This Is It.

Well the time is nigh that I must depart from serving Heavenly Father and representing the Lord Jesus Christ. Yesterday I was blessed to bear my testimony in front of the Dunwoody Ward. It was touching. I didn’t think I was going cry or get emotional but it hit me like a wave. The really hard part was when Bishop Abamonte got up after I was done and just thanked me and he was crying as well and I just felt his love for me and for the Savior. None the less it was humbling. I never thought this day would come that I would actually not serve any more... Full time that is. We are forever missionaries. Not just after the mission but our sacred calling starts as soon as the words come "...I baptize you in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost." We all become missionaries that special day for some that happened years, or for dad (light years) or for other just a few days or weeks ago. We are forever missionaries.  Alma teaches us this in the Book of Mormon (Mosiah 18:8-9) "To stand as a witness of Him at all times, in all things, in all places…" how awesome is that! We all are called to represent him!

For those who are sure about your testimony of the Savior or unsure of yourself. This is the greatest work that we could ever be a part of. Your testimony, your self-confidence will grow as your help heal others and as you serve others selflessly.  Get out there and do as the Savior has done. Call upon His name. Don’t doubt your testimony or yourself. You have been born of goodly parents and have chosen to come to earth. If you feel as though you are lacking just call upon God and ask Him what you need to do. Whether it be to serve a full time mission or to go do something you never have done before but that you know it will help just go out and do it. "Doubt not fear not" the scriptures say. It’s a promise! D&C 6:36 "look unto me in every thought."

I have a lot of thoughts that I would love to convey but I do not have the time or the skills to write all of them down.  But as mentioned above this is the greatest work we could ever do and be doing. Be involved! Advice I have for those who want to do the work start with prayer first. Pray for missionary work. Pray that you will see missionary opportunities all around you and that you’ll have the courage to act on those promptings. Listen to this past general conference especially Elder Gifford S. Nielson’s talk. There are a couple others that I don’t know off the top of my head but listen study!

Mathew 7:7-8 paraphrased says ask and it shall be given you, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you. I studied that this week and it was really cool to learn what the core words mean.

Ask: prayer

Seek: meditate

Knock: action or revelation

Basically if you ask God and want to know how to do anything or what to do He will give it to us. We just have to follow the promptings to do it!

Having served during this amazing time I have come to know of the truthfulness of the gospel. It’s amazing to see how the Lord works and how He just confirms truth. I know without a doubt in my mind that this is the true church. That it is led by a prophet of God and that he is truly called of God. He has all the authority to act by the authority of the priesthood. I know that The Book of Mormon is the word of God. I know that through trials and tribulation we will be a stronger people. It’s amazing to see the hand of the Lord in our lives and how revelation comes. I love this church and I love the Lord! I am eternally grateful for this experience and I am forever indebted to the Lord!

Love,

Elder William L. Macoubrie