April 9, 2012

I spoke in church yesterday. With it being the Saviors Resurrection and all I decided to talk on one of the Saviors most overlooked commandments, Forgiveness. It was a humbling experience and I spent a lot of time on my knees praying for the guidance and forgiveness needed to feel at comfort while writing. There was a lot of visitors there from different places but all in all it was a very spiritual sacrament mtg. It was one that I will not forget for a while that is for sure. After Sacrament, Kevin, a member who has been recently returning from inactivity, posed a question that i had not yet thought about. "is there such a thing as not being worthy enough to go to church?" obviously the answer is no. but I just never expected that question before from anyone. Luckily I paid attention to Conference and was able to tell him that no matter the sin.. we are always capable of returning to the path to celestial glory! The Saviors arm is always extended and waiting for us to take hold. but we have to be willing. I answered the best that I could but I felt like to answer the question I needed to pose another one back. Are you willing to Repent and become like the Savior? It was quite the conversation to have. I also was able to teach the youth in Sunday School as well, ages 14-18. In California they don't have separate ages because there is not enough youth to do so but indeed it was awesome. I can see why the Lord gave me 5 extra brothers and sisters on top of the 3 that I already have. I needed to be taught patience so that i could teach the youth here! they are all so filled with energy. I feel like i mix better with them though than with the adults. But i caught their attention with some deep Doctrine about the Resurrection of our Savior and than jumped into the Last few Moments of his life and the nest few days of his Glorified Ministry. That is the funny thing about teens. Teach them something that they maybe have not yet thought about and you can have them thinking about it for the rest of the hour... intently paying attention waiting for more or even possibly an answer to the question in their hearts. It was awesome to see the Lord working within me to give them the answers they needed. It was a great Sunday to be alive on this earth today. I ate at bishops house yesterday [Easter] and had all the good stuff. Sweet potatoes, Ham, Homemade mac and cheese, green beans, bread, Deviled eggs, and peach cobbler to finish it off! Bishop's wife reminds me so much of Gma Johnson. It was like having a holiday dinner at one of my own family members house. It made me miss grandma greatly. The past couple of weeks have been hard. I have thought of her a lot. But that is the way it is sometimes. Love, Elder Christensen