FAREWELL!

well, can you believe it? there aren't that many things you can say you've waited your whole life for—but i really, truly can say that i've waited my whole life to go on a mission. as all of you know, i've been called to serve the Canada Montréal Mission. i'll be speaking French, which, let me tell you, is getting me pumped! i cannot wait until the first day i can have a full blown conversation in French, accent and all. and of course, i'll be serving faithfully for a full two years, which means i'll be back sometime around august of twenty-fourteen.

this will be my last post until then. however, my mom will be posting my letters that i send home each week so keep coming back to hear how i'm doing. my address will be up at the top—please write me! just because it takes a few more steps than just commenting on a post doesn't give you the excuse to drop a line a say hello! snail mail can be fun. i promise i'll try my best (some weeks i might not have enough time) to write you back and answer any questions you might have.

i have had such a great time sharing my life with all of you. it's been just over a year since i started clay-all-day. in that year we have shared quite a few things together! i wish i had enough time to compile a list of my favorite past posts, but i'm actually pretty tight on time right now. well, i love each and every one of you. thank you for sharing my life with me! so without further ado, my last post (for two years!)

i thought for the longest time of what i could do that would be special for all of my readers—i thought of doing a video, another poster, some sort of drawing. but i think in the spirit of things, the most important thing i can leave you with is my testimony of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. i'm going to do this with proper capitalization if that's alright.

We are children of God. We have a Heavenly Father who created us and placed us on this Earth with a purpose. He gave us a Savior, Jesus Christ, who has provided a way for all of us to return to live our Heavenly Father. Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ we can be made clean from our sins through repentance. I know that God lives, that Jesus Christ was resurrected and we will be as well. I know that our families, when sealed in the Temple, are Eternal. We will live our loved ones again.

These things have been revealed to us through God's restored church upon the Earth today, which is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know that the Church was restored through the boy Joseph Smith. I know that God the Father, and His Son Jesus Christ appeared to him in the Sacred Grove when he was just fourteen years old. I know that he was a Prophet of God; and that since Joseph there has been an unbroken line of Prophets on the Earth today. Thomas S. Monson is the Prophet and President of the Church today.

I know that the Priesthood has been restored to the Earth, as well. And that in this dispensation, all of the Keys of the Priesthood have been restored and are trusted with President Monson. I know that the Priesthood I hold today came in a direct line that can be traced back to Jesus Christ.

The work of God is in full effect upon the Earth today. There are Temples around the globe, servicing  the members of the church throughout the world. Temples are the most sacred structures man has ever built. In them we make sacred covenants with God and receive instruction. We do work for those that never had the chance to perform sacred ordinances while living. I know that in the Temples we can be closer to God than in any other place.

Missionary work is a work of love. I know that I have been called by God to serve, to preach, and to teach the people in Montréal. God loves all of His children, and likewise wants them to receive the gospel and the ordinances necessary to live with Him again.

I know this Church and this Gospel is true. It has been restored to the Earth and I am honored to have been called to the work to bring it those who have not yet heard its message of peace. I have a testimony of all the things I have written. I leave it with you in the sacred name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Godspeed,

Elder Ellis (Clay)