He That Loseth His Life, Shall Find It - April 8, 2013

Good morning!!!!

General Conference was AMAZING!!! I really felt the spirit and have learned a lot. We had our Zone Meeting this last week and it was amazing! I know that I was called to be a Zone Leader for ME! I am selfISH!! haha. Seriously! Since I received this calling I gradually started to be more confident in public speaking. I hope it isn't pride ;) My testimony has been strengthened!!! I have learned how to really do this work. I have learned how to work!!... and to work hard. I came on my mission wanting it to be perfect. Wanting to not make one mistake and work my hardest throughout my entire mission. I have worked hard! There is no doubt about that. Although, it has not been perfect! I have made mistakes. That is not what I wanted to happen >:( haha. I have realized though that no ones mission is perfect. We do stupid things, unfortunately. I know that thus far I have become who my Heavenly Father has wanted me to become! I have been pondering lately on who I am! I know that I have been taught that I am a child of God. I never really gained a testimony of that. I also didn't know what it meant to be a child of God. Thanks to Elder Huckvale and Zone Meeting and the spirit. I LEARNED THIS GREAT TRUTH!

39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it." Matthew 10:39

Thou Art My son - Elder Huck and Elder Wise as YM! 

I always thought this was talking about sacrificing our lives for others...and it is!! But it is also talking about something much greater! In fact sacrificing our lives for others is a huge part in what this really means...to me at least. "He that findeth his life" - talking about seeking the natural man's desires, not bridling our passions but fulfilling them - shall lose it - who they truly are.   "...and he that loseth his life (or natural man) for my sake (God's will) shall find it (himself, who they truly are)" That is because who we are (or who we are supposed to become) is like our Father in Heaven. We are royal children of God that have the potential to be like Him!!! That is who I AM! A son of God that has the potential to truly....be like HIIM! I felt the spirit at our Zone Meeting confirm to me that this is TRUE. I know it is, and would that not boost our confidence? To know that we can be perfect. That is why we need to lose ourselves (the natural man) and become as our Father in Heaven.

 "19 For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father." Mosiah 3:19

I am so glad I came on my mission! I have grown so much! I cannot wait for you to see those changes. Thank you so much for sacrificing everything you do for me to be out here. It has saved me! Seriously! Like President Thomas S. Monson said in priesthood session " a mission is a family affair". When a member of the family is on a mission, the rest of the family is also! Your sacrifice is blessing the lives of the children of God in Florida! Thank You :) I cannot say that enough!

For Pday today we are going to Lazer Tag and Mini Golf... It is going to be a lot of fun! I am glad you all had a ton of fun in CALI!! Hope you have another GREAT WEEK!!!

Love

Elder Wise

p.s. If you want me to come home in June.. make sure to get my license renewed ;) haha