A sweet final message from Elder Wilkins...
As I sit down to write this I am a little hesitant about what to write. These past two years have been like a roller coaster ride for me, arriving at a very special destination. Rather than going on an on about my mission, which I will be able to do in the future, I would rather take this time to bear my testimony, for that is the greatest gift I have gained over these two years. First, I know that God lives. I know He lives with all my heart. I know that He is our Father. I know that He is our Caretaker from above. I know that He watches over us with as much, and even more so, love and concern as our individual parents, those of which God has blessed us with. I know that He knows us each personally. He know our fears, our struggles, our doubts, and concerns. He knows our hopes, our desires, our dreams for the future. He is always with us, walking along our side, supporting us when we hang down. All He wants, all He desires, as He has stated in His own words, "My work and my glory", is the eternal happiness of each one of us. I know that He has shown His love through a myriad of ways, one of the greatest being the wonderful families He has blessed us with in this life. I know that families are the most important social group in this life and in the eternities. I know that the love that we develop within our families is unbreakable, unchangeable, and everlasting. I know that through the Holy Priesthood of God, families can be sealed together for all time and eternity. My heart leaps for joy knowing that death has no sting, that because my family has been sealed in the Holy Temple of God, I will live with them forever. I know that God has also shown His love towards us by calling Prophets. What a blessed people we are to have living Prophets and Apostles of our Father in Heaven, from whom we receive exact guidence and direction to our lives. I know with all of my heart that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. For the past two years I have shared his story with others, some of which didn't even hold a belief in God. Every time I had the priviledge to share the Joseph Smith story, the room would fill with the Spirit. The Spirit has testified to me on countless occassions, some minor, others major, about that man. I know with every fiber of my being that he saw our Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. I know that the message of the Restoration of the Gospel is a message of hope. It is a message that God lives, that He loves us so much that He has again shown His love through restoring all of His truth to the earth through a living prophet. I often laugh when I see people reject our message, all we are trying to do is share a message of happiness and eternal joy, yet others scorn and reject. I am short on time, but one of the greatest truths I hold so dearly to my heart is that of my Savior Jesus Christ and His Atoning sacrifice for all of mankind. I know He lives. I know the Atonement is REAL. I have experienced it personally in my life, and I have been a first hand witness as it has changed the lives of others. I know that Jesus Christ did all He did do out of a perfect love for us, and for our Father. I am so grateful to Him. For everything I have, and for the possibility of returning to live with my Father again some day. I am so grateful for gaining a knowledge of these truths over these past two years. I am so grateful for all I have been given, a person such as I who is so un deserving of such great gifts. I love you all and look forward to seeing many of you very very soon. As always I pray that God will watch over all of you, and that He will pour out His blessing upon you as you strive to do all that He has asked of you, for therein is happiness. May God bless.
No comments:
Post a Comment