“It’s been eye opening to me. As a missionary you live a higher life, you live a higher standard, but there are still things…Satan still puts things in your path & distractions that you need to keep out of your life. So I think where I’m at right now as a missionary (and even when I go home)…what distractions do I need to get rid of…what thorns or temptations do I have … am I putting myself in situations where I’m not able to grow roots…am I growing at all…am I in soil, at all.
I’ve definitely gained a testimony of likening the scriptures unto myself. In every verse, ever story that is taught can relate to us. We’ll always have trials in our lives & in one way or another they can help us through those trials. That’s also helped me to receive a testimony of Heavenly Father & how he loves us. He’s given us all these things…he’s given us our family, the gospel, commandments…because they’re not there to restrict us, but help us maintain freedom from trials & torment & guilt throughout our lives. So I’m grateful for that.I’m grateful for the opportunity I’ve had to be raised in the gospel & in a righteous family like my patriarchal blessing says…I’m grateful for the blessings I’ve received from that. As I’ve realized seeing different situations with Johnathan, you know…he lives in a really sucky situation & he’s going to learn a lot of lessons from that as he continues to progress in the gospel. By seeing the things that he learns & be able to apply them in my life, I’ve been able to see the things I’ve learned and to learn from him. I’m very grateful for that.
I’m grateful to have a Heavenly Father that loves me & has given me these things & given me the opportunity to repent & become better. Repentance is a process. I know that Heavenly Father really does want us to come back to him because he gives us a lot of chances…a lot of chances. On my mission I’ve realized I haven’t taken a lot of those chances & now is the time that I need to.
I’m grateful for all of those things & I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
(we recorded him but it wouldn't download to the blog. It's been so amazing listening to him say it & typing it down...to reread over & over again....love this boy)