As most of you know, I will be leaving Wednesday morning for the Provo Missionary Training Center and 6 weeks later report to the Philippines Cavite Mission. I remember years ago desiring to go on a mission, and it always seemed so far away. Before I could go I needed to grow a foot or two. Well, years turned to months, and months to days, and although I only grew one foot rather than two, now it’s time to go! I’m so excited, and I’m so grateful for this wonderful ward and all of the great individuals here that have helped shape me into who I am today. I’m super excited, and I know it will be an amazing opportunity to serve the Lord for two years and help others come unto Him.
In my farewell talk today I plan to use two different comparisons that will go hand in hand. One of which involves a recent trip I had, and the other refers to Hymn 251: Behold! A Royal Army. They will both be centered around Christ, and I pray that you may learn by the Spirit as I speak to you today.
This past month I had the opportunity to hike up toward the top of three finger jack, a mountain in the Jefferson Wilderness Area. Along with a few other boys and leaders from the ward we made our way to the top. Reaching higher and higher elevation we came upon areas where the main trail was undefined, and many trails formed around us. However, all of these trails felt like great options, because they all continued to go up. During these stretches many of us took different paths. One of these paths was straight up, quite rocky, and every once in a while caused the boy to slide a few steps backwards. Other trails, like the trail I accidentally took, came to a cliff edge that seemed more treacherous than I had imagined, but after a quick redirection, I was back on the path to the top. Lastly one or two trails, were a little bit easier to climb with very few stumbles, but they ascended by very tight switchbacks that required more steps to ascend. No matter which path we took, we were all still unified. Our goal was synonymous, to reach the top. It didn’t matter that a few of us stumbled, some took longer paths, or some found themselves completely changing trails; in the end, we all continued to ascend.
In the case of our hike, our goal was to reach the highest accessible point of three finger jack, but as members of the Church of Jesus Christ, we have a much more divine goal. To follow Jesus Christ. Reading from the words of hymn 251 states Behold! A royal army, With banner, sword, and shield, Is marching forth to conquer On life’s great battlefield. Its ranks are filled with soldiers, United, bold, and strong, Who follow their Commander And sing their joyful song. Pay attention to the last two lines: Reread "We are those soldiers, United, bold, and strong, and the commander we are following is our savior, Jesus Christ." On this beautiful Sunday, across the whole earth, Latter Day Saints are meeting in their ward buildings. Their message is centered on Christ and they strive to follow him. Both in numbers and spirit we are all united, bold, and strong, even as the soldiers of the hymn. We may experience different trials, but our goal is the same, to follow Jesus Christ. On the journey to our Savior, some people may be as the boys that shot straight up three finger jack. Though they climbed quickly, they also slipped back a few steps whenever things were rocky. Similarly, some may experience spiritually strong stretches of time that are broken up by stretches of forgetfulness to look toward the savior. They may stumble and need assistance, but they absolutely can pick their feet up and resume their ascend to a greater goal.
Ask yourself, am I stumbling?... Is my spiritual growth stagnant..., or maybe even decreasing? If so, you are feeling a prompting from the Spirit. Follow that prompting and turn toward the Savior, pick up your feet, and follow in His footsteps. “And now, my sons, remember, remember that is upon the rock of our redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation… which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.” We can become one with Him as we study His words and Follow His counsel. 3 Nephi offers some of that counsel: “Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am.” He desires for us to be like him. Just as He is, we must strive for humility and obedience. Be kind, charitable and selfless. Courageous, faithful, and righteous. Wise, teachable, and a teacher. Understanding, forgiving, and full of Love. Be a light to others as you exemplify those Christlike attributes. And join the ranks of soldiers, that are united, bold and strong, who follow their commander, and sing their joyful song.
A different path that some may take on their journey to follow Jesus Christ may involve some similarities to that of the path I took up 3FJ. I climbed with the peak as my goal, but as I went along I found myself looking down too much. Eventually I came to a cliff edge, and looking up I noticed I had strayed off course. The path up seemed too difficult to tackle at this point, but looking to my side I noticed other boys making their way along a much steadier path. Quickly I redirected my sights, jumped trails, and began heading up the more tried and true trail. In Life’s Great Battlefield, many of us will find ourselves looking down and away from the Savior more times than we care to admit. It is inevitable that we will make mistakes. We might even wander off course. Ask yourself, Am I making choices that the Savior would be pleased with? Are my eyes on Christ? If you feel you are not in line with the savior, then that is the Spirit telling you to jump trails, and redirect your sights. One of the first principles of the gospel is repentance, which is making the necessary changes to bring our life into agreement with His teachings. It is not a matter of punishment for our mistakes; rather, a change of mind and heart. This desire to be better is motivated by love for God and sincere ambition to obey His commandments. Each week we take the sacrament with the goal to change our ways and better follow the example of Christ. The sacrament is a weekly covenant, because we make weekly mistakes. We are invited to try and try again. If you find you are wandering in your beliefs, then choose THIS DAY to redirect your sights and make Jesus Christ your example. Come and join the ranks of soldiers, that are united, bold, and strong, who follow their Commander And sing their joyful Song.
Lastly, a more desired path may be like the boys that found steady switchbacks, and although more steps were required, they moved forward. Members, we are invited by our former prophet, Thomas S. Monson, to read the Book of Mormon every day. As you prayerfully ponder the Book of Mormon everyday you will make better decisions everyday, the windows of heaven will open and you’ll receive answers, and you will be immunized from temptation. Just as the sacrament prayer outlined for us today, as we always remember our Savior, Jesus Christ, we will have his Spirit to be with us. In this case we may be even as the boys that took steady switchbacks to the summit. Brothers and sisters, we are a royal army, but our march is not toward a mountain peak; rather, we march with our eyes directed to our supreme creator, even Jesus Christ. “Every one of our paths is different, yet we can walk together. Our path is not about what we have done or where we have been; it is about where we are going and what we are becoming.” May we all enlist in that royal army, and follow Him Oh, When the war is ended, When Strife and conflicts cease, When all are safely gathered Within the Vale of Peace, Before the king eternal, That vast and mighty throng Shall praise his name forever, And this shall be their song:
Victory, Victory, Thru him that redeemed us!
Victory, Victory, Thru Jesus Christ. Our Lord!
Victory, victory, victory, Thru Jesus Christ, Our Lord!
The battle of this life can be challenging, I have hit many bumps in the path and needed to redirect my sights multiple times. My repentance, my change of heart and mind, is a frequent and sometimes continuous process. However, the Lord has helped me recover. He extends open arms to us if we will simply desire to come unto Him. Fortunately, the Lord is always right next to me and right next to you and He is ready to get us back on the path of righteousness. I testify that these things are true. He has made my weak things strong, and now I will go and serve His children, my brothers and sisters, in the Philippines. I will be his disciple, and with his help, serve to my full capacity.
And I say these things, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen
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