The Last Testamony

April 20, 2019 

Friends and Family,

After countless letters sent out, I write today a very short and sincere thank you to all of those who have supported me throughout my mission. I thank those who have been there for me throughout as well following up with me. In a short 10 days I will be returning home and with my return i would like to leave with you all a few short truths that i have come to know throughout my mission.

I know that Jesus Christ lives, and that he is our savior and redeemer. That by and through his attonement all mankind may be saved if they obery the laws, principles, and ordinances of the gospel.

I know that he calls prophets, seers, and revelators to help teach and govern his church here on the earth, by which we may learn his will, and that if we follow them, we will be blessed spiritually, temporally, and in all things.

I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, another testament of the Savior Jesus Christ. I am grateful for the Book of Mormon and know that all may come to know of a truthfulness of it if they pray with sincerity.

I am grateful and know that all of the doctrines, principles, and laws of the Gospel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the Lord's kingdom here on the earth in preparation for his second coming.

I invite all to seek the Lord and his promises that he has made to each of us. I am grateful for the knowledge of these things and for my mission that i have had to share these and other truths with countless people.

I'll see you all soon. I am excited to share all these truths as well with each of those that i cross paths with again in the coming months and years in my paths of life. I love you all. Until then,

-Elder Matthew Arscott

He is Risen!

Dear Family and Friends,

My short thought today is based on a thought shared from my mission President, President Cuvelier and is accredited to him. He shared the following message with us today in preparation for the upcoming Easter Sunday.

As stated by President Cuvelier: "No citation in the history of mankind is more meaningful, powerful, wonderful, or miraculous: "He is risen!" That would never have happened. It was not possible!

But the impossible became a reality when the two Marys went to the garden of the tomb, where there was burried only one person.

“Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them…And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre…And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus…. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?... He is not here: for he is risen, as he said.” (Luke 24: 1-5 & Matthew 28:6)

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the greatest miracle in the history of mankind. The Atonement and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ affect every person who has ever lived, lives, and will live on Earth. Jesus Christ overcame alone the effects of spiritual and physical death when he arose from the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea in the third day after he died on the cross of Calvary. He fulfilled the law of justice and saved the whole world! Nothing is more universal than the resurrection. Every living being will be resurrected, thanks to Him.

“Now, this restoration shall come to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, both the wicked and the righteous;… As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (Alma 11:44 & 1 Corinthians 15:22)

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a glorious reality. He really rose again, just as He and His Holy  prophets predicted. He became "the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25). Thanks to Him, we too will overcome physical death. Our spirits will be reunited with immortal bodies.

Everything that happened in your life, what happens, and what will happen is possible because of Him, when He overcame the world and overcame death.

He lives!

The Prophet Joseph Smith testified in Doctrine & Covenants: “And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!”

Four years later, Joseph Smith wrote in D&C 110: We saw the Lord standing upon the breastwork of the pulpit, before us; and under his feet was a paved work of pure gold, in color like amber. His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, saying: I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father. Behold, your sins are forgiven you; you are clean before me; therefore, lift up your heads and rejoice.

As we learned in our last zone conference, over the course of a week, Jesus rewrote the history of mankind. While it is important to remember the events that took place and your symbolism, it is more important to apply His Atonement in our lives. Thanks to Him, we can write and rewrite our own history. We have the privilege of inviting others do the same. At this Passover, we will apply all that He has taught and provided for lasting changes in our lives and in the lives of the people we teach. As disciples of Christ, we add our testimony to that of the Marys, Joseph Smith, and others witnesses of the past and present - that He lives and is our Savior and Redeemer! Through His sacrifice, all mankind will receive immortality. In repentance, every person can receive the ordinances of the gospel. By keeping the commandments, every person can receive eternal life. I pray that each one of us may remember to thank God for the blessing of the Atonement and for the miracle of the Resurrection by feeding His sheep and inviting everyone to follow His example. For the impossible became possible thanks to Him when the angel declared:

"He is not here, for He is Risen!”

My testimony to you all that he lives, I leave with you, and with my love, until next.

-Elder Matthew Arscott

Our Highest Priorities

Family and Friends,

There is a feeling of realignment after spiritual experiences that we have that helps us to reflect upon what we, as the young rich ruler, "..lack yet". I am grateful for these opportunities as it keeps me in a balance and check spiritually in my life. General Conference this past weekend was one of those expereinces. Here ar my thoughts that I had in regards to what I may take away from this spiritual bombarding and how we may apply it in our lives.

Life is driven by our daily choices. President Brigham Young said that: “Our lives are made up of little, simple circumstances that amount to a great deal when they are brought together, and sum up the whole life of the man or woman.” This past weekend God's prophets instructed us which things we should choose when speaking of these daily decisions. Sister Sharon Eubank said "Ask Heavenly Father what you can let go of". This principle spiritually and temporarly speaking, is called Prioritizing. President Nelson mentioned some things that we should put as our highest priorities when speaking about what He put as his when talking to his late daughter Wendy. Some of those include Covenants, Obedience, Ordinances, Faith, Family, Fidelity, Love, and Eternal Life. We then too may (and should) ask ourselves on occasion, "Are my daily thoughts, desires, and actions centered and focused on these things? If not, what can I let go of? What can I pick up? What lack I yet?"

For those familiar with Hurricane High School football, you may remember that when breaking the huddle, the team in unison chants: "Let's WIN". Our coaches explained that in focusing on that certain planned gameplay, this acronym represents "What's Important Now". How many times do we, when breaking our daily huddles of Prayer, Study, Work, and Recreational time ask "What is Important Now?" The method has been made simple and clear to us. Everything that we must do daily should be focused in aumenting our Faith in Jesus Christ and Repenting, being worthy of making covenants through ordinances with our family, a heart set on fidelity and love, so that we may have eternal life. These must be Our Highest Priorities.

We too may be realigned and "act in the office in which (we are) appointed, in all diligence" (D&C 107:99) We must act. As the apostle James wrote: "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." (James 1:22) and as Francis Quarel states: "Today only is thine. If thou procrastinate, thou loseth. Which lost, is lost forever."

My prayer is that we may not procrastinate in doing and remembering what our highest priorities are, but act upon the words of the Prophets, seers, and revelators given this conference, doing so now, for as stated by President Nelson: "Time is running out"

With all my Love for each of you,

-Elder Matthew Arscott