One really hot summer day in Redding California I popped some change into a soda machine, I so badly wanted a cold Orange Crush soda pop. To my surprise out popped two freezing cold cans of soda pop! I was so excited I showed my Dad my good fortune. He told me that I only paid for one, and that if I kept the second one it might keep me out of the Celestial kingdom. I placed that cold refreshing soda on top of the machine for the next person that walked by. Since then I have spent much of life worried about doing something that might keep me out of the Celestial kingdom. Elder Patrick Kearon shared a new perspective that makes me feel like I have a very loving Heavenly Father:

My friends, my fellow disciples on the road of mortal life, our Father’s beautiful plan, even His “fabulous” plan, is designed to bring you home, not to keep you out. No one has built a roadblock and stationed someone there to turn you around and send you away. In fact, it is the exact opposite. God is in relentless pursuit of you. He “wants all of His children to choose to return to Him,” and He employs every possible measure to bring you back.

The plan and the commandments are designed to bring us back home. “Home” is where I long to be. The place where I can be with my loved ones and my loving Heavenly Father and my Savior Jesus Christ. I bear testimony that if we follow His plan, we will be able to be with Him and feel of his amazing love.

In Jesus’ name,

Karl Connolly - Elder's Quorum