Good day faithful followers and new coming stumbleuponers. Is that last even a word? Well allow me to use my creative license to bring it into being.
I know it’s been quite some time since my last entry. Of course you’ve had my lovely wife providing more than her fair share of RELEVANT entries. Now that I have something to write about, I’m back … Okay, in truth I’ve probably had lots to say. I’ve just been lazy, and that’s something I’m trying to work on.
Two weeks ago I was asked by a member of our bishopric to speak in sacrament today. For those who are curious, I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Unlike other churches in which there are dedicated ministers, preachers, reverends or pastors, anyone may be asked to prepare a talk (or sermon if you prefer such a term) at any time. Now of course they can decline, and not everyone will be asked. In any case it honestly took me by surprise. Here I had just given a talk barely six months ago, and now I’m being asked to do it again? Well sure, why the heck not? After all, I could certainly use more lessons in how to be a responsible adult.
So after procrastinating for well over a week I wrote my talk, two days before I needed to give it. Now, I don’t read to well when doing it out loud. Have you ever tried to stream a high quality video through a slow internet connection? That’s me. Okay, so maybe I’m not quite that bad, but you get the picture.
After reading, rereading and rereading some more, I finally felt … not ready in the slightest to be honest. Nevertheless I got up to the pulpit after saying a number of fervent prayers, and I spoke with a clear, carrying voice. For some reason microphones really help my confidence. I don’t know why.
I believe everyone enjoyed the talk. Everyone said so in any case. It’s very nice to be told you’ve done a good job. I suppose I require that validation to a degree. I need that constant reassurance that my efforts are not in vain. I guess it’s something I need to get over.
The following is my sacrament talk for anyone who is curious. Is that selfish validation again? Maybe. But I also hope it to be inspiring, or at the very least, thought-provoking.
Good morning brothers and sisters. This is the second time in six months that I’ve been asked to speak to you. Either someone has a lot of faith in me, or I’m meant to learn a valuable lesson in the folly of procrastination. In either case, I hope my words will uplift and inspire you on this wonderful Sabbath morning.
In the days of Christ, A certain lawyer once asked our savior “what must I do to receive eternal life?”
To this, Jesus said “What is written in the law?”
The lawyer replied: “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.”
These profound words, though plainly spoken nevertheless carry a significance which encompasses all we have, and all we are. But what does it truly mean to love the lord with all we have? How can we possibly succeed in obeying such a commandment? I mean, Heavenly Father gave birth to our spirits. He built a world in which we may obtain and experience the blessings of mortality. And when we fell away, he was there, sending his only begotten son to atone on our behalf, that we might live again. He is a constant presence, guiding us day by day, forgiving our many many transgressions and exercising the kind of patience I can only pray I have with my own kids one day … Talk about perspective! How can we possibly even begin to match that kind of love?
Since the time the curtain rose on the stage of human history, we children of God have always made offerings unto the lord. To show their devotion and willingness, our ancestors built alters on which they sacrificed the burnt first born of their flocks and herds. Nevertheless, the scriptures are rich with their boundless iniquity.
Then came Jesus Christ, whose coming had been prophesied for centuries. All of a sudden everything changed. Animal sacrifice and the law of Moses were no longer necessary. For Jesus said: And yee shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of blood; yea your sacrifices and your burnt offerings shall be done away.”
With that, our elder brother offered his own life as an atonement for humanity’s fallen state. This greatest of sacrifices paved the way for us to truly demonstrate our faith and devotion with all our heart, mind and strength.
Jesus Christ gave himself that we might live and be lifted up at the last day. But what shall we give in return? There are certainly many answers to this question. How about faith? Scripture study? Charity? Or the most profound, a “broken heart and a contrite spirit”? These are all essential elements if we are to return home. Indeed, Jesus has told us that “ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost.”
But how might we demonstrate our willingness to follow heavenly Father and keep his commandments? Grand biblical gestures are all well and good. And indeed, I myself can only hope I’ll one day have enough faith to be a martyr, or to give everything I possess if the Lord requires it. But hopefully neither I nor any of you will ever need to be in that position. So what smaller-scale sacrifices can we make?
As we grow in experience and in the Gospel, each of us will form our own answers to that question. After all, we reserve the rite to worship Heavenly Father according to the dictates of our own conscience. But though our consciences may vary, there is one undeniable constant which exists for each of us.
Our time on this earth is but a small moment, a blink in the vast eternity of our existence. From dawn till dusk, from the time we’re born to the time we move beyond the veil, our time is ours to do with as we will. This finite freedom is one of our greatest gifts, and I believe also one of the most precious things we can offer Heavenly Father in this day and age.
By sacrificing our time and our talents in service to one another, doing good works in the name of Jesus Christ, we not only demonstrate our willingness to take upon us the name of Christ, but also stand as a testament of his love for each of us. For we are all neighbors in the vast, incomprehensible kingdom of our God. And whatsoever good we do to one another we do unto Christ.
Our missionaries, young and old alike are to me, wonderful examples of how personal sacrifice can uplift not only ourselves, but also those around us. I especially admire our young missionaries. I remember being that young once. I remember how two years seemed like all the time in the world. Now I’m 28, still young, but full of an understanding that as one gets older, time inevitably speeds up. So to you young missionaries, and you who are preparing to serve a mission, I say bless you. The service you have or will render is mighty. I am humbled by your demonstration of faith in God, and your willingness to sacrifice to him your time and talents.
Of course it is never too late to serve a mission. I just know I’ll be eating those words one day.
There are a great many ways each of us may sacrifice our time in service to the Lord. We all know someone who is in need of friendship, comfort, advice or labor. And while those needs may manifest themselves in different ways and in different people, the gestures we offer and the examples we set will be reflected by our Heavenly Father in our own lives. For Jesus said “For as much as ye do it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
In a couple weeks, all of us will have the opportunity to participate in an organized day of service. What better way to start along the path of the good Samaritan than by helping collect food for those in need?
I recall our last day of service. I was among the group in charge of cleaning up and organizing the recycling plant. It was a lot of work. But I remember the feeling I got at the end of the day; a sense that I had truly done a good work. I can only hope this coming service project will instill that feeling in each of us.
I urge myself and each one of you to seek out ways in which you may offer your time and your talents in the building up of
I testify that if we study the scriptures, we will remember one another. And if we remember one another and do all we can in service, we will remember God, and he will remember us.
I leave you these things in the name of Jesus Christ, from whom all of us received the ultimate sacrifice. Amen.
