Good morning Brothers and Sisters. My name is Elder Gardner, and Brother Porter asked me to tell you guys that I am "excited" to speak to you today. Just kidding, I really am excited to be here and to be able to talk about my testimony of the Savior.
I loved that hymn we just sang during the sacrament. "His precious blood he freely spilt; His life he freely gave, A sinless sacrifice for guilt, A dying world to save." I am so grateful for the atoning sacrifice of the Savior. I've always struggled with the idea of the atonement and what it really is. I didn't feel like it was for me. I didn't feel qualified to use his atonement in my life. Coming out on a mission wasn't easy for me. I wasn't worthy at the time and I had to change a few things in order to be able to serve. I wanted to serve, but I felt like I had screwed up too much and would never be able to go. It got to the point where I felt so guilty that I didn't think I was worthy enough to go to church. But that simply wasn't true. In Matthew 18 verses 11-13 it says: "For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray."
Reading this scripture helps us see that Christ and his atonement is for every single one of us. He knows every single one of his sheep, and he wants every single one of them to come unto him. Through the Savior, I was able to come out on a mission. I am able to have true joy and happiness. And through the Savior, we are all able to be forgiven of anything we may do.
Brothers and Sisters, I know Christ cares about every single one of us. He isn't only satisfied with the sheep he has, he wants everyone. And he rejoices when his sheep come unto him! I know that Christ doesn't care where we come from, he only cares about where we go. I know that the Savior lives. I know that Christ knows each and every one of us perfectly, and personally. I know that this church is true. And I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.