 12) have put forth a HUGE initiative. If you haven't already seen anything about it (which I’m guessing isn't true), it's called "HE is the Gift.”  Emphasis on the HE.  Because CHRIST is the gift.  A gift that is given free to all of us, if we choose to accept it.  Christ is the whole reason we even have Christmas in the first place! So many people are forgetting that.  It is so easy to get wrapped up in the money, gifts, and shiny wrapping paper. We must remember Him!

The Church is doing so many things to get this initiative to as many people as possible, including buying a billboard in Times Square NYC for all of December, buying the YouTube headline advertisement for a day on December 7th, making an amazing video, and making hundreds of thousands of pass-along cards for missionaries and members to hand out to their friends and families! It's crazy!! 

If you haven't seen the video, you can watch here.  

Also visit HE is the GIFT mormon.org/christmas 

Once you have seen the video, please use all your Social Media to post, share, and invite others by using the hashtag #ShareTheGift   Spread the word!!! :) Social Media is going to be a huge game changer for the Hastening of the Work. The Lord is in charge and is taking things to the next level.  Prepare yourselves!

This past Sunday while sitting on the pews in church, I felt a little tug on my shirt and I turned to see a small boy who drew a picture of me on his paint app on his IPad.  He was so proud of it!  Just another great reminder that we as members of His church, are being watched constantly.  Our family and friends (whether we can tell or not) are always looking towards us as an example.  Let us continue to follow in the steps of our Savior and be a "light" unto the world.

A couple of days ago I was able to attend the Temple with a recent convert named Sandy.  She is from one of my last areas! She was baptized before I came into the area, so I had the privilege to work with her on some of the "New-member discussions."  I am so grateful for her and her desire to come closer to the Savior. The Temple is what it's all about!  It's how we "endure to the end". The Temple is the goal!

Sandy (in pink) and her family the Tadler Family!  

They are awesome!

"Because I have been blessed by thy great love, dear Lord,

 I’ll share thy love again, according to thy word.

 I shall give love to those in need;

 I’ll show that love by word and deed:

 Thus shall my thanks be thanks indeed." - Because I Have Been Given Much (Hymn 219)

"Because I Have Been Given Much" performed by Alex Boyé

What an awesome song!  We sang it this past Sunday and this verse really stood out to me.  We can find so much joy in serving others. We must always do our best to do as the Savior and turn outwards, rather than inwards in all situations.

Love you all! Keep up the good work. Hope you have a wonderful week. Stay close to the Lord and I promise he'll bless you.

~Elder Carroll

My favorite scripture this week: "And now, when I, Nephi, had heard these words, I remembered the words of the Lord which he spake unto me in the wilderness, saying that: Inasmuch as thy seed shall keep my commandments, they shall prosper in the land of promise." (1 Nephi 4:14)