Wow. 2 years and it’s over.
It’s literally impossible for me to accept. But it’s time for the next page in
my life. Time to move on. The good thing is that I never have to forget the
people and lessons I have learned here. I wanted to share 10 things I have come
to really KNOW during my mission.
1. I have learned that God
knows us personally and has a perfect plan for us. We just have to always be
willing to be at the right time at the right place and do his will.
2. Christ has literally
become my best friend. He loves me and I love him. I understand what he did for
me and what it is he asks of me. He is my Savior and my Redeemer.
3. I love the Book of
Mormon with all my heart. It has an indescribable power to change one’s life.
If we read it every day we will NEVER fall away from the church.
4. I have learned the God
called Joseph Smith as the prophet of the restoration. I know that he saw God
and Jesus Christ. He was one of the greatest and most faithful servants the
Lord has ever had.
5. The power of the Priesthood
is real. As members of the church we have access to that power. Through faith
we can see miracles through the priesthood. I have been a witness of that many
times here on the mission.
6. The temple is God’s
house here on Earth. The covenants we make there are the most sacred, precious
promises possible between God and man. If we live up to these covenants we can
become like our Heavenly Father.
7. Through working in the
Lord’s vineyard we have his promise to receive more happiness than we can
imagine. I've experienced that joy as I have dedicated my time to the Lord
these last two years.
8. Gods happiness comes
through our progress. Trials are essential for that progress. We just have to
embrace hardship, learn quickly, and keep pressing forward.
9. Commandments are Gods
only way of blessing us. We must be obedient and God will always give us
exactly what we need, exactly when we need it.
10. Charity is the pure
love of Christ. It will last forever. I have learned to truly love people and
give all I can to help them on their journey to salvation.
My favorite part of the New
Testament is Christ’s talk with Peter after his resurrection. Elder Holland
says this about the chat they had.
“What I need, Peter, are
disciples – and I need them forever. I
need someone to feed my sheep and save my lambs. I need someone to preach my gospel and defend
my faith. I need someone who truly loves
me, truly loves me, and loves what our Father in Heaven has commissioned me to
do.
Ours is not a feeble
message. It is not a fleeting task. It is not hapless; it is not hopeless; it is
not to be consigned to the ash heap of history.
It is the work of the Almighty God, and it is to change the world. So, Peter, for the second and presumably last
time, I am asking you to leave all this and go to teach and testify, labor and
serve loyally until the day in which they will do to you exactly what they did
to me.”
That talk by Elder
Holland has changed my life. Peter was with Christ for three years, but then
went back to the same thing he was doing before. Fishing. I can’t go back to
what I was doing before. I have to live every single gospel principle I have
taught these people until I die. That’s my mission. I love thinking of the
phrase “What I need Elder Crump are disciples, and I need them forever.”
My testimony has grown so
much in the small time I have had to serve and I hope it will carry me on
throughout the rest of my life. I love you all so, so much and can’t wait to
see you in a few days!
Salu Pues!!
Elder Crump
