Because of Christ's incredible atonement, we all have the opportunity to return home again.

Well I am getting transferred. I will be staying in Calgary. I won't know exactly where until Thursday. It's been fun in this area but I'm excited to go to a new area. Here is a little spiritual thought I typed up a few days ago.

I wanted to talk a little bit about the Parable Jesus gives in Luke Chapter 15 known as The Prodigal Son. In this parable, Jesus talks about a man with two sons. One son asks his father to sell the inheritance that is his and give him the money for it. The father does as he is asked and the son leaves home. Well he spends all his money right away on "riotous living". Now without any money to support himself, he found any job he could. Which happened to be a servant for a man. The man sends the son in to his field to feed his swine. The son being hungry and poor eats the husks of corn that the swine ate. Realizing how pathetic his situation was, he realized that his father's servants were better paid and taken care of than he was currently. So he decides to go to his father, apologize, and ask if he can he be a servant for him. Well, on his journey home his father sees him far off in the distance.

"20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him."

His father was overjoyed to see his son return. The son asks for his father's forgiveness for being so foolish and asks if he can be his father's servant. His father's response is truly touching and, I think, life changing.

" 22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

 23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:

 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry."

There are times in our lives in which we see friends and family go astray. We see them choose a path that is not good for them. Make mistakes. Fall away. Get lost. Because of Christ's incredible atonement, we all have the opportunity to return home again. No matter the mistakes or bad choices we have made along the way. And when it is us who sees a friend or loved one return, we must have the same reaction as this father had to his son. We should run out to our loved ones. Reach out to them. Show them that we have missed them. And most importantly, show them that we love them. More than they might know. No matter the person. No matter the mistakes. No matter the circumstances. God's commandment remains the same, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." (Mark 12:31).

I hope all is well back home. Stay warm and stay safe. Until next time!

Elder Anderson