March 8-14, 2021

We did well with our goals this week and were productive at work and school.  We had a lazy weekend.  We attended Stake Conference through zoom and our favorite talks were the recent converts who spoke during the Saturday General Session.  Their stories were heartfelt and their testimonies communicated the Spirit powerfully.  The first speaker was especially good.  He was a young man from France and his father was Muslim and his mother was catholic but he did not grow up going to church.  They moved to the U.S. when he was a teenager and he moved to Texas as an adult.  His parents got a divorce and that made him want a change in his life.  His cousin also lived in Dallas and is a member of our church and he invited him to come to church with him.  The recent convert suddenly experienced serious health issues and had to stay home a lot.  He read the Book of Mormon and received many priesthood blessings for his health.  He was told by the doctors that he will need to get surgery because of a bump found in his head.  He did not want surgery and prayed that he would be healed.  He miraculously recovered without needing surgery and was later baptized.  His family was not enthusiastic about his conversion and his mother disowned him shortly before her passing away.  His testimony conveyed his hope of seeing his mother in the next life and confidence in God's love. 

This week I studied the word abide.  I read 1 Nephi 11 and 1 John 2 as a part of my study.  In 1 Nephi 11, Nephi tells of his vision of the tree of life and much more.  The word "abide" is used when Nephi is discussing the condescension of God with the Holy Ghost.  Nephi saw the life of the Savior.  He saw his birth, his baptism, and his death.  He was a witness to His perfect life.  1 John 2 teaches us that as we abide in the Spirit of God that we will be prepared when we stand to be judged at the last day.  He also teaches us to abide in truth and to hold on to true things.  I was blessed to be taught the gospel in my youth and I have held on to it.  It is easier to stay with something good than to go away and come back.  It is a daily choice to abide with the Savior or to give into temptation.  That is our success or our failure.  We either choose to actively live after Jesus Christ or we omit.  We might not necessarily sin but we are not doing good, and that can be just as damaging.

Love you all. I hope you all had a good week.