Weekly Letter 75
Hey everybody!!! It's Elder Dredge. How are you guys doing? I've got a little bit of pain in my sciatic nerve, but don't worry about me, I'm doing stretches.
Well, it looks like this year has come to an end. I think we ought to think about who we were last December and ask ourselves, "Did I keep up with my New Years' resolutions?" or even more important, "Did I change for good in the aspects I wanted to this last year?" However your experience was, I invite you all to improve with me.
Why are we here? To learn, and to change. According to God's plan, that is why we are here. (Alma 34)
33 And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many awitnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not bprocrastinate the day of your crepentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the dnight of edarkness wherein there can be no labor performed.
Every year we need to change, or as the scriptures say, "repent." We need to change in a way that we are living more in accordance with the Lord's commandments. Why? Because that's how we will be the happiest. We are all children of God with the potential to be more like Him. And so what does that have to do with New Years Resolutions? What does that have to do with every day of our life? The Lord cannot change us until we are willing to change ourselves. That is how we experience the blessings of the Atonement of Jesus Christ - by our personal efforts to follow Him, combined with the Spirit which causes the gradual change of heart. Every year we can decide to be a little bit more like God in as many aspects as we desire. But how do we accomplish this, whatever it is? We make specific, measurable, achievable, reasonable and time limited goals, and we make the plans... for every month, every week, and every day. It can end up being small things we have to do each day. Nevertheless, we must follow up with our own plans to improve. And if there are things that are coming up in the following months, determine how these things can be opportunities for you to improve in the aspects which you desire. What a grand opportunity we have each day to be a little bit more like our Heavenly Father, and thus a little bit happier!
Let's compare these scriptures. Which one do we want to be a reflection of this next year? Doctrine and Covenants 50:24, or Helaman 13:38?
24 That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.
38 But behold, your adays of probation are past; ye have bprocrastinated the day of your salvation until it is everlastingly too late, and your destruction is made sure; yea, for ye have sought all the days of your lives for that which ye could not obtain; and ye have sought for chappiness in doing iniquity, which thing is dcontrary to the nature of that righteousness which is in our great and Eternal Head.
That is my message to you all this day. I hope you have an awesome New Years Eve, and that you start off this next year with excitement. I know that the Gospel is true, and that the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ is real. I have seen it in my life, and I have experienced the change, and the forgiveness of my sins. I know that Christ lives and continues to teach us and invite us to do good continually. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Elder Dredge
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