10/26/09

Dear Family,

Thanks so much for your letters! I appreciate the emails and the words of encouragement. They go a long way! It is interesting how much closer you can be to your famiy even in your physical separation. I love you all and truly do hope your lives are being richly blessed in the ways the Lord sees fit. He has a way of sending comfort in times of most need and in the darkest hours of our trials. The beautiful sections 121, 122, and 123 a=of the Doctrine and Covenants were given from the dungeons of despair faced by the prophet Joseph Smith. In the opening verses of section 121 you can truly feel his anguish and cries of feeling abandoned. Truly we can all relate. But the transcending value of the following sections is the comfort that is also available to all as we remember that we can have peace in the face of adversity and that all things will work together for our good. I have felt that to be true and know that the Lord really is able to succor His people their afflictions....

The scriptures refers to these times of relief as Tender Mercies of the Lord. I have felt them as i have struggled for guidance and direction and to be successful in this work. Lehi declared that he was encircled in the arms of His Redeemer and felt the saving power of His love and atonement. It is the greatest blessing to have that knowledge but even more that feeling. The arms of the Savior paints such a vivid picture in my mind. His invitation to come unto him that we may find rest can seem so far fetched at times but once experiencing the warmth of His embrace, how could we ever doubt His ability to relieve our burdens? The good news of the gospel lies in Jesus Christ and His atonement. Whatever the sin, short of the unpardonable one, He has power to forgive. So fitting then is His commandment to us to forgive one another and love our neighbor as ourselves. I love you all! You are so great and I long for the day when we can all embrace once again and rejoice together as a family in the arms of the Savior. God bless!

Elder Cabrera

Savior's Love is inseparably connected to us: Romans 8:35-39