There is a God!

(Elder Cummings)

This week, with more regularity, I have been asked questions such as "if there is a God, why do people suffer?"  "If there is a God, then why was my family taken from him?"  "If there is a God, why doesn't he help me?"

As we celebrated Easter this year and as I personally commemorated the life of Jesus Christ I thought a great deal about these questions.  In response to these questions I spent some time in the scriptures.

There is a God.  All things testify of Him!  The worlds, the plants, the starts, the order that in them are, testify that there is a God. 

We read in Romans 8:16 that "the Spirit itself beareth witness to our spirit, that we are the children of God."  That same being, who created worlds without number, is the literal father of our Spirits.

"He love us.  He weeps with us when we suffer and rejoice when we do what is right.  He wants to communicate with us, and we can communicate with Him through sincere prayer." (Preach My Gospel chapter 3, "God is Our Loving Heavenly Father"). 

Why a Father in Heaven who suffers when His children suffer would delight in or ignore the trials we go through is beyond me.  God our Father lives.  He knows your suffering, he knows what it does to you, and it is His hope and plan that we turn to the Savior Jesus Christ and use the power of the Atonement.

This life is hard.  It was meant to test us, to prove our worthiness as heirs to all our Father has.  We experience trials, temptations, and the consequences of our own sins and of others.

We read in the Doctrine and Covenants 122:8 that "The Son of Man hath descended bellow them all."  Jesus Christ knows the pain of every infirmity, He knows the weight of every sin on our soul, and to think that He does not know our situation in any walk of life, dealing with any kind of imperfections of body and soul, is to deny His teachings and the reality of His great atoning sacrifice.

I have a personal witness of the reality of Jesus Christ's life.  I know for myself that He lives.

If ever you have questions, if ever you don't know the answer, if you ever disagree with the teachings of the church, follow the example of Nephi and admit that "I know that [God] loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things."  A knowledge of that love will sustain you as you learn "line upon line, precept upon precept" (D&C 98:3).

Elder Ostler and I have had much success in teaching this week.  We have five people who are currently working towards specific dates for baptism, and several others who desire to be baptized, but have not yet taken the leap of faith to set a date.  Our actions show the desires of our hearts, and we are blessed, in a large measure, according to our desires.  I have seen miracles when people take the steps to meet with missionaries, to read from the Book of Mormon, to come to church, and to set a date for baptism.  Miracles come as the individuals progress.

I know this church is true.  I am so grateful to be in Fresno sharing the gospel with all the people the Lord puts in my path!

With love,

Elder Jared Cummings