The following is my farewell talk that I gave on the 27th of April, 2014. I took it very seriously, and really wanted the Spirit to guide me in what to say. My bishop assigned the topic "strengthening families," and I was at a loss, because it is definitely not your typical missionary farewell topic. I started outlining ideas and writing quotes, and it was already turning out too long and disorganized, so I started over. I wrote, essentially, a second talk that I decided I would be fine giving, since it followed the prompt, but I still wasn't happy about it. Then, I was listening to President Eyring's talk "A Priceless Heritage of Hope" from April 2014 General Conference and I was suddenly inspired. I immediately ran to the laptop and started typing a third talk. I knew what I was supposed to say. This is that third talk.
We seek strengthen our families, not only
for today—but for yesterday, tomorrow, and forever. I know that I’ve been
called to Scotland/Ireland for a purpose. Men and women have gone before me,
walking upon those lands, and through the will of God, they came here. I’m
honestly not sure how they came to the decision or what it felt like to leave
the home they knew and loved. But I imagine it felt a little like I feel like
leaving America for the United Kingdom. I know that I am here for a reason, and
that I go to Scotland/Ireland for a reason. I go to strengthen families,
families that need what my family has given me.
I
am acutely aware that what we do today to strengthen our families is eternal.
My father joined this church to strengthen his family, and my children, and my
siblings children, and generations after will have those blessings forever. My
great-great-great-grandfather Thomas Bassett left Cardiff, Wales because he
felt the Spirit of truth that would strengthen his family, and bless my family,
his descendants today and forever.
When
Bishop Manner asked me to speak about strengthening families, I wasn’t sure what
I would say. I honestly wrote 3 talks this week. But President Eyring gave a
talk in last conference about a priceless heritage of hope. He testified that
our families are eternal and linked through all generations of time, and all it
takes is one person to influence thousands of descendants AND reach out to
those who have gone before.
Today
and everyday we need to have practices of love and faith in our homes.
President Eyring said:
“Remember that daily family prayer,
family scripture study, and sharing our testimony in sacrament meeting are
easier and more effective when children are young. Young children are often
more sensitive to the Spirit than we realize.
When they are older, they will
remember the hymns they sang with you. Even more than recalling music, they
will remember the words of scripture and testimony. The Holy Ghost can bring
all things to their remembrance, but the words of scriptures and hymns will
last the longest. Those memories will exert a pull that may bring them back
when they wander for a time, possibly for years, from the pathway home to
eternal life.”
President
Eyring mentioned here the most important things we can do to strengthen our
families. Daily family prayer, family scripture study, and sharing our
testimonies.
I
have close friends in the Short family. I have always felt at home with them.
There have been times that I’ve been with them into the evening, and, before
any one goes to bed, the entire family will stop what they’re doing and come to kneel in a circle in
the living room and take turns to thank their Heavenly Father and pray for
blessings from heaven. I have always been invited to join them in this ritual,
and I can honestly say that the Spirit I have felt in those kneeling, nightly
prayers in the Short home have been some of the strongest witnesses to me of
how powerful prayer is in strengthening families. Sometimes you have to see it
from another family’s
perspective to see the miracles it can work in your own home.
The
Savior said in 3 Nephi 18:21 “Pray in your families unto the Father, always in
my name, that your wives and your children may be blessed.” John H. Groberg
added, “I know of no single activity that has more potential for unifying our
families and bringing more love and divine direction into our homes than
consistent, fervent family prayer.” When we thank God for each member of our
family, and ask Him to strengthen each of them, He will hear and answer our
prayers, and the blessings He will give unto our families will be infinite.
Elder
Groberg shared an experience that while he was stuck in Suva in the South
Pacific while in transit to serve a mission in Tonga, he turned to the Lord in
prayer.
“Once more, I closed my eyes in
prayer, when suddenly I felt almost transported. I didn’t see anything or hear
anything, in a physical sense; but, in a more real way, I saw a family in
far-off Idaho kneeling together in prayer; and I heard my mother, acting as
mouth, say as clearly as anything can be heard, ‘And bless John on his
mission.’
“As that faithful family called down
the powers of heaven to bless their missionary son in a way they could not
physically do, I testify that the powers of heaven did come down, and they
lifted me up and, in a spiritual way, allowed me, for a brief moment, to once
again join that family circle in prayer. I was one with them. I was literally
swallowed up in the love and concern of a faithful family and sensed for a
moment what being taken into Abraham’s bosom may be like. (See Luke
16:22.) I was given to understand also that there are other circles of
love and concern unbounded by time or space to which we all belong and from
which we can draw strength. God does not leave us entirely alone—ever!”
Family
scripture study can also bless our families, even if we don’t see immediate
results. Elder Bednar once shared a personal experience, “Sometimes Sister
Bednar and I wondered if our efforts to do these spiritually essential things
were worthwhile. Now and then verses of scripture were read amid outbursts such
as ‘He’s touching me!’ ‘Make him stop looking at me!’ ‘Mom, he’s breathing my
air!’… At times Sister Bednar and I were exasperated because the righteous
habits we worked so hard to foster did not seem to yield immediately the
spiritual results we wanted and expected…” But Elder Bednar expresses how, “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. ‘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’ (D&C
64:33).” This effort to teach our families from the scriptures will
build testimonies that can carry individuals and families through the shafts in
the whirlwind and hail and mighty storms that the devil will send to divert us
from the path to eternal life.
Testimonies
will buoy us through the trials we will face, but when we bear our testimonies
to our families, it can build them up to follow the path of righteousness.
Elder Bednar said,
“The bearing of testimony need not
be lengthy or eloquent. And we do not need to wait until the first Sunday of
the month to declare our witness of things that are true. Within the walls of
our own homes, we can and should bear pure testimony of the divinity and
reality of the Father and the Son, of the great plan of happiness, and of the
Restoration.”
It
may feel awkward at first to bear testimony in our homes, but we can and should
consistently bear testimony, if only through our example. We need to diligently
live what we bear testimony of. “We need to both declare and live our
testimonies. Spouses, parents, and children should strive to overcome any
hesitancy, reluctance, or embarrassment about bearing testimony,” Elder Bednar
said.
And
in that spirit, I’d like to bear my own testimony: I know that God has an
eternal love and a plan for us, and that His Son, Jesus Christ is the center of
that Plan. I know that He died for my sins, pains, and sorrows, and that by his
grace I can do all things. I know that the Book of Mormon is another testament
of Him, and that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. I know that this gospel
holds eternal blessings for families, not only immediate, but across barriers
of time and death to generations gone before and those yet to come. I testify
that I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true church
that He has established in this day. I say these things in the name of Jesus
Christ, Amen.
