First, my new companion!! It's Elder Riggs!!!! My MTC Companion!!! It's
been a blast this past week!! We always joked about how cool it would be to be
comps again, and here we are, not only companions, but assistants to President
Riggs! Which brings me to the title of this email... this past week, Elder Riggs
was assigned as an assistant, and Elder and Sister Riggs, and senior couple were
reassigned as an office couple! that's 5 Riggs serving in some capacity of the
office!!! pretty funny...
I wanted to just let you all know I'm well, happy and working hard. Elder
Riggs and I really want to get out and get our area going, and we are!!! We've
seen miracles already. I'll hopefully provide a couple more details tomorrow
when we aren't running off to the temple, but until then, know I love you and
Merry Christmas!!!
-Elder Hodgson
Elders and Sisters, I would like to
preface today’s keystone by telling you that the experience I am sharing with
you today is one I hold very close to me. I feel to share it in order to
validate my testimony that the Lord will keep His promises to you. Until today,
I had intended to go my whole mission with the greater part of you never
knowing about any of this experience. The Spirit, it seems, had other plans.
You
see, I should not be here.
I
have no reason to be here.
I
should still be in chemotherapy.
At
least that is what my doctor told me.
When I close my eyes,
I can still feel the familiar prick of the needle in my arm. Blood tests had
become commonplace now and my mind could run free on the events of the last day
or two. Just prior to my departure for my freshman year of college, I decided
to get my medical done for my mission papers. Everything passed with flying
colors except one thing: my blood test. Upon viewing my test results, it
appeared I was mildly anemic. I let them take more blood for further tests and
went on with life, thinking nothing of it.
The next day, my
doctor called sounding disturbed. He insisted I come in and bring my medical
form with me. I arrived in the examination room just as my results were being
pulled up. After a brief look at the screen, my doctor’s face drained of color
and he commanded me to sit. Once I was situated, he turned the screen around.
The iron levels in my blood were represented by a zero and my ferretin (which
serves as a backup reservoir for iron) was 1/15 what it should have been. He
announced that with results like that, I should have been bedridden for a month
already, and should have been incapable of standing.
More tests were run
to determine the cause of the state of my blood, and it was not long before the
source was found. I had, in my leg, a chain of swollen lymph nodes - 5 or 6 of
them - that descended down my leg very reminiscent of a toy train that had been
surgically implanted in my thigh. And after minutes of typing into a computer
and a very grim announcement, I was sent for yet more blood tests.
That brings us to the
familiar sting of a needle in my arm. I sat, watching 6 or 7 vials being taken
with the suggested diagnosis prancing around my mind: Stage 4 Lymphoma. The
doctor said he couldn't think of anything else it could be. He had instructed
me to go home and tear up the medical form he had signed. I was not to leave
for school, and I would not be going on a mission - at least for three years or
so until I was in remission.
After getting my
blood drawn I went outside to meet up with my mom. As I went, I prayed for
courage to help her keep her strength. As I walked outside, the word "Lymphoma"
was completely flushed from my mind. Instead, my thoughts were filled with
other words; words from my patriarchal blessing. Words that spoke of my
mission, my future wife, family, even some details of my future life in
general. Then came words that were not from my blessing. They came as
distinctively as they could without being audible: "Matthew. I hear you. I
am aware of you, and I will fulfill my promises to you. You are not done here. You
have much more to do in this life."
That afternoon, my
parents and I were found at the home of some dear friends so I could receive a
blessing. As my father prepared to seal the anointing, he prepared in his mind
things he thought he felt the Spirit whispering to him: blessings of competent
doctors, and quick cures to this serious illness I had. Instead, the moment he
laid his hands on my head, he said other words. These words I recognized, for
they were the same words I had heard that afternoon. Almost word for word, my
earthly father relayed the same message from my Heavenly Father: that He was
aware of me, that He would fulfill His promises to me, and that I had more to
do here on earth.
Two
days later, I arrived for a biopsy, so a lymph node could be removed for closer
examination. As I waited for the biopsy, the surgeon examined the lymphs in my
leg to become familiar with the situation as the operation room was prepared
for my arrival. In what seemed to be a dream, the surgeon told me that the
swollen lymphs had decreased in size, and I was to go home and not worry
because it was likely something else. Soon, it was identified as a simple
parasite, and three months later when I was home for Christmas break, I had
more blood tests done, all indicating perfect levels of iron.
What happened during
those short days I do not know, but I testify that the Priesthood and the Hand
of God both preserved me so I could be here. And with these events fresh in my
mind as if they were yesterday, I declare boldly that the Lord knows the
promises He makes to us, and He intends to keep them.
Think
for a moment of the powerful promise given to us by the Lord that “whoso
receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be
on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and
mine angels round about you to bear you up.” (Doctrine & Covenants 84:88)
Those are not just words, Elders and Sisters, those are promises given to us by
a God. He will fulfill those promises as we do our part in His great work.
“No
unhallowed hand can stop this work from progressing” we are promised on another
occasion. “The truth of God shall go forth nobly, boldly and independent until
. . . Jehovah shall say the work is done.” We cannot fail. We will not fail. As
long as the Lord is with us, then who else even stands a chance?
Elders
and Sisters I know the Lord keeps His promises. He told me so Himself, first
through His Spirit, then through the mouth of a righteous priesthood holder.
Long before the situation was resolved, I knew I would be okay. I did not know
what stood between me and wellness, but I knew wellness would come. I was ready
to proceed through whatever form of hell the adversary could throw my way,
because I knew the Lord would not forsake me. I knew the day for my mission
would come and that I would be called to declare His word. And now as long as
that day is here I will declare it.
In the
course of my mission, I have made memories with many of you. You have seen me
in moments of victory and defeat. You have seen me make mistakes and you have
seen me strengthened by the power of God. Of all these memories, I ask only to
be remembered by one. That is my testimony that the Lord’s promises are sure. I
know it.
I
invite each of you to consider the promises the Lord has made to you, and then
to uphold your end of those promises so you may pursue the blessings that
follow. But as you do, remember this: You cannot fail. With Christ, the
question is not what you can or cannot do, but what you will or will not do.
This I
know, for He has promised it.
In the
name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Elder
Matthew Hodgson
No comments:
Post a Comment