To Learn, To Do, To Be

Today I gave my first talk in Arizona. Yes, we have lived here for 3 1/2+ years. Somehow I had managed to slip under the Sunday talk radar. On Wednesday morning, my phone rang at 8:20 a.m.. It was Brother Carranza who nonchalantly asked if I knew who had the DVDs from a class we had taken with them. I told him we had just gotten them last Sunday, but that we had so much going on in our lives trying to get ready for an upcoming trip and trying to get our corporate taxes done. He was welcome to take them and watch them if he wanted. We've become very close friends to the Carranzas. We started talking about finance and the economy for a few minutes. Then, I told him that I better let him go because I needed to run my kids to school. Then, he dropped the bomb. There was something else he needed to ask me- if we would speak in church on Sunday.

Of course, I said we'd speak. So, today Ivan and I spoke in front of (I'm guessing) 400+ people. I wrote out my talk this morning with lots and lots of help from above!!!! I thought I'd post it for those of you who were unable to hear it in person.

MY TALK

We were asked to speak on President Thomas S. Monson’s talk given to the priesthood session of General Conference last October. I’m grateful for the chance I had to study this talk.

I was touched with how in tune the prophet is with what has been happening in the world around us.

President Monson said, “Many areas of the world have experienced difficult economic times. Businesses have failed, jobs have been lost, and investments have been jeopardized. We must make certain that those for whom we share responsibility do not go hungry or unclothed or unsheltered. When the priesthood of this Church works together as one in meeting these vexing conditions, near miracles take place.

We urge all Latter-day Saints to be prudent in their planning, to be conservative in their living, and to avoid excessive or unnecessary debt.”

As long as I can always remember the leaders of the church have urged us to get our homes in order. Lately, our bishop has been giving different families in the ward the opportunity to live off their food storage. I was grateful for the chance my family had to do this recently. I realized that I need to be prepared with more than just food and water. It’s nice to have extra diapers. They can’t be rationed like goldfish crackers!

Our neighbors and friends are noticing as individual families participate in this challenge. Lately one of my friends asked what it was all about. For those who are new to the church or just learning about the church, let me explain.

The church has published a pamphlet entitled All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Home Storage. In the pamphlet, we are given 4 steps to building our home storage.

The first step is: Gradually build a small supply of food that is part of your normal, daily diet until it is sufficient for three months. President Hinckley taught us “We can begin ever so modestly,” “We can begin with a one week’s food supply and gradually build it to a month, and then to three months.”1

Second, we are counseled to Store drinking water.

Third, we are asked to Establish a financial reserve by setting aside a little money each week, and gradually increase it to a reasonable amount.

And the fourth and final step is that once families have achieved the first three objectives, they are counseled to expand their efforts, as circumstances allow, into a supply of long-term basic foods such as grains, legumes, and other staples.

Of the new guidelines, Presiding Bishop H. David Burton says, “Our objective was to establish a simple, inexpensive, and achievable program that would help people become self-reliant. We are confident that by introducing these few, simple steps we can, over time, have more success.”

During the 80s, my dad was laid off from his job for a whole year. He did odd jobs to help bring in what money he could. My parents had 6 little mouths to feed. I remember my mom constantly expressing her gratitude for the blessings that had come to our family because they had followed the counsel of the church leaders when it came to food storage. I know that as we that as we follow these 4 steps and the council of President Monson that we will be blessed.

President Monson goes on to say, “Let us make our homes sanctuaries of righteousness, places of prayer, and abodes of love that we might merit the blessings that can come only from our Heavenly Father. We need His guidance in our daily lives.” One way we can make our home a sanctuary is by following our bishop’s council to read the Book of Mormon everyday with our families. As we do this, the Holy Ghost will bless our homes with its presence. As the world and all the chaos happening outside spins around us, we can feel the same peace we feel here at church in our homes.

President Monson stated “We have the hands to lift others from complacency and inactivity. We have the hearts to serve faithfully in our priesthood callings and thereby inspire others to walk on higher ground and to avoid the swamps of sin which threaten to engulf so many. The worth of souls is indeed great in the sight of God. Ours is the precious privilege, armed with this knowledge, to make a difference in the lives of others.

He then shared 3 imperatives (or duties) for those who follow the Savior in this sacred gospel work.

First, learn what we should learn.

Second, do what we should do.

And third, be what we should be.

First, learn what we should learn. President Monson quoted the apostle Paul who said to the Philippians in Philippians 3:13–14., “One thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”2 And to the Hebrews in Hebrews 12:1–2 he urged, “Lay aside … sin[;] … let us run with patience the race … set before us, looking [for an example] unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.”3

One of my favorite primary songs is “I’m Trying To Be Like Jesus.” To try to be like Jesus, we must first learn how he was. How do we do this? We do this by trying to learn of him. As we study and ponder the scriptures, the Holy Ghost will teach us what we individually must learn.

President Monson went on to say, “Now, some of you may be shy by nature or consider yourselves inadequate to respond affirmatively to a calling. (That’s how I felt about giving this talk in Sacrament meeting.) Remember that this work is not yours and mine alone. It is the Lord’s work, and when we are on the Lord’s errand, we are entitled to the Lord’s help. Remember that the Lord will shape the back to bear the burden placed upon it.

Second, do what we should do. Once we learn what we should learn, we need to act on it.

President Monson stated, “No assignment is menial in the work of the Lord, for each has eternal consequences. President John Taylor warned us, “If you do not magnify your callings, God will hold you responsible for those whom you might have saved had you done your duty.”7 And who of us can afford to be responsible for the delay of eternal life of a human soul? If great joy is the reward of saving one soul, then how terrible must be the remorse of those whose timid efforts have allowed a child of God to go unwarned or unaided so that he has to wait till a dependable servant of God comes along.

The old adage is ever true: “Do your duty, that is best; leave unto the Lord the rest.”

People have asked me what my motivation is in sharing the gospel with my family, friends, and neighbors. My motivation is just this: When my life is over, I do not want to meet up with anyone that I loved down here on earth in paradise and have them ask me why I didn’t share something that I knew would bring them and their families joy and happiness not only on earth but for eternity. I could not live with that pain. So, I invite them whenever I can. I know how much joy and peace the gospel of Jesus Christ brings to me and my family and I want them to taste of those blessings as well!

Third, be what we should be. In 1 Timothy 4:12, it reads “be thou an ^bexample of the believers, in word, in ^cconversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in ^dpurity.”

President Monson urged all of us “to pray concerning our assignments and to seek divine help, that we might be successful in accomplishing that which we are called to do.” He continued, “Man must seek, believe in, pray, and hope that he will find. No such sincere, prayerful effort will go unanswered: that is the very constitution of the philosophy of faith. Divine favor will attend those who humbly seek it.”

Each one of these 3 duties build on each other. Prayer is a great example. We first need to learn how to pray. We learn that we address our Heavenly Father, we thank him for our blessings, and we ask for things we stand in need of, then we close in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ. Once we learn that we need to act upon it. We act by praying individually and as families at the beginning and ending of our day and over the meals we eat. As we do, we are blessed. But then, prayer becomes a part of who we are. We find ourselves praying in the car or as we exercise. It just becomes an integral part of our day.

I pray that we can each do our duty to the best of our ability. I know as we do this Heavenly Father will pour out his blessings upon us. I know that President Monson is a prophet of God and that he leads Christ’s church on the earth today. I know as we act upon what he taught, we will be blessed.

In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen