Many times the bishop will write: "i feel he has suffered enough!" But suffering is not repentance. Suffering comes from a lack of complete repentance. A Stake president will write: "i feel he has been punished enough!" But punishment is not repentance. Punishment follows disobedience and precedes repentance. A husband will write: " My wife has confessed everything!" Confession is not repentance. confession is an admission of guilt that occurs as repentance begins. A wife will write: "my husband is filled with remorse!" But remorse is not repentance. Remorse and sorrow continue because a person has not yet fully repented. But if suffering, punishment, confession, remorse and sorrow are not repentance, what is repentance? i then went on to read Alma 36 and in verses 16-20 ( i don't want to type it out so go read it) That there is what true repentance is! how grateful i am for the power of prayer and the atonement of Jesus Christ! so that i can truly repent of my sins and not feel the pain anymore. This week i also learned that upon every principle of the gospel it all comes down to obedience. and i thought of the 10 virgins and how 5 of them knew how important it was to be prepared to be obedient (tithing, temple recommend, prayer, scripture study etc.) and when the lord came they were worthy they did not procrastinate the day of their repentance, but those who did and were not worthy, the fence sitters were not accepted into the lords presence and missed their opportunity to be with him forever. it is so important that we are obedient that we do as we are commanded. its not God taking away our agency, its us choosing to follow him knowing that the commandments are given to us for our benefit so that we may have a happy life. we can't think that if we walk 2 steps behind God that we will be saved, we must walk with God. we can't think "oh i'll repent later, NO we must repent NOW! we must prepare ourselves NOW! i love this gospel and the freedom it gives me. I've never been so happy! and how happy i am to be sharing this with others!
A lot of changes have happened here in the mission we have 19 new missionaries coming and 16 going home. next transfer we have 17 new missionaries coming and a bunch more going home. even the assistants are training. its amazing to see so many great people make the sacrifices they have to be here today. they are inspiring! i'm grateful i get to be apart of it! This church is true!
I've had a hard time in Truro, but i've loved every minute of it! i've learned so much. i'm excited to go on and to learn more and be able to share the joy and things i've learned with other missionaries! and people i love!
All my love Sister Taylor XOXO
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