April 5th  Week 26 - He Lives, Layton Utah Week 16 (T4)

皆さん!

 

There has been so much amazing stuff happening! Between Easter and conference, serving some and teaching others... it's been wonderful.

 

So much has happened. We watched general conference together as a district - outdoors, socially distanced, listening to living prophets and apostles speak. It was so much fun - and being able to bounce lessons we've learned off each other has been a ton of fun. (We held our breath for the group pictures!)

 

I could go on for a long time about what's transpired this week... but even amidst exchanges with the Zone Leaders, serving nonmembers and inactives, and meeting so many amazing people through inspired walks, after time and time again of being able to see gratitude in people's eyes as we lift their spirits and warm their hearts... I've really come to know my Savior even more.

 

And ultimately, it is because of Him that I'm able to be here today.

 

Throughout this week, I've been studying the Lord Jesus Christ leading up to Easter. Holy Week is a wonderful time to reflect upon His teachings, His life, and His purpose. And I've found that as I've done that, I've truly come to see Him and know Him more than I could have ever thought possible.

 

There are too many broken hearts and broken souls in the world today - whether it be through sorrows and sadness, trials and tribulations... there is so much to mourn in the world.

 

"Be of good cheer," Christ told his wavering disciples, "for I have overcome the world."

 

My testimony is that He *has* overcome the world. He did not just take upon Himself the sins of the world - no, He did so much more.

 

I've shared this scripture before, but I'll share it again.

 

"And He shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind - and this, that the word might be fulfilled which saith He will take upon Him the pains and the sicknesses of His people.

And He will take upon Him death - that He may loose the bands of death which bind His people. And He will take upon Him their infirmities - that His bowels may be filled with mercy according to the flesh, *that He may know, according to the flesh, how to succor His people according to their infirmities."

 

This is my testimony of Him, above all - that He lives! He knows us. He loves us. And He wants nothing more than to heal us. From the triumphant entry in Jerusalem to the teaching of disciples and Pharisee alike. And from there... to the agonizing pain of the Atonement. Every pain, every joy, every sorrow, every joy... He has felt it all. And as such, no matter what the situation is, He can commiserate.

 

And through the influence of the Holy Ghost, He can cause "the heavens to shake for [our] good." He knows the best way forward because He's felt every single possibility. Every single heart, He knows. And as such, He knows how we will react. How we will think. And as such, He has the end from the beginning - and can bless us by guiding us through the darkness.

 

That was the power He gained in the Garden of Gethsemane, and the power He gained once all was completed - and every single emotion ever felt... had been felt. 

 

He is the Rock and our Redeemer. He is the Good Shepherd. "Fear not, little flock," the Savior soothes, "for it is your Father's great pleasure to give you the kingdom."

 

I testify that after He had suffered all things - after He had been betrayed by all of His apostles, one by one, until even His most devoted had fled. After He had been scourged, unjustly sentenced to death, and after He was crucified... three days later, He rose from the grave, with "healing on His wings." 

 

He is a Testament of our potential, and a Testament of our glory. In a coming day, we will overcome sickness. We will overcome pain. We will overcome death.

 

We will "rise [again] with the just, when the Savior doth come!" For above all... the Lord loves us. He would not have sacrificed all if He didn't.

 

Did Christ have to suffer all of these things? Did Christ have to bear every single one of our sins? Did Christ have to feel every single sorrow, every single failure, every single bout of loneliness? Did He have to give up His life? Did He have to be crucified, and abandoned by His Father?

 

Did He have to do any of it?

 

No. He didn't.

 

But He did.

 

And because He did, we, too, can rise. Physical death will die - and we will all be resurrected. We will all become as They are - glorious, perfected beings, filled with light and hope and love. We will continue on this path, learning and growing together. Those we love will be with us - every single one.

 

Together, we can look to the future with hope.

 

That is my testimony and my witness. God the Eternal Father lives. His Son, Jesus Christ, live. They know us. They love us.

 

They have prepared a plan that allows us to become better. To learn. To grow. To improve. To fail. To succeed.

 

And through that, become better - and eventually, return to live in eternal happiness together, forever.

 

I bear you that witness in the name of our Savior and Redeemer, even Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

 

Elder Decker

デッカー長老