DON'T GIVE UP

Have you ever felt that there was just no hope in life? Have you ever felt that you are not worth anything? Have you ever felt you are inadequate for life and the choices we make? Well if you have ever felt like this before just know you are not alone.Some of you may be feeling like that right now at this instant. This is Satan just trying to tear you apart. Know that there is always someone there for you. Let us reflect back on such a humbling and sacred gift of LOVE. Lets take a minute and think about the Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ.  Would He suffer beyond our comprehension if we meant nothing to Him? Do you believe God makes garbage? Would He look at you or I as a nobody? I am here to tell you NO! We are all very important. We are all part of our Heavenly Fathers plan. This plan is huge and eternal which means you and I are also. In the Doctrine and Covenants Section 18:10 it states, "Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God." Every human being ever to walk the face of earth is so important to our Heavenly Father. Satan wants us to feel like garbage because that is exactly how he feels. He is jealous of you and I because we gained mortal bodies and progressed further than he did.

"No matter what our circumstances, or appearance, or social status, our Heavenly Father loves us and wants us to recognize our self-worth. Furthermore, the Lord values his children for reasons far different from the world’s, for he “seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” (1 Sam. 16:7.)

The world would like us to believe that the requirements for self-worth are beauty, youth, wealth, and success. But as Patricia Holland, former counselor in the Young Women general presidency, counseled women college students “[we are] becoming so concerned about having perfect figures, or straight A’s, or professional status, or even absolute motherly success that we are being torn from our true selves. We often worry so much about pleasing and performing for others that we lose our own uniqueness, that full and relaxed acceptance of ourselves as a person of worth and individuality.” (Ensign, September 1989)

"Every one of us has times when we need to know things will get better. My declaration is that that is precisely what the gospel of Jesus Christ offers us, especially in times of need." (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland)
We are all worth the same whether we are sinners or righteous living people. We need to remember that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is there to make us free from these awful chains of hell which hold us bound.

"Brothers and sisters, one of the great consolations of this Easter season is that because Jesus walked such a long, lonely path utterly alone, we do not have to do so. His solitary journey brought great company for our little version of that path—the merciful care of our Father in Heaven, the unfailing companionship of this Beloved Son, the consummate gift of the Holy Ghost, angels in heaven, family members on both sides of the veil, prophets and apostles, teachers, leaders, friends. All of these and more have been given as companions for our mortal journey because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the Restoration of His gospel. Trumpeted from the summit of Calvary is the truth that we will never be left alone nor unaided, even if sometimes we may feel that we are. Truly the Redeemer of us all said: “I will not leave you comfortless: [My Father and] I will come to you [and abide with you].”
"My other plea at Easter time is that these scenes of Christ’s lonely sacrifice, laced with moments of denial and abandonment and, at least once, outright betrayal, must never be reenacted by us. He has walked alone once. Now, may I ask that never again will He have to confront sin without our aid and assistance, that never again will He find only unresponsive onlookers when He sees you and me along His Via Dolorosa in our present day. As we approach this holy week—Passover Thursday with its Paschal Lamb, atoning Friday with its cross, Resurrection Sunday with its empty tomb—may we declare ourselves to be more fully disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, not in word only and not only in the flush of comfortable times but in deed and in courage and in faith, including when the path is lonely and when our cross is difficult to bear. This Easter week and always, may we stand by Jesus Christ “at all times and in all things, and in all places that [we] may be in, even until death,” for surely that is how He stood by us when it was unto death and when He had to stand entirely and utterly alone." (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, None Were With Him)

As Elder Holland said, "May we stand by Jesus Christ." I know that as we do stand by Jesus Christ than a power from Heaven will come into your life to help you. It will come when you feel down and hopeless about ready so sink into despair. As Christ tells us in the New Testament in John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." In John 16:33 Christ again comforts us by saying, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in my ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." Brethren and Sister who wants that peace? Who wants the precious gift that has been offered to us?

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38) How is it we receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost? In Acts 8:15-18 it states,
"Who when they were come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptizd in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given.."

Here from the King James Version of the Bible we learn that it is only through the laying on of hands by those who hold the Priesthood of God the Holy Ghost is given. That is the only way. After the apostles were all killed that priesthood was not passed on and so it was lost until John the Baptist came and gave Joseph Smith the authority to baptize or the lesser priesthood. Then Peter, James and John came and confered upon them the higher priesthood at which point they could confer the Gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. That priesthood was given to Joseph Smith so therefore it is to be found only in THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS.  As an ambassador and representative of the Lord Jesus Christ I testify that God loves each one of us and will always be there for us. I testify you are not alone. Get on your knees and ask if God if he is there and He shall manifest it by the power of the Spirit. I testify that this Priesthood is given to worthy male members of THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS. In the Sacred name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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