Welcome.

Dear Striving Saint,

In the capacity of a fellow sojourner, I would like to write a letter (that encourages and advises) to you today at Untoalltheworld.blog.

Beginning in my youthful years and well into adulthood, I’ve long wanted to unleash learned and cherished principles upon the heads and into the hearts of little humans over whom I always thought I’d be granted a consecrated stewardship. Since that turned out not to be my lot in a familial setting in mortality, I hope you will forgive me for a water-hosed approach as I attempt to share ten admonitions, messages I would want my posterity – if I had any – to have heard first from my lips and upon my knees.

First, once – by the goodness of God – you’ve found the covenant path, stay on it. It is your sacred duty and unmatched privilege to walk it. It leads to the tree of life wherein lies the most fulfilling and soul sustaining blessings mortality can offer. Walk this path one step at a time; put one foot deliberately in front of the other. On every side, mist of darkness will surround you. They are spattered everywhere, but the path is the way forward. It is the only way truly forward.

Second, befriend the holy temple. Spend lots of time there. Build your schedule around the temple – not the temple around your schedule. Learn to love your time in the temple. Learn how to worship therein. Let the power of those holy ordinances seep deep into your soul. Pray for the heavenly endowment of power promised the faithful temple going saints of the latter days. The way forward is in making and keeping covenants with God; that is the “how to” progress in this life, You need the power, peace, and protection of temple covenants. Love the temple, and it will love you back.

Third, keep on keeping on. Keep going. Life is, by divine design, hard. We are on trial. We are here to be tested, and we will be. Trials vary drastically, but in the words of CS Lewis, there is a “purpose to the pain.” Let the pain drive you to your knees. Learn the purpose. Be true to it. Don’t give up. Don’t give in. Endure to the end in solid faith in Jesus Christ no matter what terrible things may befall you during your probation.

Fourth, be known as a covenant keeper. Above all else, keep your covenants. Once you have been recommended to the Lord, don’t betray that endorsement. Be a true friend to Jesus by not forsaking your covenants. Love Jesus. Love God. Invite Them to walk with you in your life and be smack in the middle of your messes. Jesus was made for that purpose! God’s ordinances (which help us make binding covenants) are as fuller’s soap, and Jesus is the fuller. He’s the one with the truly messy job of cleaning us through His blood, but He was willing to do it. His precious blood was spilt for that holy end. I’ve found and loved Jesus the most when my life was the ugliest.

Fifth, pull down heaven’s power by your consistent efforts at righteousness. Be consistent. Just be consistent. Consistently read your scriptures. Consistently attend your religious meetings. Consistently pray. Consistently serve. Consistently make your way to the house of the Lord. Consistently seek to bring forth Zion and her noble causes. Be a consistent disciple. Make it your daily walk to be consistent in things that nurture and nourish your soul. While you should, of course, care well for your physical body, take great care to keep your spirit connected to spiritual things, to God Himself.

Sixth, let Jesus redeem you from ignorance and sin (you have no control over his redeeming you from death. That’s a done deal, thanks to Him, but you have total control over letting Him redeem you from ignorance and sin). Let His grace not only save but also change you. He lives! You are redeemed! Believe him. Live as if you believe it. Praise Him for your redemption. Rejoice in it. And then speak of it.

Seventh, cherish your associations with like minded believers, with members of your ward. They can become family when you are far from blood relatives. Many times when I have been very far from home and family, I have been buoyed up and strengthened by the kindnesses, testimonies, and examples of ward members. Contribute to the causes of your ward. Be found a doer and a contributor. Love your leaders, and seek to lighten their loads.

Eighth, seek to serve someone every day. Ask in prayer to be guided. Being an instrument in the hands of the Lord really is one of the most sweet and sublime experiences you can have in mortality. It’s a sacred trust from Father when he allows you to go – in His place, for Him – on an errand of relief and succor to one of His children in need.  

Ninth, spend time outside every day. If unable – due to illness or injury – try to bring some of outside inside. This is so nourishing for your soul. A plant, a rock, a fallen leaf, something to connect you to nature. She is so lovely and has so much to teach us about our Creator. Find His messages of hope and happiness in landscapes and valleys and terrain that magnificently and mightily testify of Him.

Tenth, repent daily. Purposefully repent. Regularly seek pardon from God. Ask for the Holy Ghost to guide your words in prayer. President Nelson has taught that repentance is the alleyway to purity. I am less humble by nature than I ought to be, but daily repenting u-turns me back towards God, offering Him a more humble version of myself. Meek and unassuming repentance really does break down the God-mortal chasm of separation, so repent. Repent often.

I love you, dear striving Saint.

Thank you for who you are and all the good you do.

Sincerely,

One who is, herself, still striving

Unto all the world: I know deep meaning and great purpose will fill our mortal days as we: stay on the covenant path, befriend the holy temple, keep on keeping on, honor our covenants, choose to live with gospel consistency, let Jesus redeem us from ignorance and sin, mingle with and support our ward congregations and like minded believers, are guided in daily service, spend time outside every day, and deliberately and meaningfully repent daily.