Written by April T Giauque
Elder Georgio Casillas
Noble and Great Ones
Think about this question: Do you understand that when you were in your premortal existence, Heavenly Father was preparing you for your life on earth? Do you feel that that is true for you? Are you aware that your life started well before this earth life and that you have been reserved for this time?
Right off the bat, Elder Casillas teaches that “Our Heavenly Father has reserved many of His most noble spirits—perhaps … His finest team—for this final phase.” Because we have been reserved for these latter days, we must learn to be disciples of Jesus Christ.
Know the Shepherd
This is my question: how do you become a disciple of Christ? What does it like? 1) Learning of Him, 2) Building that relationship, and 3) following Him. When we have that conviction and conversion in our hearts, we bring others to Him. Jesus always calls upon us and uses us, His ordinary servants, to help bring His children to Him.
Personal Story about Service/Being a Disciple of Christ
Elder Casillas shares a personal experience of serving a family. He and the stake president were impressed to visit one more family, and as they arrived, the woman looked deeply at the stake president and burst into tears. They entered the home and cared for her and her disabled son by feeding and dressing him. Gratitude was felt all around. Following the physical help, they helped administer blessings to the mother and son prior to leaving.
The majority of the service we performed was done in silence. They observed the need and went to work. They were the angels that God had sent. We had to be prepared to be humble enough to answer the last prompting of the night, be an answer to prayer, and then serve. Elder Casillas says that if you are humble, the Lord will place you in the right spot to help serve His children.
When I serve others, I feel close to Jesus. There is a change in my heart, and two things happen: it’s like the fog is lifted from my mind, I think of others, and I become more prayerful. These are three wonderful benefits of becoming a disciple of Christ.
God Knows Our Needs
Elder Casillas said, “All that was going through my mind during this visit was a confirmation that Jesus Christ loves them deeply. He understands them and personally knows the pain of their unique situation. Almost the entire visit happened in silence.”
Divine Potential
One of the most significant reasons your Heavenly Father sent you here at this time is so that you can realize your full potential.
“Your spiritual abilities are unique, personal, and innate, and your Heavenly Father wants to help you develop them. There will always be someone you can help feel the love of your Heavenly Father. Your potential is divine.” —Elder Casillas
He also said, “One of your crucial missions throughout your life is to become a disciple of Jesus Christ and to follow the impressions of the Spirit.”
Disciple of Christ
Teaching my children to be disciples of Jesus Christ by helping others can make a positive difference in the world. Giving, loving, serving, and doing what we can in the way that we can provides a sense of joy reflected in their countenance—a joy that we share with words of love and acts of kindness. It starts by being good neighbors, good employers, and good workers. Let us strive to be good Christians at all times.
Covenants and Repentance
I have made covenants with the Lord, and I hope that through my example, I can guide others back to the covenant path. Even when I mess up, the Savior always reminds us, “As often as [we repent] and [seek] forgiveness, with real intent, [we will be] forgiven.”
Satan’s Trick
“One of the adversaries' crafts today is to make us think and believe that we cannot change or that we no longer have hope. This destructive thinking causes many of us to stop trying.”—Elder Casillas.
It’s a warning sign that if you give up or quit, you will be in the hands of the devil. You need to recognize those signs and choose to hope again, try again, and get up again.
Serving Others Blesses and Strengthens our Testimony
It is cliche, but it is true! When I am trapped and down, I reach out and serve. The benefits will come back even if you have no expectations for them. Serving others brings hope! And it is at this moment that our love, words of encouragement and support, our time, and our help can give someone hope enough to try again.
Elder Casillas also said, “By going and blessing the lives of our brothers and sisters, we will collect testimonies that will fill our lives with faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Whenever we seek to bless the lives of others, the Lord takes mercy upon us even more; He strengthens us and helps us in our lives.”
Elder Casillas’s Testimony
I support and share Elder Casillas’s testimony, “My dear brothers and sisters, on that day when a priesthood leader felt impressed for us to visit a mother and a son that we did not have on our agenda, I proclaim that God knew they needed us. And at the end, I was the one who was ministered to. On that day, I received one of the greatest lessons of the Savior’s love for us.”
“I testify that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, that He lives, that He lived and died for you and me, and that He was resurrected for you and me so that we can aspire to celestial reunions full of joy with those who are already on the other side of the veil. I know that He understands you and me perfectly. He understands our difficult moments, and He has the power to help us when we feel most vulnerable.”
I can’t wait to share this with you on Thursday at 6:30 pm Mountain on the Beacon of Light Podcast from the Pulpit.
Come check out all the resources about Elder Casillas for free here:
Another great post, April! Thank you 💕