Fear Not, Little Flock

Hello Family!

Great week! Hard week, but great week.

I don't have a lot to report on this week! Things have been pretty normal for the most part! I have been doing a lot of design work lately. It's so cool to be able to use talents I have been given to help the work progress here. It's been really interesting to me as I have started designing again to see that I haven't gotten worse like I thought I would! I totally thought that after over a year of not touching any sort of design program or anything that I would be struggling to get back into the zone. But I have actually created some of my best designs while here! It's been really cool. I love it.

I learned something in my personal study earlier today that I really liked. It was in Luke 12:29-32. It was talking about taking no worry about earthly things.

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29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.

30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.

31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

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This is such a simple doctrine that I think all of us seem to forget. Sometimes I think we forget that God wants to give us EVERYTHING. God wants all of his children to receive forgiveness through the gift of the Atonement. He offers it freely to those with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. He wants to give us all His kingdom; it's His PLEASURE, in fact. That was my favorite part, the last verse. "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." It made me think about the term "to GIVE you the kingdom"... Perhaps we are already being given the kingdom right now, here on earth! As we live the commandments and follow what we know to be true, we gain knowledge and happiness; two eternal concepts. I used to think that it meant that we WILL receive the kingdom after we have died and go through judgement, but my perspective has now changed to that of actually receiving it right now! CURRENTLY. It makes me reflect upon the BYU devotional talk by Brad Wilcox that talks about "Learning Heaven", which I have shared with you before. What a great opportunity we have to LEARN the kingdom here on earth and to become more like our Heavenly Father. Awesome!

I wish I could elaborate on that concept more, but I have only just barely started pondering that thought. I am so grateful for a Father in Heaven that wants to give so freely to us. Sometimes we are hard on ourselves and we alienate ourselves from God's love... But I know that He always wants to help us and that He always wants to give His kingdom to us -- His "little flock."

Hope everyone has a great week!

Elder Welton