Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ 5/12/14

Well, Mother's Day rocked :) It was way good to see my family and to talk to them. (We actually got to skype visually with Elder Lehr late last night. It was great! He looks awesome and happy. Five months on the mission as of yesterday. He was able to see Josh Steele, his parents and cousin who are from our ward. They are there visiting some of the areas where Josh served these last few years as a missionary. Elder Lehr loved seeing them. It was a real treat. They were able to deliver a package for us as well.)

This transfer is coming to an end really quickly. Time is speeding by at an incredible rate. Things are going, and we are still working, but it doesn't even feel that an entire month has passed by since last transfer. It will be great to see what this new week holds for us.

One thing that I have been very touched by this week is the restoration of the Gospel and Church of Jesus Christ. If you allow that testimony to burn bright in your soul, you can feel such a light and fire within your soul. Many things happen in our lives that become very hard to bear, but I know that as I have been on a mission, the message of the restoration has penetrated the darkness that comes into peoples lives. And I know that can help us in all of our lives.

What is this wonderful message? The answer? 

Simply stated; The restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is exactly what it is. A restoration of what was once lost and gone. What things were restored? One of the most important truths that were restored was the fact that God the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ, are 2 separate people, and that we can have a personal relationship with God through prayer.

2nd; The authority to act in God's name has again been restored to the earth. And as such when we make covenants with God they can be a binding and everlasting covenant, never to be removed, and that will last throughout eternity. This gives me such hope as I think about this covenant when we are baptized. "We take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ. And covenant to keep His commandments and remember Him. If we do these things, then we can ALWAYS have His spirit to be with us." What an amazing promise that has been given to the children of men. And yet if there was no authority to do this covenant...Then it would be void and would take no effect.

I love this Gospel. And I know that it is true. I pray that each of us will strive to keep the covenants that we have made, and I know that as we do, we will be able to see the hand of God more fully in our lives.

Till next time,

Elder Lehr