Well brothers and sisters, this will be my last email home as
a full-time servant of the Lord. I have mixed emotions as I ponder on the past
18 months and what they mean to me, and think of the future and the foundation
that has been built. (Thanks for your analogy Fred Ashby!). Today I just wanted
to share a few thoughts I have had over the past few days.
My first thought turned to Matthew 16:25 -
"For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and
whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it."
When I first read this scripture years ago, I thought to
myself how much of a sacrifice it would be to "give your life" to the Lord. How
difficult it would be to put Him first and how this scripture was just asking us
to sacrifice so much! Well, after 18 months of service to the Lord, my thoughts
have certainly changed. Sacrifice is " to give up something valuable or precious,
often with the intent of accomplishing a greater purpose or goal." I certainly
gave up valuable and precious things - family time, school, friends, etc. But
to give it up only for a time, to be able to have blessings for eternity. Well, these past 18 months have
certainly not been a sacrifice in comparison to what I have received. I will
never again be the same, thanks to my loving Heavenly Father who has allowed me
to have this experience. Of course, I can't say that I have "Found my life", so
to speak. But I can certainly say that I have shaped who I can become for the
rest of my life, and all throughout eternity. For anybody who is able,
worthy, and willing, I have four words
of advice - "GO ON A MISSION". There is no better decision I have made in my
life then to serve the Lord full time. From a broad perspective, it appears to
be a sacrifice. But when actually served, the sacrifice is no where to be found.
For the blessings you receive are in greater abundance than anything else you
could ever give.
"I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in
it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded
me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands
of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy."
How I love this verse of scripture. This has been my sincere
prayer this past year and a half, and I pray that I may have accomplished even a
glimpse of what Alma accomplished in his many
years of mission service. A year and a half ago, the Lord commanded me to cry
repentance to every living creature that I meet here in British Columbia . Countless times I have fallen short of
that clarion call. But with the help of the Savior, I know I was able to cry
repentance unto this people. I pray that I will forever remain worthy to be used
as an instrument in the hands of my Savior, even Jesus Christ.
This past conference, Bishop Gary E. Stevenson, the Presiding
Bishop, gave a wonderful talk entitled "Your Four Minutes". I read this in my
personal study this morning, and pondered on the short time I have had here
in British Columbia . This is essentially one
of my only four minutes in this earth life. Maybe even more. How I chose to
spend this time will shape my life for eternity, if I but let it. How I hope
and pray that the Lord will help me to remember the feelings I have felt in this
hallowed ground of British Columbia , and to
remember the principles that have been learned. For if not, I have served in
vain. But I can truly say, with all the sincerity of my heart, that I have
given everything that the Savior has asked me to give Him these past 18 months.
No, I did not serve a perfect mission. But the Savior's Atonement makes up the
difference between worthy and perfect. And I pray that I will forever remain
worthy!
I bear my simple testimony to each of you reading this - The
Savior, even Jesus Christ, lives today. He is my Redeemer, and the only way
back home to my Heavenly Father. Because of Him, I am able to be with my family
for eternity - if I but keep my covenants and live worthy of that blessing. The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is indeed the Lord's Kingdom here
upon the earth. It is the only true and living church upon the face of the
whole earth. Doesn't it make sense, that a loving Heavenly Father would provide
a simple and clear way to return home to Him? Well, He has. Through the
doctrine of Jesus Christ, we may receive the greatest blessing of all, even
eternal life. But developing faith, repenting daily, receiving and always
remembering baptismal covenants (as well as other ordinances), and receiving and
following the promptings of the Holy Ghost, a sacred member of the Godhead who
we have the opportunity to be constant companions with if we but choose to do
so. After these simple, but not always easy steps, we must endure to the end.
We must strive to live these principles throughout the rest of our lives, and
most importantly, help others to do the same. For if we are converted, then we
will help others to find the truthfulness of the Gospel for themselves. "He who
has been warned, must warn His neighbor." How I pray that each of us may feel
of God's love, and know that He is always there, with an abundance of joy to be
felt. May this return home prepare me for a hopefully triumphant return home to
my Heavenly Father and Savior. May I stand before my Maker's face, and hear the
long desired words, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." May I allow
the Savior's Atonement to cleanse me of all my mortal iniquities and weaknesses.
As I do everything in my power to become like Him, I know I can then "stand
still" and watch His arm be revealed. As I ponder of what lies ahead in my
life, I find great comfort in knowing that I can always turn to my Savior. In a
world full of darkness and sin, may we each stand as a light upon a hill, to
invite others to come unto the Savior and be perfected in Him. To those reading
this who may be holding something back from the Savior, I plead with you, give
everything to Him. Give Him our weaknesses, that we may be made strong. Give
Him your desires, that He may purify you. Give Him your time, so that eternity
may be lived in joy. Give Him even your sins, that He may cleanse you. And
above all, give Him your love. For with love, is coupled obedience. And this is
the greatest commandment of all.
John 16:3 -
"And this is life eternal, that them might know thee the only
true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent."
I can truly say that I have had but a small glimpse of coming
to know God even more these past 18 months. May I ever learn of the nature of
God, and help Him in his purpose to "Bring to pass the immortality and eternal
life of man". How I love my Savior, even Jesus Christ. I yearn to be with Him
again one day, standing next to my Father in Heaven. When the day comes in the
near future, may my offering of a full-time mission be acceptable to
them.
"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I
have kept the faith."
2 Timothy 4:7
In the name of my Savior, even Jesus Christ,
Amen.
Sister Biggs
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