Three Years

     Three years ago today, I was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I was taught by a beautiful missionary (Sister Stratton) and her two companions, Sister Willes and Sister Morris (now Sister Holyoak). Sister Stratton somehow (God probably knew I wouldn't want anyone else) managed to stay in Niceville to teach me all of my baptism lessons, attend my baptism, teach all of my parents' baptism lessons, and see their baptism as well. I'm pretty sure we got almost through the second round of lessons before she was transferred to Fort Walton Beach, a 20 minute drive from Niceville.

     In honor of my three year anniversary of baptism, I wanted to share three things I've learned these past few years about Christ, Heavenly Father, and living the gospel:

1. CHRIST AND HEAVENLY FATHER ARE ALWAYS LISTENING: Even when you don't feel like They're listening, when you feel like They don't care...They DO. Heavenly Father is constantly listening to you and knows every joy and every pain you feel in your heart. If He's not giving you something you want, He's putting together something better for you that you need. 

 

L to R: Sister Willes, Ellis, Sister Stratton, Sister Morris

    The late President Thomas S. Monson said, “Your Heavenly Father loves you—each of you. That love never changes. It is not influenced by your appearance, by your possessions, or by the amount of money you have in your bank account. It is not changed by your talents and abilities. It is simply there. It is there for you when you are sad or happy, discouraged or hopeful. God’s love is there for you whether or not you feel you deserve love. It is simply always there.” 

 

    It may be because I'm lacking sleep and just horribly emotional about today, but I can feel God's love for you. I know that He is working very hard to bring your perfect story together. Everything will work out the way it needs to. I know this with such a burning fire. And I know He loves me more than I can ever comprehend. If there's one thing I'm grateful for, it is finally feeling Heavenly Father's love.

2. CHRIST WILL FOLLOW YOU: Wait, what, Ellis? Christ will follow me? Isn't it the other way around? 

 

Let me tell you why I think it's flipped. We are told to "come unto Christ" (Moroni 10: 30, 32). We must follow His way to be able to return to Heavenly Father. I know this. Every day, I strive to act as Christ would act. However, Christ follows me, Christ chases after me. In Luke 15 (V. 4, 6) it says: 

 

"What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? ... 

 

And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost."

      Jesus Christ is our Savior, our beautiful Redeemer. He wants desperately for us to return to Heavenly Father...He is our brother. In the premortal life, we all knew Him intimately. In fact, some of us may have been some of His best friends. Like how we would gladly chase after our own brothers and sisters and invite them to come unto Christ, He will do the same for us. 

    Elder Jeffrey R. Holland states, "It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ’s Atonement shines." I have a testimony that Christ will reach down into any darkness to show you the light. He will stretch out His hand to pull you out of any snare that the adversary placed in your path. Because of Christ, I now know what true love is. It's that selfless act of sacrifice He gladly completed. It's reaching out to help despite the snakes, thorns, and uncertainty. It's believing in a sinner, despite their failures. It's dying so that a fallen world can even have the chance of returning to our Heavenly Father's presence.  It's never tiring of lifting others so that they can see the path home.

3.  YOU'RE GOING TO "MESS UP": Maybe it's because I'm a Young Single Adult. Maybe it's because I don't go to BYU. (Just kidding.) But, I have never messed up so much in my life before I became a Mormon. I have never felt so intimately how much distance is between me and Heavenly Father. 

    But, that's okay. During the past three years, I have had Sundays where I did not take the sacrament because I wasn't worthy. During the past three years, I had a period of not being worthy to enter the temple. And during the past three years, I have questioned and doubted my faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I have wondered, questioned, sobbed, and pleaded with Heavenly Father. 

    But, what makes all of the questions, doubts, and bad decisions worth it is how well I have come to know the nature of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I know now how to help others who may be struggling. Because of this great adventure, I now feel strong enough to be able to reach down like Christ does and lift others with me. As the proverb states, "Thee lift me and I'll lift thee, and we'll ascend together."

    If there is one thing I could tell a newly baptized convert, it would be this lesson. When you get baptized, you think, "I'm never going to disappoint Heavenly Father. I'm going to be a Mormon rockstar." And heck yeah, you may very well be. You may not have as serious as issues as the next newly baptized member. 

    But, you're going to mess up. It may be a mean comment about your professor or you may catch yourself judging that girl walking home from a night out. It may be something serious like you decide to eat a pot brownie. I don't know your story. But, what I do know is as long as you repent and turn back to Christ, every mistake is worth it. 

And when you finally get it a little more right, it's going to change your heart. You're going to stop and think, "Why didn't I do this sooner? Why didn't I know this sooner?" 

I am so thankful for the three ladies that listened to Heavenly Father and served a mission. My heart is so full with gratitude for the boy that brought me a Book of Mormon and baptized me. His family welcomed my family into their home and helped us along this journey. And "I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me", guys (Hymn 193). 

So, happy baptism birthday to me! I hope you will take a chance today and learn a little more about Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father. If you would like to know more, comment below or shoot me a message! Y'all know where to find me.

Oh, and happy Valentine's Day! Show love today like Christ would and you won't regret it.