This past week I read a talk by Papa Dade which touched my heart.  

It talks about life and purpose.  It reads:

"Life, brethren and sisters, is an overflowing river on which one embarks at birth and sails, or is rowed, for fifty, seventy, eighty, or more years.  Every year that passes goes into an eternity, never to return; yet each carries with it into the past no personal weakness, no bodily ailment, no sorrow, no laughter, no thought, no noble aspirations, no hope, no ambition: all these with every trait of character, every inclination, and every tendency remain with each individual.  In other words, our lives are made up of daily thoughts and actions.  We may resolve to let all our sorrows and weaknesses go with the passing of time, but we know that every thought and every inclination has left its indelible impression upon our souls, and we shall have to deal with it today..."

This has forced me to think about eternity...Many think of eternity as some time-span far beyond comprehension.  And yet, if we read the scriptures, and understand them, we know we have already existed for eternities.  Every day we pass in this mortally-tried life is another day which will slip into the history of the eternities.  Everything, therefore, is dependent upon action and thought.  The only thing we may take with us throughout an eternal progression is character.  Every impulse, then, should be dedicated to character.  This has greatly transformed my outlook on life as I have pondered it this talk.

This week, we have concentrated on reactivation.  We analyzed and reconstructed the entire ward list, which includes over 400 inactive members.  We have visited over thirty individuals in the past few days.  We had a wonderful experience with one of those visits.  E* and S* are a couple who were baptized 15 years ago and soon became very active and the moving force of the ward.  They alone brought four or five families into the church.  And then, eight years ago, they were offended by thoughtless members and fell away.  We left a powerful message with them and I shared some of my personal experiences in which I have struggled with the same subject.  I bore my testimony that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is perfect but, because the Savior has to rely on mortal leadership, the church is not.  They told me they had never thought of it like that before.  We left them with the invitation to go to church but they said that right now isn't the time to go back.

Well, Sunday came around and I was talking with members right before sacrament meeting.  I got tapped on the shoulder and turned around.  There was S*.  She told me, with a smile on her face, "I'm here!"  She immediately went and hugged all of her long-lost friends with whom she hadn’t talked for many years.  She was so happy.  She was showing pictures of her family and recounting everything that had happened over the last decade.  Then, at the end of all the church meetings, she said to me, "Elder, thank you for being willing to deal with our stubborness.  You can be assured that I will be here next week.  I haven't felt so much peace in so long."

Everyday we have the opportunity to choose between Christ or Satan; selflessness or selfishness; love or offence.  My new goal is simply always try to choose love.