Hey everyone! How have you been? I hear it's been getting a bit hot over there, wherever you are. I know it's been getting quite hot in Oregon and California, I know how it is. You are not alone, because it is blazing here too.
This week we had a lovely baptismal service for our sister Blanca Hernandez. She has been investigating the Church ever since her husband Ricardo was baptized, and that was eight years! She has been receiving visits every now and then for that long, and yet it wasn't until my companion Elder Cuatetl with his companion at the time decided to be very clear that what we bring to her is the one way to achieve salvation -- or in other words, the only way to enter into the kingdom of God. When they asked, she expressed that she indeed wants to achieve salvation, and would do what she would have to to obtain it. So ever since then, the Elders have helped her to gain a testimony, and when I came, we did the same. She has mostly had the fear of answering questions about the Gospel and giving talks. And we have seen that she has gained much more confidence now. And her baptismal service, brothers and sisters, was one of the most special things I had the pleasure to experience in my mission. There was so much support from the ward, so much love. Upon announcing it that week, everyone practically jumped to help out in something, and we just had to commit and confirm throughout the week. It ended up being the best that we could have prepared it to be. The Spirit was so strong. And when she went down in the water and was brought back up, by way of the pure and restored priesthood authority of God, of which she obtained a testimony... that was a sight to cherish. She has entered into the kingdom, and is welcomed among the most blessed and humble of saints. It was an honor to be a part of the most important step in her life.
Brothers and sisters, Jesus Christ truly did suffer and die, to pay the cost of our sins. He made it possible that we would receive complete pardon, or remission, of our sins and transgressions, as well as receive grace upon grace, up until the final moment when we would receive eternal life. His Atonement made it possible that we can receive a remission of sins, divine grace, and eternal life. And it is by way of special acts performed by authorized members of His Church, just like the Apostles in the olden times, that make it possible that we might receive these things. It is, indeed, by way of baptism that we receive a remission of sins, by way of laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost that we receive grace, and by way of covenants in the temple that we, along with our families, receive eternal life. And by way of faith and repentance, we can be happy and continually make ourselves more worthy to receive these things, with the help of our Lord Jesus Christ, after all we can do. And though this authority to perform these sacred acts was lost upon the death of the apostles, after many centuries they are restored by a prophet in these latter days, whose name is Joseph Smith. And because of this, today, we can receive these wonderful blessings, and continually receive more as we learn more about His Gospel and continually strive to live it.
I have received these blessings for myself. The remission of sins, though the process by which can be hard and require tears and humiliation, is worth the cost, and is an absolutely wonderful feeling--a feeling that cannot be created, but delivered by way of the Spirit after truly repenting and baptizing in the name of Christ. And I can testify that divine grace is real, and that it has been a key factor which has played in all my life, especially after my baptism. It is something that has helped me to grow in the way that my Heavenly Father wants me to grow, and I have learned from my own obedience to His commandments and proving my desire to change nad improve according to His plan for me that it is real. And the process of following the example and teachings of Jesus Christ overall is an experience which is a pleasure beyond any kind. There is nothing like it, and I am convinced that there is nothing that brings the level of joy that the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ brings.
In many ways, we might "deny the Atonement", whether to others, or whether to ourselves. We might think: I cannot forgive what that someone just did. I cannot forgive myself for what I just did. I cannot forget. Or we might think: That person doesn't need help. He doesn't need my advice. She doesn't want to talk. I don't want to talk to anyone right now. Or we might think: I am not the kind of person that reads the Scriptures and prays. I am not the kind of person that goes to Church and worships. There is not a Christlike bone in my body. I am way off the path. I cannot mold myself to be like that kind of person. I am better off on
my own path. These are just a few ways we deny the Atonement. I would encourage you, brothers and sisters, to strive to not deny yourselves of the Atonement, and rather strive to obtain all the blessings of it. Remember the love of the Savior for you. Remember the wise and fatherly love that our Heavenly Father has for us. Remember these things, and allow these things to encourage you to be happy and grateful. I know that these things are true, and that if we strive to not deny, but rather accept, the Atonement in our lives, we will be happier, because we will be feeling more of the love and joy that we will feel in the presence of our Heavenly Father. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Have a wonderful week, my friends!
Your servant and friend among the Lamanites,
Elder Dredge
