Wednesday, January 22, 2014

The Long-Foretold Time

Hello Everybody!!!

Today is my last day in Copperas Cove!  and on Thursday I will be in Utah, and I think I am going to freeze to death the moment I step outside of the airport.

What a mission.  I began my mission, with a solid testimony of the Book of Mormon and that living the gospel brings happiness.  The scripture on my missionary plaque is Alma 30:44, which teaches us that all things testify of Christ.  I know that this is true!

I have learned on my mission to love the Bible as well as the Book of Mormon.

I have also learned what exactly is the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The gospel is faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.  The gospel is simple, pure, and completely true.  These 5 simple steps truly bring the most happiness.

One of my favorite scriptures that I have studied on my mission is Doctrine and Covenants 123: 17.  "Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed."

Through my mission, I have been pleased to see the salvation of God.  His arm has been revealed, and he is here.  He labors with us in the work of Salvation.  This is His work, and it has been a great privilege to serve him.

I have learned the importance of the ordinances of salvation.  Baptism and the reception of the Gift of the Holy Ghost are essential for salvation, and there is great power and a great spirit felt at every one.  There is also great power in the sacrament, and the spirit is present in every chapel every Sunday.  Our eyes need to be fixed on the temple, because that is the House of God, and there we also participate in the ordinances of Salvation.

I have been studying very hard the Old Testament, and today I read the last page of Malachi.  As I have studied, I have realized that there are four very specific things that the Old Testament prophets prophesy: 1) the scattering of Israel, 2) the birth of Jesus, 3) the gathering of Israel, and 4) the second coming of Christ shortly after the gathering of Israel.  I have also realized that we are living in very historic times.  The gathering of Israel is NOW, much more than any other time.  Israel was scattered in the days of Jeremiah and Daniel and all of the Old Testament prophets, but today during the ministry of more than 80,000 full time missionaries and more than 15,000,000 member missionaries, Israel is being gathered at a rate much faster than ever before.  This truly is the long-foretold time!

From Waco to Denton to Stephenville to Fort Worth to Copperas Cove, I have met and befriended many of the Saints of God.  I have cried and laughed and prayed and worshipped with them.  I have mastered Spanish and gained many more cultures.

I have given my soul to Christ, I have served him with all my might.  Now, just like Paul, I know that, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:" (2 Timothy 4:7)

I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  I know that he lived and taught and died and loved for me!  He is my Saviour and He does reign as King!

See y'all Sunday, if not Thursday,
Hermana Julie Anna Sanchez

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