Monday, April 24, 2017

New Beginnings (April 24th 2017)

The week was great, had a lot of fun teaching the Gospel in Cape Girardeau. We received Transfer calls, I will be White Wash, Training, and District Leader in the Wentzville 1 area. I think it is about 40 minutes north of St. Louis up by Dardenne Creek. I will have a brand new missionary my last three months of my mission. It will a new adventure and a new beginning. It will be a fresh start. I am excited to see what blessings and miracles will come through our faith and obedience in the Wentzville Ward. 

On the topic of New Beginnings our Savior Jesus Christ often invited people to have a fresh start or a new beginning in their daily walks of life and to come closer to him, the invitation often was to Repent and to come unto him. The definition of repentance is a change of mind, a fresh view about God, about oneself, and about the world. Repentance is joyful, we have the opportunity to come closer to Christ by living his Gospel and making necessary changes to live a more Christ-centered life. Hopefully as me and my new missionary go to the Wentzville area that they will gain a fresh view of how to do missionary work, what missionary work is. I hope that through aligning ourselves with God that the blessings of heaven will pour upon us. 

As we repent and come closer to God we recognize the importance of Jesus Christ and His Atonement, when he suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane and also on the cross for the sins of the world, That it is only through the merits, mercy, and grace of our Saviors sacrifice that we can be made clean through repenting and being baptized. Baptism is essential in following the example of the Savior, as we are baptized we make sacred promises to God, we promise to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ, to always remember him and keep His commandments that he has given. The great thing about making sacred Promises with God called Covenants is that he promises us something in return, God promises us that we may always have the Holy Ghost to be with us. Some people refer to the Holy Ghost as the Holy Spirit. No matter how you refer to it is a special gift given to us from our Heavenly Father to guide us and teach us the ways of truth and righteousness. The Holy Ghost is able to teach us and help us but if we wish to always have the Spirit with us we need to be repenting but also be baptized by someone holding that proper Priesthood Authority so that we can be worthy to be given that gift of The Holy Ghost by that same Priesthood authority. A great example in the scriptures is Acts 8:12-17 



12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

Peter and John held the Priesthood authority to give the Holy Ghost to those recently baptized men and women, they were given that authority from Jesus Christ to bless the sons and daughters of God. That same Priesthood authority that was held by Jesus Christ and His Apostles is on the Earth today and that Priesthood Authority is found in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know the Book of Mormon is true and I know Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of the world. I hope as we continue on our path to following Him and his Gospel that we will come to feel His love. Have a great week everyone!! 

Love, 

Elder Washburn


Cape Girardeau Discrtict (April 2017)















No comments:

Post a Comment