Dear Family and Friends,
Easter
is such a wonderful thing. Eternities of time culminated in the
grandeur of time, a pivotal time for the immensity of God's creation.
The Atonement and resurrection of Jesus Christ are of such magnificent
importance in our lives. It allows that we may have a perfect brightness
of hope. A hope as bright as our faith. The simple and most important
part of this great event can be applied in our lives daily, hourly and
even down to each minute. It is the message repeated by prophets from
the beginning of days. It is summed up in one word, repentance. As a
prophet has told us, "what else is more worthy of our efforts?" Christ
is always inviting us to come unto him. This is the powerful convincing
message of the Book of Mormon. Summed up in three verses at the end of
Moroni's record of his life and his people. "Yea come unto Christ and be
perfected in him."
The
message is simple. Our lives, and fears and doubts complicate it.
Apastacy at any level creates confusion, division and contention. This
could be in our individual lives, in the lives of our families,
communities or even entire nations. it is an evil treachery that the
devil has devised since the beginning of time. It is designed to Blind
the minds and to harden the hearts of those that give into these
fleeting promises of security for now, and the promise of awards that
are great and tremendous of we only give in for a moment in order to get
what is easiest for us now. I abhor the thought of anyone facing the
father of eternities and trying to say that they believed their sins
would be forgiven, even though they never truly forsook them nor even
began to change from them and to become pure.
Who
shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? He that hath clean hands and a
pure heart. God's servants are never to sit idle and wait for him to
instruct them, he has given instruction since the plan was even put into
action. He will continue to do so ONLY as we accept that which he has
already given and Apply it fully in our lives. This is repentance. And
sin is doing that which we forthrightly know to be wrong in our innate
and instinctive selves as well as in our intellectual and moral
awareness, and willful attentiveness. We must simply start where we are
and move forward, all the while testifying of the truth and miraculous
power of the Atonement as is slowly and steadily unveils itself in our
lives and the lives of those around us. This is done simply through
faith. Believing that it can possibly make things better. Caring more
about what God thinks than what other people might think of us.
I know that the atonement is real. It has made me who I am today, and is helping me become what Heavenly Father wants me to be tomorrow.
I invite each of you to share your testimony of the Atonement with
someone this coming week. I know it will strengthen you and miracles
will unfold in your life. I love you! Have a great week!
Elder McGarry
Mini Exchange W/ Elder Burnett
more next week
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