This week has been a blur! After five long hours on a train,
I finally arrived in Milan, on Wednesday evening. The next morning the trainers
all met together for a short meeting, then we got to meet our new companions.
In all there where 32 new missionaries that came in this transfer, which is a
lot, and so there were a lot of missionaries gathered together that morning.
My new companion is named Anziano Larsen from good old
Bountiful, Utah. He's a really smart kid and we share a lot of interests it seems,
which is fantastic! He studied French pretty seriously for four years and it
has clearly helped him as he's started learning Italian. He already speaks and
understands much better than I sure did when I was as fresh as him. As a result
he has a slight French accent though when he speaks, which is slightly comedic,
but with time I'm sure he'll get better about it haha.
I really want Anziano Larsen to have a good experience with
his first two transfers, so we have been working really hard here in Ancona and
are beginning already to see the blessings of it. It's so rewarding to work
hard when our cause is the Lord's cause!
As I was reading in the Book of Mormon this week, I found a
verse that really stuck out to me. It's found in Alma 22, which is when Aaron
and his brothers are teaching the king of the Laminates (who were a very wicked
and idolatrous people). After Aaron and his brothers finish expounding to this
king the true doctrine of Christ and the promise of eternal life to those who
live in harmony with Christ's teachings, the king says in verse 15, "What
shall I do that I may have this eternal life of which thou hast spoken? Yea,
what shall I do that I may be born of God, having this wicked spirit rooted out
of my breast, and receive his Spirit, that I may be filled with joy, that I may
not be cast off at the last day? Behold, said he, I will give up all that I possess,
yea, I will forsake my kingdom, that I may receive this great joy."
This once wicked king had experienced a "mighty change
of heart" with regards to the teachings of Christ and when he discovered
the immeasurable blessings that were promised to those who follow Christ and
his teachings, he was ready to give up anything for it. To him the joy that
comes from the gift of eternal life was greater than anything he riches or
power he could possess on earth. Eternal life is not just immortality, or
living forever, but rather living forever with our Father in Heaven. Eternal
life means being eternally happy and it is the greatest gift our Heavenly
Father can give us. The blessing of
eternal life is not just extended to this great king, however. It's extended to
us as well! This blessing is promised to all those who "repent of all [their]
sins... and call upon his name in faith, believing that [they] shall
receive" (Alma 22:16). We are so blessed to have a Savior who grants us
the possibility to repent and improve every day. I'm so grateful for repentance
and for what it allows us to become. The Lord doesn't require us to give up
kingdoms in order to receive His blessings, He requires a humble heart and faithful
persistence. All those who call upon the Lord in faith, seeking to improve,
will receive the sublime gift of forgiveness, and all those who make sincere
repentance an aspect of their everyday lives are promised the sublime gift of
eternal life. What a blessing!
I hope you have a fantastic week and that you remember what
amazing blessings have been prepared for us by our loving Heavenly Father!
-Anziano Jake Wilkinson
No comments:
Post a Comment