July 26, 2018

My dear family and friends, I have been at the MTC for two weeks, and the next time you here from me I will be in Nevada! 

It has been both an amazing and trying week! I don't have a lot of detail to share, because we have been so busy and I don't remember most of what happened. 

I love being here so much, because I see my testimony in the gospel developing in ways I never thought were possible! I learn a lot. We learn about how to become effective teachers, which is hard because I am not the best teacher of anything, but I am doing my very best!

The most important thing that I have learned this week is that we as humans are not capable of understanding the amount of love our Heavenly Father has for us! We know that He is there and loves us.. but he loves is so much that when we follow Him faithfully and diligently we are blessed individually in marvelous ways that we cannot even comprehend. Also, I have learned the importance and power that comes from complete obedience. As missionaries we often say, "Exact obedience brings miricles" and I have come to know that this is so TRUE! We have a lot of rules to live by and I am a stickler to all of them!! I still like to have fun, but I have seen how being obedient has brought blessings into my life that I would not have otherwise! 

I have a lot of friends here, but within the last few days my relationship with them have grown stronger and more exciting! We do stupid little things to entertain ourselves because we have lost the distraction of social media, friends and family, and the hardest part for me...Netflix! We have such a good time together!

Yesterday we got to give tours of the MTC to new missionaries and it was so fun! It was hard to watch families say goodbye, and I realized that even though I do not have the best relationship with my family I do love them and I am grateful for everything that they do for me!

This morning we got to go to the Provo Temple as they finish some remodeling. we laid new carpet down and it reminded me of the pioneers. As early saints faithfully gave up their time and money to the building of temples it was so cool to be a part of the same thing!

I know this is where I need to be in my life, even though at least once a day I tell myself I should just go home, go back to my awesome job, my friends, and my fish Benson. But I do know that this is the best way to grow and learn! I am so excited for what is to come next...VEGAS BABY!!

We will be taking a bus to Vegas next Wednesday and we are so pumped!

I love you all and hope to hear from you!

Love, Elder Hall

July 19, 2018- Picture

July 19, 2018

I don't even know where to start... I LOVE it here!! It's been just as hard as it is amazing! The Spirit here fills every corner, it literally feels like a fire hydrant of the Holy Ghost 24/7. 

Here's a quick play by play of my great week at the  MTC. 

On Wednesday when I got here, I first met Elder Ethington and we instantly became best friends. We wanted to be companions so bad, but the Lord had other plans. My companion Elder Brown is great,  I love him. 

I love my district. We all love each other so much, and we have become the best of friends! We are so scared to leave eachother when we leave the MTC in 2 weeks!! This is my district and my family. All twelve of us having eachother to lean on makes all of our sacrifices so much easier to get through. 

For the picture from left to right. 

Top row~ Brother Harbin and  Dutson are two of three of our  teachers here

Then there is Elders Young, McColley, Ethington, Romrel, Sisters Fry, Swallow, Underhill, and Rosa

Bottom row~ Elder Leckbee, Reeves, Brown (my companion), and ME! The four of us on the bottom row are going to Las Vegas West together.

So this Tuesday President M. Russell Ballard came and spoke to us about the companionship of Joseph and Hyrum Smith and their dedication to each other and the Lord. The spirit was so strong as we were in such a small room sitting in front of an Apostle. Singing to an Apostle is one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had, we sang Be Still, My Soul to him. President Ballard's words helped me to realize the full capacity of my testimony. He told a story of when Joseph F. Smith went to carthagge jail for the first time after his father (Hyrums) death 40 years later. He saw the stains of his father's blood on the floor where he fell. He wept and knew that his father and uncle died for a cause a righteous salvation. 

It was so cool to stand up in front of my class and share with them my feelings. I told them how earlier in the week I told myself I wouldn't die for this work, but now I know and understand deeper than ever that I KNOW that Jesus is our Savior and through Him I can be purified from all my ungodliness. I would die for this work!! 

I gave up so much to do this. I gave up my life and have given this week and the next two years to my God, and I will never regret it!!

I now see in a new light the tender mercies of the Lord, and the power that comes from turning away from yourself to serve others. 

Thank you all for everything you've done to help me come to this point.

LOVE,

Elder Hall