April 29, 2013

Hey loved ones,

This week was full of adventures. I have quite the story to tell you, but it will have to wait until I get home. Ask me about Eduardo Cid 14 months from now... Have you seen the Church video of John Tanner? It would help if you watch that. That is all ;)

This past weekend our little branch of Curanilahue took a bus up to the Santiago temple. I so miss being able to go to the temple frequently. It has definitely helped my appreciation for such a wonderful opportunity to have a temple so close to home in Vegas. Lacey and Tyler, now that you´re driving, I HIIIIIIGGGHHLLYYY encourage you to take Bridgette and maybe even a friend or two and go to baptisms in the temple at least once a month. It is so worth it. I´m such a fool for not doing that throughout highschool. Learn from my mistake! Doing the Lord´s work of ''bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of man'' is the most important thing you can ever do with your time. Yes, work is important. Yes, school is vital. Yes, being with friends is great. But don't miss the opportunity to help your Heavenly Father with His important work. Once a month is so little. It's just a few hours that will bring an eternity of blessings. Do everything to keep yourselves worthy to enter the temple and receive the many blessings He wants to give you.

Friday night as Elder París and I were walking home, we saw a drunken man passed out face down on the side of the road. Knowing he would die during the night from the cold on the top of that mountainside, we awoke him to help him get home. He claimed to be able to recognize his house, and he began to guide us down the hill. After José had taken us down several steep streets descending the side of the mountain, we passed another man and decided to ask him if he recognized José. He told us he recognized him and that he lived in the opposite direction. He was also drunk, and José insisted that he lived further down the hill, so we continued the descent. We passed another group of people, and they also told us that José lived at the top. We did our best to convince him that we were trying to help him get home and that his house was up the hill, but José only wanted to keep going further down to where he was sure he belonged.

As I pondered this experience, I realized the powerful influence that Satan had on this poor, lost man. Satan spends all of his time, effort, and power to tear us down and bring us lower. He wants us to fail. He wants us to forget who we are and where we come from so that we never achieve who we can become and where we can go. José had a comfortable house at the top of the mountain, yet despite his friends, neighbors, and help from the Lord´s servants, his only desire was to go lower and lower until he could disappear into the abiss of the dark night. I testify that the Savior Jesus Christ lives and loves us. I know that He desperately wants to be involved in our lives, just as Satan desires to have influence in our lives. It is up to us to decide whom we allow to guide us--whether we will be brought down to bitterness and suffering, or lifted up to happiness and love.

Have a wonderful week!
Much love,

Elder Long :)