Monday, April 28, 2014

Change and All That

This week I had to say goodbye (temporarily) to two of these lovely Sisters that I have gotten the chance to serve with. It was awesome getting to serve with Sister Gariby and living with Sister Wall and Sister Araujo. But it's official, I hate goodbyes. I'm just not good at them. But it's alright because I know I will see these people again. It actually reminds me of President Uchtdorf's talk in this past general conference:
 "We Are Not Made for Endings
In light of what we know about our eternal destiny, is it any wonder that whenever we face the bitter endings of life, they seem unacceptable to us? There seems to be something inside of us that resists endings.
Why is this? Because we are made of the stuff of eternity. We are eternal beings, children of the Almighty God, whose name is Endless and who promises eternal blessings without number. Endings are not our destiny.
The more we learn about the gospel of Jesus Christ, the more we realize that endings here in mortality are not endings at all. They are merely interruptions—temporary pauses that one day will seem small compared to the eternal joy awaiting the faithful.
How grateful I am to my Heavenly Father that in His plan there are no true endings, only everlasting beginnings."
 
I know that this is true. No matter what we experience in this life, it is only to introduce us to the many wonderful blessings that Heavenly Father has in store for us. We just have to keep looking for His hand in our lives. I know that it is always there, we just overlook it sometimes.
 

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter! I feel that this is one of those holidays that gets pretty overlooked, which is unfortunate. Easter is one of my favorite holidays. It's a time that we get to celebrate Christ.
 
Over two thousand years ago our Redeemer Jesus Christ walked on the Earth. He taught His gospel and lived a perfect life. Because of his unfathomable love for us Jesus Christ took upon Himself our sins. He has felt every pain, every sickness, every weakness, every loss, all guilt, all hurt that any member of the human family has ever experience. Because He knew as mortal that we could not handle the consequences of our actions, He handled them for us. As the only perfect being to ever grace the planet, Jesus Christ was the only one capable of doing this. I know that Christ loves you. I know He performed the Atonement for you. You are special to Him and you mean the world to our Redeemer and to our Father. Jesus Christ felt your pains. 

Although He was perfect, the world could not accept Him. Yet He loved us so much that He died for us. He withstood the cruelty of the Romans, and the false accusations of the Jews. He went through the worst pain and anguish that human minds could imagine at the time. He allowed this to happen, because it allowed for something greater to happen- the greatest thing to happen in the history of mankind. On the third day, Jesus Christ rose from the dead in a glorious resurrection. He triumphed over the grave and broke the bands of death so that all others may do the same.

I know that our Redeemer lives. I know Jesus Christ's life is not over. Because of His love and His sacrifice we will all live again. We can all experience forgiveness as we repent of our sins. Jesus Christ has made it possible for all of us to find true joy with our families throughout the eternities. There is always hope because Jesus Christ is real and has a love that will never end. He wants you to experience that hope. He wants you to feel of His love.

If you have not watched the video "Because of Him" you need to. It is the truth. I know that it is.
 
I love every one of you and I want you to know what I know: that our Savior lives and that He loves you. He has provided a path back to our loving Father in Heaven, and He invites all to come unto Him and be saved.
 
Alma 7:10-14
10 And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers, she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God.
 11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
 12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.
 13 Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.
 14 Now I say unto you that ye must repent, and be born again; for the Spirit saith if ye are not born again ye cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye may be washed from your sins, that ye may have faith on the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world, who is mighty to save and to cleanse from all unrighteousness.