Life is Beautiful! Infinite and Eternal!

Hello from the other side of the world! I am going to give a paragraph life update so please read the "Infinite and Eternal" paragraph!

We had Zone Conference! Super fun, volleyball, service, and said bye to President Hara. I'm doing good, focusing on having Joy in all things and showing gratitude like I did (but better) in the MTC. I got to say bye to Jack today (My dad went to his going away party while I was on the phone with him!) You are going to do amazing things Jack! I love you!

 Infinite and Eternal

Those are two big words. They hold such a high place because they transcend time and power. Nothing is bigger or stronger than something that is infinite and eternal. The power of Jesus Christ's Atonement is Infinite and Eternal. This Atonement holds power over all things, nothing we do is greater than the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. We can use this Infinite and Eternal power. We teach and talk about this limitless power so often, but this week it hit me how much power it really holds. The Atonement of Jesus Christ means that we can live again, we can live with our families and loved ones, our Heavenly Father who we've only begun to get to know, and the one who gave us that power, Jesus Christ, for all of eternity. Because of Him, I can never be too far away. Because of Him, I can be forgiven when I make mistakes. Because of Him, I will live again. Because of Him, I have the opportunity to grow and learn. Becaue of Him, death isn't the end. Because of Him, I can have hope. But He did that for you too. Everything I do is because of Him. That is why Ieft my family, my job, my school, my friends, my viola, my books, my bike, my favorite movies, tv shows, and music, my favorite foods, my bed, my legos, my dog, my car. I didn't bring much with me, I left everything behind except a dozen of the same outfits, some toiletries, and a couple spirals of paper. But I brought so much more than that. I brought my testimony, my trust, my hope that everything would be okay. I brought my limited knowledge of the gospel, my limited knowledge of the scriptures, my few spiritual flashes of light that lead me to believe that Christ would make it ok. I've already gained so much more than that. I've gained a testimony that the God of all creation, the God of the Unvierse, our Heavenly Father knows you. He knows your name. He knows what you want. He knows what you need. He knows that its hard. He knows that you would need help. I testify that He provided that help. I testify that He knows your situation better than you, and that if you try, if you take a step, if you ask him to, He will guide you. I've said before that I feel like a baby sometimes, like I'm not strong enough or good enough to do this. And it's true. I am not good enough alone. I am not strong enough alone. I may be able to last until I die on my own, but I cannot have truly live or have lasting joy on my own. Neither can you. But you are not alone. God knows you, God loves you. With His help, you can do all those things, and so much more. You will experience trials but you will have joy from them. I testify and promise what Prophets and Disciples of Christ before have promised. God blesses those who try, when we fail, Heavenly Father says, "Look how far [Jared/(your name)] has come." If you are one the Covenant Path, renew your desire and diligence to be there take the next steps. If you are off the Covenant Path, that is ok. But it is only ok if you get back on it. I don't care what you've done, all I care is that when I get to the Celestial kingdom, your seat is not empty. I want you to be there. God wants you to be there. And I think you want to be there too. So don't give up. Even if you do repent now, it's not over. You will mess up again, and you'll keep messing up again and again until the last day. But I'll be right there messing up with you. What matters is not that we don't mess up, but what we do after we mess up. That is how the light inside us grows brighter and brighter until that last day. That is how we become like Christ. Turn to the power that is greater than sin or death, turn to the power that helps you grow, that can transform you into a new creature. 

So how about we repent, how about we do it together. Please do it, I want you to feel what I feel and I know that you can. (If you're not a member go to comeuntochrist.org and start learning from missionaries like me!)

Love,

Elder Rasmussen :)