Sister Sibley

On top of putting another friend on date, I had awesome opportunities to serve this  week! I got to put up about 500 feet of fence. We got food out of it, great tip.  



From the other photos, I got to help an elderly lady that is hilarious. We were gonna  leave after helping her and she goes "wait boys, I have a spiritual thought”.  She then proceeds to says "God loves you, amen, get out of here." Haha, amen Sister  Sibley.  



Other than that, I had an awesome opportunity to give a talk on the spot at church. They  called us right when we were walking in and they said, can you give a 5 minute talk or  so? I was definitely up for the challenge and I felt like Elder Cook, praying for the spirit  to help me and it sure did help me. I gave a 7 minute talk. Here it is.....  



This is the most important event that ever happened. That's why I want to talk about it.  



There has been 284 talks about the Atonement in General Conference, the 2nd most  being, faith at 539 and the most being, Jesus Christ at 940. 



Now obviously it's not a ranking system by which topic with the most mentions is  therefor most important, but it definitely shows its importance.  



To start, what is the Atonement? As used in the scriptures, to atone is to suffer the  penalty for sins, thereby removing the effects of sin from the repentant sinner and  allowing him or her to be reconciled to God. Jesus Christ was the only one capable of  carrying out the Atonement for all mankind. Because of His Atonement, all people will be  resurrected and those who obey His gospel will receive the gift of eternal life with God.  



From these we can see that we must follow the gospel and obey to have eternal life.  Which includes lots of things, but most importantly the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  



The only way for us to be saved is for someone else to rescue us. We need someone  who can satisfy the demands of justice—standing in our place to assume the burden of  the Fall and to pay the price for our sins. Jesus Christ has always been the only one  capable of making such a sacrifice. He who descended below all things, for us. In Alma 7:11-12 it says, “Without the Atonement, we would be done for, completely hopeless, with no way to return to God, because no unclean thing can enter the kingdom of God.“



I like to think of a story by Elder Boyd k Packer  

A man who owes a debt but can't pay it, 

Creditor demands justice and the debtor demands mercy. But how can both be  possible? Only with a mediator can it be possible. 

Mosiah 3:19  

This is the most quoted scripture in General Conference. 

It reminds me of a talk by Elder Larry R Lawrence 

What lack I yet?  

It talks about how we should put off the natural man and become a saint through Jesus  Christ. What better way than to use the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  

I would not be where I am today, without his great sacrifice for me, you, and everyone  else. 

I personally wonder how God loved me enough to get me where I am today, by giving  so many blessings, let alone Him sacrificing His only begotten son for me. The  Atonement has brought me lots of peace and comfort in my life. As I'm sure we all know,  life is hard and all that is wrong in this life can be healed by the Atonement of Jesus  Christ. 



As we go about our week, ask the Lord in a sincere desire, what can I do better? 



I've done this and I've seen how it's simple little things, which by small things shall great  things come to pass. 



D&C 64:33, Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a  great work and out of small things proceedeth that which is great.  



Big things can come when we do this and on top of that, if we are humble and ask, we  are teachable and being teachable has blessed my life. I am willing to listen to things of  the spirit and that's a great companion to have on top of my current mission companion. 



I promise as we use the Atonement more in our life, we can feel the spirit and the love of Jesus Christ more in our life. I know God loves you, love me and he had hope and faith to put us here, in this place, at this time, to build his kingdom of God, and no better place than to start by asking how we can be better, 1% every day. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen. 



- Elder Nick Kendrick

Chelsea Michigan






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