Feeling the Spirit in a Jail Cell

As a missionary teaching takes place anywhere and everywhere! You might find yourself teaching in a coffee shop, ice skating rink, restaurant, salon, post office, gas station, mall, in a Sacred Grove or even inside a chapel in Palmyra, NY in front of 100+ missionaries, 2 mission presidents, 1 temple president, 2 members of the quorom of the 70 and 1 apostle! And now, as of yesterday the county jail can be added to this list. It was another unique experience, and while the message my companion and I shared was the same, the message I received was a bit different.

There in the county jail I sat face to face with a man whose time for preparation had expired and whose works seal his fate. He'd made mistakes, he'd gotten lost along his way and on June 13th he would be judged, his final destination to be determined by another. Down but not out, this man placed his faith in his advocate. In the one who would plead his case, and do for him what he could not do for himself. He put his trust in him and would rely on his advocate to free him from his mistakes and find renewed life. Sound familiar?

Though the temporal circumstance differs, the solution remains the same. "Listen to him who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him— Saying: Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified; Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life."

Unlike the analogy to our buddy in the county jail, your time to prepare has not expired, if you are lost you can still be found, and all of your mistakes, pains, and afflictions can be taken from you through your own advocate!

Jesus Christ died for YOU! He invites everyone to come unto him, to listen and "understand with your heart, be converted; and be healed!" Through him we are freed. Through him we are made whole, and it is only through him that we may have everlasting life. "Therefore come unto me and be ye saved."