Sacrament Meeting Talk

Talk

            Next week is Easter. President Hinckley said,  “This is the Lord’s day, when we celebrate the greatest victory of all time, the victory over death.” In Alma 22:14 it states, “And since man had fallen he could not merit anything of himself; but the sufferings and death of Christ atone for their sins, through faith and repentance, and so forth; and that he breaketh the bands of death, that the grave shall have no victory, and that the sting of death should be swallowed up in the hopes of glory…”

            Brother and Sisters, Jesus Christ is our Messiah. He came to earth and suffered for our sins, so that we might be able to return to live with Him and our Heavenly Father. Since Christ was resurrected nearly 2000 thousand years ago millions of people have worshipped him. There are numerous sects and dominations that are dedicated to worshiping Christ. An apostasy occurred after the deaths of the original  apostles because the authority and keys of the priesthood were taken away from the earth.

With so many different churches worshiping Christ, the young Joseph Smith wondered which church was true. As he was studying the Bible, he came across James 1:5, which states, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” Joseph Smith took this verse to heart. One spring day, Joseph Smith went into a grove and prayed. The following is his experience in the grove as written in Joseph Smith history:

“My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join…I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right…I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong.”

Joseph Smith was given the keys and the authority to restore the gospel of Jesus Christ back to the earth. This glad message, that Jesus Christ lives and the power and authority of his gospel is restored on the earth, is what the missionaries share with the world. In 2 Nephi 2:8 it states, “Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah…”

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints we have been blessed with prophets and Holy Scriptures that reveal the fullness of the gospel. In Doctrine and Covenants 58: 64 it states, “For, verily, the sound must go forth from this place into all the world, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth—the gospel must be preached unto every creature…”With the bestowment of this knowledge comes a sacred obligation to share it. Whether we are currently a full time missionary, a student, an employee or a mother, being a missionary is obligation for all of us.

How can we fulfill this obligation? President Uchtdorf said, “A favorite saying of mine often attributed to St. Francis of Assisi reads, ‘Preach the gospel at all times and if necessary, use words.’ Implicit in this saying is the understanding that often the most powerful sermons are unspoken.” Others are watching us whether or not we want them to. Especially being from Utah our neighbors who don’t belong to this church know the standards as members we commit to living.  My mother once was having a visit with a friend who did not share the same faith. There was also another woman there who was also LDS. My mother’s friend offered coffee to my mother and the other woman. The other women accepted the coffee but my mother kindly refused any coffee. My mother’s friend asked my mother “Is it because you are Mormon that you didn’t accept the coffee.” My mother replied, “Yes.” Then my mother’s friend turned to the other woman said, “You’re Mormon, why are you drinking coffee?”

Lets us strive to live the council that the Savior gave during the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 5:14-16 it states, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

As important as being a good example is, as missionaries we must also share the gospel. I’ve often been too scared to share the gospel, for fear of what others would think of me. Elder Robert C. Oaks shared this example in the October 2000 general conference:

“Consider that you are invited to a friend’s house for breakfast. On the table you see a large pitcher of freshly squeezed orange juice from which your host fills his glass. But he offers you none. Finally, you ask, ‘Could I have a glass of orange juice?’ He replies, ‘Oh, I am sorry. I was afraid you might not like orange juice, and I didn’t want to offend you by offering you something you didn’t desire.’ Now, that sounds absurd, but it is not too different from the way we hesitate to offer up something far sweeter than orange juice. I have often worried how I would answer some friend about my hesitancy when I meet him beyond the veil.” Romans 1:16 states, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth…” We have the true Gospel of Jesus Christ here on earth. Through the ordinances of the gospel we can be redeemed through our Savior Jesus Christ. I know sharing the gospel is hard but the we knowledge we gain from it is of the upmost importance. President Monson gave this promise for those of us who our shy and might be scared to share it, “Now, some of you may be shy by nature or consider yourselves inadequate to respond affirmatively to the call to serve. Remember that this is the Lord’s work, and when we are on the Lord’s errand, we are entitled to the Lord’s help. The Lord will shape the back to bear the burden placed upon it.”

When Brother Folkman gave me the topic for me to speak on he also wanted me to share briefly why I wanted to go on a mission. I’ve been thinking about going on a mission for a while. But before I made my decision I wanted to make sure I was going for the right reasons and that it was the right path for me. I spent months pondering and praying about the decision. I would pray and feel like it was good choice and then I would pray again I would feel nothing. One of my faults is that I will receive an answer to my prayer and then tend to second-guess my answer. Then last fall I thought I made the right decision for me. I applied for student teaching for fall of 2013 and I thought that’s what I should be doing. Then in the first week in October, I came home for General Conference. During first session of general conference, President Monson made the announcement about the age change for missionaries. Although the age change for missionaries didn’t affect me, for I would be 21 before I could leave, I knew in the instance that I needed to go. I want to make something clear that I realize looking back on my experience, that God answered my prayers earlier about going on mission earlier, but I doubted the answer.

The Lord’s work is going forward with speed. Whether we are fulltime missionaries or the nursery leader we have a responsibility to share this gospel.