Balm of Gilead - Letter from Elder Austin Dated October 12, 2014

Hey Mom and Dad!

How is everything?  I hope you, Dad, and Maggie are doing well.  I'm sorry for not doing journal letters this week, not much happened except a few things I wanted to share.  We met with Ian, our recent convert and taught him about the priesthood because he is going to get it soon.  At the end of the lesson, he expressed a concern.  He said that all of this was happening so fast and that he felt over-loaded by all of this He also expressed that he felt unworthy even though he passed his interview.  These concerns made me reflect on my own personal life.  Feelings of inadequacy and unworthiness have been battles that I have faced.  I've done some things in my high school and college years that still haunt me to this day, but I have found hope!  The 3rd Article of Faith states:  "We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved...."  I have a firm testimony of this article because I too have been saved through the atonement.  With the help of many bishops, Stake presidents and my Heavenly Father I have been given the gift of forgiveness.  Satan tries to make us feel like we're not good enough when we have sinned.  He wants to make you miserable like unto himself, so he makes you relive your worse sins.  Please do not fall into this trap!  If you sin, repent and change your ways.  Know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love you, that's why we have been given the gift of repentance.  YOU ARE GOOD ENOUGH!  But do not settle, keep changing and progressing and those feelings of love and peace will be even stronger.  Be a better person than you were yesterday.  I expressed these same feelings to Ian and he said, "Thanks for that, I feel better now.  I want to get the Priesthood now!"  Immense you and happiness overtook me when I heard these words.

There is one other event that happened this week that I wanted to tell you about.  I went on exchanges with my district leader, so I was in Bray once again.  We visited a guy named Andy, he's preparing to go on a mission to France.  After eating the wonderful chicken and rice he made, we watched mormon messages on the computer.  During one of those videos, the Spirit punched me in the heart.  The video was called "Mountains to Climb".  It's based on Henry B. Eyring's talk about the challenges and trials we have in this life.  I want you to stop reading this, go to YouTube and type in "Mountains to Climb" mormon messages, then watch it.  Continue reading after you watch it.

DONE YET?  Okay!  So your probably in tears.  I was bawling like a baby when I watched it.  I was inspired to share this with a member from South Africa.  She's a single mother with 3 children.  We watched it with them, our recent converts, and some other friends that they invited over.  When it was over, there wasn't a dry eye in the room.  One of the little children said, "Mommy, I need to pray."  It was the shortest, but most powerful prayer I have ever heard.  She said, "Heavenly Father, thank you for my family, amen."  The Spirit was so strong, I was overwhelmed.

We've watched this video with a few members now, and there's one phrase that President Eyring says.  He told us to believe that there is a "Balm of Gilead".  That phrase has stuck out to me ever since I first saw it. I didn't even know what it meant, so I was confused.  Why did that sentence stick out to me?  I studied it yesterday and found out why.  Balm is an herb or spice that was used for healing wounds.  Gilead is the place where it grew plentifully.  I immediately understood that balm represents Jesus Christ.  President Eyring was telling us to believe that Jesus Christ can heal your wounds and that you find that healing power within this gospel, or Gilead.  Sometimes when we use the phrase, "endure to the end", we use it too lightly.  It means exactly what it says, to endure.  "When I have tried all my life to be good, why has this happened to me?"  When I look at people who ask this question, the answer that comes to my mind is because that person's faith needs to grow.  That is why we have trials and challenges , to try our faith.

I can testify that there is a Balm in Gilead, His name is Jesus Christ.  He can heal us of our pains and help us climb these mountains, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

-Elder Austin

P.S.  Share this video with anyone you feel who needs it.  Love you!