Wide As Eternity

Good Morning!

I've officially had my second 5-week transfer ever in the mission. President Staples mentioned at the beginning that it would be a very quick transfer, and it sure was! I blinked and it's over. We didn't even baptize any of our friends . . . yet. Elder Hironymous got his visa yesterday, and his travel information last night. Come Wednesday I will drop him off in St. George and away he will go to Mexico. I'm excited he's off to his original assignment, but it will be a shame to see him leave. I will stay in the Kanab/Kaibab area and will work with another missionary I've spent some good time around; Elder Dickey! I'm super excited to be his companion, this will be a great 7 week transfer upcoming.

During the St. George Temple rededication this Sunday, President Jeffrey R. Holland spoke. Quoting Henry VanDyke, he remarked, “It’s sweet to dream in Venice, and it’s great to study Rome; but when it comes to living, there is no place [quite] like home.”

I've commented on where home is in previous emails. Home is a place near and dear to my heart, as it is for many of you. I will always be grateful for my knowledge of a Heavenly Home, waiting for me and all of God's children. As I've attended temples and now this temple rededication, I'm more thoroughly convinced that temples are the house of the Lord and are a binding link between us and eternity. Due to the nature of the dedication and the location in which it was held, every speaker seemed to glow with celestial, angelic light.

As President Holland spoke, he referenced a verse of scripture found in the Doctrine & Covenants. He tied it into the intense sacrifice and labor required to construct the St. George Temple, though I have another perspective on it.

Doctrine & Covenants 97:8 Verily I say unto you, all among them who know their hearts are honest, and are broken, and their spirits contrite, and are willing to observe their covenants by sacrifice—yea, every sacrifice which I, the Lord, shall command—they are accepted of me.

This paints a beautiful picture that the early pioneers and members of the Church exemplified for the next 50 years. Strong, stalwart souls who consecrated their lives to the service of their God. The St. George Temple is perhaps one of the strongest testaments to this. Nowadays our trails don't involve fording rivers, blazing trails, or carving homes in the middle of a desert. However, each sacrifice we give brings forth blessings on our heads.

As a missionary I've seen many souls make covenants with God, and keep them. I've witnessed lives change, homes grow in love, and families draw closer together. Many of my friends have chosen this path, despite the trials that came from each step. In the Kaibab area, we are working with quite a few individuals in this category. There are many of these souls across the Utah, St. George Mission, and thousands, even millions worldwide!

I know that all of God's children who turn to Him and are honest, humble, penitent, obedient and keep their covenants through all that is required of them, are accepted by God and brought Home. President Holland encouraged all of us in attendance to rededicate ourselves to be accepted by the Lord. The purpose of the temples we build is to enable us to do so. Temples fulfill this responsibility by pointing us closer to Christ.

While in the Cane Beds near Colorado City, I taught one of our friends named Sam. He's had some struggles, especially recently. This was like a therapy lesson, you could say. During the lessons he let his two dogs, who'd been running around the room, outside so they wouldn't be a distraction. No sooner has he sat down than we hear them scratching on the door! Sam glances at the door and sighs. He then calls out; "Quit it! It hasn't been long enough yet."

Our fellowshipper, La Voy, turned to Sam. "Don't give up, Sam."

I then turn to Sam and smile. "Exactly, it hasn't been long enough yet!"

I promise I'm more sensitive in most lessons, and I promise that comment worked. But often we find ourselves in the midst of a trial of faith, where we feel that a lot more is expected of us than we expected to give. In these times it's important to rely on the covenants we've made in baptismal fonts and temples, and the promises found in the scriptures for those who are faithful. We have a lot to look forward to if we simply keep the faith and strive to love and serve others. It's all about an eternal perspective.

The prophet Enoch had a powerful experience with God, as recorded in the scriptures.

Moses 7:41

And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto Enoch, and told Enoch all the doings of the children of men; wherefore Enoch knew, and looked upon their wickedness, and their misery, and wept and stretched forth his arms, and his heart swelled wide as eternity; and his bowels yearned; and all eternity shook.

It is not often that a prophet witnesses all the doings of the children of men. It has happened only a few times in recorded scripture. But upon witnessing the wickedness and misery of God's children, he experienced a profound, even godly outpouring of love for the world and its inhabitants. The verse records that his "heart swelled wide as eternity".

A later verse records that "Enoch saw the day of the coming of the Son of Man, even in the flesh; and his soul rejoiced, saying: The Righteous is lifted up, and the Lamb is slain from the foundation of the world; and through faith I am in the bosom of the Father, and behold, Zion is with me."

My favorite part about this verse is how Enoch, amidst all his troubles and concern for God's children, is pointed back to Christ. He is the Savior of us all. He is our King, our Redeemer, and the pure and unblemished Lamb sacrificed in love. Jesus Christ came into the world with a perspective as wide as eternity, to expand our vision to meet His. Our limited, mortal view keeps many from understanding the magnitude of Christ's sacrifice and atonement for us as children of God. I strive every day to remember just how glorious of a gift this truly was.

One of my missionary friends, Elder Macfarlane, shared this song with me, performed at a Church music festival a couple years back. It's titled; "It is Glorious".

(Verse 4)

He paid for sin. He rose again.

Doing what we could not

Cleansing our hearts from guilt and pain

So we could return home to God

Oh glorious plan

Oh healer of man,

Our Savior will never leave us

He rescued and saved us all by His grace,

Oh it is glorious

Oh it is glorious!

Our Savior is Jesus Christ. He perfectly encapsulates all those poetic descriptions and more. He has redeemed my soul and restored healing to my bones. I have seen Him perform this same miracle in countless companions, missionaries, friends, and members here in the Utah, St. George Mission.

The St. George Temple Dedication was a beautiful, glorious time to rededicate myself to the Lord's work. While there I became a small part of something grand, a work that stretches even as wide as eternity. This work is true. It requires sacrifice, consecration, and covenants, all of which I've grown very familiar with over the past 2 years. It is a work I will rejoice in for the rest of my life, until I am called Home to join those whose labors are accepted by our Lord.

- Elder Williams

Mailing Address:

881 South River Road

St. George, UT 84790

Pictures:

1. Last week's hike!

2. Elder Glunt & Elder Richardson!

3. Reclaiming Elder Hironymous

4. St. George Temple.

5. The Polar Express.

6. Selfie of a selfie.

7. #ChristmasLights