The Longest Day of my Mission

Was 8 July 2015. The day I flew home. Technically speaking, it was the longest day, seeing as the plane went along with the sun. XD ahahah

Anywho. It's been brilliant. I have loved being a missionary, and really am looking forward to the next phases of my life, getting to help out my friends and family, rather than the people of the British Isles alone.

I'm so grateful for all of you who wrote me, those of you who read my letters, and even for those of you who didn't write me or really read my letters (probably including this one) but thought of me, and still love and care for me. So thanks!!

Technically speaking, I'm still a missionary today, as the Stake Presidency (the guys who say officially "You're done!") are all away with the youth of our church on a handcart trek, so I'll be released tomorrow morning.

I got to go to the temple this morning, which was an amazing experience, after not having been for two years, and after having been born again. I saw the whole experience through new eyes, and suddenly it became much more meaningful. I loved it so much.

Not gonna lie - it's pretty weird being home. I think it was my sister who said Everything is the same, besides you. Amen to that...

Hope you're all keeping well! Love you all! Cheers!

– Elder William Kevin Black

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Fwd: Final Photo

Our final moments at the mission home.

~ What 'er thou art, act well thy part ~

Wild Cow Attack!

As we were driving on a peripheral road, this cow was casualy strolling around. As we slowed down as we neared it, it jumped, rotated 90° and yelled at us! We nearly thought it was going to charge us. XD ahahah but it casually strolled off to the side afterwards. :) 

– Elder William Kevin Black

Burns Night

Not only will I miss the fourth of July, but I'll miss the bonfires on The Twelfth. :c 

– Elder William Kevin Black

"The purpose of life

is to increase our resolve to choose good over evil." in other words, to choose to follow (live up to) Light and Truth. There is no such a physical thing as darkness, but there is such a physical thing as evil - evil is a misapplication of Light - choosing not to follow it. Conversely, righteousness is a proper application of Light - choosing to live up to truth. Thus, a choice is necessary for us to be able to do righteousness, which is why agency is necessary. 

It's in the choice of good (or, application of light) that it is incorporated into our nature. We must have chances to apply something for it to be able to become part of our nature, by definition. Just by having a knowledge alone does not make something our nature - it simply cannot be part of our nature without a chance for application - without being able to look at our track record and see that yes, we will choose right - it is our nature - it is who we are. 

As light (or truth) is only applicable (vs a lack of light) our progression in life is dependent upon how much light we choose to incorporate (literally - take into our beings). That is why, after the resurrection, the degree of glory we receive is judged by our works - those of us who have attempted to incorporate light will go to varying places depending on the degree of light we choose to incorporate. Only if we choose 100% light can we achieve Celestial glory - we cannot have the attitude: it's good enough / it's not that bad if I... / I'm not going to go to hell if I ... -> these attitudes are attitudes of the Terrestrial kingdom, not the Celestial. 

That's a wee summary of the things I've been mulling over recently. :) Hope you all can get something from it! 

This has been a stellar week! We've got Serena lined up for baptism on this Saturday! She's a miracle and a half, and has such powerful resolve. She practically gave up ecigs overnight! It's amazing to see her resolve, and we're so grateful to know her. :) She's really nice as well, and the members have been stellar in being good friends. 

Love you all! Hope you're keeping well! :D Just remember that trials are given us to grow - without trials, we would not progress. 

Cheers! 

– Elder William Kevin Black

An excerpt from some of my thoughts on people having trials: 

Well, God must love you. :) I've been growing in my understanding of the necessity of trials for growth - the more trials we are given, the greater chance we have to grow. We cannot assimilate Light into our nature without trials - physical trials, trials of faith, trials of emotion, trials of mind - without trials, we'd never grow, and the plan of salvation would be frustrated. "The purpose of life it so increase our resolve to choose good over evil" i.e. to choose Light/Truth. I've really been growing to know this for myself. 

"are there times when [we have to do things on our own]?" Yᴇs. Absolutely. We cannot learn to walk like our Father without Him setting us on our own feet. The plan of the devil was to be carried the entire way - we wouldn't learn, we would merely move. The purpose of life is to learn to apply light, even when it's not evident, therefore, we need times in which we can't see the light, and are left on our own. 

At least, those are the first thoughts that come to mind. 

We rely on God too much when we fail to seek and follow inspiration, and desire for him to carry us. My baby sister would often cry: Up! asking us to carry her - but she must learn to walk on her own! Yes, she must be carried and lifted sometimes, but we cannot force inspiration - if God's not pointing the way clearly, we must act in faith. Without acting in faith, our resolve to follow Light would never grow! Thus God must leave us to our own sometimes, else our faith would not grow. Faith is living, like every Christlike attribute, and therefore must be exercised, not merely given. 

[ . . . ]

I'd say the bottom line with relying on God is this: Always ask Him first for guidance, but don't stand paralyzed if you don't get a clear answer. 

Also, just like a tree needs {water, sun, dirt}, we need {application, inspiration, scriptures (including past revelations to ourselves)} If we don't apply, the leaves have insufficient water, and will shrivel in the sun. Without studying past inspiration, we'll have no root, and will be tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine. Balance the three. 

The 12th of July!

Unfortunately, I'll miss it. But there's some patriotism for you! :D 

– Elder William Kevin Black

A typical street view

It's great, b/c behind the camera, it's a clear, blue sky. x) 

– Elder William Kevin Black

Here's me!

Just so you have it, here's a picture of me, in some of my favourite clothes, just sitting in the flat. :)

– Elder William Kevin Black

Hahahahah

Brevity. 

So! This week was a bit rough, spiritually, but I'm doing well enough. :) Had a great study and got two main points: 

1. Acts 2:37-38 - the people were willing to do anything. If baptism weren't necessary for salvation (remission of sins), then why in the world would he preach a physical act, if faith were enough?! 

2. Why would God ask us to contract in marriage? ... just like we have a promise to our wife which God requires, so too does he require a contract to our church (which often the relationship is related to marriage).  

Love you all, Ta! :D  

– Elder William Kevin Black

Miracle Week!

Life is hard. 

Sometimes. 

But we couldn't climb higher without a mountain in our path. 

But that's being overdramatic. ahahah This was a great week! Did have it's lows and highs, but overall was really great. We have been blessed to have so many people to teach! 

ALSO! Elder Holland came to our mission!! he bore testimony so powerfully of the Book of Mormon, I doubt anyone could hear his words and not believe him - it was really amazing to hear. Here are some of our mission president's words about it: 

Elder Holland taught the priesthood leaders that they are not to see themselves as administrators or managers of the Church but they are to be first Disciples of Christ and then Ministers to the spiritual needs of the people. He talked of the coming growth of the church and said; "Whatever the miracles of the past have been, they are nothing to what we will see in the future – the work has only begun in these islands!" He said that the scripture quoted by Moroni to the Prophet Joseph 4 times from Joel 2 "has scarcely begun to be realised" and that this generation would live to see the manifestation of it – he also said; "We've only seen the beginning" – and he repeated that statement twice for emphasis. I have taken from his message that there are many people out there for us to find, teach and baptise.

I really feel like we're beginning to see the fulfilment of this - there are a lot of places I've served where I feel it's destined to become a stake, and I know that the Lord is hastening his work. As one of his full-time missionaries, I love and relish this chance I have to help so many of His children!! I love it. :)

Love you all! Cheers!  

– Elder William Kevin Black

PS: got my flight itinerary for the 8th - realised this morning it's only a month away! *le gasp!* But I'll be streaming glory. >:) 

Love you all! Ta! 

Satan's Opposition

Sometimes comes in the form of a lack of trials. 

The world tries to remove the negative effects of sin, rather than simply stopping the sin. For example - many people drink energy drinks to compensate for not getting enough sleep / not exercising / not eating right. Rather than fix their actions so the problem doesn't happen again, they try to fix the symptoms of poor choices. 

In our world, with increasing medical advances, we go through so many trials of this kind: it's so easy to take some ibuprofen to numb pain, but that pain may be given for a reason! Without seeking the reason behind the pain, we destroy our chances to learn and improve. 

Of course, medicine is not evil - healing is of God. But when we rob ourselves the opportunity to learn, grow, and progress morally and in our willpower, we cheat ourselves of true progression! 

This is a HUGE problem in our world today - people seek (and find) immediate solutions to the symptoms of trials, rather than seek to remove the trial itself (which often will come through course correction, rather than chemicals). (inspired, in part, by my last companion, Elder Clawson)

food for thought. :) 

I'm doing fairly well, though a bit sick. But a bit of a cold and a sore leg won't keep me down! >:D I intend to fully serve the Lord with all my strength for this last move, and nothing in heaven or hell can hold me back, so long as I remain rooted in Christ. 

Love you all! Cheers! 

– Elder William Kevin Black

Why I'm excited to go home:

Quoted from another missionary:

"But the end is but a better beginning. I'll be honest to say that I was more than excited to go home, not because I wanted to be off my mission, but because of my mission. It changed me, just like this life was meant to change us and prepare us for the next. So I guess you could say that I look forward to death, not to be separated but rather to be reunited, not to escape happiness but to embrace joy, no longer to learn but apply. Yes I loved my mission and would go back the half beat of a heart, but I have experienced life to a greater dimension than I ever have before."

Sums up my feelings to a T.

Love you all! Stay strong! 

– Elder William Kevin Black

Training Wheels

I was pondering this morning about why I didn't like a simple 50/50 trade off rule at the doorstep and had the following revelation: I don't like it b/c it's a lower law solution to a higher law problem - i.e.: the problem is that I'm not forthcoming enough and he's too overbearing. A simple 50/50 tradeoff wouldn't really help as the problem is in me not initiating the speaking - I can talk fine, I'm just not inserting myself enough. So merely trading off doors wouldn't help me grow. It would halt my progression as a person.
But then, as I thought, the image of a bike with training wheels came to mind - it dawned on me that the lower law is given to train us in the right action until we can take off the wheels and do it for the right reason. For example, for someone who smokes, living the word of wisdom helps them realize the importance of keeping the body healthy and how it helps them feel the spirit, but the higher law is to be as healthy as possible - to put into your body only what God wants you to. The lower law trains them how living the higher law feels, to inspire them to live the higher law for the right reason.

Next image: kid riding a bike with training wheels, riding too slowly. They slump to the side, and just trundle along. They're not learning how to ride a bike, they're just pedaling - just doing the action. Using training wheels properly, you increase your muscle ability so you can ride at speeds necessary to be able to ride a bike properly without the training wheels.

Next image: adult riding a bike with training wheels at normal biking speed, or even ahead of the pack - if they try to take a sharp turn, the wheels are cumbersome and block the full potential of the biker - in fact, they could cause them to crash on a turn that they would otherwise have been able to make without training wheels. This is why it is so important to learn the higher law - to change our motivation for things, and not merely change our actions.

Next image: kid who has strength and practise riding full speed having the wheels taken off, trying to ride, panicking, floundering, crashing.

So God will give us the law we're ready for - yes, we'll flounder and crash at times. Sometimes, our growth is so slow that we need a lower law, but if we lean on the lower law as a crutch it is actually damning our progression as people. Amen.

In other news, I learned some cool ideas about how we can share the gospel by word and deed, we can also invite people by word and deed - by outright inviting people to learn, and by inviting people to help you do service - because that is the gospel. :)

Love you all! Hope you have a great week!

And by the way - I'm staying in Lisburn another 6 weeks, bar any radical happenstances, so I'll be here until the end.

Cheerio! :D

– Elder William Kevin Black

Ups and Downs

So on the upside, we chapped into a few nice people recently! Pretty miraculous, very prepared people. :) We've been directed by the spirit to a few miracles (e.g.: feeling we should go by a potential, no one home. Then turn around to leave and their car pulls in!) and I've felt my testimony growing. 

Read a cool lecture called the Donaldson Papers, where it mentioned how angels teach. Look at 1 Ne 11:10-18 How does the angel teach? (cf. Revelations)

The angel shows Nephi an image, then asks Nephi what he sees. Nephi describes it, to his knowledge. The angel asks another question Nephi doesn't know the answer to, and then explains it with more images. 

This can be done with any picture, but specifically for missionaries, it works wonderful with the pamphlets. It really quickly lets you know where people are. 

e.g.: 

What do you see here? 
I see an old man writing something. 
Yeah, that's a prophet, and he's writing scripture. God's talking to him, and he's writing what's coming to mind. 
vs
What do you see here?
Oh, that looks like Isaiah, writing the great Isaiah scroll! I once visited jerusalem and saw it!
Okay, we can move on then. 

 

It also allows people to teach themselves, rather than us just spurting information at them. 

e.g.: 

What are the parents doing here? 
Teaching the kid to walk.
How does the kid look, like his expression?
He looks kind of scared. 
Yeah. So why would the parents do that to him? 
They want him to learn how to walk.
Exactly. Just like our parents taught us to walk, our Heavenly Father wants us to learn to walk like him. 

but wait - it gets better: 

Is the kid ever going to fall?
yeah...
Why would the parents let that happen?
He needs to learn. 
Exactly! God lets us make mistakes and get hurt so that we can learn! That's why Adam needed to fall - so that we could learn how to walk like our Father. 

 . . . and so forth. Teaching this way is great. A lot more interactive, more simple, and a lot more fun. You spend more time teaching the points that really matter. Comparatively, it doesn't matter if someone remembers the names of the degrees of glory, than if they remember that the purpose of life is to progress. 

 

What do those look like to you, if the bottom line is a path?   

Stairs.

Yeah! We've all been saved from falling below the line, but God has shown us a way to climb - to progress! If God's up here (point to Celestial) we need something to climb to get there.

Anywho. Hope you've gotten something out of this! Teach like angels! Testify with power the things that God has taught you, that you know to be true, by the power of the Holy Ghost! 

Love you all! Cheers! :D  

– Elder William Kevin Black

This week it was hard

to keep from smiling. :) We've been so blessed to be here in Lisburn together. We've seen so much success, and really enjoy serving together! 

Since last time I've written, we've had some massively spiritual lessons - some with a Figian man with a huge spiritual background - it's great seeing God's hand in the work, and feeling him work through us to help him come closer to His presence. 

I had a cool realization, in talking with another member. 

What prompted a really memorable answer to a prayer was my question: how is it possible for there to be a next life? I didn't see how it could be. I asked God if He were even there, and got an answer. 

At the start of my mission, I really wanted to see spirits and the like - physical manifestations of a life after, but I've changed. This member actually asked God to stop showing him the other side. Satan's power is real, and I know that it's not something I want to associate myself with. It may look powerful through physical eyes, and in the physical world, it is powerful. But beings with a body will always have more power than a being without one - that's why Jesus took up a perfected, glorified body! 

The problem is when we try to sever our spirits from our bodies - when we rebel against the Light of Christ in us, it leaves us weak. I have felt this, and know it to be true. Sin leaves us weak. That is why so many sorcerers and spiritualist people go after it, because they see the spirit being stronger than the body - and it is, if the body rejects light. That gives Satan power. Conversely, accepting and working towards light - when spirit and body work together - we have infinite more power than that of Satan and his devils. 

That's really the goal of life - bring the flesh into subjection to the spirit - because in this there is power, when flesh and spirit work as one. 

Like the red and blue 2d images of a 3d movie (okay, that's a bit old, but bear with me) the glasses make the image 3d, but the red and blue are sort of fighting each other w/o the glasses. When they work as one, it's powerful. It's a higher dimension! When they're separate, it's just a headache. 

That was a bit long, but it's true. :)

Love you all! Cheers! 

– Elder William Kevin Black

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"To say we were well received would be an understatement."

 - was the line that kept coming to my mind yesterday. The congregation in Lisburn is so kind - it was actually the first time that I was accosted by members, rather than us having to go after them. The bishop is also brilliant - he and his wife have served missions, and were completely on-board to help with missionary work. 

It's been fun, getting to whitewash into Lisburn! I love seeing the sights that William would have seen, ages ago. Pretty awesome. :) 

My companion, Elder Blosil, is pretty cool - from Utah, but lived in NYC for a year - kept bees, into music. Really clever guy - has loads of connections. 

You can see here an article from the Mormon Newsroom about the last choir tour! :D [codename swan song]

Love you all! Cheers! 

– Elder William Kevin Black

#10 Castle Street, Lisburn - William Black's address before he left! 

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Prophesy Fulfilled!

And I quote my mission president, in a letter to my parents:

With regard to his luggage he is currently on the west coast of Ireland so this would represent a long journey to get to him. It is very likely that he will be transferred in a couple of weeks' time but at this stage I have no idea where he will be. It could be anywhere in Scotland or Ireland – however I can say that it will not be Lisburn because that is currently a sister area and we have no elders there.

And I quote my mission president, from this last moves call: 'You will be whitewashing Lisburn, with Elder Blosil.' When I told him I was floored, he asked why. 'Well, 1) it was my dream to whitewash these last two moves, 2) I love Elder Blosil - I served as his district leader, and 3) IT'S LISBURN!!!' He didn't get the last one. I reminded him of my lineage and of the above email. In shock, he replied '...I had completely forgotten! This is miraculous for me, Elder Black, and a real testimony builder for me!' We were pretty excited about it. :)

Well, this time in Sligo has been amazing. Miraculous. There's a mural on the side of a building that says "Sligo sets your spirit free". Never before in my life have I felt so close to God, been led by the spirit, and seen the gifts of the spirit manifest. I testify that all the gifts of the spirit are real - that they have not stopped in these latter days. I know that God lives, and talks to us. I know revelation through prayer is real - that God can literally talk to us in our minds and hearts (as well as with our physical senses). Dreams are inspired of God, and if we turn to Him, He can reveal their meaning to us. The gift of prophesy is real. Of this I am certain.

Of these things I am certain.

God lives. He loves us, and wants you all to know that with your hearts, not merely your minds. You can feel this love if you turn to Him in prayer, and turn yourself over to Him, trusting in His loving corrections.

Love you all. :) See you soon!

– Elder William Kevin Black

Here's last night - absolutely stunning sunset. :) Enjoy!

​

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Anti-Training: The Last 12 Weeks

So yep. Had the terrifying epiphany yesterday that I only have 12 weeks left. 0-0 Yeah. Crazy. Just like the opposite of being trained as a new missionary - seeing how fast it goes, I know it'll be gone in the blink of an eye. And boy, am I excited! I feel God still has some high goals for me to achieve, and it'll take some miracles to achieve them! but I have confidence that as I do everything He tells me, it'll all work out. :)

Recently, I've been taking to a study of my weaknesses and strengths - looking at the ensign article: It isn't a Sin to be Weak. And boy, has it been revelatory. I've seen how some of my mortal weaknesses, or "thorns of the flesh" as Paul calls them, are really a blessing - they've been given me of God to help me achieve my ultimate potential! For example, this morning, I was looking at my shyness. The times I'm least shy have been times I'm in leadership (ironically): as a trumpet section leader, physics tutor, choirmaster, district leader - all these times, I've actually been excited! It's thanks to two attributes: (1) Virtue, having light in the subject I desire to share, and (2) Charity, desiring to impart of that light to others, to help them progress.

I've come to know that the promise in D&C 121 is literal:

 45 Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.

 46 The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever.

 My confidence has been strong when I have Charity and Virtue - the Holy Ghost is my companion, and the doctrines of the priesthood do literally distil upon my soul. as I have Charity and Virtue. When I lack Charity of Virtue - when I don't care about the people's progression or don't have light to share, I'm shy, bashful, turn inward.

Thankfully, God's also given me depression! Turning inward is a great way to spiral into depression. The solution to depression is turning outwards, no matter how hopeless or tiring and hard it may seem. Turn outwards to other people, turn outwards to God - When I've asked His help, he's given me Charity and Virtue, which allows me to serve as a leader best (else, it's just prideful, and doesn't help people - I'd just be ticking a box).

And since I'm shy by nature, it makes the times I shine as a leader more desirable, thus increasing my drive to help others, turn outwards, seek inspiration.

I really know that many of the "weaknesses" I have are really God-given tools to help me in my eternal progression. Without shyness and depression, I would not be as powerful a leader, and could much easier spiral into pride. So! I'm actually pretty grateful for my thorns God's given me. I'm working to overcome the thorns of the world, and the thorns that come because of my running through brambles, but I am grateful for the thorns that God has given me, and I exhort you to ask God about the thorns in your life: are they from Him? If so, what are you to learn? are they there because of sin? if so, remove the sin! are they there because of a worldly problem? if so, ask God what to do about them!

He will answer. He does speak. I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Until next week! :D Ta!

– Elder William Kevin Black

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Re: Video-Easter Choir-2015

Video of the choir!

– Elder William Kevin Black

On 11 April 2015 at 13:04, Doug Ladle <ladledoug@gmail.com> wrote:

Dear Choir Members,

This is a week late because I left my camera at the Mission Home and I had to retrieve it a week later!

Hope you enjoy and can forward it on.  I have not sent it to your parents or friends even if you wrote down their email addresses on my list.  Feel free to do that yourself if you like the video.

Also, it will download for 1-2 minutes before it is ready to play.

If you don't like the video quality, the camera man says "sorry!"

If you don't like the music selections, you are in the minority because THOUSANDS loved this choir!  

Well done!

Love to you all,

Elder and Sister Ladle

 Easter Choir-2015.VOB

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Fwd: hey

Elder Luna visited Dublin! It was /crazy/ getting to see him!!

– Elder William Kevin Black

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Elder Clawson

​

– Elder William Kevin Black

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Re: A Brilliant Week

PS: I'm in the middle of saying "Sligo" in the photo, hence the funny face. x)

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A Brilliant Week

Here are some photos from the choir!

Oh yeah, I got to go to Elephant House, and the graveyard where Thomas Riddell is buried, and saw the school Rowling had in mind for Hogwarts. :D :D :D Probably one of the most fulfilling moments of my life. x)

​I got a new coat. :) I'm very very very happy with it. :)

General Conference was brilliant. Loved it. :) Loads of ideas and bits of inspiration.

– Elder William Kevin Black

Here's a bit I wrote about the choir, how it impacted people, why it was important... It took a few goes, but here it is! :D Enjoy!

​

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Fwd: FW: Missionary concert publicity

Here's us in a newspaper! :D They sent out their top photographer for us. :)

– Elder William Kevin Black

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Family History

Guess who I found!! :D

​I also learned my 22nd great grandfather was brother to Braveheart William Wallace. Pretty darn awesome. ^-^

So the choir tour was fantastic. I'm having a blast, and have really enjoyed it all! Had some great spiritual experiences, got to share some of what I've learned about the higher and lower laws, which I really enjoyed.

:D Cheers! Love you all! 

– Elder William Kevin Black

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Choir Concert!

Whelp. I have  no time. But know that all is well. :) I am so excited to see everyone, and make beautiful music. 

cheers! :D

– Elder William Kevin Black

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The Seed of Abraham

My new companion, Elder Clawson, is absolutely stellar. :) We both have a very strong testimony of "Ask and ye shall receive" - not in physical things so much as spiritual - if you ask God a question, the thoughts that come to mind are really answers from Him. Something Elder Luna taught me - if you put a pencil to paper before/durring/after your prayer, you're showing God your desire to treasure and follow the inspiration He has for you - it also increases your faith you'll get answers, and shows Him you desire them.

I really know that it's literal, that we can know the truth of all things by the power of the Holy Ghost - not just big, important things. God can reveal anything to us through the thoughts and feelings that come to us as we pray to Him.

Here are a few cool things I'm copying you all on:

Want to hear a miracle story? Our polish investigator Roman came to church. (in my shirt and tie - he would have come last week, but didn't enter the church when he saw everyone in a shirt and tie, being out of place) He said he had prayed about the book of mormon, and had felt a "little yes" :D :D Even though his english is broken, he's so excited to learn! He's so solid!

This was an epiphany I had, in thinking about me training other missionaries:

I haven't trained yet, so I may die without fruit... :c 

Well, I just realized the fruit I also have is in the times I've helped other companions, so they're sort of grafted in to the tree. Sort of like the Abrahamic covenant - if you follow the promise, you're grafted in, even if you're not part of the family by blood.

So any time we get to lift or inspire others, they're tied to us, so we're all lifted and saved together in a big web of life!!

 

 And a fun fact about my mission:

I've nearly always had more dead than live companions:

Dixon Luna

Walker Luna | Dixon

Goldie Walker Luna | Dixon

Wilberg Goldie Walker | Luna Dixon

Ward Goldie Walker | Wilberg Luna Dixon

Schippers Ward Goldie | Walker Wilberg Luna Dixon

Miller Schippers Ward Goldie | Walker Wilberg Luna Dixon
Moller Miller Schippers Ward | Goldie Walker Wilberg Luna Dixon

Clawson Moller Miller Schippers Ward | Goldie Walker Wilberg Luna Dixon

So I've pretty much always been about half and half. XD ahahahah

 

Love you all! Hope you're enjoying life as much as I am! :) 

Love,

– Elder William Kevin Black

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The two fastest moves of my mission

I have loved serving with Elder Møller - his desire to be obedient and diligent have struck me so much, and I've changed my nature some towards his. I'm so grateful we've been able to serve together, and I look forward to my next companion: Elder Clawson - who I already know - in fact, I hugged him yesterday in Dublin Stake Conference! xD I don't know him that well yet, but I really look forward to serving with him!

I've had heaps of great studies recently - I love morning studies - I could study all day! But that's not what God wants us to do - he wants us to go out and serve. I smile, thinking how much I've changed - at the start of my mission, the thought came to me: if I were able to change so I desired to study, it would be so easy! I'd never feel forced into it, never find it a chore. So I began praying to have more hunger for the word of God, and oh, was I given it. I love to feast upon the scriptures, ancient and modern, and love the light that comes to my mind from the Holy Ghost therefrom. Ha ha, speaking of which, I am so grateful that the Lord has helped me become more in-tune to the spirit - at the start of my mission, I wished so desperately to be able to be in-tune to the spirit. Bit by bit, God put thoughts into my mind about how to become more in-tune, and inasmuch as I follow those Ideas, I really can recognize it better.

In fact, I had a revelatory moment just yesterday - if I'm doubting whether something is a prompting or not, it usually is. If it's Satan putting a thought in my mind, it's pretty clear that it is, and if I ask God's help, the thought leaves. But 'doubting' promptings is much more often merely me stalling action, hoping the thought will pass. Well, it will! Because it will be too late! So I'm trying to change my nature to act more quickly on all promptings. (not just the easy ones - the more you follow hard promptings, the more clear promptings become)

Meanwhile, I passed my 4mo left mark yesterday. So that's wild. But I am loving being a missionary, and am absolutely confident in the Lord's plan for my future. :)

Love you all! Cheers!

– Elder William Kevin Black

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Fwd: Sorrow and Glory!

Here's what I wrote the mission president for this week: 

This week was disappointing, having only one joint teach, where we decided to drop our investigator. :/ But we had 2 really solid QGC! One of them was a psychologist we'd chapped in to about my first week here in Sligo, who we had forgotten about until we chapped the street again. We hadn't gotten anything for a long while, and we prayed again. We both felt we should start behind us. The second door, the psychologist's wife answered, inviting us back! :D The second was especially miraculous to me: we had felt great about this street (actually the same one), but had just been rejected for about an hour. Between houses, I prayed, "Heavenly Father - it is /really/ cold. It would be really nice if someone would let us in..." and the next door, we were let in! Able to share God's plan for them. :)
So those were really miraculous, despite not having our usual plethora of lessons.

I've been doing great - I actually said this morning that I was probably doing the best I had ever been... then realized that was really for my whole life. Never before in my life have I been so obedient to the Lord's commandments - though I'm far from perfect, it's still great. :)

Also, I really know that the Lord gives us inspiration. As I discussed with Sister Morrison, Crawley, and Elder Livingston and de Vries about the choir, we sought inspiration in every move. Looking back, I was shocked at how quickly big hassles became simple matters, as we relied on inspiration. Saturday, we figured out who would be in which group song, and I laughingly thought to myself, as I saw how quickly names came to mind, This must be what moves planning is like! hahaha

So I really know that God does hear us and speak to us. :)

Here is Joe Tiernan and Sigfried Ducusin, two superheroes of Sligo Branch, fulfilling their priesthood duty! :) They are seriously brilliant.

Love you all! Cheers!! :D

– Elder William Kevin Black

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'15 Goals

Back at the start of 2015, I made 15 goals I really wanted to keep in my life, and I've been meaning to share them with you all, hopefully to get some help and support in seeing them fulfilled. :)

Run - run daily! Waking up at 6 to run for about an hour. (which would mean getting to sleep early enough nightly

Diet - keep to my diet, eating healthily, not overeating

Typing - Improve my typing speed to 120 by practising daily

Study - Spend at least an hour daily studying physics/maths

Languages - spend time daily learning languages (esp Japanese, German, Greek)

Piano - spend time daily practising piano, so I can hopefully play many hymns by the end of the year

Worlds - spend time daily creating, writing stories, imagining worlds

Depression - publish what I've learned about depression, and help others with it.

Wife - search for a wife. :) aiming to date weekly. or something like that.

Virtue - memorise scriptures daily

Communicate - spend time daily talking with family and friends

Convert - help family and friends become more converted

Temple - seek to attend the temple weekly at least

Feast - keep having personal study in the mornings daily

Serve - give meaningful service daily

So it'll take some planning and effort to do, but I really want to see these goals come to fruition! :D So I'd love some help and follow-up in achieving them. :)

I think the biggest lesson I learned this week was how important the time we have is. We were out of our area a lot this week with exchanges and training, so we were both /very/ excited to get back to finding.

I love serving with Elder Møller - we get along so well. He's so diligent, obedient, and just a stellar friend. :D

Also! I've begun preparation for the easter Choir, but this time it's a lot more organised, which is such a relief and de-stressor. :)

Love you all! Cheers!!

– Elder William Kevin Black

PS: Here's a letter our Mission President's wife just sent out to the choir memebers, showing a pretty darn awesome miracle:

Dear Elders and Sisters

The music for "In the Garden" by Ryan Murphy performed by the Tabernacle Choir isn't published so that explains why we couldn't find it for the Easter Choir.  Elder de Vries asked his mother who asked Facebook.  Elder Penman's mother who is in the Motab, saw the post, contacted the choir office who contacted Ryan Murphy who has graciously agreed to release the music to us.  We are not at liberty to share it with anyone else or keep personal copies.  The copies will be gathered back after the choir.  Once the music is received I'll email it to you.  In the dropbox you'll find a download of the Motab singing it.

Tender mercy!  I really believe the heavens applaud what you are doing.   You will change touch hearts and change souls with your wonderful musical testimonies .

Love

Sister Brown

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Photos! For I have been lacking...

Here's me doing some epic pondering!

​

And here's us trying to describe authority:

– Elder William Kevin Black

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The Worst Week of my Life

Sligo has been a fantastic area for me. Having a companion with such a strong desire to work feels so healthy. It's really been opening my eyes to how missionary work is successful when we do it in the right spirit. It's all about doing the right things for the right reasons, not just "biting the bullet". Laman and Lemuel bit the bullet, and apostatized.

*SQUEEEE!!!* a potential of ours just texted us back, and she seems /so/ solid!! She was panicking b/c she didn't have our number, but just responded that she liked the plan of salvation pamphlet, and was looking forward to coming to church in the future!! :D :D :D

Okay, but to serious stuff - I am doing so well. I am on top of the moon. I am so blessed to have such great friends, such fantastic family, an amazing mission, and I love being a missionary. I may be imperfect, but I am so glad that with God's help, we can change our natures. I know we can change - the change in my own life is so apparent. I revel in the spirit. I know it's real. So much that I once theorized or believed I now know. I know God lives. He is real, as is the Spirit, by which he speaks through His son, Jesus Christ. I am so grateful fro their hand in my life. I love this gospel - the more I study it, the more I know it is true. Recently, I've been impressed by the importance of understanding the true nature of the Godhead: that we have the potential to be like God. that we, through Christ, can change for the better (not mere belief, as the devils have). that we can still communicate with God through the Holy Spirit, and receive answers back. I have had so many revelatory experiences, I cannot merely say I believe, for I know.

Love,

– Elder William Kevin Black

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"another week been going by... have a great week"

says my Danish companion. Yeah, his english isn't perfect, but I love him nonetheless. Actually, probably the more because of it. X)

I really know that if we ask God what we should study, he will give it to us, and when we study what God tells us to, not just following some pattern or programme, our studies can be of most worth.

I know God does inspire us - that those thoughts and words which come to mind, those impressions that sink into your mind, and the feelings which come to your heart are truly communication from God.
I wanted, so badly, at the start of my mission to become more in tune to the spirit. I thought it meant seeing visions with my physical eyes, hearing things with my physical ears, but my spiritual ears and eyes are now sharp enough to recognize the promptings I've been given all along.

I know God lives. I know he speaks to us. Jesus is the Christ, and I am serving him. And you can know these things too, if you only ask God in prayer, for he will answer you. I promise it, the scriptures promise it, and so do the feelings of your heart.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

– Elder William Kevin Black

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Another stellar week!

It's been brilliant. :)

We got to go to Mullaghmore, a famous surfing spot! :D It was /gorgeous/.

We've been having a great time, and have seen lots of success in finding and teaching people. I love it here in Sligo, and am so happy to be serving a mission. :)

Here's a cool story:

I was a bit down Sunday morning, and was just trudging through the day, until the third hour of church, when the elders quorum president felt inspired to give a talk on Joy: what it is and how to feel it. It was exactly what I needed. :) It lifted me out of my slump, and I had a good rest of the day! :D By the way, just so you (especially worried psychiatrists) all know - that's not a usual thing, for me to be feeling so down. I'd say about 98% of my days, I haven't been depressed. :)

Love you all! :D Cheers! :)

– Elder William Kevin Black

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My prayers have been answered. :)

Elder Møller and I will be staying together!! :D

Let me tell you one of my favourite experiences this week. We were walking down a side road, an old man ~20 feet in front of us - didn't look keen on talking whatsoever. A uni student was nearing up on us from behind. I thought, the man behind us would be way more interested than that old man in front of us. and then the thought talk to him [the uni student] came to mind. But God, it's awkward! again talk to him. So! I began to turn around, and at that moment, he was about to pass me. "Hey! We're just out sharing this website!" a weak start to a conversation, but it led to an awesome conversation. "How did God talk to you?" he asked. "Do you feel like he's talked to you before?" "Well, there have been times that thoughts have come into my mind... and I suppose you would say those are from God." That one conversation really made my day. :)

So we've had another great week, and I'm happy. :) Hope you're all keeping well! Cheers! :D

– Elder William Kevin Black

Until after the trial of your faith.

"This week has been stellar, ever since the exchange with the ZL, I've been on top of the world. :) And I've had some of the best numbers in my entire mission. 8 Joint Teaches. Oh my dear goodness, I feel in paradise. :) Probably isn't too high for some people, but this is amazing, coming from being excited about 1 joint teach per week."

I don't really feel the need to put my own words in quotes, but I suppose it's a nice formality. :)

I am so happy. I have received a lot of instruction from on high, and really look forward to implementing it. :) Ha ha ha - before my mission, I had the following dialogue with myself, trying to send this mental message to the future:

Okay, future William. I know at some point on your mission, you're going to be really in-tune to the spirit, and once you are, you need to ask God what the answers to physics are: how to bend space, control gravity, travel through time. Promise me you'll ask!!

Well, it's been a long time since I've become in-tune to the spirit, and now that I really feel like I talk with God, and not merely to Him, my desire is to receive revelation for the here and now. Besides, the answers to those questions can and will be answered for me in time, but I'm waiting until I'm home to ask. I know that it's out of my stewardship right now, but I patiently await the time that it is in my stewardship.

Of course, if we really want to be open minded, we can't have our minds tethered to the world. Our minds need to be free. So! I've decided to take control of my life, and make the most of it. (Well, not that this isn't something I've been doing / planning to do for ages) If we are making truly logical decisions, we won't be influenced by the moment. Anywho.

It's sort of in-line with my new-year's resolutions - I have a lot of things I want to start (and stop) doing once I'm home, so I can make the most of my entire life. I want to work miracles in my life and the lives of others. I want to progress physics as much as possible, and if I am to do that, I can't afford to have an unhealthy body or mind - I can't afford to do stupid things. So! No one is perfect, but I am so excited to be better once I'm home.

So that was a bit lengthy, but that's what's on my mind the now. :)

Hope you're all doing well! :D
Cheers!!

– Elder William Kevin Black

My dear friends,

for ye ought to be called my friends, how it doth lift mine heart, hearing as it were your voices, speaking from the dust. It doth behoof me, thine letters to receive. It does me sorrow, that I cannot express with words the emotions I feel.

I've been contemplating a lot recently about detaching ourselves from the world. Imagine a bird, clinging to the branch of a tree. The wind blows, and the bird flaps, trying to fly, but cannot, having its talons firmly wrapt around the thin branch. If we are to learn to fly, we must let go of the world. Though the bird needs to let go of the tree, this doesn't make the tree evil. (similarly, the scriptures say the love of money is the root of all evil, not money itself)

I spoke with a two missionaries about it at different times, and both had a similar conclusion: The young man being asked to give his all and follow Christ was not asked to bury his money, but rather, to give it to the poor. They, after much thought, came to the conclusion we are not to mortify our talents, but rather turn them to the use of salvation.

But what of our worldly tethers which do not lead to salvation? If they are not leading us towards salvation, they damn us. But surely, not all the world is evil? No. But it is if it damns our progression. Too often in the world, we tend to rationalize and ignore the promptings of the spirit, and continue in activities which God would us halt.

sigh.... I've just been thinking recently about how I want to live when I return home - there are a lot of habits which, though not malicious, certainly do withhold me from reaching my full potential, e.g.: lazing about on the internet, being distracted by facebook, listening to loud music while studying. So I'm making some resolves about how to bridle my passions, kill my vices, and become who I really want to be.

This week had some good highs and lows. Though we didn't find many new people, we were blessed to have some at church! I loved the all-Ireland conference, in which I was able to see so many of my beloved brethren. :) It was hailing here on and off a couple of days, which was sad. XP But to be fair, we've had a better winter than we could have hoped here, and it's been pretty mild compared to last year. :)

Thanks for your letters and love! Cheers! :D

– Elder William Kevin Black

You think I'd learn

Well, I'm out of time, since I stalled doing this to the end. For the umpteenth time. Know that I'm happy, had a great week, and am still healthy.

All-Ireland is this week, and I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone! It's a rare chance (especially for my area, considered banishment by many) for us to see other missionaries, and this Zone Conference will have a lot of my friends.

Right! Love you all! Ta! :D

– Elder William Kevin Black