Hey folks! How go things on the other side of the world? And have I expressed to you all how joyful and grateful I am to the Lord to serve here in a particularly trying and difficult area to serve? I have been asking myself many questions, just because of the things that I have seen, and these questions have been helping me to grow spiritually as I study them with prayer.
Here in Las Ilusiones, I see a grand majority here who tend to be much too busy to spend very much time with their families, in the very process of providing for them. And certain families do not fully cease the time that they have together to spend it together in wholesome activities. Whether they are Catholics, Evangelicals, or of some other creed, or even members of the Church, they seem to have a lack. Looking through a Gospel perspective, there is something that they are lacking, and they may or may not be aware of it. They have found themselves in a routine.
And perhaps this may have been the same from what I have observed back home, and I never noticed! Are you in a routine? Are you sensing a lack and you are not sure why? Now this is a question that applies to all faiths. I remember being very tired and busy and stressed and depressed at the same time at certain points in my high school career, trying to keep grades up, perform well in all of the different projects with which I was involved, simply trying to do all things right and good but at the same time seeing my own weeknesses and not feeling like I could keep up with everything. But my friend Robert Bohall (my beloved jazzer, whom I mention in many of my conversations about the piano with the folks here) reminded me in an email of the optimism which I had even in the midst of these things. Perhaps there were times in which I didn't notice I had optimism, but other times in which I really needed to push myself and keep the attitude. And I think about these things now and I must admit, optimism is very important. We cannot do anything without optimism. I certainly needed optimism in such times. I think I was perhaps even compelled to think that things ought to be alright in the end!
Now why do I mention the concept of a routine, and the concept of optimism? It is because I want to extend a reminder, a reminder from that which we have learned from the life before, that we are here so that we may eventually return to God. There are smaller tasks and smaller objectives everywhere, and we have many of these smaller tasks and objectives filling our entire days and our entire lives. Studying for this amount of time, attending classes for this amount of time, learning and understanding this much, earning and spending this much money, having this amount of time with family, and this amount of time to sleep. Folks, this life is short. I think we need to consider what the reason of it all is. Let us remember the teachings of Christ to His disciples, in Luke chapter 12.
23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
31 ¶ But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
As a disciple of Jesus Christ in these Latter Days, I testify that our Heavenly Father has given us our lives that we may learn these things, and have faith in Him, that we may have a chance before that final day, the time in which no labor can be performed, to experience the joy of His Gospel. There is a type of joy, of peace, of happiness, of feeling complete, and of feeling that life has a reason, that nothing in the world can replace. Truly, we are complete if we strive to live the Gospel--in gaining a stronger testimony of this Gospel and living it. And we can let our own testimony of this Gospel guide our decisions. And I know that if we strive to follow the example, the counsel, and the influence of Christ, we will never have to worry about having enough of the "things," but we can be completely focused on the kingdom of God. And if we do all that we can, and not put anything aside of said purpose, to earn the praise of our Heavenly Father, and listen to His counsel, and love Him with all of our heart in doing these things, not to mention loving our fellow men, sharing this great love that God has for us--I say, if we do these things, we will have eternal life, and we will experience a good portion of it even in this life. I strive to keep this joy with me each day. And even if things get hard, and I struggle to see the light at the end of the tunnel, I will always have hope--that constant optimism that keeps me going. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Have a wonderful week! Count your blessings!
Elder Dredge
Elder Braden K. Dredge
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