The Last Email

Fleming Island, FL

Dear Family & Friends~

It is hard to believe the time is nearly over...the time has been so long and yet so short. Over the course of two years there hasn't gone a day past that I haven't remembered each of you and the love I have for you and the great love you have given me. Up to this point, it has been the most rewarding two years of my life and the hardest. But I am forever grateful for the opportunity I've had to serve the Lord by going on a mission. He has done more to bless me than I could have ever done to assist Him in His work.

Our baptism and confirmation went very well....

...I've learned from each of you that we are to love people for who they are inside, not for what they do or say. I've learned that patience and love and forgiveness are the way to hope and happiness. I've learned that endurance to the end means more than just never give up, but it means to always press forward. On my mission I have come to realize that many of the things that I naturally seem to do are not because of me, but because of how I was raised from the beginning. You and Dad are my examples, and I love you both so much. I'm thankful for who each of you are and I'm thankful to have spent this time away from you so I could realize just how important you are to me and ho much you've affected my life for good. Life isn't easy, but because of the things you have taught me, I know that there is always hope and that Heavenly Father is always there watching over us. ...I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Savior and Redeemer of the world. ...I know that Joseph Smith was called as a prophet and was sent forth to preach the gospel to all the earth and to prepare the world for the time we will meet our Heavenly Father again. Because of your faith, I have faith. Because of your testimonies, I have gained my own testimony. I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the way to happiness and that because of Christ we can change and learn to be happy and live happy lives. I know that because of Jesus Christ there is always hope, and that we can reach our potentials and even surpass them. You have taught me without words how to live the gospel and to live the right way. None of us are perfect, but we're all striving to be our best. God is always with us, I know He is. I have a testimony of the power of reading the scriptures. I know that they are the word of God. I know that as I have studied the scriptures I have come to learn the greatness of God and His wonderful plan for each of us. I know that by reading the scriptures and by praying about them we will always be led back to our Heavenly Father. I know that the Book of Mormon has the power to change lives and bring us closer to God than any other book. I've learned that it is the keystone of our religion for a reason. I know that it was written for our day and inspired by God to be a testimony to all the world that He is gathering His children for the last time. I know that if we are faithful to our covenants, at the last day we will receive eternal life in the kingdom of God and that we will forever be a family. I know that eternal life is more than just a fable, but that it is a reality that we are striving to attain and which has been made possible through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I know that the price of eternal life may seem hefty at times, but that every affliction and suffering and sacrifice it costs to receive such a great reward will never surpass the greatness of the joy our Heavenly Father intends to give us. I know we can make it. I know we can help others make it. I know we have been sent to the earth for a purpose and that by our faith we can help many receive the gospel. I know that there is no greater joy on earth than to bring others to a knowledge of the Savior and enable them to make and keep covenants that will bring them eternal life because of their faith in Christ. The gospel truly changes lives and truly gives happiness to all who accept and live it. I love it. I am thankful for it. I love this work. I love each of you. We are a team. We are also on the winning team, with the Savior at our head. I hope and pray that we will always remain true to the Son of God, even as He has always remained true to us. My prayer is that we will strive forever to increase our ability to live the gospel and keep the commandments of God and the He will forever remain the center of our lives. In the grand scheme of things, I realize that this life is only a blip in eternity, but it will forever affect the outcome of our eternity. But we have nothing to fear and nothing to lose, only everything to gain and we can do it. I love you so much and look forward to seeing you this very week. I leave you my final mission email and final testimony as a full time missionary, in the sacred and holy name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.

Love~
Elder Robbs