Sunday Talk, How Christ Helps Us Change

Two weeks ago I was asked by a counselor in our Bishopric to give a talk at an upcoming Sacrament meeting. Each Sunday Mormons go to church for three hours. One of those hours is dedicated to partaking of the sacrament and other purposes. One of the purposes of Sacrament Meeting is to “provide gospel instruction” and to “strengthen faith and testimony” (Administering the Church [2010], 138). The instruction given during Mormon Sunday services, unlike other religions, is not monopolized by church leaders. All members are given an opportunity to instruct their congregation and share their testimony. I spoke on the topic: How does Christ help us change.
Here’s most of the talk I gave. The introduction I gave and the testimony at the end of the talk I didn’t script (sorry), so they are excluded:

 

            The month of December is coming to a close. Gifts have been exchanged and opened, we have started to put away the decorations, a month that was once busy with cookie exchanges, devotionals, traditions, service, visiting relatives, travel, and ugly sweaters parties is beginning to quiet down. The last days of December give opportunity to reflect and assess before we cross the threshold of the new year.

            I think most New Year resolutions fall into one of three camps: something we want to continue, something we want to start, or something we wish to stop. When you are considering your goals for the upcoming year, I hope you accept one last invitation this season. That is, as Moroni issued, "Yea, come unto to Christ and be perfected in him" (Moroni 10:32)

            I was assigned to speak on how Christ helps us as we repent or change. First, let me state a disclaimer: Repenting- the process of changing our behavior- is hard. It is uncomfortable. And rarely pleasant. The story of Jesus Christ cleansing the temple comes to mind when I think of repentance. The story is found in all four Gospels of the New Testament:

            During the Passover, Jesus and his disciples are in Jerusalem, they make their way to the temple. There, "commercial" transactions inappropriate for the House of the Lord are taking place. Christ expels people from the temple, turns over tables, and even places himself between merchants and the temple- embargoing product from entering.

            Imagine the chaos, the awkwardness, and offense these actions had. When we repent, it can feel like overturned tables, it is awkward to admit our wrongdoings or shortcomings, and others may become offended by our attempts at bettering ourselves- mistaking our propriety as superiority. But it is through our faith in Jesus Christ and repentance we are cleansed.

            The disclaimer I stated before is followed by a guarantee: that Christ will help us as we repent and change. Romans 8:35-39 reads: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Just like Paul, I have been persuaded and have a witness of the love of God. I want to share with you a block of scripture that helped me tap into the power of the atonement. When I discovered this scripture, I was grieving. I am not saying grief is something we need to repent of. But for me, during that time, I needed to mourn the life I had envisioned, regroup and realign myself, I needed to change my heart and my spirit needed healing. Whatever may prompt the needed or desired change in your life, this scripture story should help you realize the resources available to you. I know it helped me.

            This story is recorded in the 24^th chapter of Luke. The setting, a dusty road to Emmaus. Two disciples of Christ, walk and, in verse 14, “talk together of all these things which had happened." What had happened? Well, nothing they had planned. Jesus was condemned to death and was crucified, and on the third day, there was much confusion about where his body had gone. 

Companionship 

            As this pair of disciples communed and reasoned together the resurrected Christ, unrecognized, drew near and went with them. He engages in their conversation. 

            As we go through our change, we need support. We need to talk. We need company. Through prayer we can communicate our doubt, our longing, and our frustrations to our Father in Heaven through our Great Mediator, Christ. God will also place others on your road to sustain you. A bishop, a visiting teacher-just another disciple to commune and reason with, that will allow the Savior to draw near.

Instruction 

            The Savior hears his disciples’ uncertainty, he observes they are sad, senses their disbelief and begins to instruct them concerning himself through expounding the scriptures.

            This past General Conference, President Packer gave a wonderful talk- when I first heard it I thought it was a very plain and simple talk- but over the course of the past few months I have re-read it, I have taught it within our family, and have applied it's teachings regarding the scriptures. As I have done so the talk has become more significant to me. If you have a deficiency in your scripture study, I encourage you to read the talk, “The Key to Spiritual Protection” by President Packer. He affirms that, I quote, “The gospel teaches us to be happy, to have faith rather than fear, to find hope and overcome despair, to leave darkness and turn toward the light of the everlasting gospel. Paul and others warned about the trials of our time and the days yet to come. But peace can be settled in the heart of each who turns to the scriptures and unlocks the promises of protection and redemption that are taught therein. We invite all to turn to the Savior Jesus Christ, to His teachings as found in the Old Testament, the New Testament, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price.” The purpose of scripture is to testify of Christ. There is a great reservoir of strength and hope found there. Through the scriptures we sit at the feet of the author and finisher of our faith.

Ordinances & Covenants

            My favorite part of this account comes after the two disciples ask the Savior to stay with them for the evening. It has been a long day of traveling. They sit down to eat. As it is written in verse, 30-31. “And it came to pass, as he (Christ) sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him...” It is after the blessing and breaking of bread, they recognize their Savior. Today, we have partaken of broken and blessed bread in remembrance of Christ. Elder Groberg counseled, “Those who would deny themselves the blessing of the sacrament by not attending sacrament meeting or by not thinking of the Savior during the services surely must not understand the great opportunity to be forgiven, to have his Spirit to guide and comfort them! What more could anyone ask? As we worthily partake of the sacrament, we will sense those things we need to improve in and receive the help and determination to do so. No matter what our problems, the sacrament always gives hope.” Coming to church and striving to fulfill and renew the contract between us and the Lord is our subscription to open eyes granted through the companionship of the Spirit- that comforts, guides, testifies, and sanctifies.  

Testimony

            After the disciples eyes are opened, Christ vanished from their presence. They rose up the same hour, no doubt invigorated by this experience, and returned to Jerusalem, there they found the eleven apostles and other disciples and witnessed, saying, “The Lord is risen indeed.” These two disciples gained a testimony. We gain a testimony as we repent.

            Sister Julie B. Beck, former Relief Society President, asserted, “It is through repenting that I have come to know the Savior, and it is as I seek His help to change me that my faith and dependence on Him increase. I bear testimony of His reality and power.”

            The Manhattan Temple, has a stain glass rendering of this story, it is beautiful. It greets you as you pass the reception desk. When I visited the Manhattan temple I didn't even notice it at first. In New York, there is such a rhythm and just a quicker pace about the city I didn't manage to slow down when I entered the temple. To be honest, I didn't really slow down until I entered the dressing room! After our session, when we were readying to depart my husband pointed the stain glass mural out to me. I am glad I was able to have caught it and behold it. It brought comfort to my soul.

            At the beginning of this talk, I mentioned the invitation to come unto Christ. Let me read the rest of that verse I referenced:

“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.”

Change is not a race. It is a personal journey.  Repentance is not a feat of strength. It is one of the primary principles of the Gospel. Slow down and behold the power of the atonement, and the grace of your God.

            On our journey of improvement and progression Christ provides companionship, instruction, covenants. Repentance is an opportunity to cultivate a testimony to sustain us and to share with others.

            Just like Sister Beck and many of you, I also bear testimony of the reality and power of Jesus Christ.

 The first floor of the Manhattan Temple, a stain glass rendering by Tom Holdman.

Sunday Talk, The Power of Family Home Evening

Two weeks ago I was asked by my Branch President to give a talk at an upcoming Sacrament meeting. Each Sunday Mormons go to church for three hours. One of those hours is dedicated to partaking of the sacrament and other purposes. One of the purposes of Sacrament Meeting is to “provide gospel instruction” and to “strengthen faith and testimony” (Administering the Church [2010], 138). The instruction given during Mormon Sunday services, unlike other religions, is not monopolized by church leaders. All members are given an opportunity to instruct their congregation and share their testimony. My Branch President asked that I give a talk on the topic of the power of Family Home Evening.
Here’s most of the talk I gave. The introduction I gave and the testimony at the end of the talk I didn’t script (sorry), so they are excluded:

In times past, God has chosen prophets, such as Noah, Abraham, Moses, and others, to teach the gospel and direct His Church. The scriptures are abundant with accounts attesting that when the council of a prophet is heeded miracles are derived. People have been nourished, cleansed, cured, and revived- resources have been multiplied, bondage broken, safe passages granted, and promised lands were obtained because of ready and willing hearts.

I am relieved and happy to testify that God continues to send living prophets today. They continue to teach His gospel, and direct His Church. Like God led the Children of Israel out of slavery, He leads us into peaceful lives when we choose to follow the prophets. 

A profound counsel received during these latter-days came in 1915. President Joseph F. Smith and his counselors in the First Presidency began a Churchwide effort to strengthen the family. They issued a call to all parents to gather their children once each week for a "Home Evening." Families were to take time to pray and sing together, read the scriptures, teach the gospel to one another, and participate in other activities that would build family unity. And as a family would do so, the prophet promised, “that great blessings would result.  Love at home and obedience to parents will increase. Faith will be developed in the hearts of the youth of Israel, and they will gain power to combat the evil influence and temptations which beset them.” 

This is what I have been assigned to speak on- the Power of Family Home Evening. As members of the church we are familiar with these blessings- we trump of them often, we practice the tradition of family night- and because of that, I’m going to differ slightly from the topic, and instead focus on how the Power of Family Home Evening is conduced- in hope that through that understanding, the power may be more assessable in our homes.


As I have studied and from my own personal experience on the topic, I conclude that the power of family home evening steams from three principles.

Obedience

The first principle, we have already touched on briefly, is obedience.

Latter-day prophets continue to urge Church members to give highest priority to family home evening. They have promised that our dedication to this program will help protect our families against the evils of our time and will bring us abundant joy now and throughout the eternities.

As a young child I spent a lot of time reading bible stories, they were entertaining. I thought the Children of Israel were so silly, even foolish. I imagine Mormon children feel the same way about the rebellious Laman and Lemuel. From an observer standpoint, the formula for success seems so plain and simple. Be obedient. Yet as an adult, I have found myself having Laman or Lemuel moments. I try to justify my intentions, so my actions may be excused, but "wickedness never was happiness."

President Kimball insisted that, “Family home evening is for everyone. It is for families with parents and children, for families with just one parent, and for parents who have no children at home. It is for home evening groups of single adults and for those who live alone or with roommates. . . . Regular participation in family home evening will develop increased personal worth, family unity, love for our fellow men, and trust in our Father in heaven." This is counsel for all, no matter the season of life. Age, gender nor family size will disqualify us from the blessings to come if we make the necessary sacrifices to be obedient and have home evenings. We will be blessed. 

Diligence

The second principle is Diligence. In his talk, More Diligent and Concerned at Home, Elder Bednar shares his memories of Family Home Evening as a father of active, rambunctious boys.  He admits that he and Sister Bednar often wondered if their efforts to do these spiritually essential things were worthwhile. He confirms they were.

He compares their efforts to artwork- quote, “Each family prayer, each episode of family scripture study, and each family home evening is a brushstroke on the canvas of our souls. No one event may appear to be very impressive or memorable. But just as the yellow and gold and brown strokes of paint complement each other and produce an impressive masterpiece, so our consistency in doing seemingly small things can lead to significant spiritual results…Consistency is a key principle as we lay the foundation of a great work in our individual lives and as we become more diligent and concerned in our own homes.”
 
It seems often in the scriptures, we come across progressive instructions from prophets- such as if you do a then b will happen. An example is Moses telling those bitten by the serpents to LOOK and LIVE. We also come across a more repetitive pattern- if you do a, and a, and a, and a, and a, and a then eventually b will happen. Examples of these are the Israelites marching around the walls of Jericho or the washings of Naaman. I think Family Home Evening is like the latter. It won’t be the first lap around or the last washing that will bless you, but the anthology of your efforts.

The following scripture in D&C 64:33, brings me great comfort as I try to be diligent in my errands, “Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.” I hope we remember how great the ultimate work and glory of the Lord is as we try to diligently keep Family Home Evening in our homes.

Stewardship  

The last principle is stewardship. Twice a year our family has a special home evening a month before General Conference. We play a game that helps us learn about prophets and then we have a sort of family council and we compile a list of questions or concerns we may have. For the remainder of the month leading up to General Conference we pray about those issues- privately as well as a family. And last September, a concern I had was harmony in our home. And shortly after we started to pray about it I got the impression that we needed to work on Family Home Evening, and I agreed with that impression. 

I found myself dreading Family Home Evening. It wasn’t that we weren’t doing FHE. We were! We were being obedient and we were being diligent, but that power- the feeling of love and unity- wasn’t present. And if I was aware of that absence so were my children. Many times at the conclusion of our evenings I got the distinct feeling, “I’m doing this wrong.” 

So I knew we had to adjust Family Home Evening, but how? And I got my answer from a talk given by Elder Perry that conference about becoming goodly parents. With prayerful consideration and additional evaluations to our needs, we have realigned our family home evening- how we did so is not really important in this context, but why we did so is. We realigned our home evenings because we sought after the Lord’s guidance concerning our family and received an answer. And now things are much better for us. Not perfect, but better.

Elder Groberg testifies, “Whatever the setting, the Lord will guide parents as they prayerfully seek to rear their children in love and righteousness.”And evident by the experience I just shared with you, I can affirm that. Stewardship is the responsibility to the blessings God has given us- and family most certainly falls under such a heading as “Inheritance from the Lord”. Parents, children, siblings can council together- and receive family revelation as to how to love and serve one another. Of course, our prayers must be more than words, for as President Marion G. Romney said, “The efficacy of our prayers depends on how we care for one another. Family prayer is fully effective, then, only as we rise from our knees and, with increased love and understanding, take better care of each other.”

Through the principles of obedience, diligence, and stewardship we can cultivate and access the power of Family Home Evening. I like the scripture, D&C 29:4-6, it reads:

Verily, I say unto you that ye are chosen out of the world to declare my gospel with the sound of rejoicing, as with the voice of a trump. Lift up your hearts and be glad, for I am in your midst, and am your advocate with the Father; and it is his good will to give you the kingdom. And, as it is written—Whatsoever ye shall ask in faith, being united in prayer according to my command, ye shall receive.

If there is any place to declare the gospel with the sound of rejoicing, to have glad hearts, to be uplifted, to feel the presence of the Savior, to be united in faith and prayer, it is in our home. And that is what the Lord desires for us, and that is the power of Family Home Evening.

Sunday Talk, The Temple: A Source of Revelation

 

Two weeks ago I was asked by my Branch President to give a talk at an upcoming Sacrament meeting. Each Sunday Mormons go to church for three hours. One of those hours is dedicated to partaking of the sacrament and other purposes. One of the purposes of Sacrament Meeting is to “provide gospel instruction” and to “strengthen faith and testimony” (Administering the Church [2010], 138). The instruction given during Mormon Sunday services, unlike other religions, is not monopolized by church leaders. All members are given an opportunity to instruct their congregation and share their testimony. My Branch President asked that I give a talk, 12-15 minutes, on the topic of temples, specifically about the temple as a source of revelation.
Here’s most of the talk I gave. The introduction I gave and the testimony at the end of the talk I didn’t script (sorry), so they are excluded:

            Michael and I were able to attend the temple at the beginning of the month. While we waited for the right people to be rounded up so we could perform sealings, we were given a short tour. Just like the rooms in our homes are set apart for different purposes, the rooms in the temple follow suit. During the tour I was shown a room I have never seen before: the nursery. That is place assigned to little children, not born in the covenant, to wait until they are sealed to their parents.

            In the nursery there are plenty of snacks, church movies, copies of the Friend magazine and other wholesome materials to pass the time. There are also closets with white apparel for boys and girls, there is a room occupied with cribs for naps, but what I really want to tell you about is the room our tour guide dubbed the “separation room”. It is a room designated for children who are in need of some, well, quiet time.

            Now, I am a mother of two boys, two very different boys, and my boys have quiet time in our house daily because they just need to be separated from each other (and sometimes even they need to separated from me) in order to keep peace in our household. Yet the idea of such a room in the temple being needed startled me, and maybe you felt the same way as I relayed this tour to you. But as I have thought about the topic given to me for this talk, it makes perfect sense to have a room in the temple where a child might go to separate herself or himself from any commotion, where they can regroup and refocus.

            The topic I have been assigned to speak on is the temple as a source of revelation. As the Church’s website so eloquently puts it, “From the days of the Old Testament, the Lord has commanded His people to build temples- sacred structures where He could teach, guide, and bless them. When the gospel of Jesus Christ was restored in the early 1800s, the Lord again commanded His people to build temples. Regardless of the place or time period, temples are the most sacred place on earth-a place where earth and heaven meet and where we feel close to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.”
            Brothers and sisters, I am a questioner. That is how I learn. So it was not a surprise as I began to prepare for this talk my first thought was about the different questions and concerns I have carried to the temple. I’ll admit that at times those questions or concerns were so heavy the carrying felt more like lugging. The second thing I asked myself was: Why did I bring those questions and those concerns to the temple?

            When I am qualified, I can receive revelation anywhere. So why did I choose to go to that place to receive answers? The word “place” as I thought about it seemed to strike me as incorrect. And I am quite the stickler for diction, so it bothered me until I read the following quote by James E. Faust: "Each temple building is an inspiration, magnificent and beautiful in every way, but the temple building alone does not bless. The endowed blessings and divine functions…come through obedience and faithfulness to… the covenants made." The temple is not just a place where answers are dispensed. The contents of the temple, the covenants and ordinances performed there for the living and the dead, are a source of revelation. We only qualify for those spiritual experiences when 1. we live worthily, 2. prepare, and 3. attend. 

1. LIVE WORTHILY

            I have been very fortunate as I have prepared for this talk. I have been given opportunities that really allowed this talk to form itself. I visited the temple, I substituted a youth Sunday School class, I was present at my Relief Society Sunday meetings, and I was able to attend a RS Presidency meeting, all of these events junctured to me giving this talk today.

            The three youth I taught last week learned about “Remembering the Sabbath Day, to Keep It Holy.” The lesson was from my favorite Church manual to teach from “Preparing for Exaltation” if you haven’t had a chance to look at it- take a peek sometime today. It is marvelous. But what we learned as a class last Sunday was that keeping the Sabbath holy, like many commandments,  is not just about showing obedience. Keeping the Sabbath is but a stepping stone to the paramount, the temple. There are many correlations between Sunday practices and Temple propriety.
            By striving to keep the commandments we are not only qualifying ourselves, but conditioning ourselves for temple attendance. Elder Hales mentions that “it is difficult for youth to understand how present actions will prepare them for or disqualify them from future service opportunities.” In the context of temple service, I think (regardless of age) many may be shortsighted. Let us make a resolve to allow our choices to qualify and condition us to attend the House of the Lord.

2. PREPARE

            As we read about our scriptural counterparts we learn how to prepare to receive revelation at the temple. A pattern emerges quickly:

·         Jacob, in the Old Testament was instructed to “Arise and go up to Beth-el and dwell there.”

·         Nephi, was told to “arise” and get himself into the mountain.

·         Hannah “rose up” to petition at the temple.

·         Joseph Smith “retired” to the grove near his home.

We prepare by going to the temple by arising, emerging from our frailties and the frailties of the world and having hope of a better world. “Arise” is a great word, but I adore the word “retire” as used in Joseph Smith History.

            In retelling of the First Vision we learn that Joseph “labored” and “reflected” on his salvation (a great concern of his) before retiring to offer up the desires of his heart to God.

 

At the Palmyra temple the windows are etched with foliage similar to those found in the Sacred Grove, suggesting the temple itself is a Sacred Grove. A place we can retire and communicate with God.  In my experience I have come to know that a revelation received from exhausted efforts will probably not “wow” anyone- do not expect a grand vision, and don’t expect others to even understand the answer you receive. However, the reception the resultant revelation will have in our heart will be grand. To labor we must be searching the scriptures, pondering, and praying.

3. ATTEND

            Also, as it reads in Joseph Smith History, “After I had retired to the place where I had previously designed to go…” Not only did Joseph Smith search the scriptures and had pondered, but he put forethought to where he would go to inquire of the Lord. We must make the temple a place we design to go and schedule regular visits to the temple. Elder Scott suggests: “When a temple is conveniently nearby, small things may interrupt your plans to go to the temple. Set specific goals, considering your circumstances, of when you can and will participate in temple ordinances. Then do not allow anything to interfere with that plan.” Setting dates to attend the temple has benefited our family whenever we have done it. I have to admit we have fallen off that wagon a couple of times.

            President Benson gave this great testimony and promise about temple attendance, he shared that "Temples are places of personal revelation. When I have been weighed down by a problem or a difficulty, I have gone to the House of the Lord with a prayer in my heart for answers. The answers have come in clear and unmistakable ways. I promise you that, with increased attendance in the temples of our God, you shall receive increased personal revelation to bless your life as you bless those who have died." A recent quote by Elder Scott from this past conference supports that promise, he said, “When we are acting as instruments in behalf of others, we are more easily inspired than when we think only of ourselves. In the process of helping others, the Lord can piggyback directions for our own benefit.” Temple attendance and the work performed there on the behalf of others conduces personal revelation.

           

            During the dedicatory prayer of the Boston Temple, President Hinckley implored for the members of this very branch and other members in this area, he prayed, “We pray that Thy people in this temple district may make themselves worthy of every blessing to be found here. May they come, pure in heart and clean in hand, to the House of the Lord with gratitude in their hearts for the marvelous blessings to be gained here. May they be endowed with power from on high and be granted a knowledge of things sacred and divine. May the covenants which they make be binding upon them. Keep them always in the way they should walk. May they sense the wonders of the blessings of eternity to be gained here and here alone.” Brothers and sisters, have you sensed those wonders? Have you sought after them?

            Before I conclude with my testimony, I want to share with you a passage of scripture. It came to mind as I pondered that room in the temple nursery, the separation room. The temple is very much our separation room. It separates us from our toils and spinnings for a moment and allows us to refocus. It also reinforces God’s love and His plan for His Children. As I have made temple covenants, and have made the temple my separation room, I have learned and been persuaded, as Paul in this passage has, that there is one thing I cannot be separated from.
Romans 8: 35-37, 39
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

[Testimony]

Want to learn about Temple worship? Check out this webpage  or, you know, you can always ask me. ;)