Those who pay REALLY good attention to these emails will remember that around Christmastime I think, I said that Christ is the Bridegroom, and talked about his love for us. I was just thinking about it, and I guess that makes us missionaries sorta like a dating service. We're pretty much like Tinder but for Jesus. We go to random people, give them a quick overview of what we/ he has to offer, and they, metaphorically, swipe left or right. I'm going to be honest, I've been out of society to long to remember if right or left was the "I think you're cute" one, but they swipe, and decide if they want to hear more about what we have to say. We might text them a little bit, and set up a meeting, for them to se what they're actually getting themselves into. The main difference between us and Tinder is that we're offering "peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come." (D&C 59:23)
Christ loves us with a love we couldn't fathom, and he wants us to receive the blessings he's prepared for us, but we need to enter into a covenant relationship with him and be faithful to our promises if we want any of them. Christ loves us so much he suffered enough to "tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that [he] might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink" (D&C 19:18) He knows that we've sinned, and he knows the consequences for sin -- death. So he, in perfect obedience to his Father, paid the price, and told us that if we follow him, we won't have to suffer like he did.
I testify to that love, but at the same time, it can be really hard for us to be satisfied with our imperfect growth in this life, and it can be VERY hard to trust in the Lord's promise that "he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more." Nephi, the great prophet from the Book of Mormon, struggled with this idea of not being enough, just like many of us do:
"17 Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities.
18 I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me.
19 And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted." (2 Nephi 2)
We shared this principle of guilt and repentance with someone we're teaching yesterday who has been struggling with guilt and forgiveness, which has led to feelings of unworthiness. We explained that Christ suffered for our sins, and he doesn't want us to suffer like that, and though repentance, and trust in the Lord, we can be forgiven and clean. That's true love. That's love that can change us, and the whole world, if we let it.
Here's a pic of Elder Pamp and I celebrating Valentine's Day. He had a toothache, and this is how we decided to treat it for 15 pesos:
Here's a pic of the ladykillers at District Council, getting ready for Valentine's Day:
Tagalog with Intent:
mahal kita 😍 -- I love you 😍
Love,
Elder Menzie
