What I Know

I know I make mistakes.  A lot of them. The same ones over and over. It's frustrating. It feels like I'm never making progress.

I also know that I'm not the only one to make mistakes. Everyone does. We all trip and fall along this crazy journey called life. Some of us fall harder and further than others- but we all fall.

But more importantly, I know I have a Savior. A Savior who loves me- loves me so much that He came to earth, lived a perfect life and paved a way for me to come home - no matter my shortcomings, no matter how many times I fall or even how hard I fall. No one is too far gone to be outside the loving reach of our Savior. No one. There isn't a "point of no return," a point where we are just too far gone. Elder Uchtdorf said: "Satan, “the father of all lies” (2 Nephi 2:18), “the father of contention” (3 Nephi 11:29), “the author of all sin” (Helaman 6:30), and the “enemy unto God” (Moroni 7:12), uses the forces of evil to convince us that this concept applies whenever we have sinned. The scriptures call him the “accuser” because he wants us to feel that we are beyond forgiveness (see Revelation 2:10). Satan wants us to think that when we have sinned we have gone past a “point of no return”—that it is too late to change our course."

It's never too late to change our course. The only thing we have to do is have a broken heart and contrite spirit. He doesn't ask us to be perfect, not even close to be perfect. He does ask us to try- to turn our lives in the right directon- facing Him. We're still going to trip and fall, skin our knees on the way, but that's ok. If we are headed in the right direction, facing our Savior, all is not lost. All is never lost. As long as we are willing to get back up, brush off the dirt, He stands there with arms outstretched. He will help us try again. And again. And again. That's the beauty of the atonement. He suffered alone, so we wouldn't have to to it alone, if we are willing to accept His gift. But we have to accept it. Apply it. Use it- daily. The atonement is a nice concept, but not if it's not applied to us.

I just felt like bearing my testimony. I know we have a loving Savior. One who doesn't want to leave a single soul behind. He suffered beyond anything I am able to comprehend- all because He loves me. He is waiting for us to realize that His love has no borders, no requirements, no pre-requisites. Just asks for a willingness to try. And with that simple willingness, He can bless us- bless us with faith, knowledge, peace...and forgiveneess. What is sweeter than the gift of forgiveness- the washing clean of our sins- the chance to be whole again- to be worthy of His spirit. We just have to look to Him. After we're willing to look, the willingness to change will come too. I testify that He loves us. That He paved the way for us to come home, no matter how lost we are. He won't give up on us. Never.

Lastly, I just want to add a quote from Elder Holland. He said: "...because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so. His solitary journey brought great company for our little version of that path—the merciful care of our Father in Heaven, the unfailing companionship of this Beloved Son, the consummate gift of the Holy Ghost, angels in heaven, family members on both sides of the veil, prophets and apostles, teachers, leaders, friends. All of these and more have been given as companions for our mortal journey because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the Restoration of His gospel. Trumpeted from the summit of Calvary is the truth that we will never be left alone nor unaided, even if sometimes we may feel that we are. Truly the Redeemer of us all said, “I will not leave you comfortless. [My Father and] I will come to you [and abide with you."