Chapter 81: Now

"For behold [Christ] judgeth, and his judgment is just...but men drink damnation to their own souls except they humble themselves and become as little children, and believe that salvation was, and is, and is to come, in and through the atoning blood of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent. For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father."

Mosiah 3:18-19

What a wonderful week it has been; with so much to accomplish, it has, as most weeks do, gone by very quickly as the sun of my mission continues on in its gradual descent beyond the horizon of the unknown. I hold onto these days and moments with fervor and love: I simply could not imagine being anywhere else doing anything else than serving Jesus Christ and striving with all my focus to do the will of God for myself personally but also for others around me.

This week we were preparing for moves planning week, did some exchanges, and most importantly participated in General Conference which was just amazing. For exchanges I was privileged to travel up to Dundee on my own whilst Elder Lambert conducted exchanges here in Edinburgh and Elder Kulmayer in Glasgow; it was so nice to be back in my previous home. I worked with five elders up there, each having their own turn to do some work and learn together with me. I love them all and felt God using me as a tool in his hands to teach and train them in the ways he would have them develop, which was special for me.

The messages of this past conference are not only relevant to the circumstances of the day but essential to each person on earth. I felt an overwhelming love for and from the Prophet, President Nelson, as well as all who spoke and taught us. Such pure truth was shared and testified of by sincerely striving men and women who have been chosen by Christ to lead his church. I know that Russell M. Nelson is a prophet of God. I have received that witness for myself through the power of the Holy Ghost. If you do not have that witness, I invite you to seek it. One way to do so would be to apply the five steps he gave the world to gain spiritual momentum in our lives: to get on the covenant path and stay there, find the joy of daily repentance, learn about God and how he works, seek and expect miracles, and end conflict in our personal lives.

I am taking steps to implement these invitations into my life immediately because, as the prophet said in his closing remarks, "Yes, we should learn from the past, and yes, we should prepare for the future. But only now can we do. Now is the time we can learn. Now is the time we can repent."

Now is the time, because only we can drink damnation to our own souls, or only we can stop our progression! God is always there for each of us, waiting for our humility, willingness, and faith to then allow him to bless us and help us develop as disciples of Jesus Christ. Satan strives to stop us in this, to make us miserable in all aspects of life. The momentum we need to press on against the very real power of the Adversary and cast him out is then only found in heeding the words of the prophet of God. I need that power and strength,and I am so grateful for a prophet of God who has made it so easily available to me.

I love my life, notwithstanding my weakness, and I trust in my God who has given me all I need to press on. He has done the same for you, I promise. Simply seek him.

Life is good.

God is wise.

Don't give up.

Elder Childers

Sunny Dundee

A great visit with Ann McHugh, my dear friend

Selfie with Aunt Maureen in the choir

My friends in Paisley Zone, Elder Draney and Elder Walters. Technology keeps us all so close.