Today I wanted to take a break from my previous blogs about personal revelation. Maybe I'll get back to it one day, but I feel like there is something more important to talk about right now. I want to specifically address this blog to the youth of the Bloomfield New Mexico stake.
I first want to say that I love each and every one of you. I spent my entire life in the Bloomfield stake and many of you are close friends. Many of you I have never met before. Either way, I love you as a brother in Christ. I know that we are all precious children of our mutual Heavenly Father, and that He personally knows each of us by name. "For behold, I know my sheep, and they are numbered" (3 Nephi 18:31).
I want to share my simple testimony with all of you; I pray that the Spirit can be with me as I share with you what I have come to know about our merciful Father and our loving Savior.
I was recently informed about the tragedy that has affected Bloomfield. Although I was not a close friend of Daniel Gosar, I do remember him and I know that he was a great young man. A true friend to all. I was grieved to hear the news, and I know that there are so many more of you that have been spiritually shaken. I first want to say that my heart goes out to all of you, especially Brother and Sister Gosar. You have been in my prayers for many days, and will continue to be. I have spent many nights praying for your welfare.
This tragedy has caused me to reflect on the Plan of Happiness that was created by Father long before we ever came to this world. It is the Plan that provides for our eternal salvation and endless happiness. I know without a shadow of a doubt that this Plan is real and is in place, as we presently take part in it. We are currently on earth, where we are subject to pain, guilt, remorse, heartache, distress, and death. But we have hope in our Brother Jesus Christ.
Being mortal and imperfect, we are unable to return to the presence of our Father by virtue of our own merits (Romans 3:23); but our merciful Father, "knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth" (D&C 1:17), provided a Savior to atone for the sins of the world, and to bring to pass resurrection from physical death. This is the hope of every Christian, that we may be rescued from spiritual and physical death.
And so, youth of the Bloomfield stake, however you may have been affected by this event, remember that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is real. "We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel" (Article of Faith #3). This applies to all people, everywhere. There is not a single soul who is beyond the grace of our Lord and Savior. I know that this is true doctrine, for the Spirit itself has born witness to my spirit that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is real and is central to the Plan of Happiness. Because of it, every single member of the human family will be resurrected. "Wherefore, beloved brethren, be reconciled unto him through the atonement of Christ, his Only Begotten Son, and ye may obtain a resurrection, according to the power of the resurrection which is in Christ, and be presented as the first-fruits of Christ unto God, having faith, and obtained a good hope of glory in him before he manifesteth himself in the flesh" (Jacob 4:11). The resurrection brings me so much peace and comfort, and I know that because He conquered death, we will all live again.
Now, many of you also know and have testimonies of these doctrines; but sometimes the heartache remains. Sometimes we just don't understand. Sometimes it doesn't seem fair. Sometimes the pain that we face is almost too much to bear. To those who are emotionally struggling, remember that the Atonement can heal all afflictions. "And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities" (Alma 7:11-12). Christ felt every single human emotion, quantitatively, on that night in the Garden of Gethsemane. He did so in order to be able to relieve the pains of mortality from those who seek Him. He has perfect empathy for you; He has already been through it. Cast your burdens on His shoulders, "for [His] yoke is easy, and [His] burden light" (Matthew 11:30). Spend some serious time with your Father in prayer. Talk to Him. Cry with Him. Listen to Him respond and comfort you. I testify that He will. "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18).
Lastly, never lose hope. No one is forgotten to the Good Shepard, and He will never abandon a single child. There have been times in my life that I have felt alone, or forgotten. I spent years in the Navy, far from home, lonely, confused, and struggling, with literally no one to physically turn to for support. During those times, my loving and merciful Father sent me the Holy Ghost, and I was comforted. Not that the problems went away, but that my capacity to deal with them was increased. I promise that it will be the same for all of you, for "thus doth the Lord work with his power in all cases among the children of men, extending the arm of mercy towards them that put their trust in him" (Mosiah 29:20). "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands..." (Isaiah 49:15-16).
You are never forgotten to your Creator. "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39).
I love you all. My heart goes out to all of you, and you are constantly in my prayers. I have a firm testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and I know that we will all see Daniel again. There will indeed come a time, when we will all be able to gather around and hug him. It will be a joyous occasion, and I look forward to it. I am grateful for this Easter season to remember His sacrifice and His love. Christ lives. I know it. In His name I testify, Amen.
