Farewell Talk

 President nelson exclaimed that “the gathering of scattered Israel is the most important
thing happening on the earth today”. He said “Leave the world behind as you do this
urgent work”. I am so excited to do JUST that for 18 months straight. But you don’t have
to be a full time missionary to participate in this urgent and important work. ALL
members are missionaries. And by being members of the church of Jesus Christ of
latter day saints, we are all representatives of him.
Missionary work is a sacrifice. But It is the least we can do, to show god our love for
him, by bringing his children back to him.
Elder uchtdorf gave a talk this past general conference and listed 5 things we can all
do as member missionaries to participate in the saviors great commission to help
gather scattered Israel.
He says to “first, draw close to god”. The first great commandment is to love god. It is
a primary reason why we are here on this earth. We might ask ourselves “do I really
believe in heavenly father? Do I love him and trust him?”
I was watching general conference this past April while I was at school. President
nelson said in his talk “Pray and ask God to tell you if he is really there - if he knows
you. Ask him how he feels about you. And then listen” it stuck out to me but I didn’t
think to get down on my knees and ask him that because I felt like I already knew the
answer that I’ve been learning since I was a sunbeam - that he knows me and loves
me. Then the next day I was sitting in my book of mormon class at school and my
teacher pointed out that same invitation from president nelson and encouraged us to
get down on our knees and to ask god how he really feels about us.
That night I got down on my knees and asked him those very questions - are you really
there? Do you really know me? How do you feel about me? And then I stopped and I
listened. Never before have I felt the spirit so strongly. It filled my entire body. I was
overwhelmed with gods love and with the holy ghost. At that moment I knew that He
was REALLY there. And that he REALLY loves me and knows me and that he is proud
of me. I was so overwhelmed with his love that I couldn’t even find words to say. I just
sat there while the spirit was pouring through me. Not only did I feel his love for me but
I realized how much I love HIM! I was filled with gratitude and love for my father in
heaven and I said the most heartfelt prayer I have ever said because I KNEW he was
listening. It was like I was having a 2 way conversation with him. It is through
experiences like that where we undoubtedly feel of gods love for us that we can truly
testify that He is there. We can fall back on those experiences and remember the spirit
that we felt during those times. I could never deny the feelings that I had that day.
Nobody can take away your personal witness. I know that god loves EACH and EVERY
one of you. He loves you right where you are, right as you are, no matter who you are.
God IS love.
BUT I also know that if each of you were to get down on your knees and ask him the
same things that I did, you wouldn’t all have the same experience as me and it doesn’t
mean that he doesn’t love you or that he is not there. Everyones experiences are
different and everyone feels his love in different ways. And it is not always that we feel
the spirit when we are praying down on our knees but maybe when we are driving to
school or going on a hike or cleaning our room. There is so many different ways that
we can feel the saviors love for us and feel the spirit. His love is all around us.
Elder Uchtdorf said, “When you have a testimony of god and draw close to him, the
more his light and joy will shine within you. Others will notice that there is something
unique and special about you. They might see his countenance in you. And they will
ask about it.” There was a point in my life where I was kind of having a rough time and
not being my best self and just did not have the spirit with me and ill never forget one
day my mom told me “she couldn’t see any light in my eyes”. That was one of the
saddest things to hear because I always want to be a light to others. I know she didn’t
mean it to hurt me but I know it was true because I didn’t feel it either. But over the
years I have become so close to my savior and I try to be more like him every day. Just
recently, When I went through the temple for the first time I was talking to the temple
matron, who I just barely met, and she started crying and told me that I radiate so
much goodness and light and that she could feel it. It was one of the happiest
moments and so good to hear. It is obvious when people have the spirit in their lives
and when they dont. It is so important to keep the spirit in our lives so that we can be a
light to others and so that we emulate christ. If you think about it, every one of us has
someone in our lives that emulates the love of our heavenly father. And its not because
they run around and say “I love heavenly father!” But it is because of their actions and
their countenance. The way they act and talk and love others unconditionally.
Elder uchtdorf tells us to second, fill our hearts with love for others. This is the second
great commandment. We should try to see everyone around us as a child of god.
Minister to them, love them. Laugh with them. Rejoice with them, weep with them,
respect them, strengthen them, motivate them. Try to love them as Jesus loves them.
Strive to emulate the love of christ and have compassion for them. Get on their level
and LOVE them. We need to see through the things that don’t matter and focus on
helping people feel comfortable in order to focus on what does matter, JESUS CHRIST.
I don’t know anyone from west virginia yet, but I already love them so much and can’t
wait to share the gospel with them. I was talking to my dad the other day and he said,
“when you are serving in west virginia, you won’t even know that the person you are
teaching has one tooth because you will be too busy loving them”. It is so easy to
judge others, but as soon as you love others as Jesus loves you, then you will look
past their imperfections and love them as they are. It will be easy to serve and teach
others. When we love someone, we want the best for them. We will have a desire to
share the gospel with them, so they can have the same blessings that we do.
In another one of elder UCHTDORFs talks, he says,
“
The scriptures reveal that the more we love God and His children, the happier we
become. It is this endless compassion that allows us to more clearly see others for who
they are. Through the lens of pure love, we see beings of infinite potential and worth
and beloved sons and daughters of Almighty God.
Once we see through that lens, we cannot discount, disregard, or discriminate against
anyone”.
Third, he tells us to strive to walk the path of discipleship. He says, “As our love for god
and his children deepens, so does our commitment to follow Jesus christ.
Walking the path of discipleship takes practice—each day, little by little.
The important thing is that you don’t give up; keep trying to get it right. You will
eventually become better, happier, and more authentic. Talking with others about your
faith will become normal and natural. In fact, the gospel will be such an essential,
precious part of your lives that it would feel unnatural not to talk about it with others.
That may not happen immediately—it is a lifelong effort. But it will happen”.
This church is filled with so many sincere, kind, loving, selfless people, but each one of
us are painfully imperfect. We make mistakes. But, we do all have one thing in common,
and that is that we want to improve and draw closer to Jesus Christ. We are all trying to
get it right.
I know that each of you are striving to walk the path of discipleship because you are all
here in church today. God is watching and he notices, and cares that you are trying. As
long as we are genuinely trying and striving to walk in the savior’s footsteps, he will
bless us and guide us.
If you are not trying to feel his love or to feel the spirit... if you are not TRYING to gain a
testimony or to become more like christ, then it’s not just going to happen or be handed
to you. We have to strive to follow christ and to become closer to him. We can’t just sit
there and not pray or not read our scriptures or not go to church and expect to have the
spirit in our lives. We have to make an effort and do our part, and then the lord will do
his. I know that as we strive to walk the path of discipleship we will be blessed and the
lord will guide us in all things. We can serve, love, and minister just as Christ did when
he was here on the earth. When we do that, we will forget about our own wants and
needs and lose ourselves in the great cause of christ. In elder uchtdorfs words, the
cause of christ is to “believe in Him, love as He loved, and do as He did.
Jesus went about doing good. He walked among the poor, the outcast, the sick, and the
ashamed. He ministered to the powerless, the weak, and the friendless. He spent time
with them; He spoke with them. And he healed them all. Everywhere He went, the
Savior taught the “good news” of the gospel.” And we must strive to do the same.
One of the GREATEST ways we can show our love is DEVOTION and OBEDIENCE to
God. We don’t obey god because we fear him or because it seems like the right thing to
do but we should obey him because we LOVE him. Love should be our motive and our
motivation to keep trying.
Fourth, share what is in your heart. Elder Uchtdorf says, “I am not asking that you
stand on a street corner with a megaphone and shout out Book of Mormon verses.
What I am asking is that you always look for opportunities to bring up your faith in
natural and normal ways with people. I am asking that you “stand as witnesses” of the
power of the gospel at all times. In whatever ways seem natural and normal to you,
share with people why Jesus Christ and His Church are important to you. Invite them to
“come and see.”16
We shouldn’t be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus christ. The apostle Paul boldly
declared, “for I am not ashamed of the gospel of christ: for it is the power of God unto
salvation to every one that believeth”. I love his example. One thing that I am ashamed
of is how little I have shared what’s in my heart with others in my life up to this point
and that is why I am so excited to do just that for 18 months straight in West Virginia. It
is not an easy thing to do. It can be uncomfortable and hard, but if they accept your
invitations or listen to you, then the good that comes from it, totally outweighs the bad
or awkward parts.
I love the gospel of Jesus Christ. It defines the way we can experience the
“exceedingly great joy” that only IT can bring. I know that God’s love is greater than our
fears and that we must be bold when sharing the gospel of Jesus christ, but we should
also do so with love and patience.
In Mosiah 18:9 alma tells us to “stand as witnesses of god at all times and in all things
and in all places” we can also be bold by living as an example to others and always
standing as a witness of god.
last of all, elder uchtdorf invites us to trust the lord to work his miracles. He says,
“Understand that it’s not your job to convert people. That is the role of the Holy Ghost.
Your role is to share what is in your heart and live consistent with your beliefs.
So, don’t be discouraged if someone does not accept the gospel message immediately.
It is not a personal failure.
That is between the individual and Heavenly Father.
Yours is to love God and love your neighbors, His children.
Believe, love, do.
Follow this path, and God will work miracles through you to bless His precious children.
These five suggestions will help you to do what disciples of Jesus Christ have done
since ancient times. His gospel and His Church are an important part of your life and of
who you are and what you do. Therefore, invite others to come and see and come and
help, and God will do His saving work, and they will come and stay.”
I know that “by small and simple things are great things brought to pass” and that we
can all be missionaries by following these five simple steps and by sharing the gospel in
normal and natural ways. If we give ALL that we have, God will MULTIPLY our efforts
and work miracles. For “With God, nothing shall be impossible”.