1 March 2014

Mom!
First off, I'm excited that the first week at home is stake conference. That'll be a great experience and will give me the opportunity to see so many people at one time. The 10th, I would like to go to the Temple. Let me know if that works out for you and your schedule. Also, the 11th sounds good to be home and visit the Connersville Ward. ..... It'll be a great Mother's Day for sure!!

I was very touched as you shared your thoughts, feelings and the spiritual truths that the Spirit taught you. This builds my testimony. Everyone has something to give. Sacrifices are essential for a spiritual progress. This concept of a "refiners fire" is an interesting idea for me. I think of how the Savior purifies us. How He invites us to come unto Him and deny ourselves of all ungodliness. In Moroni's last testimony he says that through the grace of Christ we can be sanctified. As I think of this sanctification or the process of becoming holy without spot, I think of the Temple. The Temple is dedicated and given to the Lord as a sacrifice and an offering to Him. May we ponder and reverence these sacred words, "Holiness to the Lord, The House of the Lord!" May we be reverent to holy things and the whisperings of the Spirit. May we treasure up in our hearts the words of life. Give thanks unto God with full purpose of heart! This is His house and His work and His plan and we are His children. I'm slowly but surely coming to understand and feel the truth of this scripture. Matthew 10:39. We must lose our lives for the Lord. That is how we can find purpose and meaning and value and understanding. Giving our lives in unselfish service to the Lord and His children is the key to happiness and will free us from our sins. I know this is true and am dedicated to give more than 2 years of my life but to use these 2 years of "training" to give my whole life to the Lord. Give Him all that I have and all that I am.

This week, a family that we are teaching got married and next Saturday they will get baptized! Its a mom, dad and two daughters. I'm so excited. Today is exactly 2 months until I get home. Its scary but I'm so excited to end my mission well and endure to the end and then get home and continue giving my life to the Lord for the rest of my life. Its possible. Some think that you serve a mission for 2 years and then you go home and you focus on other things and that you cant be a missionary anymore. Some people think that you're a fanatic if you think you're still a missionary and that you need to get a clue and stop living a dream or a reality that only exists when you use a name tag everyday. This is depressing to think and to hear. But, I know that its not the truth if you don't want it to be the truth. I'm not implying that I have to use social clothing everyday and only think about church stuff and that I have to be extreme and over the top with missionary work. What I am implying is that 2 years of faithful missionary service has caused a mighty change in my heart that I never want to be exactly who I was before or do all of the same things that I did before and, especially, think and feel the same that I thought and felt before. God is real. He exists. He is our loving Heavenly Father. He sent is only begotten Son, Jesus Christ to come to earth and to give His life for all of God's children. I know this is true and this burns within me and never can this fire be extinguished. Just as the apostles couldn't return to their nets after Christ's sacrifice and resurrection, I cant return to "my nets" after the Lord has touched my heart and shown me that this is true. I know that the family can be together forever. I know that the family is essential in God's eternal plan of happiness. I know that the priesthood is given to men to carry out God's work and that through ordinances and promises and covenants, God will draw us close to Him and if we choose to obey and endure, He will never let us go. I love my Heavenly Father and my Savior Jesus Christ. They live and this is Their Church. I love you mom and am anxious to hear about all of the great things that are going on with you. All of the things youre learning and sharing with the wonderful sisters in our ward. I love you and hope to hear from you soon.
Élder Jared Knotts