December 22, 2011

Happy Christmas Everyone!!!!!

On Thursday we had Elder Clayton L. Whitney from the presidency of the Seventy speak to us. I love all the Christmas messages that the general authority give to us, because outside of the christmas lights in the courtyard and the chrsitmas music in the hallways, it doesn't feel much like Christmas. Elder Whitney showed us a news clip during his devotional. Alot of the missionaries were pretty excited to be able to see some sort of media, espacially the ones that have been here for 10 weeks. But the clip was pretty cool. It waas reporting about how people are paying off other people's lay-away balances. It really made me think about the real meaning of Christmas.

I leave the MTC wednesday morning at 5am and soon after that I'll be in Oakland!!!!!!!! I love the MTC but I just can't wait to get out in the field and use everthing i"ve learned here.

I can't wait for Christmas in the MTC! I'm personally hoping the Elder Holland will be speaking to us but any of the Twelve Apostles would be so amazing to listen to!!!

I want everyone back home to think about the recieving part of Christmas. Half the joy of giving a present is seeing the great reaction when someone recives the gift you have given them. We must learn to become grateful receipents! It is only in the deepest gratitude that we can fully recieve the gift Chrsitmas. Jesus Christ's birth was a great miracle in of its self, but the greatest miracle, and gift of all time, came at the end of His Ministry, when he performed the Atonement. " And he shall go forth suffering pains and afflictions,and temptaions of every kind...and he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death...and he will take upon him their infirmities that his bowels may be filled with mercy....that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people" (Alma 7:11-13)

That is the message of christmas, that is the gift we must recieve into our lives not only this Christmas, but everyday.

I Jesus Christ is our Savoir and Redeemer and that His Atonement is suffcient for all men. His power will never cease.

Feliz Navidad!

Elder Luis Gonzalez