Desert Hills Sacrament Meeting 7/19/09

June 27th. A lot happened today, and I don’t feel much like thinking about it, let alone writing about it. But President Heber J. Grant says keeping a journal of our daily doings is important, so I better get it done.

It all started this morning when my sister, Charity, was holed up in the privy with a catalog and I had a discomfort worse than I can ever remember. So I cornered a mouse in the root cellar, put it into a fruit jar, and dropped it through a hole in the bathroom wall.

Charity came screaming out of there madder than bees in a poked hive! She chased me from one end of the farm to the other, but I ran so fast that she couldn’t get close enough to me to do anything more than yell. So she commenced to throw rocks. . .

Afterward, the [next] thing I saw was Charity—with the little box of marbles I’ve been collecting since I was six years old.

She was standing just outside my open window, holding up the box so that I was sure to see it. I ran outside, but she was gone. Then I saw her by our pet pig Thaddius’ pen. He was wallowing in the mud, which was nice and oozy from last night’s rain.

Charity smiled at me and threw my collection into the mud. By the time I got to the pen, Thaddius had stomped and rolled over the marbles good, and I could only find eight of my twenty-two.

I said some hurtful things to Charity and spent the next little while in my room, thinking of ways I could get even with her. And when she walked by my room, she gave me a look that said if I did any of them, I’d soon wish I’d never been born!

After lunch, Mama said that she needed Charity and me to go to the city with her. She needed me to help load the car with groceries and to crank it up. And she needed Charity to choose some material for a dress.

The drive to Salt Lake City takes about an hour. It was real quiet the whole way except for when Mama talked about getting along with one another. . .

We’d finished shopping and started for home when the car broke down. Some kind men helped us push it up the street to an automobile shop, and the man there said that he’d have it running again in a couple hours. Mama wanted to wait on the temple grounds until it was ready, so that’s what we did.

Mama and Papa were married in the Salt Lake Temple, and she said that outside of heaven or home, it was the best place to be. It is pretty there. It looks like a place where God would like to visit. Mama says that He has visited all His holy temples. Mama told Charity and me that we could go wherever we wanted to go on Temple Square, but to not leave it. She’d find us when she was ready to return to the shop.

Neither one of us wanted to do anything together, so Charity went one way and I went another. I would’ve enjoyed it more if Charity and I hadn’t been so angry at each other. It kind of ruined the feelings that kept trying to grow in me.

[After wandering the grounds of temple square], just as I was turning the corner of the temple, I ran into Charity. We both just stood there and stared at each other. Then she began to cry. She hugged me and said she was sorry. I said I was sorry too.

It was late in the day when Charity, Mama, and I left Salt Lake City for home. I looked back at the temple. It stood as tall as a fine memory against the gold sky.

Mama didn’t have to fill up the silence with talk on the way home, because Charity and I didn’t leave her any room. We talked about everything, especially the temple. What we had seen. And felt. Especially what we had felt. Mama just listened, nodded, and smiled.

Ray Goldrup, “Getting Even,” Friend, Jun 1993, 43

That story was taken from the Jun 1993 issue of the friend. Who of us have not had a day when some argument or negative feeling was all we could think about? When we were tormented by a family member or the atmosphere at home wasn’t peaceful. Often, the resolution comes when we find away to replace that negative spirit with one of peace, understanding and forgiving. Luckily, there are several ways to regain that spirit in our homes and with our families. These include scripture study, spending quality time together listening to good music and a variety of other ways.

One major way to maintain a level of peace at home is to attend the temple. Elder Gary Stevenson of the Seventy said “There exists a righteous unity between the temple and the home. Understanding the eternal nature of the temple will draw you to your family; understanding the eternal nature of the family will draw you to the temple."

President Boyd K. Packer counseled: “Say the word temple. Say it quietly and reverently. Say it over and over again. Temple. Temple. Temple. Add the word holy. Holy Temple. Say it as though it were capitalized, no matter where it appears in the sentence.

“Temple. One other word is equal in importance to a Latter-day Saint. Home. Put the words holy temple and home together, and you have described the house of the Lord!”12

We all know from experience that creating a successful home environment takes a lot of work and cooperation. If the temple is the house of the Lord, then he has given us an example of how our own homes could be. But when we wonder how to improve our lives at home, do we think to compare our homes to temples?

Elder Stevenson shared the following experience: Recently, in a stake conference, all present were invited by the visiting authority, Elder Glen Jenson, an Area Seventy, to take a virtual tour of their homes using their spiritual eyes. I would like to invite each of you to do this also. Wherever your home may be and whatever its configuration, the application of eternal gospel principles within its walls is universal. Let’s begin. Imagine that you are opening your front door and walking inside your home. What do you see, and how do you feel? Is it a place of love, peace, and refuge from the world, as is the temple? Is it clean and orderly? As you walk through the rooms of your home, do you see uplifting images which include appropriate pictures of the temple and the Savior? Is your bedroom or sleeping area a place for personal prayer? Is your gathering area or kitchen a place where food is prepared and enjoyed together, allowing uplifting conversation and family time? Are scriptures found in a room where the family can study, pray, and learn together? Can you find your personal gospel study space? Does the music you hear or the entertainment you see, online or otherwise, offend the Spirit? Is the conversation uplifting and without contention? That concludes our tour. Perhaps you, as I, found a few spots that need some “home improvement”—hopefully not an “extreme home makeover.”

Whether our living space is large or small, humble or extravagant, there is a place for each of these gospel priorities in each of our homes.”

As we know from experience in our own homes, life isn’t always peaceful. While I can take the time to sit in silence in the temple, silence can be hard to come by at home. While the temple is clean and orderly, sometimes at home the dishes are undone, or toys are left out, or clutter accumulates. Some days we may feel that there simply isn’t time to do the spiritual things that we know we should. However, these things do not mean that the spirit of the temple can’t reside with our families. Or that when we lose that spirit, we can’t gain it back.
In Doctrine and covenants 109:8 we are counseled: Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing, and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God. This description can apply to the Lord’s house our houses.

So, how do we more fully turn ourselves to the temple?

As pointed out by Elder Stevenson, The First Presidency has invited “adult members to have a current temple recommend and visit the temple more often” where time and circumstance permit and encouraged members “to replace some leisure activities with temple service.” They also encouraged “newer members and youth of the Church who are 12 years of age and older to live worthy to assist in this great work by serving as proxies for baptisms and confirmations.” Even our young children have been encouraged to visit the temple grounds and touch the temple. President Thomas S. Monson once counseled, “As we touch the temple, the temple will touch us.”

One thing that has helped our family is to have a picture of the temple in our home. My three year old daughter knows that the building in the picture is a special place called the temple where mom and dad go. The picture reminds all of us of the spirit of the Lord.

While the temple can help us to create peace in our earthly homes, it is the eternal nature of the family that is foremost in our temple covenants. President Boyd K. Packer stated, “The ultimate purpose of all we teach is to unite parents and children in faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, that they are happy at home, sealed in an eternal marriage, linked to their generations, and assured of exaltation in the presence of our Heavenly Father.”

Elder Russel M Neilson shared the following story: I remember well an experience I had as a passenger in a small two-propeller airplane. One of its engines suddenly burst open and caught on fire. The propeller of the flaming engine wasn’t moving anymore. As we dropped in a steep spiral dive toward the earth, I expected to die. Some of the passengers screamed in hysterical panic.

Miraculously the steep dive put out the flames. Then, by starting up the other engine, the pilot was able to get the plane under control and bring us down safely.

Throughout that ordeal, though I “knew” death was coming, I was not afraid to die. I remember a sense of returning home to meet ancestors for whom I had done temple work. I remember my deep sense of gratitude that my sweetheart and I had been sealed eternally to each other and to our children, born and raised in the covenant.

The Lord has said, “Fear not even unto death; for in this world your joy is not full, but in me your joy is full” (D&C 101:36).

I realized that day that my marriage in the temple was my most important accomplishment. Honors bestowed upon me by men could not approach the inner peace provided by sealings performed in the house of the Lord.”

Again, as Elder Stevenson said: “Understanding the eternal nature of the temple will draw you to your family; understanding the eternal nature of the family will draw you to the temple.”
When I study the relationship between family and the temple, I know that there are great blessings that come from starting a family with a temple marriage. I am grateful to have had that experience and I hope a temple marriage for my children. I also know that there are many successful, wonderful, loving marriages that exist without being temple marriages and that marriage in the temple does not alone guarantee happiness.

My grandmother has always been a member of the church. She married my grandfather in 1954. And they have been married for almost 55 years. They have had a good life, they’ve traveled together, raised three sons together, and experience much of the success that life has to offer. My grandfather joined the church in 1997, over 40 years after their marriage.

My grandmother has mentioned that especially at first, it was difficult to hear people at church talk about the temple. But, by attending the temple herself a calm peaceful feeling came into her life. My Grandfather went through the Salt Lake Temple on the 21st of March, 1998. On that same day, my Grandparents were sealed and their three sons were sealed to them. My grandmother said the following: “We now have an eternal family as long as we all remain faithful. That had to be the happiest day of my life. Kneeling at the altar across from Grandpa and the boys with us was beyond joyful. Many, many happy tears were shed. I was treated at the temple as though I were a new bride. I have enjoyed a completely different life following this. It has been so good to have a companion that takes me to the temple, rather than going by myself. And I went many times alone. We now share in this wonderful blessing. . . Grandpa has been "on the run" spiritually every since and I am now running to keep up.”

I love my grandparents deeply and now we are linked in an eternal chain. We were a happy family before. I loved my grandfather before he joined this church and I love him now. The knowledge that we have the potential to be together as an extended family forever brings a new joy and peace for me. I have felt the unity of my extended family grow and know that the temple has been a central part of the unity we now feel. My grandmother has left me a legacy of love, patience and faith by holding true to her beliefs even without knowing how her personal story would turn out. Understanding that my family can be eternal helps me keep those standards that allow me to enter the temple. When I attend the temple, I am reminded that my family can be eternal.

I would like to close with a story shared by Elder Stevenson: He recalls a Saturday when his Father picked him and his sons up for a Saturday drive. They went beyond the city to a place where the young boys had never been before. The grandfather asked “Do you think we are lost?” Then Elder Stevenson says:

Followed by a moment of silent assessment came the profound reply of a young child. “Look,” he said, pointing his finger. “Grandpa, you are never lost when you can see the temple.” Our eyes turned, focusing with his, seeing the sun glistening off the spires of the Logan Temple, far across the valley.

You are never lost when you can see the temple. The temple will provide direction for you and your family in a world filled with chaos. It is an eternal guidepost which will help you from getting lost in the “mist of darkness.”1 It is the house of the Lord.2 It is a place where covenants are made and eternal ordinances are performed.

I would like to add my testimony that we are never lost when we can spiritually see the temple. Let us make our homes a place where the spirit of the temple can be felt and used as a guidepost to prevent us from becoming lost.

Testify.

Ether 7-15 Desert Hills ward 12 7 08

This was a great first lesson for me to teach. Here are a few things I learned.

Ether was born to a father who lived his whole life in captivity. However, his Grandfather was king. This means that Ether was of a noble line. Traditionally, in the book of Ether, sons who have fathers who used to be king, wage war in an attempt to restore their father to the throne. Ether was born with every reason to be angry and vengeful at his situation, yet, made a conscience decision to follow the Lord rather than the tradition of the land.

Shiz was a puzzle piece in setting up the destruction of the Jaredite people because he was such a polarizing leader. Either you were with Shiz, Coriantumr, or you were dead (or your name was Ether and you were hiding in a cave). The BOM institute manual says:

“The insane wars of the Jaredite chiefs ended in the complete annihilation of both sides, with the kings the last to go. The same thing had almost happened earlier in the days of Akish, when a civil war between him and his sons reduced the population to thirty. . . . This all seems improbable to us, but two circumstances peculiar to Asiatic warfare explain why the phenomenon is by no means without parallel: (1) Since every war is strictly a personal contest between kings, the battle must continue until one of the kings falls or is taken. (2) And yet things are so arranged that the king must be very last to fall, the whole army existing for the sole purpose of defending his person. This is clearly seen in the game of chess, in which all pieces are expendable except the king, who can never be taken. ‘The shah in chess,’ writes M. E. Moghadam, ‘is not killed and does not die. The game is terminated when the shah is pressed into a position from which he cannot escape. This is in line with all good traditions of chess playing, and back of it the tradition of capturing the king in war rather than slaying him whenever that could be accomplished.’ You will recall the many instances in the book of Ether in which kings were kept in prison for many years but not killed. In the code of medieval chivalry, taken over from central Asia, the person of the king is sacred, and all others must perish in his defense. After the battle the victor may do what he will with his rival—and infinitely ingenious tortures were sometimes devised for the final reckoning—but as long as the war went on, the king could not die, for whenever he did die, the war was over, no matter how strong his surviving forces. Even so, Shiz was willing to spare all of Coriantumr’s subjects if he could only behead Coriantumr with his own sword. In that case, of course, the subjects would become his own. The circle of warriors, ‘large and mighty men as to the strength of men’ . . . that fought around their kings to the last man, represent that same ancient institution, the sacred ‘shieldwall,’ which our own Norse ancestors took over from Asia and which meets us again and again in the wars of the tribes, in which on more than one occasion the king actually was the last to perish. So let no one think the final chapter of Ether is at all fanciful or overdrawn. Wars of extermination are a standard institution in the history of Asia” (Hugh Nibley, Lehi in the Desert and the World of the Jaredites, pp. 235–36).

Finally, my favorite quote. Read Ether 15: 1-6. Coriantumr writes an epistle to Shiz, offering him his whole kingdom if he will let the war stop. Shiz replies, if you let me kill you, I'll stop. Coriantumr refuses the offer and the fighting continues. Elder Maxwell said:

“There for us to ponder also is a clear case in which personal pride and rage kept two principals from acting for the welfare of their people. Shiz insisted on “getting his man,” even if it meant the destruction of his own people; and Coriantumr offered his kingdom but not his life for his people. Each said, in effect, that the ultimate object of his selfishness was nonnegotiable! Neither was willing to play the role of the intervenor and say of the circumstances, “This has gone too far—enough is enough.” How often on a lesser scale in human affairs do tinier tragedies occur for want of this selfless intervention? How often do we withhold the one thing that is needed to make a difference?”

I recommend the whole talk: Three Jaredits: Contrasting Contemporaries by Elder Neal A. Maxwell.

Talk given in Desert Hills ward 11/23/08

At about ten years of age I was learning the art of baking chocolate chip cookies. I wasn’t a highly skilled chef, but I had made this recipe several times and thought I was an expert.

On this particular day, I was mixing a batch of cookies under the indirect supervision of my dad; My mom was out for the afternoon and he was in the next room on his computer.

Things were going great until I came to the point in the recipe that called for baking soda. The recipe called for 1 ½ cups of baking soda. I got it out of the pantry, started to measure, and quickly realized that I didn’t have enough. So I asked my dad if he could help me find some in food storage, which he did.

As I headed back to the kitchen he nonchalantly asked me, “How much baking soda does the recipe call for?” I told him, a bit proudly, “one and a half cups.” He got a look on his face and in his “parent voice” asked, “Are you sure about that?” I replied “ya,” rolled my eyes, and went back into the kitchen to finish my cookies.

Finally, all the ingredients had been added and I was ready to eat my first bite of cookie dough. I took a huge first bite and immediately, I knew something was wrong.

Since then, in all my years of cooking, I have never come across a cookie recipe that actually calls for 1 ½ cups of baking soda. A more common amount of baking soda, and the amount the recipe actually called for, is a teaspoon and a half. A teaspoon is a pinch, while a cup is a handful. If you are at all familiar with baking soda, you know it is very, very bitter and I had ruined my cookies.

I did what any ten year-old would do. I stormed into the study where my dad was working at demanded “Why didn’t you tell me the recipe called for 1 ½ teaspoons BEFORE I added 1 ½ cups?” He smiled, and responded, “You didn’t ask me.”

Looking back on this experience I am forced to admit that my dad was not responsible for the bitter cookies. I had many opportunities to make that batch delicious.

First, I did not read the instructions carefully. This can translate into our spiritual lives. Spiritual speaking, many of us have heard the scriptures referred to as an instruction manual. Had I read the instructions carefully, even though I had read them before, I may not have added the wrong measurement.

My second mistake, I did not listen to ‘the voice” that my dad used in warning. Again, spiritually speaking, we have often heard the Holy Ghost referred to as the still small voice. It is a voice used for warning, teaching, and inspiring.

My third mistake, and the one I wish to address today, I did not communicate effectively with my father.

In October Conference, Elder Bednar, talked about prayer for the second conference in a row. In his talk, titled “Pray Always” the first principle he addressed was “Prayer becomes more meaningful as we counsel with the Lord in all our doings (see Alma 37:37).” He says “Simply stated, prayer is communication to Heavenly Father from His sons and daughters on earth. “As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God (namely, God is our Father, and we are his children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part” (Bible Dictionary, “Prayer,” 752). We are commanded to pray always to the Father in the name of the Son (see 3 Nephi 18:19–20).”

Elder Bednard then goes on to explain that all things were created spiritually, before temporally. He says, “meaningful morning prayer is an important element in the spiritual creation of each day—and precedes the temporal creation or the actual execution of the day.”

This means just as the scriptures say all things are created first spiritually, we can help spiritually create our day. In the morning, we thank, ask for things need, and then council with the Lord about our day. We can bring up anything important to us, a test a school, a project at work, our relationships with our family, or anything else we are concerned about. At the end of the day we again kneel before our Heavenly Father and let him know how it went—taking the time to thank him for the help with the test or project or let him know how things went with our family. Or, in some cases, taking the time to acknowledge that things may not have gone how we had hoped and asking for guidance on overcoming that trial.

Elder Bendar explains that prayers build on each other, with the evening prayer being a continuation of the Morning Prayer. He says “Morning and evening prayers—and all of the prayers in between—are not unrelated, discrete events; rather, they are linked together each day and across days, weeks, months, and even years. This is in part how we fulfill the scriptural admonition to “pray always” (Luke 21:36; 3 Nephi 18:15, 18; D&C 31:12).”

I personally have found that the first step in linking my morning and evening prayers is to actually have morning and evening prayers. I know that when I am in this routine, I feel closer to my Heavenly Father and know that he is helping me with my day.

The second principle Elder Bednar discussed is: Prayer becomes more meaningful as we express heartfelt gratitude.

This time of year, with the Thanksgiving holiday approaching, is an excellent time to practice heartfelt gratitude in our prayers. For me, one of the most memorable stories on the need for gratitude was given by President Monson he said ““The United States Post Office dead-letter department receives annually thousands and thousands of children’s pre-Christmas letters addressed to Santa Claus asking for things. After it was all over one year, a single, solitary letter thanking Santa Claus was received. Could this be one of the problems of this troubled world; that people think only of getting—not giving? Of receiving—and not even expressing their gratitude for that which they do receive?” (Friend, Nov 1975,).

This same sentiment can apply to our prayers. It is good to ask our Heavenly Father for things that we need. It is also important to thank him for the things we have. In his talk, Elder Bednar shares a story about hosting a member of the quorum of the twelve in his home. He and his wife and just received word that a close friend had died. The initial reaction was to pray for the surviving family. The visiting general authority, not knowing about the death, suggested that Sister Bednar only offer thanks in her prayer.

Elder Bednar says: “Sister Bednar responded in faith to the direction she received. She thanked Heavenly Father for meaningful and memorable experiences with this dear friend. She communicated sincere gratitude for the Holy Ghost as the Comforter and for the gifts of the Spirit that enable us to face adversity and to serve others. Most importantly, she expressed appreciation for the plan of salvation, for the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, for His Resurrection, and for the ordinances and covenants of the restored gospel which make it possible for families to be together forever.

Our family learned from that experience a great lesson about the power of thankfulness in meaningful prayer. Because of and through that prayer, our family was blessed with inspiration about a number of issues that were pressing upon our minds and stirring in our hearts.”

The final principle Elder Bednar spoke about is: Prayer becomes more meaningful as we pray for others with real intent and a sincere heart.

He uses the example of the Savior’s ministry on the American continent. During this time, the Savior prayed for the people and encouraged them to pray for understanding. He healed the sick, taught all those present, and sincerely prayed for them. In 3 Nephi 17:17 it says “And no tongue can speak, neither can there be written by any man, neither can the hearts of men conceive so great and marvelous things as we both saw and heard Jesus speak; and no one can conceive of the joy which filled our souls at the time we heard him pray for us unto the Father.” This verse explains that those people felt the impact of the Savior’s prayer so strongly that their souls were filled with joy.

Elder Bednar then asks, “Do our spouses, children, and other family members likewise feel the power of our prayers offered unto the Father for their specific needs and desires? Do those we serve hear us pray for them with faith and sincerity? If those we love and serve have not heard and felt the influence of our earnest prayers in their behalf, then the time to repent is now.”

Prayer is a way for us to effectively communicate with our Father in Heaven, express our sincere gratitude, and bless the lives of others.

In my personal story of the ruined chocolate chip cookies, I would like to highlight the fact that my dad never left. He was not hovering over my shoulder, stopping me from making mistakes or forcing me to do the right thing—I had my agency. But, he was always in the next room, within the sound of my voice and would have helped me if I had asked.

I am particularly grateful to know that my Heavenly Father is always within the sound of my voice. He doesn’t leave us. Sometimes he lets us make mistakes or go through trials so that we can improve ourselves and be stronger, and hopefully we learn.

Obviously, not all experiences are resolved as quickly as cleaning up a batch of cookies. But regardless of the circumstance, whether sweet or bitter, He is there, always within the sound of your voice. By learning to communicate more effectively with Him we can discover the power of meaningful prayer and the blessings it offers in our lives”

Testify.

Sharing Time-- given 9/28/08 in Riverside Ward

Begin by welcoming the children to sharing time and commenting on their primary program.

Display a shoe box. Who can tell me what this is? [A shoe box] Pull out a paper girl and boy Sunday shoe. Do you have special shoes for Sunday? What type of things do we do in our Sunday Shoes?

Pull a paper flip flop out of the shoe box. What kind of shoe is this? What types of things do you do in flip flops?

Pull a sneaker/athletic shoe out of the shoe box. What kind of shoe is this? What types of things do you do in sneakers?

Pull a cowboy boot out of the box. What kind of shoe is this? What types of things do people do when wearing cowboy boots?

Share a story called Muddy Boots in your own words—abbreviate where possible. Have a pair of paper boots prepared that can act as a visual aid during the story.

What did we learn from that story? [It’s good to help others, helping others is more important than shiny boots, Heavenly Father wants us to help others.] The cowboy in the story was acting as if the Savior stood beside him.

“I am going to show you some more shoes, but instead of telling me what you do when you are wearing them, tell me How would your actions be different if you knew the Savior stood beside you?”

What if you were at home, maybe wearing slippers? How would you behave differently if the Savior came to visit?

What if you were wearing your school shoes and the Savior came to your school? What would you do differently? Would you sit by Him at lunch? Would He want to visit you in class?

What if you were barefoot at the swimming pool? What would you do differently?

We would behave differently if the Savior was beside us—we would try to always be better people. The Savior may not be physically standing by us, but He is always watching over us. Sometimes we make mistakes. Does that mean Jesus doesn’t love us? No. Jesus always loves us.

Heavenly Father also loves us and we can always talk to Him and He will always listen. How do we talk to him? [Pray.] Bishop H. Burke said “I want you to know that I know that whenever one of Heavenly Father’s children kneels and talk to him, he listens. I know this as well as I know anything in this world—That Heavenly Father listens to every prayer for his children. . .No matter what we may have done wrong, he listens to us. I also believe he answers us. (Ensign, June 1981, 73) When we pray for help, Heavenly Father helps us make the right choices.

We are going to discuss ways that Heavenly Father and Jesus love us. We will pass around the shoe box until the music stops (like hot potato—these are the same shoes you took out earlier), that person will get to choose a shoe. On the back of the shoe is a clue you can use to guess the song we will sing. (I had the songs listed on the chalk board, so it was like a multiple-choice question.)

Flip flop—Joseph Smith JS-H 1:16-17

"We thank the, Oh God, for a Prophet"

Athletic shoe— Enos (Enos 1: 3-5)

“A Child’s Prayer.”

Boot—The story of muddy boots

"If the Savior Stood Beside Me."

Slipper— Ammon Alma 17: 22-25

“When Were Helping”

School shoe boy—Matthew 5:16

"Do as I’m Doing"

Barefoot—Joseph Smith testified that “the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.” (History of the Church, 4:461.)

"Book of Mormon Stories"

Girls Sunday Shoe—Mosiah 28:1-2

"Called to Serve"

Boy Sunday shoe— Article of faith #8 (We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.)

"Scripture Power"

Testify, mentioning that the Savior loves us, no matter where we are, what we are doing, or which shoes we are wearing. Refer back to the story “Muddy Boots.” We will hand out three paper boots to each child with instruction to do three good deeds and leave the cowboy boot behind.

Muddy Boots

Marli Walker, “Muddy Boots,” Friend, Apr 1998, 28

When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God (Mosiah 2:17).

Daniel’s eyes lit up as he tore the last of the wrapping paper off the box. He lifted off the lid, then shouted, “Yippee! They’re just what I wanted!”

Inside the box were a pair of shiny, new cowboy boots. They were black and had a white design stitched on them. Daniel had wanted cowboy boots for a long time.

“Try them on,” his five-year-old brother, Steven, said.

“Yes! Yes! Try them on!” echoed Daniel’s three-year-old sister, Sara. Carefully he lifted the right boot out of the box. He turned it over in his hand, feeling the smooth black leather.

“I hope you like them,” Mom said. “Dad thought that they would be just right for you.”

Daniel nodded happily. “Wow!” he exclaimed as he admired them. He gently pulled the boot onto his right foot, lifted the other boot out of the box, and pulled it onto his left foot. He wiggled his toes inside the boots. Then he stood up, stomped his feet, and jumped twice. They fit perfectly!

“It looks like they’re just the right size,” Dad said.

“Thanks, Mom and Dad! They’re just what I wanted!” Daniel leaned forward on his feet, then rocked back. He balanced on one foot, then the other.

“I think he likes them,” Dad whispered to Mom.

“Just be careful with them,” Mom cautioned. “If you get them in the water or get them muddy or scuffed up, they won’t look new anymore.”

“I’ll take real good care of my boots!” Daniel promised as he bent over and ran his hand along the shiny black toe.

He did take good care of his cowboy boots. He always jumped over any water on the sidewalk. He never skipped through any mud puddles, and he always walked very carefully so that he wouldn’t make scuff marks on them. Every night when he took them off, he shined them with a soft cloth, then placed them side by side next to his bed. The cowboy boots stayed black, shiny, and new-looking.

Early one morning, as Daniel was finishing his breakfast, his mother asked him if he would go to the post office and mail a letter for her.

“Sure, Mom.”

“Be sure you wear a jacket, Daniel. It looks like the wind is picking up.”

After he put on his jacket and hat, he took the letter from his mother and started out for the post office.

The sky was overcast, it was windy, and it looked like it might rain. But Daniel was so happy to be wearing his new boots, that he didn’t notice. He skipped down the sidewalk and soon reached the post office. He mailed Mom’s letter and started home. The wind was blowing hard, so he zipped up his jacket and adjusted his hat so that it would not blow off. Then he started to jog. He passed Mr. Campbell’s bakery and Mrs. Goodson’s little sewing shop. He hurried past the Tuckers’ house and the Andersons’. By then, the wind was so strong that leaves and bits of paper were flying through the air, and dust was getting in his eyes.

Suddenly he stopped. He saw something very strange—a large white object flying by him! He blinked the dust out of his eyes and looked again. The flying white object was a man’s shirt! It fluttered, twisted, and flopped, then came to a stop right in a huge mud puddle!

“Catch that shirt!” A breathless voice exclaimed behind him. “I’ve been chasing it for five minutes! Oh, look at it now!”

Daniel turned around just as Mrs. Tucker caught up to him.

“I hung my laundry out on the clothesline this morning,” she said, panting from her run. “The breeze was quite nice, and I thought that it would dry my clothes quickly.” She took a deep breath. “But it suddenly got so windy! Now look at the shirt!” she moaned. “My husband needed to wear it tonight. Oh, now what am I going to do?” She threw her hands up in the air.

“I’ll get it for you, Mrs. Tucker,” Daniel quickly volunteered.

Mrs. Tucker’s face brightened. “Could you do that?” She looked hopeful. “I have to get the rest of my laundry off the clothesline before anything else blows away! Thank you so much!” Mrs. Tucker was already hurrying home.

Daniel stepped cautiously toward the huge mud puddle. It was starting to rain, and he didn’t want any mud splashing on his boots. The shirt had landed in the middle of the muddy water. He bent down and tried to reach it, but his arms weren’t long enough. He stood up and looked around for a long stick that he could pull the shirt out with. There were no long sticks anywhere, but he saw a short one a few feet away. He picked it up. It might work, he thought.

He squatted and reached out over the puddle as far as he could, but the stick wasn’t quite long enough. He inched closer to the water and stretched the stick out a little farther. But it was just too short. The shirt was still out of reach. He tried again, stretching the tiniest bit farther. …

Suddenly Daniel lost his balance. He tried to keep himself from falling, but he couldn’t stop himself and fell face first into the muddy water!

He stood up, grabbed the shirt, and jumped out of the dirty puddle. He was soaked! Mud and water dripped from his head and arms. His hat was crooked and it had dirty water dripping from the brim. As he wiped a dirty sleeve across his face, he looked down at his feet. His wonderful boots were wet and covered with a thick layer of mud! Daniel couldn’t even see the white stitching on the sides. He began stomping his feet on the sidewalk to shake the mud off of his boots, but not much came off. He wiped his jacket sleeve across the toe of each boot. It came away muddy, and it didn’t help much.

Upset, Daniel tucked the dirty white shirt under his arm and walked slowly to Mrs. Tucker’s house. It was still raining a little, but he didn’t even notice. All he could think about was his boots. No longer were they black, shiny, and new-looking. Now they’re ruined! he thought.

Daniel returned the shirt to a very grateful Mrs. Tucker. She thanked him and gave him a homemade chocolate chip cookie. He took a little bite as he walked home. But even though chocolate chip cookies were his favorite, he could barely taste it. All he could think about was his boots.

He felt so miserable that he didn’t see the little girl standing under a tree. He did hear her crying, though. It was Katie. She played with his sister, Sara. “What’s wrong, Katie?” he asked.

“My kitten climbed this tree when it started to get windy, and I can’t get her down.”

“I’ll help you.” Katie pointed to the top of the tree where a frightened kitten was clinging to a branch, and Daniel started to climb the tree. The wet branches grabbed at his jacket and scraped his legs and hands as he climbed toward the kitten. Finally he reached her. He gently lifted her off the branch, tucked her into the front of his jacket, and climbed down the tree.

Katie was very happy to have her pet safe and sound. She thanked Daniel and ran off cradling the kitten in her arms.

Daniel felt good. He was glad that he had helped Katie. But as he looked down to zip his jacket, he saw his boots—they were not only wet and muddy, they were also scratched and scuffed! Daniel sighed sadly. He was sure that his parents wouldn’t be very happy when they saw his boots.

He was going up the lane to his house, when he saw Dad trying to herd the new lambs back into their pen. “Do you need some help, Dad?” Dad gave him a long look. He noticed Daniel’s dirty face and muddy, wet clothes. He saw the scratched cowboy boots. “It looks like you’ve had a busy afternoon.”

Daniel glumly nodded.

“Well, I could sure use some help getting these lambs back into their pen. There’s a hole in the fence, and they found it!”

Daniel climbed over the fence into the lamb pen. Then he took the lambs when his father handed them over the fence. Soon all the lambs were back where they belonged. Then he helped his father fasten new wire across the hole in the fence so that the lambs couldn’t get out again.

“Thanks for the help, Son. Let’s go back to the house. It looks like it’s going to rain really hard in a few minutes!”

Daniel climbed up the fence and swung his leg over. He heard a ripping sound. He looked at his right foot in dismay. A loose wire had torn three inches on the side of his right boot. His eyes filled with tears.

Dad helped him down from the fence. “I think I can fix that with some heavy thread,” he said as he examined the tear.

Daniel just nodded slowly. His cowboy boots were really ruined now, even though he had tried hard to take care of them.

Later, in the warm kitchen, Daniel sat at the table with a cup of hot chocolate. It tasted good, but it didn’t do much to warm his spirits.

Mom put down the dish towel she had been using and sat by him. “Do you want to tell me what happened to your boots?” she asked gently.

Daniel told her about getting the shirt out of the mud puddle for Mrs. Tucker, about rescuing Katie’s kitten, and about helping Dad put the lambs back into their pen. “I’m sorry, Mom,” he said as a tear rolled down his cheek. “I really tried hard to take care of my boots.”

“I’ve noticed how well you take care of your boots,” she told him. “I’ve seen how gently you polish them and how carefully you take them off and put them away. It makes me very happy to know that you are so responsible.” She reached over and took his hand. “I’m also very pleased that you helped Mrs. Tucker, Katie, and Daddy today. Your boots may not be as shiny as they used to be, but it was only because you were serving others. That’s what our Savior wants us to do.

“You were always happy to wear your new boots because you had taken care of them. They may not look as new or as clean as they used to now, but every time you wear them, you will remember why.” She reached over and hugged him. “You know, Daniel, helping others is more important than clean, shiny boots.”

Daniel thought about that and felt happier.

“Let’s go clean your boots,” Mom said. “Then Daddy can sew up the tear. Of course,” she said with a twinkle in her eye, “they won’t be as bright or shiny as they used to be, but we’ll know the reason why, won’t we?”

“Yes—my boots are muddy because I was helping people, like Jesus wants me to!”

Talk given at Stake Confrence, 5/18/08

Talk given at Stake Confrence, 5/18/08

Nick was a boy with many blessings. Unfortunately, Nick was so finicky that sometimes, his family called him “Picky Nicky.” He was picky about his clothes. He was picky about his toys. And he was especially picky about his food.

One day Mom made Nick’s favorite dish—macaroni and cheese. She served it to him in his favorite bowl, gave him his favorite spoon to eat it with, and expected him to say, “Yum! Yum! My favorite!” But all Nick said was, “It isn’t cheesy enough.”

Mom took a deep breath, “Nick, I have had enough! You don’t like gelatin because it keeps falling off your spoon. You won’t eat tomatoes because they have seeds. Now you’re even complaining about macaroni and cheese! Starting tomorrow, you are in charge of the cooking!”

When Nick went downstairs the next morning, Mom, Dad, and Tyler were already at the kitchen table.

“We’re waiting for breakfast. We would like some pancakes, please,” Mom said.

“I don’t know how to make pancakes. How about cereal?”

“I don’t want cereal today,” Mom said.

“Me either,” Dad said.

“I want pancakes,” Tyler said.

“Get the pancake mix out of the pantry and read the directions on the box,” Mom said. “I’ll help you if you don’t understand them.”

Nick was upset. Why couldn’t they just eat cereal? But everyone was staring at him, so he got out the pancake mix.

Mom helped him figure out what to do, but it still wasn’t easy. As he put the pancake mix into a big bowl, he spilled some onto the counter. And when he cracked two eggs into the mix, pieces of shell fell into the bowl too. It took a while to fish them out—yuck! Finally he added the milk and stirred everything together. He scooped up some batter with a measuring cup and poured it on the hot, oiled griddle Mom had gotten ready for him.

“Remember,” Dad said, “I like thin, little pancakes—lots of them.”

“And I like fat, round pancakes,” Tyler said.

“I want big, brown, crispy ones,” Mom said.

After a few minutes, Nick looked at the pancakes on the griddle. None of them was thin and little, or fat and round, or brown and crispy. One pancake was flat but big. Another was round but lumpy. And the biggest one was brown, all right, but it looked soggy in the center. He put the pancakes on three plates. He gave one to Dad, another to Mom, and the last to Tyler. Then he got out the syrup and butter and put them on the table.

“This isn’t thin and little,” Dad said. “It’s flat and big and not even round. And there’s only one!”

“My pancake looks lumpy,” Tyler said.

“And mine looks soggy in the center,” Mom said. “Maybe you’d better make some more for us.”

“Maybe they’ll be OK once you put on the butter and syrup.”

“We’ll try them,” Mom said.

Nick was getting upset. They were just being picky. “Oh!” He thought, that is what I do.

While the rest of the family ate their pancakes, Nick ate his favorite cereal in his favorite bowl with his favorite spoon. No one said anything more.

After breakfast Nick helped Mom clean up the kitchen. As he was putting the last plate into the dishwasher, Mom was wiping off the table.

“Mom,” he said softly, “will you make the sandwiches for lunch? Any kind will be OK.”

Mom smiled. “OK, Nick,” she said.

This story of “Picky Nicky,” was adapted from a story that appeared in the Feb 1993 issue of the Friend.

Today I am speaking mostly to the primary children. I am proud of all the things our children do to help those around them. I have heard children tell stories of sharing the gospel, helping at home, and loving their brothers and sisters. In primary each child is learning that they are a son or daughter of God and they can follow His example.

I would like to talk about one way primary children can help strengthen their families. That is by saying thank-you.

President Hinckley told us, “There are two little words in the English language that perhaps mean more than all others. They are “thank you.” (A Prophet’s Counsel and Prayer for Youth. Ensign Jan 2001)

When you say thank you to your family for the things they do for you, your whole family is blessed. When my son says “Thank you” for taking him to the park, I know that I will want to take him fun places again. This week, after I finished unloading the dishwasher, my almost 2 year old daughter peered into the empty dishwasher, clapped her hands and said “Yea Mommy.” The times that my children are thankful are the times that a spirit of peace can be felt in our home. You can help bring that same feeling into your home by saying Thank you.

Saying thank you is a way to show your family that you love them.

One primary song has very simple words, but a powerful message. This song is called “I am glad for many things.” (pg 151)

I am glad for many things, many things, many things.

I am glad for many things that are mine today.

Thank you, thank you, my heart sings, my heart sings, my heart sings.

Thank you for the many things that are mine today.

Heavenly Father does not want us to be “Picky” like the beginning of the story of Picky Nicky. He wants us to recognize the things others do for us, just like Nick was at the end of the story. In D&C 46:32, Heavenly Father tells us “And ye must give thanks unto God in the Spirit for whatsoever blessing ye are blessed with.” And in D&C 59:7 he says Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things.

In the 2007 April Confrence, Sister Bonnie Parkin shared the following story. “A family was going through a difficult time. It was hard for them not to focus on their challenges. The mother wrote: “Our world had completely crumpled, so we turned to Heavenly Father for guidance. Almost immediately we realized that we were surrounded by goodness and were being cheered on from every side. We began as a family to express our gratitude to each other as well as to the Lord daily. A close friend pointed out to me that our family’s ‘blessing basket’ was overflowing. From that conversation came a sort of game, which my children and I grew to love. Before family prayer each night we would talk about how our day had gone and then share with each other all of the many blessings that had been added to our ‘blessing basket.’ The more we expressed gratitude, the more there was to be grateful for. We felt the love of the Lord in a significant way as opportunities for growth presented themselves.”

The family in Sister Parkin’s story grew closer together as they expressed gratitude.

Primary children, please think right now of someone in your family that loves you and serves you. The next time you talk to that person, please tell them “thank you.” You will be happier as you thank your family.

Parents of primary children, please encourage your children to regularly say thank you to their primary teachers, Cub Scout leaders, achievement day leaders, and all the other members who serves them in primary. Your children will have a better experience in primary if they appreciate their teachers and leaders.

All of us receive blessings for which we can thank our Father in Heaven. As we look for things each day to be thankful for, our lives will be happier. Each day when we pray, we can thank our Heavenly Father for sending Jesus Christ into the world and making it possible for us to live with him again. We can thank him for church, the world, and our families. Children have the wonderful ability to be grateful for the small things in life. We can learn from them when they thank their Heavenly Father for such things as a friend to play with on the playground, the night time story that was read to them, or the ice cream they had for dessert.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank my Heavenly Father. I am grateful for the atonement and the opportunity it gives me to keep trying again. I am thankful for the knowledge that I am a child of God. I am thankful to know that all of us are children of our Heavenly Father. I am grateful for everyone who holds and magnifies a calling in primary. I am so grateful to Heavenly Father for loving me even during the times I find myself to be picky rather than thankful. May we all take the time to express our thanks to our families, our teachers and our Heavenly Father.

Notes for RS lesson given on 5/4/08

The following is a story given by Carlfred Broderick, as written in the book “My Parents Married on a Dare.” Brother Broderick has served as Stake President and spoken at Education week.

While I was serving as a stake president, the event occurred that I want to use as

the keynote to my remarks. I was sitting on the stand at a combined meeting of the stake Primary board and stake Young Women's board where they were jointly inducting from the Primary into the Young Women's organization the eleven-year-old girls who that year had made the big step. They had a lovely program. It was one of those fantastic, beautiful presentations—based on the Wizard of Oz, or a take-off on the Wizard of Oz, where Dorothy, an eleven-year-old girl, was coming down the yellow brick road together with the tin woodman, the cowardly lion, and the scarecrow. They were singing altered lyrics about the gospel. And Oz, which was one wall of the cultural hall, looked very much like the Los Angeles Temple. They really took off down that road. There were no weeds on that road; there were no munchkins; there were no misplaced tiles; there was no wicked witch of the west. That was one antiseptic yellow brick road, and it was very, very clear that once they got to Oz, they had it made. It was all sewed up. Following that beautiful presentation with all the snappy tunes and skipping and so on, came a sister who I swear was sent over from Hollywood central casting. (I do not

believe she was in my stake; I never saw her before in my life.) She looked as if she had come right off the cover of a fashion magazine—every hair in place—with a photogenic returned missionary husband who looked like he came out of central casting and two or three, or heaven knows how many, photogenic children, all of whom came out of central casting or Kleenex ads or whatever. She enthused over her temple marriage and how wonderful life was with her charming husband and her perfect children and that the young women too could look like her and have a husband like him and children like them if they would stick to the yellow brick road and live in Oz. It was a lovely, sort of tearjerking, event.

After the event was nearly over, the stake Primary president, who was conducting, made a grave strategic error. She turned to me and, pro forma, said, "President Broderick, isthere anything you would like to add to this lovely evening?" I said, "Yes, there is," and I don't think she has ever forgiven me. What I said was this,

"Girls, this has been a beautiful program. I commend the gospel with all of its auxiliaries

and the temple to you, but I do not want you to believe for one minute that if you keepall

the commandments and live as close to the Lord as you can and do everything right and fight off the entire priests quorum one by one and wait chastely for your missionary to return and pay your tithing and attend your meetings, accept calls from the bishop, and have a temple marriage, I do not want you to believe that bad things will not happen to you. And when that happens, I do not want you to say that God was not true. Or, to say, 'They promised me in Primary, they promised me when I was a Mia Maid, they promised me from the pulpit that if I were very, very good, I would be blessed. But the boy I want doesn't know I exist, or the missionary I've waited for and kept chaste so we both could go to the temple turned out to be a flake,' or far worse things than any of the above. Sad things—children who are sick or developmentally handicapped, husbands who are not faithful, illnesses that can cripple, or violence, betrayals, hurts, deaths, losses—when those things happen, do not say God is not keeping his promises to me. The gospel of Jesus Christ is not insurance against pain. It is resource in event of pain, and when that pain comes (and it will come because we came here on earth to have pain among other things), when it comes, rejoice that you have a resource to deal with your pain."

I don’t share this story to be a dooms-day predictor. In fact, there are many trials that we can avoid by living the gospel—trying our best to be honest, taking care of our bodies, striving for preparedness, and listening to the Holy Ghost can all help us avoid some of life’s problems. But, even with the gospel, none of us get through life without out some sorrow or pain, some of it quite severe. Our yellow brick roads have weeds. Sometimes, someone else has taken a jack hammer and ripped out a portion of our yellow bricks all together.

Today I’d like to talk about the Gospel of Jesus Christ as a resource in our lives when the inevitable happens.

Not speaking spiritually, but temporally, what comes to mind when I say “resource” or “natural resource?”

According to the dictionary a resource is “a source of supply, support, or aid, esp. one that can be readily drawn upon when needed.” The first thing that comes to my head is oil. We have heard so much about oil lately and the rising costs. Some of us have tried to limit our oil consumption. But when it comes down to it, we need oil as part of our modern lives and we are willing to pay high prices to get it. Eventually, we may switch to another resource. But, we always need some kind of resource for our lives to function.

I would like to ask each of you, have you ever had an experience in your life that allowed you to take one of the basic aspects of the gospel and use it as a resource. I will share one of my experiences while you think, and then I will ask if anyone would like to share.

Several years ago, my husband was a student and I worked at a doctor’s office. Our first son been born. For his program in school, Taylor was required to spend two months on an internship in a different state. We lived in Utah at the time and he elected to do his internship in Oklahoma while I stayed behind with Brayden.

I was not excited. I didn’t want to work and take care of Brayden by myself. Also, I had never lived by myself and was nervous about my safety. Before Taylor left, he gave me a blessing. In this blessing he told me that through the next two months, when trials arouse, I was to think of the scripture stories I knew and draw from their example.

I was raising a young child and wasn’t always the best at scripture study. But during this period of my life, the scriptures became a source of power and a resource to help me through those two months. And they were terrible months.

Ask if anyone would like to share.

President Uchtdorf in his talk “Have we not reason to Rejoice?” Shares one of his own “resource” experiences:

I remember a time when things didn’t look good for our family when I was a child. It was in the winter of 1944, one of the coldest during World War II. The war front was approaching our town, and my mother had to take us four children, leave all our possessions behind, and join the millions of fleeing refugees in a desperate search for a place to survive. Our father was still in the military, but he and Mother had agreed that if they were ever separated during the war, they would try to reunite at the hometown of my grandparents. They felt this place offered the greatest hope for shelter and safety.

With bombing raids during the night and air attacks during the day, it took us many days to reach my grandparents. My memories of those days are of darkness and coldness.

My father returned to us unharmed, but our future looked extremely bleak. We were living in the rubble of postwar Germany with a devastating feeling of hopelessness and darkness about our future.

In the middle of this despair, my family learned about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the healing message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. This message made all the difference; it lifted us above our daily misery. Life was still thorny and the circumstances still horrible, but the gospel brought light, hope, and joy into our lives. The plain and simple truths of the gospel warmed our hearts and enlightened our minds. They helped us look at ourselves and the world around us with different eyes and from an elevated viewpoint.

My dear brothers and sisters, aren’t the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and our membership in His Church great reasons to rejoice?

Please open your scriptures:

“Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28-29).

“For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee” (3 Nephi 22:10).

“The lord knows how to succor his people” (Alma 7:12).

Because we have the capability and the resources, we are asked to Endure to the end. Sometimes it seems impossible, but with the help of the gospel, we can.

President Uchtdorf said:

“Enduring to the end, or remaining faithful to the laws and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout our life, is a fundamental requirement for salvation in the kingdom of God. This belief distinguishes Latter-day Saints from many other Christian denominations that teach that salvation is given to all who simply believe and confess that Jesus is the Christ. The Lord clearly declared, “If you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God” (D&C 14:7).

What does Enduring to the End mean to you?

Enduring to the end is not just a matter of passively tolerating life’s difficult circumstances or “hanging in there.” Ours is an active religion, helping God’s children along the strait and narrow path to develop their full potential during this life and return to Him one day. Viewed from this perspective, enduring to the end is exalting and glorious, not grim and gloomy. This is a joyful religion, one of hope, strength, and deliverance. “Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy” (2 Nephi 2:25).

Enduring to the end implies “patient continuance in well doing” (Romans 2:7), striving to keep the commandments (see 2 Nephi 31:10), and doing the works of righteousness (see D&C 59:23). It requires sacrifice and hard work. To endure to the end, we need to trust our Father in Heaven and make wise choices, including paying our tithes and offerings, honoring our temple covenants, and serving the Lord and one another willingly and faithfully in our Church callings and responsibilities. It means strength of character, selflessness, and humility; it means integrity and honesty to the Lord and our fellowmen. It means making our homes strong places of defense and a refuge against worldly evils; it means loving and honoring our spouses and children.

If there is time, add this story:

Carlfred Broderick, in a talk given at a BYU Women’s Conference, tells of an experience of covenant keeping he had while visiting a foreign country. He was asked by a mission president to talk to a sister missionary who was determined to return home after serving only six weeks. When they met, this sister defiantly insisted that no one was going to talk her out of going home. He asked why and she told him. She had grown up in a poor Mormon family in Idaho. She had been terribly abused in about every way there is to be abused. She had sufered much even though she herself was innocent. She made attempts to discuss her situation but no one listened. Finally, at age 14, a teacher did believe her. Her Bishop took her into his own home where she finished high school, went to college and then left on her mission. Her father, even then, had taunted her before she left saying, “Well, let me just tell you something, girl, and don’t you never forget it. They can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.”

That’s what she had decided. She was struggling on her mission with doubts about herself and felt that her father was right. She could finish high school, go to college and even go on a mission but that didn’t change what she had been taught she was- a sow’s ear. She was going home to throw herself away, to stop pretending she was someone she wasn’t.

Brother Broderick asked her, “Before you came on your mission, you went to the temple, didn’t you? You were anointed to become a queen, weren’t you, a princess in your Heavenly Father’s house? That’s no way to treat a princess. The Lord will not easily forgive you if you treat his daugher that way. You’re going to throw her away, a princess of our Heavely Father? Then what are you going to say to him when he says, ‘How have you handled the stewardship that I gave you of this glorious personage who lived with me, who is my daughter, who is a royal personage of dignity and of honor? I sent her down to the earth, and how have you brought her back to me?’

The sister stayed on her mission, and a few years later, Brother Broderick saw her in Provo. He asked her how she was doing. She answered, “I’m growing just as fast as I can.” Brother Broderick confirmed that her stewardship was to get that daughter home to Heavenly Father where she belonged. He concludes, “That’s the mystery of the kingdom, that’s the mystery of godliness--that we are our Father’s children.

This girls’s yellow brick road had been ripped out by someone else. Where was she supposed to skip? Yet, it was through the truths and love experienced by embracing the gospel of Jesus Christ that allowed her to start on her yellow path again.

Part of President Uchdorf’s testimony at the end of his talk:

“My dear brothers and sisters, there will be days and nights when you feel overwhelmed, when your hearts are heavy and your heads hang down. Then, please remember, Jesus Christ, the Redeemer, is the Head of this Church. It is His gospel. He wants you to succeed. He gave His life for just this purpose. . .My dear friends, the Savior heals the broken heart and binds up your wounds (see Psalm 147:3). Whatever your challenges may be, wherever you live on this earth, your faithful membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the divine powers of the gospel of Jesus Christ will bless you to endure joyfully to the end.

Of this I bear witness with all my heart and mind in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.”

I would like to add my testimony. . .