Hey one and all! Has been a good week all in all. The weather here has been really weird...cold at night/morning and hot during the day. Normally it`s pretty much hot all the time here this time of year. I finished the Liahona of the General Conference this week…and it was awesome! It truly is such a gift to have Prophets to guide us in these latter days...to help us face the daily problems in this day.
I find it really interesting the way Heavenly Father teaches us. Vary rarely does he just give us the answers to problems and make us understand ;however, he is constantely presents us with opportunities to answers to our questions for ourselves. I have been pondering on this principle a lot these last two changes. The experience has been completely different than any other change in my mission, that doesn`t mean that it has been bad. It means that I have had other things to learn. I love all that my Father has taught me. I love the feeling of knowing that I am being guided in all that I do...there really is nothing like witnessing divine intervention in my life.
Here lately, I have been thinking a lot on the love of the Savior. I find it really interesting the way Heavenly Father teaches us. Vary rarely does he just give us the answers to problems and make us understand ;however, he is constantely presents us with opportunities to answers to our questions for ourselves. I have been pondering on this principle a lot these last two changes. The experience has been completely different than any other change in my mission, that doesn`t mean that it has been bad. It means that I have had other things to learn. I love all that my Father has taught me. I love the feeling of knowing that I am being guided in all that I do...there really is nothing like witnessing divine intervention in my life.
Isiah 41:10 "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."
2nd verse of "How Firm A Foundation" "In ev'ry condition--in sickness, in health,In poverty's vale or abounding in wealth,At home or abroad, on the land or the sea--As thy days may demand, as thy days may demand,As thy days may demand, so thy succor shall be."
Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
I have pondered about the reality of these proclamations,promises, and reassurences and have come to understand more fully this part of the role of Jesus Christ in our eternal progression. As many of you know, Christ passed through every trial, tribulation, pain, and agony possible...why? He passed through it all for two reasons 1) To obey the Father 2) To learn how to succor us when we pass through the same trials. How is it that we use Him to help us do exactly that? How do we us Christ to overcome our trials?
1) Fear not-It is literally impossible for fear and faith to coexhist in the same person in the same moment. For the hand of God to manifest itself in our lives, it requires that we show our faith. That`s why the first step is to cast out all fear. Faith is not just to believe, it is an action….. and we must all act in order to exercise true faith.
2) Become strengthened by the Lord-We do this by receiving correction willingly. Not only to we receive it, but we seek it. We find this in our leaders in the church, the scriptures, the Holy Ghost, and family members. When we receive this correction and apply it in our lives, we are putting our trust in the Lord and showing faith in Him, in such, being endowed with strength from the heavens.
3) Always remember Him and what Him/You represent to the world-No matter what your circumstances are,no matter if you`re at home, at work, at school, in another country, on your mission, healthy, sick, rich, or poor...we all need Christ. If we remember Him in all moments, he will forever be with us not only in spirit, but literally in our hearts in every moment.
If we can achieve this, every one of us, we will see the growth of the kingdom of heaven here on earth like never before. The Prophets have repeatedly told us that in the last days we would see the power of Satan manifested before our very eyes;however, they also told us that we would see more righteousness in the followers of Christ like never before. Brothers and sisters, let us be these followers. Let us be the ones to fulfill these prophesies. I testify to each of you that you have it in you and that this is the destiny for which you were born. Of this I testify, in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Con Amor,
Elder Jackson
