Happy Easter!!! (and Happy Birthday to my dad today!)

Meredith's baptism with Danny Marks, Heritage Park ward mission leader

God has not ceased to be a God of miracles (Mormon 9:15). I know this to be true with every fiber of my being. In my time serving in this area, I have seen many small miracles, and yesterday I was blessed to be part of a very large miracle - the baptism of Meredith Seiss. The baptismal service was wonderful and went quite smoothly. The Spirit was definitely present, and it was really great to have her non-member family there as well. The thing that hit me the hardest was when she got up and bore her testimony at the end, just before the closing hymn. I'm a crier, and the floodgates opened as I saw her stand there, filled with the Spirit, to express her love of the Savior and of this gospel. Elder Johnson looked over at me a couple times with this look on his face, as if to say, "What's wrong with you?" Haha. It's amazing though to know that I had the privilege to help her along this journey (and will still help her as she prepares to go to the temple!). I received a specific feeling from the Lord at that time that I had witnessed a miracle. It was powerful, and the joy in my heart right now is difficult to describe.

The tender mercies of the Lord abound in our daily lives as well. Elder Johnson and I are doing well together, and we see the hand of God in all we do. Even small and simple things have an impact in the lives of others - we may not be able to teach as much as we'd like, but helping others in some way is just as fulfilling once we realize that we were an instrument in the hands of our loving Father in Heaven. Prime example this week: on Saturday, I felt prompted to stop by the church building to pick up a tithing slip so that I could pay my fast offering the next day. I knew that I could just get it at church at fill it out there, but I followed the prompting nevertheless. The Rains family was in the parking lot, and they needed to be let into the building. Turns out that the stake had had an Activity Days event for the Primary girls at our chapel, and one of the Rains' daughters had left her backpack inside at the end of the activity. Her mom had arrived shortly beforehand to pick her up, and she didn't remember that she had left her bag in the building until after the leaders had left and the building was locked. In was in this moment of distress that we arrived; we have our own key to the building. It was a small way to be of service, but I felt good for listening to the prompting anyway. What adds to this, though, is that Meredith just so happened to be in the parking lot as well! She was waiting for a member of the Heritage Park ward to pick her up - they'd be attending a baptism in Nashua together that evening (the night before her own baptism!). We were able to talk to her for a little while and help to strengthen and encourage her in her decision to be baptized. She was excited, and just beamed with joy and the Light of Christ at her own baptism.

We heard from Bishop Sears of the Heritage Park ward this week in ward council that missionary applications have jumped from 500-600 at the busiest to 1500-1600 a week, and school hasn't even let out yet for the graduating seniors! What a thrilling time to be serving a mission!

I found a scripture this week in my personal study that gave me strength, buoyed me up, and had quite an impact on me in general. I happened across it as I read Doctrine and Covenants one morning. I'd like to share it with you, and substitute my own name in:
"Therefore, blessed is my servant [Elder DeLong], for I will have mercy on him; and, notwithstanding the vanity of his heart, I will lift him up inasmuch as he will humble himself before me. And I will give him grace and assurance wherewith he may stand; and if he continue to be a faithful witness and a light unto the church I have prepared a crown for him in the mansions of my Father" (Doctrine and Covenants 106:7-8).
The comfort that entered my heart at that moment was amazing. The Savior gives me His enabling grace each day to "fight the good fight" as I serve Him. I have many faults, but as I humble myself before Him, He will make weak things become strong unto me. I know that if I continue on in faithfulness, keep the covenants I have made, and live my life as the Lord would have me live, then I will receive the crown He has prepared for me. I take great hope in that, and I'm thankful to have found these verses.

What a beautiful time of year we're in now - Easter! This is probably my very favorite holiday. The Atonement of our Savior, Jesus Christ, makes it possible for us to return and live with our Father in Heaven again. We can repent, we can overcome sin and death, we can break free from troubles and strife and addictions of all sorts, we can be changed and made into "new creatures" as we give our hearts to Him, and we can be made whole again. There is no way for me to adequately express my love and gratitude for Him and all He's done, and all He continues to do for me each and every day. I sing to His glory and praise. May we take the time and allow ourselves to feel of His love in our lives, and to remember Him in all we do.

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ...nay, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us" (Romans 8:35, 37).

Love,
Elder DeLong