Saturday, October 12, 2013

Hello from the turning seasons ATL

Hello one and all,
How y'all doing today??? Can you see and smell it? The seasons are changing... the leaves are starting to fall along with the temperature here in ATL. It's so beautiful.... even if we're in downtown where we don't have too many tree's :) I love this time of year... I hope everyone enjoyed conference!!! It was truly amazing this year... so many great things were said!
I just want to touch on a few thoughts and feelings I had coming out of conference... one of them being the road of repentance. To repent is to change... is NOT a punishment nor is it something to be ashamed about. It is a way of healing... a way of progressing... a way of growing... a way of becoming more and more like our Heavenly Father. We ALL need to repent. Daily. None of us are perfect... to paraphrase the Book of Mormon... are we not all beggars? Do we not all need and rely on the same Savior to unlock us for the torments of our mortal imperfections and weaknesses? To release us from the chains of him that would bind us fast? Yes. WE ARE ALL BEGGARS. When you find yourself in a position in which repentance is required in your life... do not fear nor feel ashamed... only feel love.... and know that you have company! We are all there with you... all of us have not only been there before, but we are there with you now. We are all stumbling forward in our best efforts to receive salvation and eternal life... we are all constantly falling as well. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. This has many meanings... first, you are not alone because as I've been saying, none of us are perfect... but secondly, you are not alone because WE love you. Your friends and family love you and are there to help you... your church family (which is really your eternal family) is there for you. Be not afraid, neither though be dismayed... reach out and seek help. You shall find it here in this church... among your brothers and sisters who are all striving to do just as you are striving to do... which is to change and follow Christ and His example for truly. Third... the Savior and our LOVING and ever so patient and forgiving Heavenly Father is there for you.... they, above anyone else, will ALWAYS be there for you and love you. Reach up in prayer and ask for their divine help and healing. You will overcome these things... you will be healed... you will be happy and receive eternal life. I promise and testify to each of you that God loves you... and He wants to help. His whole purpose is to help us receive eternal life... the Savior died for us so we could pray and be healed... and that we could change and become perfect through Him. I invite each of you to pray and repent daily. Whether it be for small mistakes or large... we ALL need to pray and repent daily. We all need to change daily and strive to do better than we did yesterday to follow Him. Change in small ways and you will become great. You can do this. You can do this now. I love you. Christ loves you. God loves you.
Until next week,
-Elder Wahlen

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