Okay, so I've been trying to think of what to write as my very last letter home, because I want this one to be a little different that what I normally send home. I've sent a lot of letters that are pretty standard, with all of our day to day activity, and we haven't done anything different this week than we normally do. This week I want to send a letter that is very simply my testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I'll try to keep it as simple as possible, but I have 2 years worth of stuff that I want to say and write, so we will see how it goes.
First and foremost, I want to let you know that I know that there is a God in Heaven. He is more than just our creator, or some power in the Universe. He is our Loving Heavenly Father. He knows each and every one of his Children, and each of them hold a special place in his heart. he wants nothing but the best for us. He did not send us here to suffer and be sad, but to learn to have joy. He is our Father, and he wants us to be happy.
I want to let you know that Jesus Christ was, and is, very real. He is not just a fairy tale character, or a nice bedtime story. He really lived, and he really lives again.
Because God is our Heavenly Father, he wants us to live with him again. He wants us to live with him for eternity, and to enjoy all of the blessings that he has to offer. He wants us to enjoy eternal life, which is the life God lives. He wants us to become like him. In order for this to happen, he provided a plan, and if we follow that plan, we will be able to live with him again. He Provided the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If we have faith in Jesus Christ, and follow his commandments, repent, are baptized for the remission of sins, receive the Gift of The Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, and endure to the end, we will live a life that is worth to enter again into the presence of our Father.
Our Heavenly Father knew that we would make mistakes in this life. He knew that we would suffer from other peoples mistakes. He knew that in our mortal state, we would suffer pain, and sickness, and heart break, and every other thing that hurts or is unfair about human existence. It's all part of his plan to refine us, and help us to grow. Because he knew all of this, he provided our way for escape. He provided his only son, Jesus Christ to be the perfect sacrifice for all Mankind. He sent his son to take upon him everything, the good and the bad, that he could know each of us perfectly. But, this sacrifice did more than make him the most sympathetic being in the universe, in the moment of Atonement, Jesus Christ very literally took upon himself EVERYTHING that we are going to go through in this life. It no longer belongs to us! If we will allow him, we do not have to suffer under the burden of sin, the stab of loss, or the sorrow of sickness. He has taken it upon Himself. We will still have to go through trials, but we do not have to go through it alone. Because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, there is someone with us at all times. Jesus Christ is the Saviour of the world. He is the Son of the Everlasting Father. He is Jehovah of the Old Testament and The Messiah of the new. He is The Prince of Peace, Emmanuel - God With Us. He is my friend, and my Brother. Coming to know him has change my life.
I have to stop there, because we are out of time, but I will continue this at my homecoming.
I love your guts, and I cant wait to see you!
