This morning as a zone we had one of the most powerful mission/life experiences I've ever had. We woke up at 5AM. There was a lot of opposition to doing this activity, such as Elder Smart getting sick and Elder Silva going to the doctor, but in the end we all made it. The climb was simple and short - a lot shorter than I thought it's be. In about 40 minutes we reached the summit and looked over Melipilla. The view was beautiful of course, but the best part was that as the sun rose we lead a zone devotional. We opened by singing strongly, "High on a Mountain Top". We then read Ether 12: 5-6:
5 And it came to pass that Ether did prophesy great and marvelous things unto the people, which they did not believe, because they saw them not.
6And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.
We then applied these versus and their meanings to the Chilean Prophecy by Elder Holland and others. Elder Holland, like Enoch, has prophesied great and marvelous things unto the people, which many do not believe, because they see them not. He stated, "I prophesy with all of my apostolic authority that Chile will be a beacon of the Church in South America. It will be a beacon to the whole church around the world IF we will be faithful, IF it will be your prophecy as well as mine - IF, that will be your view as well as mine."
The great purpose of this hilltop devotional was that each missionary might make this prophesy their prophesy, just as Elder Holland Invited. I expressed this purpose, and then I testified and prophesied, along with Elder Holland, as to the sure truth of Chile's great future. Each missionary followed, and each missonary, according to the Fire and Spirit of Prophesy that was with us, testified and prophesied as well. Elder Silva shared that he had asked God and received an unforgettable answer earlier in the mission about the truthfulness of the prophesy. He said that the church in Chile would grow immensely. Elder Crist testified that Melipilla itself would be a beacon to the church. Elder Quispe touched my heart when he said, "I know you might not believe me, but as I reached the top of the hill, I saw an angel, bright and glorious, and I realized that God had sent his protecting angels as we climbed the hill, and of course he sends them to protect us throughout every day". Elder Keogh blossomed when he fearlessly pronounced the truths of faith and obedience. He testified, "We need to have faith, and you can't have faith without obedience." The ending testifier was a more powerful testimony and prophesy, and it came from a missionary that I didn't expect: Elder Lewis. He said, "Yesterday between conferences, I was feeling something really special, like a feeling like something big was going to happen, beginning here in Melipilla, starting with us. It has to start with us." And so that was that. Every single missionary had made the prophesy theirs, and the Spirit had written it in their hearts.
Just as we climbed and did not doubt once that the sun would rise, we must have faith, and work without doubt, knowing that God will fulfill his word, and establish his kingdom in Chile. We ended by singing, Oid el Toque del Clarìn, and our voices carried and climbed. I felt a very rare, full joy; and that our voices were mixed with those of angels.
