Farewell

Well this is it.

GOODBYE

Actually, it's only goodbye for me.

My mother will still be posting my letters here while I'm serving the Lord in Brazil.

So that's something for y'all to look forward to I guess.

But you sure won't be seeing this pretty face for 18 months.

In the meantime, here is the talk I gave in Sacrament Meeting.

Well, this is the talk I wrote anyways. 

For some reason when I get in front of a crowd things change, but it was basically the same.

Brace yourself, it had to be twenty minutes long.

So I’m Laurel and if you didn’t already know, I’ve been called to serve in the João Pessoa, Brazil mission. The manual that missionaries use is called Preach My Gospel. I got a letter from my mission president a couple of months ago and basically all it said was to go to the temple and to study Preach My Gospel. So I’ve been working on that. As I’ve studied this book I’ve learned a lot about what the gospel is and why it’s important for me and other missionaries to preach it. So that’s what I’m going to speak to you about today.

So what is the gospel I’m going to be preaching? It’s the gospel of Jesus Christ. In Romans 1:16, the scripture reads: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth.” This teaches me that if I believe, then the power of God will give me eternal salvation. Because of the perfect love my Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ have for me I will be able to return to their presence after this life. Since receiving eternal salvation is my end goal and the reason I'm on this earth then that is where I can find motivation to make and keep covenants with my Heavenly Father. Learning more about eternal life has helped me to increase my desire to live the gospel. Bruce R. McConkie shared this: “Eternal life is not a name that has reference only to the unending duration of a future life; immortality is to live forever in the resurrected state, and by the grace of God all men will gain this unending continuance of life. But only those who obey the fulness of the gospel law will inherit eternal life. … It is ‘the greatest of all the gifts of God … , for it is the kind, status, type, and quality of life that God himself enjoys. Thus those who gain eternal life receive exaltation; they are sons of God, joint-heirs with Christ, members of the Church of the Firstborn; they overcome all things, have all power, and receive the fulness of the Father” Wow, right?! That sure sounds like something worth striving for. Living as God lives, overcoming all things, having all power, being exalted as a joint-heir with Christ. We all have incredible blessings promised to us if we obey God's laws. Elder Perry shared the following about our desire for eternal life: “I believe that if we could create in our minds a clear and true picture of eternal life, we would start behaving differently. We would not need to be prodded to do the many things involved with enduring to the end, like doing our home teaching or visiting teaching, attending our meetings, going to the temple, living moral lives, saying our prayers, or reading the scriptures. We would want to do all these things and more because we realize they will prepare us to go somewhere we yearn to go.”

I’ve definitely learned in my life that when I’m being obedient I have a clearer view of what will bring me true joy in life. Specifically with my scripture study. When I was younger I really struggled with being motivated to read my scriptures. For a long time I was just doing it because I had been asked, but eventually I decided that if I was going to spend time reading the scriptures each day then I wanted it to be something I enjoyed. As I changed my attitude everything I studied began applying to me directly in my life and I felt so fulfilled after reading my scriptures each day. I know it sounds simple, but having a desire to read God’s words has helped me gain a love of the scriptures. Although I still don’t have a perfect knowledge of eternal life and what God’s plan is for me, I realize that if I did comprehend all that God has in store for me then there would be no learning during my time on earth. One scripture that has helped me gain a better understanding of God's plan is John 17:3: “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”

As I learn about God and develop my relationship with Him I get a glimpse of eternal life. When I think about how I’ve come to know God personally, I recognize Him through the tender mercies in my life each day. Whether they are small or big, each tender mercy testifies of God’s love and His awareness of me. During the summer of 2010 I was a counselor at Brighton Girls Camp. I think that the beehives in this ward attend Oakcrest, but it’s essentially the same thing. Every Thursday night at Brighton the staff would gather around the campfire and share the tender mercies of that week. It was the best. Recognizing God’s influence in our lives is THE BEST. Staff members would share stories of being able to light  the dutch oven coals in the rain, or having all their campers successfully make it down the zipline, or having someone share something encouraging with them at just the right moment. For me, all of the best tender mercies were when I saw my girls showing love to each other.  One week we were out hiking and since there was a big group of us we were spaced out in a single file line along the trail. There were several girls that week who really struggled with their hiking abilities. Since I couldn’t stand by each one of them I had to rely on some of the other girls who were better hikers to give support to their peers. By the end of the hike one particular girl had her arm wrapped around another girl she barely knew in order to ensure that she wouldn’t slip and fall. It was a really tender moment for me to see the love that girl showed to her new friend. Not just working at Brighton, but often in life the most tender mercies to me are when I recognize God's love for His children being manifest through someone else. Even simple things like when I'm missing someone and a song that reminds me of them plays next in my ipod shuffle. I know that God is in every detail and looking for Him helps me to better understand eternal life and His purpose for me.

When I look for God’s influence in my life the scriptural phrase “all things which are good cometh of God” comes to mind. This means that any good part of my life on this earth is provided by my loving Heavenly Father. The good food I eat, the people I meet, and all the places I go. Earlier this summer I was able to travel to Ireland for my last class as an undergraduate student, which is a tender mercy in itself. But never have I been so astounded by the beauty of God’s creations. One place we visited were the Cliffs of Slieve League, they were nearly 2,000 feet high and outlooked the ocean for what looked like an infinite amount of space. While I was trying to comprehend this view I thought to myself “Not only did God create this, but He created it for the purpose of my eternal joy.”  We have been given this earth and all the things on it as a gift to prepare us to live with our Heavenly Father again. The scriptures teach that “God’s work and glory is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” Every good thing that God does, and every tender mercy that he puts into our lives are there to encourage and strengthen us as we endure towards eternal life. Elder Bednar spoke about the tender mercies of the Lord in the April conference of 2005. He defined them as “the very personal and individualized blessings, strength, protection, assurances, guidance, loving-kindnesses, consolation, support, and spiritual gifts which we receive from and because of and through the Lord Jesus Christ.” Many tender mercies I have experienced  have been so specific and personal that I'm sure God knows everything about my life. For example, this summer it was strange to be moving back home after living away for so long.  At the end of the school year I wasn't very excited to come home to a new house and new ward, mostly because where I was living was so great.  I had a good crew of friends in Cedar City and really enjoyed my life. As the year came to an end I found out that one of my friends would also be moving to Salt Lake for the summer. And not only would she be moving to the same city, but she was going to live on Glenmare, just a few streets over from me. It was such a tender mercy. I knew in that moment that the Lord was aware of my worries and found a way to bring me joy.

As I continue to strive to recognize the Lord’s presence in my life and come to know him, I have a greater desire to gain eternal life. In the Book of Mormon King Lamoni’s father had the same desire. Alma 22:15 reads “And it came to pass that after Aaron had expounded these things unto him, the king said: What shall I do that I may have this eternal life of which thou hast spoken? Yea, what shall I do that I may be born of God, having this wicked spirit rooted out of my breast, and receive his Spirit, that I may be filled with joy, that I may not be cast off at the last day? Behold, said he, I will give up all that I possess, yea, I will forsake my kingdom, that I may receive this great joy.”

King Lamoni’s father was willing to give up his entire kingdom to know God. His story is the kind of inspiration I’ve needed as I have prepared to leave my life behind in order to preach the gospel. When I decided to go on a mission I definitely didn’t think about all of the sacrifice it would require. At first all I thought about was that the timing was working out so nicely. I graduated in May from Southern Utah University and I want to go to graduate school, but I haven’t decided exactly where I want to go yet. Taking some time to work on my spiritual growth seemed like the perfect thing to do for a year and a half. When I was called to Brazil it was like a dream come true. I get to live in a tropical paradise, teach a people that are typically receptive of Christ’s teachings and learn the same foreign language my mom speaks and gain more of an appreciation for all the missionary work my grandparents did in Brazil many years ago. There was no question that this was the mission call for me. Now that the time has actually come for me to leave it seems like everything that used to be appealing is suddenly intimidating. I’m going to be constantly sweating for 18 months in this tropical paradise, sharing my testimony is awkward and challenging especially when people don’t want to hear what I have to say, and attempting that in Portugese really seems an impossible task. Once again I’ve had to find comfort in the scriptures. Luke 1:37 teaches that “with God nothing shall be impossible.” So even though sacrificing the happy life I have here is really difficult, with God it is possible.

I’ve also been able to find comfort in the promise from President Thomas S. Monson that I received in my mission call. “As you devote your time and attention to serving the Lord, leaving behind all other personal affairs, the Lord will bless you with increased knowledge and testimony of the Restoration and of the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Your purpose will be to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. As you serve with all your heart, might, and strength, the Lord will lead you to those who are prepared to be baptized. The Lord will reward you for the goodness of your life. Greater blessings and more happiness than you have yet experienced await you as you humbly and prayerfully serve the Lord in this labor of love among His children.”

There it is plain and simple: my purpose as a missionary. Just like I memorized in the 4th article of faith when I was a primary child... invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the first principles and ordinances of the gospel. God’s children have a desire to know him and to find joy in his teachings and in the promise of eternal salvation. As a missionary I have the opportunity to serve others and help them develop a relationship with their loving Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ. I will do this by teaching them the basic principles and ordinances of the gospel: faith, repentance, baptism, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Nephi describes the gateway of the gospel in 2 Nephi 31:17 saying, “Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost.” I really love this gate analogy. I picture a nice white picket fence that I chose to step through when I chose to be baptized and receive the Holy Ghost at age 8. Now that I’m on the path I see the sun beaming straight ahead representing the celestial kingdom: my eternal goal, where my Heavenly Father is waiting. The problem is that there are lots of obstacles I have to endure to get there. Thankfully I have blessings to help me along the path including: guidance from the Holy Ghost, my family, and the many tender mercies of the Lord. Each week as I take the sacrament and renew the covenants I made at baptism to always remember Jesus Christ, I am able to realign myself to be straight on the path facing my eternal goal of returning to my Father in Heaven. When I arrive at the end of the path I want to tell Christ, just like Paul told Timothy: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” Even though I’m not perfect Christ will plead with the Father on my behalf, explaining that He satisfied the demands of justice for me to gain eternal glory. Heavenly Father can apply mercy, withhold punishment from me, and welcome me into His presence. Christ wants me to have eternal life. Christ wants all of us to have eternal life. He wants us to be his joint-heirs and inherit the kingdom of God, overcoming all things, having all power, and receiving the fulness of our Father in heaven--knowing him completely.

As a full time missionary I have incredible blessings promised to me as I share this message with the people of Brazil, but every member of the church can receive similar blessings as they preach this gospel. Every child of God deserves the blessings of eternal life. In Moroni 7:41 Mormon says, “And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise.”

I know that God loves us and wants us to find joy in this life. He has promised us the ultimate happiness if we obey his laws and teachings. I want to testify of these things in the name of Jesus Christ, AMEN.