Farewell Talk

Courtney returned home from her mission in Independence, Missouri on November 18th.  Because it was so close to Charlie leaving, we decided to have a combined homecoming and farewell.  It was the most amazing meeting and I am so glad we decided to do it that way.  There were so many people there it looked like Stake Conference and both of the talks were just perfect.  We had lunch at our home after and I wish that I had taken the time to take pictures.  Because our house was bursting at the seams, I didn't even think about taking any.  I did get one of the cookies and water bottles.  Luckily we did get one of Courtney and Charlie.

I have been asked to speak today on how being spiritually self-reliant has prepared me for my mission.

As you know my mom is an educator.  My whole life my parents have engrained in me how important an education is and that I am responsible for my own learning nobody can “learn” for us. In the past ten years my mom has made an interesting observation with her students. Many children now days just want an answer.  They don’t want to try and they seem to want the easy way out.  While this may work for a little while, in the long run it is only a disservice to a student.  There comes a time where the student must take responsibility for their learning or learning will never take place.

 This is much like our Heavenly Father.   Many times we just want Heavenly Father to tell us what to do, we want him to give us the answer.  This is especially true when things are difficult.  We want the easy way out.  But, Heavenly Father knows that if he gives us the answers, it will only be a disservice to us.  He puts the responsibility on us so that we are able to become spiritually self reliant and learn for ourselves. There comes a time where we must search for the answers and build our own testimony.  Our testimonies cannot depend on the testimonies of others.  We must come to know for ourselves.

I would like to share an experience with you where my testimony grew because I had to rely on my Heavenly Father.  During my senior year of high school I was being recruited to play rugby for the United States Military Academy at West Point.  I worked extremely hard on the application. I spent day and night making sure all the requirements were complete.  I received a congressional nomination and everything was ready for me to go.  The only thing left to do was sign on the dotted line.  I had prayed and truly felt this was the right path for me. I had decided that I would attend the academy for two years and then serve a mission. Upon returning, I would then finish up the last two years at the academy. 

At the very last possible moment there was a small technicality that required me to wait a year before starting school.  My world seemed to have been turned upside down.  I really didn’t know what to do. Why would Heavenly Father put this small technicality in my path when I truly felt as though it was the right decision?  Why was I being tested when this was a righteous endeavor?  This was a time in my life where I had to truly rely on my Heavenly Father. I had to believe that he knew what was best for me. My parents and others could tell me all they wanted that “it was for the best” or “that Heavenly Father had a plan for me”.  The real key to my success was that I had to find out for more myself and trust in my Heavenly Father that his way was better.  I won’t say it was easy, because it wasn’t.  But I will say that my testimony grew immensely because I relied on my Heavenly Father and not my own understanding.

In Doctrine and Covenants Section 104 verses 15 and 16.  It reads, “And it is my purpose to provide for my saints, for all things are mine. But it needs to be done in mine own way; and behold this is the way that I, the Lord, have decreed to provide for my saints, that the poor shall be exalted, in that the rich are made low.” I love this scripture, because it reminds us that even though the Lord wants to help us in all of our endeavors, but it has to be within his guidelines.”

The testimony of Jesus Christ and the restored gospel will help us in our lives to learn of God’s specific plan for us and then to act accordingly. It gives us assurance of the reality, truth, and goodness of God, of the teachings and Atonement of Jesus Christ, and of the divine calling of latter-day prophets. Our testimony motivates us to live righteously, and righteous living will cause our testimony to grow stronger.

With a lot of prayer and fasting, I decided that I would serve a mission.  It was a hard decision because I really wanted to attend West Point right then. I could have just stayed home and worked for a year and then started school.  But, like I previously said, Heavenly Father sees the bigger picture and knows what is best for us.  I called my coach at West Point and told him that I would be serving a mission for my church.  He then told me that he thought that was a great idea and that he would hold my place on the team when I returned.  He also told me that the academy wished other churches would have missionaries like the LDS church does because these boys are much more prepared and mature after serving a mission and they provide such great leadership for the academy.

Why did this happen to me?  I can’t say that I have an answer because I don’t.  But as I look at the bigger picture, I know that Heavenly Father knows why and I am going to have faith in that.  Did Heavenly Father put that technicality in my path to discourage me or make me stronger?  I will believe that he did it to make me stronger.  Because of that, I learned to rely on my Heavenly Father and my own testimony because this was a time that I couldn’t rely on others.  I had to do it on my own.  Eventually when I do attend West Point after my mission, I know that I will be spiritually stronger and my testimony will withstand the rigors of military life. 

While Preparing for this talk, I was studying and trying to find what else I wanted to speak about.  I searched “self-reliance” on lds.org and it pulled up the 12 principles of self-reliance.  Going though my experience, I saw some of these, first hand.

Number 1: Exercise Faith in Jesus Christ.  We have learned this principle since the first day of Primary.  The 4^th Article of Faith. “We believe that the first principles of the Gospel are, First, faith in the Lord Jesus, Second, repentance, third baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, fourth, laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.” In True to the Faith under “Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ” it says, “Having faith in Jesus Christ means relying COMPLETELY on Him- trusting in His infinite power, intelligence and love.

Number 2: Be Obedient. In Abraham chapter 3 verse 25 it reads,   “And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all thing whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them;” There are a lot of people in this world that feel that the commandments are a burden and that they limit freedom, but the Savior taught that true freedom only comes from following Him.  It can and will be hard to obey every rule and commandment. But the Lord has taught that if you do, you will be immensely blessed.

Number 3: Work and Take responsibility.  Ezra Taft Benson once said, “I have often said that one of the greatest secrets of missionary work is work! If a missionary works, he will get the Spirit; if he gets the Spirit, he will teach by the Spirit; and if he teaches by the Spirit, he will touch the hearts of the people and he will be happy. Work, work, work-there is no satisfactory substitute, especially in missionary work.” That not only applies to missionary work but to life! You need to work and be willing to work to be able to grow.

And last but not least, Persevere.  We are taught this in Doctrine and Covenants Section 58 Verse 4, “For after much tribulation come the blessings. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand.” As well as in 2 Nephi Chapter 31 Verse 20 where is says, “Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the words of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the father: ye shall have eternal life.”  Both of those scriptures teach us that if we remain faithful till the very end you will be rewarded for it.

I know that if I am faithful, exercise faith in Jesus Christ, practice obedience, work, take responsibility and persevere that I will be a successful missionary and a disciple of Christ.

I am a part of the fellowship of the unashamed.  The dye has been cast.  I have stepped of over the line.  The decision has been made,

        

I AM A DISCIPLE OF JESUS CHRIST

I won’t look back, let up, slow down or be still.  My past is redeemed, my presence makes sense and my future is secure.  I’m finished and done with low living, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, worldly talking, cheap giving and dwarfed goals.  I no longer need pre-eminence, positions, promotions, or popularity.  I don’t have to be right, first, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded.  I now live by faith, lean on HIS presence and walk with patience. I am uplifted by prayer and labor with power.  My face is set, my gait is fast and my goal is heaven.  My road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my guide is reliable, my mission is clear.  I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, divided or delayed.  I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, Hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity or meander in the maze of mediocrity.  I won’t give up, shut up or let up until I have stayed up, stored up and paid up for the cause of Christ.  I must go until he comes, give till I drop, preach until all know, and work till he stops me.  And, when he returns for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me.  My banner will be clear.