Put Your Trust In The Lord

For those of you unable to attend , and others who follow this blog - Here is my " Farewell Talk " for before I leave on my mission .  I'm not the greatest writer when it comes to these things , and am hesitant to post this . But hopefully it will be an influence to you in you're life or help you in some shape , way , or form . Enjoy ~

Good morning Brothers and Sisters ,

Today I was assigned to speak from my favorite general conference talk by Elder Russell M . Ballard called Put Your Trust in the Lord . When Brother Wood called me and asked me to speak , he told me that I could choose my favorite talk from any of the conferences . This was hard for me – I have never really had a favorite because they are all so good . So I pray that the spirit will be with us and that you will benefit from what I have to say .

As many of you know , I have been called to serve as a full time missionary to the Massachusetts , Boston mission . I thought it would be good to start out with why I decided to serve . And I’m sure many of you have heard this story , so just bear with me .

I can remember the day well , as I stood in an arch formation with my fellow band members . We were warming up our instruments and practicing parts of the music before we went on the field to compete in our final marching band competition of the season . In front of each student on the grass , were out hats – or what we call shakos . As we were warming up , the band parents were placing those big goofy feathers in our hats – what we call a plume . When one of the band parents got to my shako , he bent down and placed the plume into it . Then with a smile on his face , he stood and quickly told me what had happened in General Conference that day . The missionary age had been lowered . Boys could now leave at 18 , and girls at 19 . My first thought was , “ That couldn’t be , he is just pulling my leg .” I can distinctly remember my second thought being , “ Oh darn , I’m going to have to serve a mission .” After thinking that , I placed the thought in the back of my mind . I didn’t want to serve a mission . It wasn’t a part of my plan . Skipping ahead to the day before Easter . I was studying my scriptures more intently that evening , because the following day I would receive my patriarchal blessing . The thought of serving a mission had crept back into my head , and with a sigh I got on my knees and said : “ Heavenly Father , if you want me to serve a mission you are going to have to tell me in my Patriarchal Blessing .” So he did . I was told that I would literally serve very soon . So I immediately agreed to go . Although it wasn’t easy trying to change my attitude from being “ this is my plan, and I’m going with it ” to “ This is God’s plan , and I trust Him .”

“ The Prophet Joseph Smith declared that ‘after all that has been said, the greatest and most important duty is to preach the Gospel .’”

Elder Ballard includes the following in his talk : “ President Thomas S . Monson said : ‘ Now is the time for members and missionaries to come together … [and] labor in the Lord’s vineyard to bring souls unto Him . He has prepared the means for us to share the gospel in a multitude of ways , and He will assist us in our labors if we will act in faith to fulfill His work .’”

The prophet has told us to work together as members WITH the missionaries . As members of the church we should be wanting to share the gospel with others , and to introduce them to the missionaries . Just because you are not set apart as a missionary , does not mean you cannot be one . A quote by Neil A . Anderson comes to mind – he said : “ If you’re not a full time missionary with a missionary badge pinned on your coat , now is the time to paint one on your heart .”

Elder Ballard continues : “ We know from our research that most active members of the Church want the blessings of the gospel to be part of the lives of others whom they love , even those whom they have never met . But we also know that many members hesitate to do missionary work and share the gospel for two basic reasons .

• The first one is fear . Many members do not even pray for opportunities to share the gospel , fearing that they might receive divine promptings to do something they think they are not capable of doing .

• The second reason is misunderstanding of what missionary work is .”

I can honestly say that I have been guilty of these things . Sharing the gospel is not easy – it can be scary . But guess what , all you have to do is share what you already know to be true . And if you end up becoming stumped on what to say , send up a pray in your head for the spirit to help you . Or if someone asks you a question that you don’t know the answer to , then it is okay to say “ I don’t know ” as long as you conclude with “ But I can get back to you on that .” Heavenly Father will be pleased and will bless you for giving it a go , and trying your best . Your best is all that He asks for .

Whenever my Dad travels , or flies somewhere , and I’m sure he has shared this with you , he prays for a missionary opportunity to arise . And it never fails to come , every single time . And he is excited to tell my family and I when he has one of those experiences . I can remember my first time flying , I thought I would see if my Dad was pulling my leg , or if something like that could happen to me . So I prayed for a missionary experience , and as soon as I was seated and began chatting with my flying companion , our conversation led to the church . I was surprised at how easy it was to talk to a complete stranger about the gospel . But it gave me confidence , all I had to do , was pretty much bear my testimony .

“ Perhaps you feel you may be asked to do unrealistic things in your relationships with friends or neighbors . With the help of the Lord , let me remove any fear you or any of our full-time missionaries may have in sharing the gospel with others .

Make the decision to do what Jesus Christ has asked us to do . The Savior has said :

“ Ask , and it shall be given you ; seek , and ye shall find ; knock , and it shall be opened unto you :

“ For every one that asketh receiveth ; and he that seeketh findeth ; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened .

“ Or what man is there of you , whom if his son ask bread , will he give him a stone ?

“ Or if he ask a fish , will he give him a serpent ?

“ If ye … know how to give good gifts unto your children , how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him ?”

“ Brothers and sisters , fear will be replaced with faith and confidence when members and the full-time missionaries kneel in prayer and ask the Lord to bless them with missionary opportunities . Then , we must demonstrate our faith and watch for opportunities to introduce the gospel of Jesus Christ to our Heavenly Father’s children , and surely those opportunities will come . These opportunities will never require a forced or a contrived response . They will flow as a natural result of our love for our brothers and sisters . Just be positive , and those whom you speak with will feel your love . They will never forget that feeling , though the timing may not be right for them to embrace the gospel . That too may change in the future when their circumstances change .

It is impossible for us to fail when we do our best when we are on the Lord’s errand . While the outcome is a result of the exercise of one’s agency , sharing the gospel is our responsibility .”

Elder Ballard also says: “’you don’t have to be an outgoing person or an eloquent, persuasive teacher. If you have an abiding love and hope within you, the Lord has promised if you “lift up your voices unto this people [and] speak the thoughts that [He] shall put into your hearts,… you shall not be confounded before men;

“[And] it shall be given you … in the very moment, what ye shall say.’”

Elder Ballard continues , “ I quote from [ a ] successful member missionary , Clayton Christensen : ‘ Every time you take someone figuratively by the hand and introduce him or her to Jesus Christ , you will feel how deeply our Savior loves you and loves the person whose hand is in yours .’”

I would like to read to you the lyrics of a primary song .

1. Faith is knowing the sun will rise , lighting each new day .

Faith is knowing the Lord will hear my prayers each time I pray .

Faith is like a little seed :

If planted , it will grow .

Faith is a swelling within my heart .

When I do right , I know .

2. Faith is knowing I lived with God before my mortal birth .

Faith is knowing I can return when my life ends on earth .

Faith is trust in God above ;

In Christ , who showed the way .

Faith is strengthened ; I feel it grow

Whenever I obey .

The line , “ Faith is trust in God above ” stands out to me . Throughout my life I can see patterns of this . For example , every time I pray , I wonder if God will listen . And I know that when I finish a prayer that He hears me , every single time . And there is no doubt in my mind that He listens to your prayers too and cares about what you have to say and what is happening in your life .  

Going back to the example of changing my plans to match the Lords . That took a great deal of faith to trust that what He has planned for me is going to strengthen me and help me throughout my life .

Showing that you have faith and trust in the Lord , to me , means that you pray and talk with God and maintain a relationship with Him . And let Him guide you throughout your life . Do as Jesus would do , and love those around you and share with them what makes you happy .

Something that brings me great joy and happiness is the gospel of Jesus Christ . I would like to invite those of you who are not members of the church , and even those of you who are , to come unto Christ .      

In the Book of Mormon , in Alma 10 : 32-33 , it reads ,

“ 32 Yea , come unto Christ , and be perfected in him , and deny yourselves of all ungodliness ; 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 , that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ , ye can in nowise deny the power of God .

33 And again , if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ , and deny not his power , then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God , through the shedding of the blood of Christ , which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins , that ye become holy , without spot .”

In closing I would like to leave with you my testimony – 

I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , is the true church on this earth today . I know that President Thomas S. Monson is the Prophet of our church , and that what he counsels us to do is right and a tool to lead us on our journey home to our Father in Heaven . I know that missionary work is important  , and I am excited to share with others the happiness that the gospel brings me . I know that as you put your trust in the Lord that He will bless you and guide you in your life . 

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ , Amen . 

~Perfectly Imperfect Girl

(P.I.G.)