Friday!

So here is a funny little story. Sunday: Our Branch President tells us we can go to the temple three times this week. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Monday: We went to the temple and hoped that we would be blessed for our service by having our names called for the travel office so we could get our visas. Tuesday: We got back from lunch and found that Elder Kenczka (another elder in my district) and I were called to the office.... to get our visas on Wednesday. Wednesday: We went on got our visas. Shortly after, we were told that we are leaving on Friday.

 

I leave Friday morning. Not much notice. I am out of here. One day to pack and then I'm gone to Mexico. I was actually kind of nervous and a little scared when I heard that. I was very ready for another week here in the MTC. Elder Brown and Elder Lockwood will be staying for a little while longer. I don't know how much longer. I half freaked out when I heard that it would be so soon. I couldn't stop laughing and how ridiculous it was. It just hadn't sunk in. As it did sink in, I began to feel fear. "Am I ready? Should I really go? Is there any way out? Can I really be doing this?" To my questions, I got one answer. "Yes. The Lord is with you and His angels round about you. The Holy Spirit is your constant companion and will not allow you to fall so long as you stay righteous."

 

Notice that it said "righteous" and not "perfect". Alma 9:28. It is a wonderful scripture. To me it gives a deeper understanding of what is expected out of me. God does not expect us to be perfect. It is not possible for us to be. He knows that. But we can try. We can be righteous and do all we can to strive for perfection through Christ. That is why we are here.

 

In the temple on monday, the thoughts came to me, "Strive here on earth to be the best you can be. Strive always for growth in the Lord. Create with every opportunity you have. The character that you have now, the personality, will not change at death." Our bodies will become perfect, but we will keep our knowledge. We will keep our love. Our sins will be washed away if our actions and our desires are directed towards the blessing of the atonement. That is my purpose in life. To strive with every action and thought to be more perfect than i was the moment before. This is very ambitious I know and I will faulter, but such is life. Such is mankind. And such is our Savior able to save us.

 

I was scared. I repented. Fear began to drive me away from the work of Christ. In a moment of weakness I began to move away from Him. I repented. I was blessed to feel the Spirit and He did comfort me and gave me courage. He brought peace to my mind and my racing heart. I don't know what will happen after Friday. I don't know who I will meet or what I will say. But God does. I am in His service. I will do as he commands and I will strive to keep fear from my heart and mind. I will trust Him because I have been promised all the He has if I will remain faithfull and endure to the end. So I will. I love you all. I hope that you can all share this goal and constantly move towards eternal life. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.