True Love: The Pure Love of Christ

Hello all!  This week has been great! We had some powerful lessons, met some interesting people (I've always wanted to teach a pastor!), and had a lot of fun. :)

This week I've learned a lot about love and agency. Two of the most powerful things we can exercise in our mortality. The best example of love and agency is that of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. He chose to suffer for our sins, pains, afflictions, weaknesses, temptations, sorrows, and death. He did it out of love.

One of my companions showed me Moroni 7:42-48. Only, she replaced the word "charity" with "the Atonement."

 42 Wherefore, if a man have faith he must needs have hope; for without faith there cannot be any hope.

 43 And again, behold I say unto you that he cannot have faith and hope, save he shall be meek, and lowly of heart.

 44 If so, his faith and hope is vain, for none is acceptable before God, save the meek and lowly in heart; and if a man be meek and lowly in heart, and confesses by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, he must needs have the Atonement in his life; for if he have not the Atonement he is nothing; wherefore he must needs have the Atonement.

 45 And the Atonement suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things,believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

 46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not the Atonement, ye are nothing, for the Atonement neverfaileth. Wherefore, cleave unto the Atonement, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—

 47 But the Atonement is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

 48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.

I am so grateful for the Atonement in my life. I am continuously learning about  grace, that divine enabling power, given to me as I seek to do Heavenly Father's will. It's humbling. I love this work! I love the gospel! I am aware that I have weaknesses (very aware!) and I am SO grateful for a Savior to help me. I am learning that his grace is sufficent. :)

image credits: lds.org

I'm going to read this talk this week. I thought I'd put it up so you could all enjoy it with me:

the-tongue-of-angels

Love,

Sister Sarah Jane Lewis

1858 S. Business 31 Apt. 2D

Peru, IN 46970

P.S. Pray that we find our mail key... we lost it on exchanges in Huntington last Friday. :) We don't want to have to pay the $40 for a new one. (Now you know that if I don't write you back it's because the mailbox is holding your letters hostage for a while.)

Happy Valentine's Day!