My Homecoming Address

22 February 2015

Good morning Brothers and Sisters!
This is crazy.

You are a beautiful sight.

I must express the great happiness that I have and am experiencing at this time. My words are very similar to the words of Ammon (Alma 26:11), "My joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I (will) rejoice in my God.

These past two years have been quite the adventure. I didn’t expect what a mission was going to be like but it was more than I expected. I didn’t know what I was expecting it to be but it was amazing. It’s going to be very difficult for me to express in enough words what happened in two years. It’s hard enough to get a topic to talk in church and you have about two weeks to prepare but of two years of such a learning experience, it hard to puts things into word and to grasp it all. So I am thankful to have a topic to have a focus on.

I’m so thankful for this Ward for your many prayers. I testify that prayers are amazing and that our Heavenly Father hears them. There is absolutely no way, that we as missionaries, 18/19 year olds could do the the things that we do. We are strengthened by prayers, and I’m thankful to be able to understand prayer at a greater depth.

I’m also thankful for my fellow comrades that served in the Washington DC South Mission as well that are here with me today, to support me. They were a great strength to me in the field and I’m thankful for them.

I’m thankful for a fellow family that is here, who have a fellow missionary still serving in the Washington DC South Mission. It is a wonderful mission to serve in.

There is such an abundance of the Spirit here today. I felt the presence of the Spirit a lot greater on the mission and here today. It makes me shake a lot, and so that is one of the ways I know I have the spirit because my heart is pumping very strongly and I feel like those people in the Book of Mormon who collapse because they feel the spirit so much. So hopefully I do not collapse. Each of you  carries a light and I’ve grown to recognize that light at a greater depth.  The scriptures teach us that light cleaveth unto light (D&C 88:40). So you are very beautiful and you have a power about you.

When I received the topic of what I was going to focus my talk on, I had a lot of things flood into my mind, and I still have many things flooding into my mind, and so I pray that the Spirit may edify you and me as well and that I may be able to say the words with power and boldness but not overbearing.

As I’ve mentioned many times, I served in the Washington DC South Mission and it covers the Northern Virginia area. Before arriving in Virginia I expected the people that lived there to be Virginians through and through. But those that have visited Virginia or have lived there you would know I was mostly incorrect about that. The District of Columbia and it’s neighboring States are very multi-cultured and I’m very thankful for the opportunity that I had to talk with and teach people from all aspects of life and through all upbringings.

On my mission, as many of you may know, I was given the opportunity to use social media and I was surprised as much as you were probably. I felt very into the world when they first let us onto Facebook. But it was an amazing tool that I could be able to use the ministry of two years to have a greater outreach and I was able to talk with a greater, wider group of people from all aspects of life. There are so many people on Facebook and all are in need of the gospel. We were also given iPads, which was very interesting. A scripture that is very famous to missionaries serving today is found in Doctrine and Covenants 88:73; “Behold, I will hasten my work in its time.” The time has come and it is going on and one of the ways our Heavenly Father has hastened His work is through using tools to spread the gospel in a multitude of ways. There was a lot of people I could not communicate with in the English language. I never had the amazing gift of tongues BUT my iPad did and I was able to share videos in many languages that could touch the spirit of them and I am very thankful for that. When I first started my mission, there was about 58,000 missionaries and now there are nearly 90,000! And so the growth has been incredible. And I’m very thankful for Sister Missionaries, they are fantastic. They were a great strength to us Elders, they are high above and very close to the spirit and I’m thankful for their wonderful examples. 

If I was to ask you what this is (show pen) , I hope you would all say a pen. But in the words of my mission president; “This is a revelatory tool!” Some of the greatest things that we have is to come to church and also to attend the temple. And there is many reasons why we attend church and the temple, but one of the greatest is to receive personal revelation. And so I hope that you have a personal revelation tool and that you show the Lord that you are willing to be edified by the Holy Spirit and that you write the things down that impress you because it’s all different for the individual and I’m thankful for that.

I encourage you to reflect upon the following questions;

- Can we benefit by knowing about the gospel, being around it, understanding it, discussing it, or even feeling that it’s true if that is all we do?

- What do we need to do before the gospel can really help us?

Sometimes we as members of the Church may wonder, “I belong to the Church. I know the gospel is true and I even try to teach my friends about it. So what is wrong? Why am I unhappy?” Throughout my mission, I have come to fully know the following to be absolutely true: the blessings of the gospel do not come from just knowing about it or belonging to the Church. Blessings come from actually living gospel principles in our everyday lives.

Each of us are examples one to another, one way or another. Throughout my mission I met and talked with hundreds of children of God. Each of them have experienced life differently, they understand it differently, and they even see it differently. We can learn a lot from how people use their agency, to either improve the quality of their lives or not.

You and I, are all looking forward to eventually living with God again to be exalted and live in the Celestial Kingdom. How do we earn the trust of God? We gain the trust of the Lord through earning it and that is accomplished through our actual performance of living His gospel and keeping our covenants. In other words, we are to earn the trust of the Lord by doing His will.

In James 1:25 it reads;

“But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”

Now there are lots of fancy words in there but there is also an absolute; it says, “this man [or woman] shall be blessed in his/her deed” as we do as what the Lord commands us to do.

A scripture that goes well with this is, and I’ll try to explain it further; some of us often find us saying; “Why can’t the Lord just tell us exactly what to do? Why is there so much lenience or why do we have so much free will? ”

In Doctrine & Covenants 58:26-29 we read;
26 For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.

 27 Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;

 28 For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.

 29 But he that doeth not anything until he is commanded, and receiveth a commandment with doubtful heart, and keepeth it with slothfulness, the same is damned.

Often it may seem that we have commandments that are overbearing and restrictive and unless we follow the commandments we are not going to be able to know of its truthfulness and how it can bless our lives.

I unfortunately worked with and taught with lots of people that were not willing to stretch, try something different and to overcome addictions.

A great vision that I want you to imagine is that Satan has a small thread and it’s very long and it’s a huge bundle (there are countless children) and each time he tries to get us to fall away from the straight course God would have us, we can get threaded slowly and it’s easy to clip off each thread, but slowly, if we don’t heed the words of the prophets, reading our scriptures and praying often, those threads can get tighter and thicker and we become bound.

I, as a missionary, could provide scissors but I could not cut the thread for them.

They have to do that for themselves. We each have to do/act for ourselves, we have to be our own agents and be willing to tell Satan to leave us, to align our will with God’s; it’s so important that we do this.

A scripture that is similar to having a thread wrapped around us is the scripture image of chains, that Satan has a great hold of the children of men.

In 2 Nephi 1:23, a prophet cries;

 23 Awake, my sons {and daughters}; put on the armor of righteousness. Shake off the chains with which ye are bound, and come forth out of obscurity, and arise from the dust.

While on my mission, I would talk to a lot of missionaries in my District Meetings or when I was talking with members, I would say; Shake of those chains of which ye are bound. There is such a relief and release when those heavy burdens come off of us. I testify that not only did Jesus Christ while He was suffering for our sins, but He suffered for our pains, our mistakes, the heartache we would have, and so those chains not only are our sins but they are our pains, our setbacks and those trials that we experience while we are in a fallen world. So we can shake off those chains but we have to, again, shake them off. No one else can do it for you.

My mission president taught a lot about the difference between those in the Celestial Kingdom and those in the Terrestial Kingdom. What is the difference?

In Doctrine & Covenants 76:79, the Lord explains the difference.

76 These are they who are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus; wherefore, they obtain not the crown over the kingdom of our God.

Both of those that will reside in those kingdoms have a testimony of Jesus Christ but being valiant is the key.

A definition for valiant is: possessing or acting with bravery or boldness.

And valiance: faithfully perform ones duty beyond the minimum requirement.

My thoughts are very similar to those of Elder Bruce R. McConkie.

He asked: What does it mean to be valiant in the testimony of Jesus?

I will read the following;

It is to be courageous and bold; to use all our strength, energy, and
ability in the warfare with the world; to fight the good fight of
faith. The great cornerstone of valiance in the cause of righteousness
is obedience to the whole law of the whole gospel.

To be valiant in the testimony of Jesus is to ‘come unto Christ, and
be perfected in him’; it is to deny ourselves ‘of all ungodliness,’
and ‘love God’ with all our ‘might, mind and strength.’ (Moroni 10:32)

To be valiant in the testimony of Jesus is to believe in Christ and
His gospel with unshakable conviction. It is to know of the verity and
divinity of the Lord’s work on earth.

But this is not all. It is more than believing and knowing. We must be
doers of the word and not hearers only. It is more than lip service;
it is not simply confessing with the mouth the divine Sonship of the
Savior. It is obedience and conformity and personal righteousness.
‘Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the
kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in
heaven.’ (Matthew 7:21)

To be valiant in the testimony of Jesus is to ‘press forward with a
steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a
love of God and of all men.’ It is to ‘endure to the end.’ (2 Nephi
31:20) It is to live our religion, to practice what we preach, to keep
the commandments. It is the manifestation of ‘pure religion’ in the
lives of men; it is visiting ‘the fatherless and widows in their
affliction’ and keeping ourselves ‘unspotted from the world.’ (James
1:27)

To be valiant in the testimony of Jesus is to bridle our passions,
control our appetites, and rise above carnal and evil things. It is to
overcome the world as did He who is our prototype and who himself was
the most valiant of all our Father’s children. It is to be morally
clean, to pay our tithes and offerings, to honor the Sabbath day, to
pray with full purpose of heart, to lay our all upon the altar if
called upon to do so.

Actions truly speak louder than words. In fact, actions mean much more to the Lord than words. The Lord declared in the Doctrine and Covenants, “If thou lovest me thou shalt serve me and keep all my commandments” (D&C 42:29).

[ Hear ----  Remember ------ Understand ---- Do ---- Become ]

In order to become all that the Father would have us be, we must first hear of the gospel. And in order to show that we have heard right we have to remember. And then to show that we do remember we begin to understand what God wants us to do. And then we act/do and then we become.

Elder S. Gifford Nielsen of the Seventy spoke to our mission, he said the following that has provided me with greater drive for diligence and purpose in my life, he said: “You weren’t sent here to be average. You were sent here as a noble and great one, to come forth at this time. So never sell yourself short. Always progress. Put it in God’s hands. Let Him help you. Let Him help you understand everything you need to know.” 

Throughout my mission, many wonderful Christian people thought that if they just had a belief and didn't act upon that belief that they would all be well and dandy. But that is a deception of the devil {The idea that it is enough to hear and believe without acting on that belief}. Many prophets have taught us against this deception. The Apostle James wrote, “Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” (James 1:22). King Benjamin taught, “And now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them” (Mosiah 4:10). And in modern revelation the Lord declares, “If you will that I give unto you a place in the celestial world, you must prepare yourselves by doing the things which I have commanded you and required of you” (D&C 78:7).

Throughout my mission, when I was either tracting or street contacting, I would ask those who shared that they were Christians, “How has Jesus Christ blessed your life?”

And they would reply, “Oh He has blessed my whole life.”

It was very general and not specific to their individual self.

And so I encouraged them, to learn, to take the lessons from us missionaries, to learn more about Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice for us and how He truly focuses on the individual.

In the very beginning of my mission, I expected those I served with and around and also those I taught to be on the same level of conversion and that was not a very good idea of what other people were or should be and it became very hard to work with them. And so I came to know that each of us is on our own level of conversion and that it is so important to love others as much as we can. We don’t fully understand their life experience, what they have gone through, their understanding, and so it so important that we love one another and set the example of our own conversions, because as we help those around us we help ourselves.

Another thing I have also learned, is that we have give all to the Lord. I've learned that many people have different giving their all to the Lord. Some can only give 5% with the experience and trials they are going through. Some can give 50% and some can give 98%. The Lord will take whatever you can give. As we give ourselves we become better able to align ourselves with the Lord.

It’s not easy, there’s definitely a lot more sorrow than there is joy, but that joy is much more stronger and more abiding.

Just as we cannot have one foot in the world and another foot out of the world, we have to either decide if we are going to be with the Lord or clearly by ourselves.

I’m thankful for the agency that we have as Children of God. But it’s also very disappointing when others choose not to be valiant in what they know to be true. I worked with those that were less active and they had lost their testimony by forgetting the truths of the gospel. I’m thankful that I was able to bring those truths of the gospel that bring me such happiness into their lives. I continued to invite them to read the scriptures and to pray but they still used their agency. Many did choose to shake off those chains which held them bound, and you could see a change in them and they had pure joy. But it’s also important to remember that we can’t just do it for a period of time and then let it go, or to do it for someone else, but that we need to gain our own convictions and truths of the gospel.

       Each year in my mission a Theme would be given to help motivate us and help us become more like our Savior Jesus Christ. The theme for this year is to Be All In! What does it mean for you to be all in? How can you be all in the gospel of Jesus Christ. I wasn't a perfect missionary. None of us are. The Lord is very merciful, very patient. I’m thankful that I have the ability to be refined, to shake off chains that have held me bound.

I know that it is so important that we understand the gospel of Jesus Christ. God has provided a way to share it with everyone. He is a very fair God. I’m thankful that as I knocked on people’s doors and talked with them, that that wasn't their only chance to accept the gospel, and they will have many opportunities (just as we do) to accept it again.

I know that this is The Church of Jesus Christ and that we as Latter-day Saints are all enlisted, it’s not just the missionaries that are set apart to proclaim the gospel (full-time) but each of us are examples and we can each be an example one unto another. Life is not going to be easy as you live the gospel; clearly you would know that. But as we endure to the end we can receive great blessings and joy.

I know that we are led by Prophets and Apostles. How thankful I am to know that we not only have living day Prophets, but to also have the Prophets that were before and with Jesus Christ. How privileged we are as Latter-day Saints today to have continued revelation. Not very many people, (while the Apostles were on the earth) ever heard of them, or only heard them once or twice and then they were gone. But we have them today, we can hear from them as often as we want. I know that they are men of God and I've gained a greater understanding of their role and how hard it is to share the gospel but that we are strengthened by the Spirit of the Lord. That His grace is ever present in our very lives, as we are willing to do as He commands.

I’m so thankful for my mission. There is definitely not enough time to express all that I have learned. I’m thankful that I was able to record every single day of my mission, and that I can read upon those, to reflect, and to have those memories to enlighten me.

I’m so thankful for the support you have provided and for the love and prayers.

I know that this is the Kingdom of God. Many people will say, “I know that the Church is true.” By that, they mean that this is the Kingdom of God. We are in need to prepare for Christ’s Second Coming. It’s closer than its ever been.

I’m thankful that the gospel provides the assurance… before my mission I was really afraid. There was a lot of distress in the world, just as there is today, but during my mission I came to know that I don’t need to fear, that I have full trust in the Lord. That although people’s choices can affect us, that we can definitely be strengthened by the Spirit.

I’m so thankful for the Spirit. In the beginning I was very nervous and flustered but now I am very comfortable. I’m thankful for the hymns, they truly are a prayer unto the Lord.

Will you be all in? Will you align your will with the Lord’s?

I promise that as you align your will to His, that the things that are bothering you now, that seem too heavy to relieve, you will be enlightened and you will feel just as Alma; that your joy is full and that your heart is brim with joy. I promise you that as we constantly pray more faithfully, we will align our will more with the Lord’s, we will in fact truly pray in the name of Jesus Christ.

I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. In the beginning of my mission I got a hard copy of the Book of Mormon, I also got myself a blue ‘revelatory tool’ and as I read I highlighted verses that meant a lot to me, so through the first few readings there was just a few ‘blues’ and as I continued to read, my book continued to be filled and I received greater light and knowledge of the truths of the gospel. The Book of Mormon is truly the most correct book out there and it truly brings us to Jesus Christ. I know that the Bible is the word of God. But there is so much more that God has revealed to His Children.

Something that I have also come to know, is in the scriptures, in Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord tells His people, “Behold, I come quickly.” Although this revelation was over a hundred years ago, and the Lord hasn't come for His Second Coming… But I've come to know that this scripture has already happened to me. That Christ came quickly when I was in need. There were lots of difficult times on the mission and as I prayed for grace, and read the scriptures and read my patriarchal blessing, I knew that the Lord would come quickly to me and strength me. There is no way that I could have completed my mission without Jesus Christ. So He truly is our Advocate with the Father, He is our Dear Friend, who loves all of us.

I could go on and on…. BUT

I know that this really is the Kingdom of God! That we have to be valiant in our testimony of Jesus Christ. We've made covenants through baptism, and also through the temple, and it’s so important that we learn to understand them at a greater depth. That’s why we have to continually do these things. I want to be with you in the Celestial Kingdom, so please be valiant, that is my call for you, and from the Prophets, and from your Savior and Heavenly Father.

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.