Roller Coaster of Emotions and Events

Well this week has kind of been a roller coaster of emotions and events.

It has also been a great week! I would like to thank everyone who has helped me this week and who has counseled with me in my decision to stay on my mission and to make the right decision as to whether or not this is where I am supposed to be.

I know that I am supposed to be on a mission at this time. I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ both have a purpose for me here. I know that I am supposed to be serving here in this mission, the Salt Lake City South mission. I know that there is nothing greater then serving a mission and seeing the Light of Christ come into people's lives. The last 9 month's of my life have been some of the hardest times of my life but have also been some of the best times of my life! I hope and pray that each of you will be able to accept the gospel into your lives and be able to have missionary opportunity's in your own lives.

I am going to share a quote from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland that I really like in his own words he said: "Now, to anyone within the sound of my voice who has wondered regarding our Christianity, I bear this witness. I testify that Jesus Christ is the literal, living Son of our literal, living God. This Jesus is our Savior and Redeemer who, under the guidance of the Father, was the Creator of heaven and earth and all things that in them are. I bear witness that He was born of a virgin mother, that in His lifetime He performed mighty miracles observed by legions of His disciples and by His enemies as well. I testify that He had power over death because He was divine but that He willingly subjected Himself to death for our sake because for a period of time He was also mortal. I declare that in His willing submission to death He took upon Himself the sins of the world, paying an infinite price for every sorrow and sickness, every heartache and unhappiness from Adam to the end of the world. In doing so He conquered both the grave physically and hell spiritually and set the human family free. I bear witness that He was literally resurrected from the tomb and, after ascending to His Father to complete the process of that Resurrection, He appeared, repeatedly, to hundreds of disciples in the Old World and in the New. I know He is the Holy One of Israel, the Messiah who will one day come again in final glory, to reign on earth as Lord of lords and King of kings. I know that there is no other name given under heaven whereby a man can be saved and that only by relying wholly upon His merits, mercy, and everlasting grace can we gain eternal life.

My additional testimony regarding this resplendent doctrine is that in preparation for His millennial latter-day reign, Jesus has already come, more than once, in embodied majestic glory. In the spring of 1820, a 14-year-old boy, confused by many of these very doctrines that still confuse much of Christendom, went into a grove of trees to pray. In answer to that earnest prayer offered at such a tender age, the Father and the Son appeared as embodied, glorified beings to the boy prophet Joseph Smith. That day marked the beginning of the return of the true, New Testament gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and the restoration of other prophetic truths offered from Adam down to the present day.

I testify that my witness of these things is true and that the heavens are open to all who seek the same confirmation. Through the Holy Spirit of Truth, may we all know “the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom [He has] sent.” Then may we live Their teachings and be true Christians in deed, as well as in word, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

May I also add my testimony that I know that what Elder Holland said is true! I know that Jesus Christ was and is the literal son of God. I know that Jesus Christ was born to a virgin mother and that he did perform many miracles while he was on this earth. I also know that while he was here on this earth that he set up his church, The Church of Jesus Christ. I know that he gave the Priesthood authority to his twelve apostles, or twelve disciples and that they were to go teach all nations. Teaching them the things that Jesus Christ had taught while he was here. I also know that later those twelve apostles were rejected and that the priesthood authority was lost.
But I have a testimony and I know without a shadow of a doubt that in the Spring of 1820 in upstate New York a young boy named Joseph Smith saw God the Father and his son Jesus Christ and that this church that Jesus Christ had set up when he was here on the earth was brought back to the earth. That priesthood authority was also brought back to the earth. We now have that same church that Jesus Christ once set up on the earth. Christ is the cornerstone of our religion.
I know that Jesus is the Christ!

As it says in 2 Nephi 22:2 "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also has become my salvation."

For I trust Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father. I know that through them anything is possible and that I and you can conquer anything!

I hope that each of you will have the strength to do anything that stands in your way, for God and Jesus Christ can and will be your Strength!

I love you all! And pray for you daily!
Have a great week!!!

Love Elder Anderson