Easter blessings!

     Hello my dear friends and family!! I HOPE THAT ALL IS WELL AND THAT YOU HAD AN ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS EASTER. This week has been a week of rich learning and understanding. My heart is touched and filled with a special spirit. 

     Easter is a powerful time of year, it’s a time I feel so humbled and so grateful. During this time of year we are given choice oppurtunities to reflect on the gift and love of our Savior Jesus Christ. I feel so close to Him and feel His love guide my life. We are never alone! We never will be. I often ask myself if His countenance is engraven upon my face? 

     I have reflected this week often about why we are here, and why there was so much effort put into us being able to return home. I have come to love and appreciate the purpose of this life! We are here to prepare to meet God. To learn to gain those divine attributes so that one day we might enjoy the blessings he has for us. It's amazing to think of the blessing that this life is! We go through many trials and tribulations! But EACH trial gives us the oppurtunity to learn to love a little more, and strive to be selfless. Many things in this life try to pull our thoughts inward, but as we strive to gain charity and love during those times, we will be polished into perfect beauty.

     A little over a year ago we tracted into a woman named Diana. She truly is one of the sweetest ladies I had ever me. At the time she said, “If you are here to baptize me, it's never going to happen. Not now nor ever. I just moved from Idaho to get away from the Mormons.”

     At that very moment we took the time to bear sweet and poweful testimony that this was the truth, and that God had placed us in her path to help her find true happiness. We promised her that she could read the Book of Mormon and that God would reveal to her of it's truth. I have learned now and forever that we must always stand for witnesses of the truth! How blessed we are to be in these final days. God sent us to prepare the people! To bring people eternal joy and happiness among a world fighting for wickedness.  Months later Diana began again to read the Book of Mormon and to take Moroni’s challenge to heart. In Moroni chapter ten in the Book of Mormon it reads, “Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts. And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.  And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.” 

     Is there a scripture that shows more love? God doesn’t want us to be lost, or alone! He never has and he never will! God doesn’t want us to wander this earth with unaswered questions! Through that promise, we can ALL know if that Book is true! We don’t have to rely on anyone elses testimony. A moment between us and God.  In the Doctrine and Covenants the Lord reveals to us the key to any knowledge we are in search for. The formula in which we can know for ourselves any truth we seek. “Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart. Now, behold, this is the spirit of revelation; behold, this is the spirit by which Moses brought the children of Israel through the Red Sea on dry ground.”  

Diana's baptism!

     Months after she took that challenge she began to show up at church, and soon revealed that she knew the Book of Mormon was true. My heart is touched and my heart is full. She was baptized on Saturday and it was a life changing one for me. The difference in the spirit and countenance from our encounter one year ago, to that moment as she walked into the church building on Saturday, is remarkable. She is a changed person and will no doubt be a leader of this church some day! Her spirit is special and her love flows from her face! 

     Brothers and Sisters I stand as a wittness before you this day, that God lives. That He does love us and has truly restored His church to the earth today! Not a church led by man but a church led by God! A church set up just as Christ established it when he was here! In Ephesians we read, "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.”

     I am deeply grateful this day for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Tears water my face as I ponder this glad message! God loves us today just as much as he did the people in the time of Moses! He still calls living Prophets. The Lord in His infinite love and mercy has given us the Book of Mormon as the physical evidence in which we can know for ourselves, if this truly is the Restored Church! As we gain that witness it's up to us to live by its teachings! To not walk along a crooked path, but to stay firm and true! Satan isn't playing around these days, there isn't time to falter! The Lord has given us every tool to fill our souls with light each day, that will guide us through this troubled world!! Stay strong and stay true my dear Brothers and Sisters. Know that God lives, and He will calm your doubts and fears.

Have a great week!

Love,

Elder Aiken