President Jeppson asked me in my final interview a question that has stuck with me ever since. He asked, "How do you think your relationship is with your Savior?" I've thought about that every day. I'm hear to tell you, things are different after the mission; nevertheless, my relationship with my Savior should not ever take the back burner. I've allowed the world and life to kind of get in the way as I was away on vacation. I continued to do my studies, and I will for the rest of forever, but they hadn't been as productive as I knew they could/should be. It's interesting to have been able to feel the difference it has had on my life. My relationship with my Savior wasn't as strong as it should have been. As I sat in church this morning and listened to the talks about Christ, I pondered on His Goodness. I thought of how amazed I stand at His love, at His sacrifice for me. I thought about what that sacrifice meant to me and how said meaning is/should be reflected in my actions. One of the speakers today said, "Our power to act comes from our ability to believe"...and I add, our ability to believe comes from the magnitude of our desire. I will never act if we do not first have a desire. And, my spiritual staying power will never make itself manifest if I do not first believe. The same goes of each of you. Do you want to know your Savior better? Are you content with the knowledge you already have? How is your personal relationship with Him?
Friends, I love my Savior. I am eternally grateful for His Atoning sacrifice in my behalf, for His making right my wrongs, for His making strong my weaknesses. I decided today to rededicate myself to Him, because that is what He deserves, it is what I have covenanted that I will do. I may not wear a badge, but I still wear His name. President Jeppson once said, "The more you love [your Savior], the more your capacity to love yourself and others increases." That's what it's all about--coming to love Him so that in turn we might more fully be able to love others. The Atonement was/is the greatest act of love ever known to this world. As we learn to apply it in our own lives--thus coming to better know and love our Savior--we are more capable of developing that love towards others; we see them through the lens of eternity instead of that of the here and now. It is my prayer that my life might be my testimony, that all who know me might come to know a little better their Redeemer. I want the world to know Who it is that I worship. I want the world to know Him. He makes possible the impossible. He gives comfort when the heart seems almost to fall to despair. He shines light into the darkest of shadows--a light that illuminates, a light that inspires, a light that makes free.
2 comments:
I came across your blog via Facebook and read this post and the one after it. I love the sincerity that comes through your writing! You've inspired me to be more committed to my Lord, share his goodness boldly and to better lift others. Thank you for your great example! No doubt you have done and will do much powerful good in your life!
Brandon, I do not know if you will ever see this; but, I wanted to thank you for your comment. I never saw it until today, and I'm so grateful that I did. For some reason I felt the need to check my blog (honestly, it's been years...). I ran across your comment, and it has encouraged me to rededicate myself to sharing what I know. What good is knowledge of we don't share it? How can it grow if we keep it to ourselves? So, I'm beginning again. Thank you!
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