Monday, 18 February 2019 ~ Week #82

Weekly Letter 82

True Gospel living

My dearly beloved friends,

What a crazy week it has been. How can I concisely sum up my week for you? I just can't do it in a way that would properly express how calm I feel at the end of everything, because I honestly feel fine. But in the zone Elder Marino and I are serving, there have been sick elders and sisters, stress of the companions taking over the work, and baptisms, all in one. Oh, and a heat wave passed Zacapa. It's 103 degrees over here. Oh, and also there are emergency transfers going on in all of the mission, because a large group of missionaries is leaving, and there is a great necessity of a change up, including some areas in our zone. So that is fun. But in the end, I feel great. I feel calm.

At the end of the week, (today) we went to Panaluya, which is a mountain we can climb and get a nice view of, which also has a waterfall. We went over there, we dipped our feet, and we spent time together having a good time, relaxed after a hard but productive and fulfilling week. The rest, needless to say, was much needed.

Brothers and sisters, I think we all need to take a moment and reflect on our lives. This is something we have been inviting everyone to do. Ask yourself, Is the way I am living a happy life? Is there someone who inspires me to be better? And, how can I inspire others to live the way I live, so that they can be happy too?

Is this not the essence of Gospel living? Looking to the Savior as our leader and example, and following Him, and inviting others to do the same -- is this not the key to a happy life? Was the Savior not the happiest person who had ever lived? Don't we want to be more like Him?

Remember that as we follow Jesus Christ, we should not change at our pace, but rather change at His pace, and let him make the change, as we consistently, earnestly strive to follow Him. And we should seek to be His disciples, disciplined to do His will. If we discipline ourselves to obey Him, we will be happy. In other words, if we put the Lord's will above all else, and if we seek to serve others, we will be blessed instantly. Indeed, in the very moment of repenting and seeking to do these things from this instant, if you do that, you will be blessed instantly.

(Mosiah 2:17,41)

17 And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.
  41 And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.

I know that these things are true, because I have lived them. The Gospel in its essence really is simple, we just have to continue learning and changing. That is, after all, what life is all about. But it is best done after the manner of the Lord. I know that He lives. I know that He guides His church. I know that He gives His power unto us because I have used that priesthood power. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Have a wonderful week!

Elder Dredge