Monday, April 1, 2013

Easter. :)

Hello and Happy Easter! (Yesterday...)... oh and Happy April Fools Day!
 
So I had a super funny April Fools Day joke, but we couldn't get it organized in time. I wanted to take a photo of like 20 member of the church in baptismal clothing and send it to you guys talking about our MIRACLE OF THE WEEK!!! Sadly, it didn't work out.
 
How was St. George? I hope you guys made it home safe and sound and that all is well with the family there. What did you do for Easter?
 
Because I literally have like five minutes, I would like to quickly share with you guys my testimony of the things that were especially powerful for me this week. As you can probably guess, it is centered in our Beloved Savior Jesus Christ, and all that He did for us. We had a Training from Presidente Lima this week, and he spoke many powerful things to us about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. What is our purpose here as missionaries? To invite others to come unto Christ by receiving the Restored Gospel through Faith in Jesus Christ and His ATONEMENT. Repentance. Baptism. Receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End. I am here to help the people of Rio de Janeiro come unto Christ by helping them understand the blessing they can receive throught the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Sometimes we, as natural men, forget the things that Christ did for us. The pain He went through so that we could return to our Heavenly Father one day. Sometimes we sin and don't realize who already paid for that sin many years ago. Jesus Christ came to this earth. He had a purpose coming here... a very special and loving purpose. John 3:16-17 speaks about this purpose. He came to this Earth so that through Him, all men can be saved. Jesus Christ lived a perfect life. He lived knowing the end was coming, and He willingly submitted Himself to the desires of the Lord. In an expression of infinite love, He willing kneeled in the Garden of Getsemani. He took the sins of every person that has ever lived, is living, or will live, upon Himself. He took upon him these sins, as well as every sadness, pain, or suffering, that each and every one of us was to endure. As He kneeled pleading with the Father, bleeding from every pore--- being even an ounce of that pain enough to kill any other human being--- He thought of each of us. You. Me. Everyone. He thought of our lives and the things we would do. He showed the ultimate sign of love by suffering for us. This wasn't even the end. Jesus Christ went on to be spitten upon, cast down, ridiculed, yelled at, whipped, smacked, and to endure every kind of physical and emotional kind of pain. Even after all this, Jesus Christ willingly allowed that He would be nailed to the cross to suffer even more pain. He once again remembered each and every one of us. When the time came, He gave up his soul to the Father, and completed the Atonement. Why did He do all this for us? Because He loves us. What does He ask in return? To love Him back. Have faith in Him. Remember what He did for us, and truly believe that He layed down His life for us. Repent of our sins, and be clean as He is. Be baptized and receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Lastly, He asks that we follow Him, being disciples of Him in all our actions and thoughts, until the end of our lives. He completed His mission here on earth. Will we complete ours?
This is my testimony. Jesus Christ lives. He suffered and died for our many sins so that we may return to the presence of our Father one day. I am grateful for this.
 
I hope all is well at home, and that everyone had a Happy Easter. :) Have a wonderful week! I love and miss you all!!!!
 
Much love,
 
Elder Steven Bennett

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