"If it Wasn't Hard"

I wrote a few months ago about my niece receiving her mission call:

http://thewholemissionary.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-life-ahead-on-coming-and-going.html

Two weeks ago she had her farewell, and I do not think that I am biased when I say that she gave the best missionary farewell talk I have ever heard.  She spoke about forgiveness and finding hope, about pouring out her heart in prayer after she made a choice that hurt someone else, and after her grandparents passed away.  She read from the book of Enos:

"And there came a voice unto me, saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed.  And I, Enos, knew that God could not lie; wherefore, my guilt was swept away.  And I said: Lord, how is it done?" (Enos 1:5-6.)

My niece then related that she, too, had wanted to know how it was done, how God could forgive her for the choice she had made.  The Lord answered Enos, my niece, and all others who wonder how it is done when he said:

"Because of thy faith in Christ, whom thou hast never before heard nor seen" (Enos 1:8).

Before leaving for the MTC, my niece expanded on some of the thoughts she expressed in her farewell talk in a piece she posted to her missionary blog.  I am going to present that post in full here because I think it is just so fantastic:

"What is it We Should Hope For?"

Well this is it. I have 7 days left until I leave on my internship with the Lord as my teacher! It has been an incredible journey that has caused me to reflect on what truly matters in life - Jesus Christ and Family. 

As I've been reflecting, I also realized something very important. I realized that leaving on a mission is going to be hard; really hard. I’m leaving comfort, home, family, loved ones, friends, memories, my old self, and I’m leaving it all behind for the Lord.  

The Apostle Paul wrote, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.” [Philippians 3:13]

Honestly speaking, this is going to be hard for me to forget what I’m leaving behind and to simply reach for the things in front of me. And I am so grateful it is hard. Because if it wasn’t hard, it wouldn’t be worth it. If it wasn’t hard, I wouldn’t learn anything. If it wasn’t hard, I wouldn’t gain anything because I simply wouldn’t lose anything. If it wasn’t hard I wouldn’t change.

The Savior Atoned for my sins, sorrows, and pains. If it wasn’t hard, He wouldn’t love me like He does. If it wasn’t hard, anyone could’ve taken His place. If it wasn’t hard, He would’ve simply been another prophet.

But it was hard.

And because it was hard, He loves me in an infinite capacity. Because it was hard, no one else could’ve taken His place; He was the only one who could do it, it is under His name alone that I can enter into my Heavenly Father’s presence. Because it was hard, He’s more than simply another prophet; He is the Son of God, Savior and Redeemer of mankind.

So I am grateful this will be hard and I am grateful for hard things because they teach us the greatest lessons in life. I'm also grateful for hard things because they bring us to our knees. Although this next step in my life is going to be the hardest thing I have ever done, I don't have to do it alone. We never have to do it alone.

Once again the Apostle Paul taught us, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." [Philippians 4:13]

Sister Elaine S. Dalton said, "I testify that we will be enabled and strengthened not only to do hard things but to do all things." ["A Return to Virtue," October 2008]

So it is with faith in Jesus Christ that I move forward knowing this is hard, knowing that I can't do this alone, and knowing that I don't have to.

That is Who I hope in and that is what I hope for.

“And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of His resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in Him according to the promise.” [Moroni 7:41]

Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God is real, He loves us and He gives me hope for a better life.

In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

In just a few short weeks, my niece has become one of the most impressive people I know.  I add my witness to her's, that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, that He is real, and that because of Him, we can have this hope.