Well as many of you might know by now, all the foreign missionaries in the Philippines have been sent home along with many other missionaries across the globe. Though the Coronavirus pandemic has been greatly affecting the Lord's servants and has even caused my own mission to be cut unexpectedly short, I know that He is completely aware of everything that is happening and I am very grateful for my time as a missionary. He has a plan for each and every one of us. I have come to more fully understand His plan as I have served in the Philippines for almost two years. I have also developed a greater love for all of the Lord's children, especially those that I have met in the Philippines. I have experienced many things that I will never forget. Some times were hard, and some times were easier but through it all, I could feel the Lord's hand leading me along the way. He is also always there for us if we but seek his guidance. He loves us with a love beyond our current understanding and wants the best for us. This is the reason that through his mercy he restored his church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, here to earth. It's not a way for Him to exercise dominion over us, but rather a way to help us receive His gospel and the essential ordinances in order to become as He is and to experience everlasting joy. We are "free to choose" (2 Nephi 2:27). It is really that simple. We are free to choose our savior Jesus Christ and to follow Him and we are also free to choose the path of the adversary and feel the accompanying sorrow. And as we strive to follow Him we will also be completely supported by Him in our righteous desires. Contrary to popular belief, there are many things that are simply impossible. There are many things that we cannot achieve except through the power of Jesus Christ, His atonement, and the sanctification of the Holy Ghost. That is the good message. Christ is the answer. He is risen. Through Christ only can we have access to our loving Heavenly Father. Only through Him and by Him can we find joy in this difficult journey called life. It very simple. Our goal is to find faith in Christ. If we have that true faith in Him, we will always have a desire to change and do better. Repentance is real. And eventually, step-by-step, we will accomplish what we came here to accomplish on earth. The Church of Jesus Christ is true and contains the essential ordinances of the gospel. Joseph Smith was a true prophet. President Russell M. Nelson along with the Apostles are prophets, seers, and revelators and are here to help us know God's will for us. The ancient scriptures are also the word of God and testify of Jesus the Christ our savior and we NEED to use them in order to grow spiritually. Most importantly God loves us no matter where we currently are spiritually. The importance comes in always moving forward. I know all these things are true and I know that there is no better way that I could have come to know all these things except through preaching them for 20 months as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Philippines Laoag Mission. And my invitation/promise for everyone is the same as Amaleki's in the Book of Omni -
26 And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye should come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved.
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