Generally, I'm quite pleased with my performances but I felt especially proud of this most recent speech. Not only did the audience appear attentive, laugh at my jokes, and provide positive feedback later, Spirit of the Lord felt tangible throughout the crowd. Throughout the whole week, I read about service and was able to follow the promptings of the Spirit to replace a large portion of my talk with my own thoughts.
Due to the overall success - which I measure in attentiveness and impressions of the Spirit - I would like to share my speech here. First I would like to preface my talk with the fact that the congregational choir sang a beautiful hymn beforehand. In order to be seen by the whole choir, the music conductor, Katelyn, pulled out the stand which resides directly in front of the pulpit (the stand is generally used for children when they're sharing their testimonies). Afterwards, the meeting conductor, Brother S. went to the pulpit, pushed in the stand, and announced that I would be the next speaker. I paraphrase my talk from here on out:
"I noticed Katelyn pulled out the stand for me, unfortunately Brother S. pushed it back in [note I'm between 5'4" and 5'5" which is in fact the average height but only for girls, which I am not] so I apologies if you cannot see me. [There was a good amount of awkward giggles which demonstrated that the audience was caught off-guard, yet enjoyed the joke].
"Recently, I discussed faith with a close friend. Being brought up in a faith centered home, she never questioned her faith in the Savior nor in the teaching of the prophets as found in the Bible. Although her faith in a Supreme Being, even a Heavenly Father, has never wavered, questions regarding the Atonement, the Holy Scriptures, the power of Baptism, began to creep into her life.
"Oft times, we question our faith and looked for answer to
our questions and doubts. I am remind of the words of President Uchtdorf, who
encouraged us to doubt first our doubts and to build upon those truths which we
hold dear and evident. However, as I grow older, I notice more and more friends
questioning their faith, seeking for enlightenment.
"When I was in high school, I drove a red jeep. It was not
difficult for friends to persuade me to go off-roading, or mud-bugging. I
recall one particular night at a Buffalo Wild Wings. We heard of a group
off-roading not too far away. We showed up at what appeared to be an automobile
graveyard. There were several cars trudging through a muddy trail with ruts 3-4
feet deep on either side. Even the best equip trucks were no match for the
danger which lied ahead. Long story short, the ruts on either side of the trail
were too deep for almost every single vehicle. As the trucks and jeeps went
through, the bottom of the car would be lifted up by the land between the ruts,
high-centering each car. For those of you who haven’t been high-centered - and I assure you, I've been high-centered enough times for everyone in this room - it’s
extremely frustrating. Regardless of how hard you push the gas, regardless of
how solid the ground is, you cannot gain any traction.
"I recall countless times off-roading when we were stuck,
high centered, literally spinning our tires for traction. I have felt similar feelings in my spiritual pursuit.
Despite my best efforts to obtain spiritual confirmations, through basic gospel
teachings – prayer, scripture study, temple attendance – I have felt that I,
figuratively, am spinning my wheels in pursuit of the spiritual strength.
"Please do not misunderstand, each of those aspects are important to my
spiritual testimony and my personal beliefs in the gospel of Jesus Christ but
sometimes I feel that I am missing an important piece towards truly becoming
Christlike as
opposed to just understanding the teaching of Christianity.
"Whether like my friend or me, you have struggled with your
testimony, if like us, you desire to gain a more sure footing in the eternal
gospel of Jesus Christ, Elder Derek A. Cuthbert in his 1990 general conference
talk instructs us on 'how [to] become more spiritual?' He says, simply, 'You need to
give more service.'
"As I pondered these words, I wondered why service is so
essential to our spirituality. Elder Cuthbert outlines 10 ways in which service
increases our spirituality which were previously mentioned by Michael [the orator before me quoted the 10 bullet point items] but I'd also like to remember, that
we as Christians, or at least I personally, define spirituality as our nearing
ourselves to Christ’s example, to live a perfect life, a Christ-centered life.
"Recall His example, He cured the sick, He healed the blind, He
raised the dead, it was He who comforted the widowed, He cleansed the temple, He washed
the disciples feet, He did not for His glory, but for the benefit of the His
people. Truly, His life was one of service, dedicated to others. Winston
Churchill said, 'We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we
give.' The young Christ, may have won his livings as a carpenter, a son of
Joseph, but what made His life great was what He gave for us, even by the
laying down of His own life for our well-being.
"One of Elder Cuthbert's first points is that 'Through service we establish true values and
priorities by distinguishing between the worth of material things that pass,
and those things of lasting, even eternal, value.' As a hometeacher in college, my companion and I felt that one individual required special attention. As we visited with her, I was deeply touched by the impression that God loved her as His divine daughter. After this, I was able to project the love God had for her to the rest of His children, myself included.
"Elder Cuthbert also mentioned that 'Service helps us to get to
know the Savior, for ‘how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served?' Mosiah 5:13.' I recall John 17:3 which states 'And this is life eternal, that they might know
thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.'
"Throughout time, God's people have accomplished some amazing feats. God's people knocked down of the walls of Jericho, they left the UK to cross the Atlantic to learn of the prophet Joseph Smith. God's people sacrificed their farms, their livings, and every possession to cross the plains. The early saints donated their fine China to donate for the building of the temples. The saints - even in this area - built their own meeting house and chapels.
"I often wonder, 'if I lived in one of those periods, what would I sacrifice for the cause of righteousness? Would I leave all I had to serve the Lord, would I donate my time and money to build houses of worship?'
"At this [most recent] great [LDS] conference, there were two talks which prompted the the saints to lift the burdens of those displaced people. This can be the call to which God's people has been called to sacrifice in our days.
"It is my prayer that we pray for opportunities to serve and may we be blessed by the Lord as we do. I feel as Steve Maraboli who remarked 'I don’t want to live my life to
be defined by what is etched on a tombstone. I want it to be defined by what is
etched in the lives and hearts of those I’ve touched.'
"For those who feel they cannot rise to such a great calling, let us remember the words of Richelle E. Goodrich, 'Service is a smile. It is an acknowledging wave, a reaching handshake, a friendly wink, and a warm hug. It's these simple acts that matter most, because the greatest service to a human soul has always been the kindness of recognition.'
"It is my testimony that through our service, we will not
only change the lives of those we serve but also gain a surety of God’s love
for His children and for us, near Christ’s perfect example, gain the spiritual traction we desire, and come to
comprehend the mysteries of God – including those difficult faith driven
questions to which we all seek the answers.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."
