December 19, 2011

The highlight of this last week was to be able to attend a Temple session with about half of the missionaries in my mission. President and Sister Taylor were there also. We got to see Santa!! (Braden Taylor) and we all got t-shirts with the APM (Arizona Phoenix Mission) logo on it. It was a lot of fun!

As missionaries we have to “be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15). What a joy it is to be able to tell others the reason I have hope. That we have such understanding only because we have the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to lighten our minds. We have Priesthood power that is binding. This is the reason we can make covenants with Heavenly Father that are truly binding.

We have a clear understanding that Faith is an action word. Faith is like a muscle if you excersize it, it grows. If it hangs in a sling it becomes weaker. It doesn't just stay the same strength, it actually becomes weaker. We understand that faith is in EVERYTHING we do. Literally everything. We know that faith leads to repentance. Repentance leads to forming a new view of the world and yourself. It makes us better and seeing that we can change makes us want to change more.

Making covenants is a comitment that helps us repent and increase our faith. Baptism is a necessary covenant (John 3:5). We receive the gift of the Holy Ghost which helps us make the right decisions and is a constant companion. We cycle through faith and repenting and partaking of the sacrament (to renew your covenant made at baptism) to help us endure to the end. Our Heavenly Father set us up to succeed in this life. I have a testimony of that.

Merry Christmas Everyone. And remember to ask yourself not what did I get for Christmas? But What did I give for Christmas?

Love,
Elder Fagersten