Dear Brothers and Sisters, We hope and pray that you are all doing well. We are looking forward to returning to some normality in the way that we worship our Savior. This week, as we learn about the law of consecration in Doctrine and Covenants, my thoughts have been turned to the kindness and infinite goodness of our Heavenly Father. He is the source of all goodness in our lives. The air, water, animals, plants, and everything available to us are creations from our Heavenly Father. As I look at my family and friends, the beauty of nature around us, I am reminded constantly that our Father lives, and He loves us. As we benefit and enjoy these gifts from our Father in Heaven, we also want to make sure to protect some of these material gifts to bless the lives of our children after we are no longer on this earth. Wills and Trusts allow us to protect and ensure that our properties go to the right heirs. When a Will is set, all the properties outlined in the Will are specifically distributed to those assigned heirs in the document, and then what is left is used to pay debts, taxes, and other expenses. If there is anything left, it is given to the assigned Residuary Beneficiary of the Will. I am not an attorney, and I am sure there are many other aspects to residuary beneficiary that I am neglecting or simply don’t understand. As I ponder about this principle, my heart is filled with hope, joy, and gratitude for our Savior who paid for our debts in full. We have been promised in the scriptures that we will receive mansions in the kingdom of God. We will be heirs in the kingdom of our Father. Could you imagine what we would inherit if we were simply named Residuary Beneficiaries in the plan of our Father in Heaven? What if the Savior subtracted all the debts He paid on our behalf before we could inherit our reward? If that was the case, there would not be much left, if anything, for us to rejoice over. We would find that our debts were much higher than we imagined. We come to this earth and we incur a debt that we cannot pay alone, so our Father, in His infinite mercy and love, created a plan that allows for this debt to be paid in full on our behalf. There won't be any debts or expenses left unpaid. The sacrifice of our Savior is infinite in its reach and magnitude. In the promise we received through the atonement, we are not Residuary Beneficiaries. None of us are numbered ahead or behind one another. There isn’t a limited number of lots available in the Celestial kingdom. In fact, to achieve the highest level of exaltation, we must help others get there too. We are not in a race against one another. This race we are in is against sin and the adversary, so when we help and lift one another, we are defeating the enemy. For this reason, we can enjoy our lives to the fullest knowing that our Savior has paid the high price for our salvation. Let us rejoice in the beauty around us, and recognize that everything that we have in our lives comes from Him, who is the source of all goodness. Our Father in Heaven loves each of us. Have a wonderful Sabbath Day! Washington Stake Presidency President Emerson Carnavale
Stake President
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