Hey all! This email is going to have to be shorter than most, as I
don't have much time today. Not many stories to tell this week either,
so don't worry, you all aren't missing anything. :)
Anyway, into the questions: firstly, the lesson in which I felt the
Spirit the strongest would be in a lesson we gave on the Plan of
Salvation to one of our investigators. The Spirit is always there in
those lessons, confirming the fact that we all really can return to
Heavenly Father and live with Him again. Every single person on earth
has that promise and opportunity, and I think that that is absolutely
incredible.
Second question; my thoughts about ny fetin'ny Krismasy
ary ny zavatra ao anatiny (Christmas and the things therein)... My
mind has been on the Savior and the topic of Christmas a lot lately,
especially the topic of the Atonement. What has come to mind about
those things is the fact that Christ is always there for us, with us,
and in us. What comes to mind is an example given in a book I recently
read entitled "Believing Christ", which I highly recommend. In the
book, the author gives the example of a weight room: we are all there,
working out, and trying to become stronger by lifting weights. We all
have a spotter/trainer too though, and that is Christ. While working
out, we push ourselves as far as we feel we can go. We start to
tremble and strain, and go to put back the weight; but then Christ
steps in. He tells us to go one more, then another, and another. Then,
just as our muscles give out with fatigue, He steps in and takes our
weight. And THAT is the grace of God: to give us that opportunity to
have Christ there by our side, helping us, and pushing us to go
farther; then, just as we give out, give up, or collapse, He steps in
and catches us, takes our burden, and carries us until we are once
again strong enough to continue. Of course, we must still accept His
help, and accept this new relationship with Him; but once we do so, He
will always be there for us when we fall. Because that's the thing: we
all WILL fall at certain times in our lives. BUT, IF we accept that
help, that grace of God, then that mutual relationship with Christ
will be formed, and He will proceed to catch us when we fail, fall, or
collapse. These and other such thoughts have been running through my
mind over the past while, as I have been pushed to the limits of my
strength, will, and (in particular) my patience. I have been led on
the wildest emotional roller coaster ride of my life: up and down and
around, and (though I usually am fine with roller coasters :) I haven't
always kept my stomach on the inside of my body where it belongs, and
I feel like I am the quintessence of every negative attribute
imaginable, and Satan is kicking me while I am down. Kanefa, na dia
teo aza izany (BUT, even though that happens), I feel something--or
someone--buoying me up. I know that that feeling consists of two
things, both of which I am eternally grateful for, the first being all
of your prayers (speaking of which, I cannot tell you how grateful I
am for your prayers and the help I receive from them). And the second
is Christ. I know it is Him: no one else could know me as well or as
personally as the feelings of comfort I get from Him. Here on the
mission, I am lifting weights that are heavier than anything I have
lifted before. And so, it stands to reason that my will gives out a
lot more than normal as well. So, please believe me when I say this:
Christ is helping you. That is the purpose of His life here on earth:
"For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son. That
whosoever shall believe in Him, should not perish, but have
everlasting life." God didn't send His son to this world to be
persecuted, spit upon, mocked, scorned, whipped, and crucified for
nothing. The reason as to why God would allow His Only Begotten Son to
suffer, to bleed from every pore, and to die, is a simple, one-word
answer: YOU. He loves each and every one of us, more than we can
possibly comprehend, and THAT is Christmas. Christmas is defined by
one word, and that word is love. So let us remember this Christmas the
real reason behind Christmas, the infinite love that God has for every
person who has lived, is living, and will live on this earth.
Obviously Christmas is about Christ, but rather than a holiday in
memory of His birth (especially seeing as He was born in like April or
something), it is more of a holiday celebrated in remembrance of God's
love, Christ's love, and what those things mean to us. Christmas is a
holiday where we should remember that, firstly, God loved us enough to
send His Beloved Son to this earth, full of pain and suffering, in
order to suffer more than any of us would ever suffer, just so we
could return to Him again; and secondly, we should remember the
infinite love that Christ had and still has for each and every one of
us. Christmas represents the fact that He came here to earth, knowing
the infinite pain and suffering it would bring Him: and yet HE CAME
ANYWAY. And that, right there, is charity: the infinite love and grace
of God. Christmas is charity. That is what this season is all about:
not about presents, lights, trees, or even snow (that's been a hard
one for me, seeing as it is currently 95 degrees :P). But, what
Christmas is truly about is love. Love for one another, love for God,
and--most especially--love for the sacrifice that Christ made for each
and every one of us. That love, that charity, that willingness to put
others above oneself; now that is the Spirit of Christmas.
Now, I am pretty much out of time, but let me end with an invitation
for you all: Love. That's it. Love others in the way Christ has
already shown you He loves you. Serve, love, care, take time to help
others, to talk with them, or maybe just to listen. That is my
invitation for all of you this Christmas season. Remember that love,
that charity, which is the true meaning of Christmas.
Sady te-hampiasaity fotoana ity aho mba hampahafantarana anareo momba ny fitiavako ho
anareo jiaby. Tena tiako ianareo, ary aho dia manantena fa fantatrareo
fa tena marina izany. (And also, I want to use this time to make known
my love for you all. I really do love you all; and I hope that you all
know that that is the truth.)
Am-pitiavana (with love),
Elder Hyrum Snell
P.S. The cyber today won’t let me send pictures, sorry! Next time though.
Elder Hyrum Snell
