Email from Elder Lofthouse 10/7/13 I Love Conference!

That was a great General Conference!  I loved Elder Scott's talk (I'd never thought about the fathers of the stripling warriors before), Elder Uchtdorf's talk from the Priesthood session, President Maynes' talk, and several others too.  There seemed to be quite a few talks about enduring to the end and persevering so that we have no regrets at the end of this life.  "You will be eternally grateful that you made the choice to rise up," said President Uchtdorf, or something like that.  That is so true!  We can either push forward and do uncomfortable things now, and then experience eternal joy and gratitude that we did, or we can give up now, stay down, and regret it forever and ever.

We've been struggling to find new investigators and to set baptismal dates.  We've also noticed that there has been a lack of the Spirit in the work.  We can't do anything without the Spirit!  We have some potential for baptism here.  An investigator just moved here who already had a baptismal date for the 19th and we're going to meet with her tonight.  V seems to want to be baptized but has some deeper concern we haven't addressed yet.  We think it has to do with his catholic family.  M, J's wife is reading every day, she came to the last session of conference, but she wants to read the Book of Mormon three times before she gets baptized.  What each of these people need is a witness from the Spirit, and honestly, we have not been doing a good job of inviting the Spirit into our lessons.  We've gotten lazy and uncaring and have not been using our time wisely.  So I'm fasting today, to humble myself and to know what specific things I need to change so the Spirit can be my companion in this work.

All of us need the Atonement of the Savior in our lives.  No matter how good we are or how far we've come, we aren't good enough and we haven't come far enough to have no need for repentance.  Also, I just heard this from Pres. Uchtdorf as I'm listening to his talk. "One of the adversary's methods to prevent us from progressing is to confuse us about who we really are and what we really desire."  What do we really want?  Do we want to be Christlike, have the Spirit with us always, and inherit eternal glory?  Or do we want to express our frustrations, indulge in the natural man, and accept temporary comfort over eternal peace?  An eternal perspective is the only way to progress in this life.  We must remember WHY we are here and WHO we are.  What is the most important?  What is essential?  And while we will fall short and lose focus, we must keep going, rise up, and not quit until the very end.  

I love this gospel, because as many times as we fall, we can get back up.  The Atonement is real, and everyone needs it.  Through that Atonement we can become better, we CAN change, we CAN correct our course and one day we WILL attain perfection.  It is only possible through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, but it IS possible.  Never give up!  No regrets!

I love all of you so much!  We are so blessed!

Love,

Elder Lofthouse

 

Here's the quote:

"I give you this promise in the name of the Lord:  Rise up, and follow in the footsteps of our Redeemer and Savior, and one day you will look back and be filled with eternal gratitude that you chose to trust the atonement and its power to lift you up and give you strength ... no matter how many times you have slipped and fallen, rise up.  Your destiny is a glorious one."  - President Uchtdorf