Farewell Talk

I pray that together, through the spirit, we may be edified and uplifted by the message that I’m going to share today.

I want to begin my talk with a simple invitation: “Come unto Christ.”

“Behold, he sendeth an invitation unto all men, for the arms of mercy are extended towards them, … Yea, he saith: Come unto me and ye shall partake of the fruit of the tree of life” (Alma 5:33–34).

For us to truly come unto Christ it is necessary to develop a personal relationship with Him. Likewise, when we invite others to come unto Christ, we must encourage them to build a personal connection with Him through the principles contained in the restored gospel. I know that by encouraging others to hear of our beloved gospel, we in turn, will love and appreciate it more. And learn to trust and love Christ more. Our own testimonies are strengthened when we witness the remarkable changes that occur in the lives of those that accept our invitation to come unto Christ. This way we are more fully able to understand the perfect nature of the savior.

In an October General Conference talk, Gene R. Cook of the Quorum of the seventy told a story about an experience he had with his wife. While serving in a stake capacity, Elder Cook’s wife and the relief society president made several visits to the homes of less active members. The two stalwart and virtuous women were very successful in their genuine attempts to connect and encourage these families.

A year later, Elder Cook was teaching a group of priesthood brethren. After the meeting, one of the men approached Elder Cook and informed him that his wife had visited him and his family a year prior. He said, “May I tell you a secret? My entire family had decided the day before your wife came to visit that we were leaving the Church, offended, never to return. I bear witness to you that we felt the Lord speak through her as she stirred us up in remembrance of God and our ordinances. I’m a member of a bishopric now. I would not be here today if it were not for her.”

We never know how even the smallest act, may impact someone else in a profound way.

One of the key concepts of The Everlasting Gospel is the importance and necessity for us, as disciples, to share the message of Christ to the people around us. It is our responsibility to bring others unto Him. By doing so, we receive blessings of knowledge, happiness, comfort, talents, and strength, and we are able to someday stand before God, confidently, and say unto Him, I have done all that thou hast asked of me. When asked of His greatest commandments, Jesus answered, “thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.” His second being likewise, to love “thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” (John 12:28-34)

Fellowship and friendship are two of the most important things we can do to take the first step towards bringing others to the truth. Only with faith can we successfully teach, talk, and lead with the companionship of Christ’s light. Heed the promptings of the Holy Ghost.

One-day last year I felt true failure after taking a difficult exam. I left my classroom and walked around campus, feeling defeated and on the verge of tears. I was upset at myself for my lack of preparation. I was discouraged by the detrimental effects this test score would have on my grade. I sat on some steps and let the negative feelings overtake me. When suddenly, two young women walked up behind me and asked how I was doing. They explained that they had to find someone to talk to for their mission prep class. We spoke for awhile, and they both were so sincere and uplifting. They asked how I enjoyed the then recent general conference. Even though it was just a simple conversation, through their kind words I could feel Christ’s love and they left me feeling so much better about myself. I had forgotten about my test, and the sad feelings faded away. I left those steps feeling so much better that these serendipitous sisters chose me to talk to that day. I doubt they had any idea of the impact of their choice to talk to me. My day would have been ruined had they not followed a simple prompt.

It is our duty as disciples of Christ to lift each other up when we fall. Even if it’s a stranger, if you feel the spirit tell you to talk to someone, then brothers and sisters, talk to them. Even if what you talk about has nothing to do with the gospel, at least you were a beacon of light unto Heavenly Father’s child. Because whatsoever is light, is good. (Alma 32:35) knowing from D&C 88 :13 that “The alight which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed...” We can have confidence enough, to stand up and open our mouths, and be a loving, positive, kind, and a necessary light, in a world filled with so much secular practice based on hate, false teachings, and negative feelings towards one another. I testify that simply being an example is more than good enough. As a disciple of Christ, you will find yourself in situations where you will have to stand for what is right. You will have to allow your light be a standard for the nations. It may be easier to sit down, and let stand the things that are going on around you. But I say unto you, Stand up. Stand up for your faith, for your testimony, and above all, stand up for our Savior.

We can have strength enough to share the restored gospel to those who have not heard it before. Fear thou not. God is with thee. Heavenly Father will give you strength and confidence to go and preach of His eternal truth. He will soften the hearts of those you will talk to, allowing His light to enter their souls. Remember that the worth of a single soul is great in the sight of God, if you even bring one soul unto Him, you will have eternal happiness, If you bring many souls unto Him, your joy would be outstanding.

Going back to Elder Cook’s conference talk entitled Inviting Others to “Come unto Christ”, he suggests six scriptural acts, that if performed humbly, will immediately invite the spirit into your hearts and the hearts of others.

1. Use the Scriptures. They are the words of the Lord to us, and the Spirit of the Lord will speak through them to all, both young and old.

2. Pray. Pray for the Spirit. Ask those you teach to pray for you and for themselves while you are teaching. Ask for discernment to understand the needs of those you visit.

3. Testify. If you follow His promptings, the Lord will direct you to testify frequently throughout these visits. Testify that the Lord has sent you. As you do, “the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men.”

4. Use music. Using recorded hymns or singing the songs of Zion with or to the Saints in their homes, as prompted, will always bring the Spirit of the Lord.

5. Express love and gratitude to God and man. Express love openly for God and for His children, and the Spirit will be felt profoundly.

6. Share spiritual experiences. Spiritual experiences have great impact upon men’s souls. Share them as prompted by the Spirit.

These six suggestions—one or more as needed—will always bring the Spirit of the Lord into your discussions. These are some of the spiritual gifts that Christ gives us that prepare the way for the Holy Ghost to testify and change men’s hearts. Spiritually give of yourself and your visits will not then be routine, but you will discern the needs of the Saints. You will commit them in the Spirit to act. They will repent and come unto Christ.

I want to quickly expound on one of Elder Cook’s points. Number 1 is using the scriptures. In order to come unto Christ and be perfected in Him, each person needs to receive a testimony of Christ’s words. Some individuals waver because they fail to open their scriptures, others because they read casually. There is a difference between diligent searching or “pondering over the scriptures” and casual reading. President Howard W. Hunter said in a general conference address, “Those who delve into the scriptural library … find that to understand requires more than casual reading or perusal—there must be concentrated study. … One who studies the scriptures every day accomplishes far more than one who devotes considerable time one day and then lets days go by before continuing.”

I would like to add one more spiritual act to Elder Cook’s List. 7. Put Family First. As human beings in general, and latter day saints especially, we know that the most important people in our lives are our family. This includes our ancestors, our earthly families and our posterity. As outlined in the The Family: A Proclamation To the World, it is the father’s duty to look after and care for his family with and through the power of the Priesthood. Fathers, this is how you can bring your family unto Christ. You carry the literal power and authority from our Lord- use it. Use it worthily, use it to protect, lead, heal, and guide your families. Mothers, you are given so many gifts and blessings from God when raising a family. You have the distinct responsibility and power to nurture, love, and care for your children and husband. Your children will respond to your love. They will recognize it as pure and above all other earthly loves. As the saying goes- there really is no love like a mother's love. I believe this is true because it has a direct connection to the pure love of Christ.

Former young women’s president Margaret D. Nadauld shared a mother’s story about her twin boys in a talk that exemplifies Christ’s love for us.

She says, “A simple thing happened many years ago that I have always remembered because it caused me to think about the Savior’s mission. Although it was just a childish incident, it has some meaning. It happened when our twins were only about five years old. They were just learning to ride their bicycles. As I glanced out the window, I saw them speeding down the street on their bikes going very fast! Perhaps they were going a little too fast for their level of ability, because all of a sudden Adam had a terrible crash! He was tangled up in the wreck, and all I could see was a twist of handlebars and tires and arms and legs. His little twin brother, Aaron, saw the whole thing happen, and immediately he skidded to a stop and jumped off his bike. He threw it down and ran to the aid of his brother. These little twins truly were of one heart. If one hurt, so did the other. If one got tickled, they both laughed. If one started a sentence, the other could complete it. What one felt, the other did also. So it was painful for Aaron to see Adam crash! Adam was a mess. He had skinned knees, he was bleeding from a head wound, his pride was damaged, and he was crying. In a fairly gentle, five-year-old way, Aaron helped his brother get untangled from the crash, he checked out the wounds, and then he did the dearest thing. He picked his brother up and carried him home. Or tried to. This wasn’t very easy because they were the same size, but he tried. And as he struggled and lifted and half-dragged, half-carried his brother along, they finally reached the front porch. By this time, Adam, the injured one, was no longer crying, but Aaron, the rescuer, was. When asked, “Why are you crying, Aaron?” he said simply, “Because Adam hurts.” And so he had brought him home to help, home to someone who knew what to do, to someone who could cleanse the wounds, bind them up, and make it better—home to love.

Just as one twin helped his brother in need, so might we all be lifted, helped, even carried at times by our beloved Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He feels what we feel; He knows our heart. It was His mission to wipe away our tears, cleanse our wounds, and bless us with His healing power. He can carry us home to our Heavenly Father with the strength of His matchless love.”

As for the children's responsibilities, The Prophet Joseph Smith declared: “The greatest responsibility in this world that God has laid upon us is to seek after our dead. … For it is necessary that the sealing power should be in our hands to seal our children and our dead for the fullness of the dispensation of times—a dispensation to meet the promises made by Jesus Christ before the foundation of the world for the salvation of man. … Hence, God said, ‘I will send you Elijah the prophet. The restoration of the sealing authority by Elijah in 1836 was necessary to prepare the world for the Savior’s Second Coming and initiated a greatly increased and worldwide interest in family history research.” Kids, Youth, This one's for you. We can leave family history to our moms and grandmas and any other generation but ours. But guess what? It is our duty to bring our ancestors unto Christ, through the sacred ordinances in the temple.

One of my favorite quotes about Heaven is by Elder Holland, he said, quote: “I don’t know how to speak about heaven in the traditional, lovely, paradisiacal beauty that we speak of heaven—I wouldn’t know how to speak of heaven without my wife, or my children. It would not be heaven for me.” How perfectly he puts it, and how unbelievably true it is. Heaven for me would be nothing without my family. Help them here on Earth, buoy them up from their hardships, encourage them, listen to them, council with them, love them, and help them back to Heaven with you.

When our physical families have accepted Christ’s holy invitation, we may then focus our attention on the needs of our ward and community families. Because this is my ward family, I want to for just a second, address those of us who feel conflicted with this gospel, who have felt that the trampling’s of life, trials, sin, or neglect to our testimonies have brought us away from Christ’s light. I again want to extend an invitation, Come unto Christ. Think about a time in your life when you felt the spirit testify to you true knowledge or true peace or true happiness. Think back on that moment, or any given moments when you have felt the spirit warm in your hearts. Start there. And I promise, through the atonement which is the keystone to our religion, our delight, our confidence, and our hope- you can feel joy in this church again.

If you are new to our religion here today, and have not yet had the opportunity to recognize this spirit of joy in your life, I kindly invite you to read the Book of Mormon, listen or watch our general conferences, talk to the missionaries, and pray to your Heavenly Father. Ask Him, if this church is true. Ask Him with true intent and peace in your heart if it is true. In the timing of His divine will, He will answer you. I promise that you are welcome here, a place where you can find peace and guidance away from a troubled and lost world.

In Moroni’s closing words written toward the end of the Nephite civilization, he said, “Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, … and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you” (Moro. 10:32).

Testimony