{"id":217,"date":"2013-04-30T02:33:50","date_gmt":"2013-04-30T02:33:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/emmaletters.com\/?p=217"},"modified":"2016-09-01T21:24:25","modified_gmt":"2016-09-02T04:24:25","slug":"my-farewell-talk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/emmaletters.com\/my-farewell-talk\/","title":{"rendered":"My Farewell Talk"},"content":{"rendered":"

I gave a farewall talk in Church yesterday.\u00a0 First of the mission posts. \u00a0It’s long, but believe me, I said it all in only a little over 15 minutes \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I write my talks in bullet-point form, so this isn\u2019t word for word at all how I gave it in Church.\u00a0 But I tried to remember \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

Good morning brothers and sisters!<\/p>\n

October 2012.\u00a0 A month I don\u2019t think any of us could forget. I was sitting in my apartment with my huge fluffy down comforter.\u00a0 President Monson gets up to announce some new temples.<\/p>\n

And then he starts talking about 18 year old boys. We called it.\u00a0 He\u2019s going to change it! I remember thinking, oh my – Mark can serve now!\u00a0 We were all freaking out. And then, President Monson says… \u201cwe have also given consideration to the age at which a young woman might serve. Today I am pleased to announce that able, worthy young women who have the desire to serve may be recommended for missionary service beginning at age 19, instead of age 21.\u201d<\/p>\n

I shouldn\u2019t have said this, but I said.. is he kidding? I couldn\u2019t believe it. This is not real life.\u00a0 I am 19<\/i>. This is me<\/i>. Is this what the Lord wants me to do<\/i>? (I wonder what decision I made…)<\/p>\n

When I look back over the events of my life, I know that the Lord has been preparing me for a mission. I have been raised by parents and been led by the examples of great grandparents who have taught me to be valiant to the faith. We have been taught in our youth, to be the Lord\u2019s missionaries, to bring the world his truth.<\/p>\n

I attended a high school that presented many challenges.\u00a0 I was one of the only members of the Church in my graduating class.\u00a0 Learning of the beliefs of many cultures and religions, I grew to appreciate, love, and have an open mind for all faiths.\u00a0 I had friends that loved to ask me difficult questions, and friends that would bring me anti- mormon literature. From an early age, I realized that I needed to know, to really know<\/i>, that what I professed was truth.<\/p>\n

I sat in discussions at a school where we discussed the Bible.\u00a0 Everyone in the room had a different conception about how the Bible should be interpreted.\u00a0 I was quite active in these discussions – I had beliefs, and I wanted to share them.\u00a0 At times, it was difficult. I felt that many people in the room\u2019s comments were directed directly towards me and my particular beliefs.<\/p>\n

I add my testimony to Joseph Smith\u2019s, when no one would believe him and he felt so very persecuted.<\/p>\n

Why persecute me for telling the truth?\u00a0 I have actually seen a vision; and who am I that I can withstand god, or why does the world think to make me deny what I have actually seen?\u00a0 For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it; at least I knew that by so\u00a0 doing I would offend God, and come under condemnation.\u00a0<\/em>(JSH 1:25)<\/p>\n

I sought comfort in the scripture found in John 16:33 – when Christ is speaking to his disciples before he enters the Garden of Gethsemane, encouraging them and warning them of the persecution that is about to come:<\/p>\n

\u00a0These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.\u00a0 In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.<\/em><\/p>\n

Whenever I am feeling downtrodden or discouraged, I remember these words –\u00a0 I have overcome the world<\/i>. So BE OF GOOD CHEER!<\/p>\n

Throughout many different experiences and conversations with people, I have learned what it means to be dedicated <\/i>to the gospel of Jesus Christ, and I know that on my mission, I will learn more of this dedication.<\/p>\n

Of all the reasons that I chose to serve a mission were from the two greatest commandments: to love God and to love thy neighbor.<\/p>\n

Dedication to the gospel begins with an understanding of who we are dedicated to.\u00a0 Jesus Christ<\/i>.<\/p>\n

Who is Jesus Christ and what does he mean to me?<\/p>\n

I think of the words to the hymn, Come Thou Fount –<\/p>\n

Jesus sought me when a stranger<\/em><\/p>\n

Wandering from the fold of God<\/em><\/p>\n

He, to rescue me from danger<\/em><\/p>\n

Interposed His precious blood.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

I am wandering from the fold of God constantly, but he died and gave His blood for me.<\/p>\n

I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior.\u00a0 No matter the trials I have gone through, or when I am home and I feel absolutely alone and abandoned –\u00a0 I am not alone<\/i>.\u00a0 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me<\/i>. Because he died for me.\u00a0 Because he loves me infinitely. (Philippians 4:13)<\/p>\n

Accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior is the first step to accepting His gospel!<\/p>\n

The first aspect of his gospel is faith.<\/p>\n

When the announcement was made, I did not know what to do.\u00a0 I prayed so hard – I wanted to hear a voice or see a vision.\u00a0 I wanted Heavenly Father to say – Emma, go on a mission!\u00a0 Or, Emma, I have another work for you.\u00a0 But no answer came.<\/p>\n

One night, after praying for a while, I lie in bed, my mind racing and tears streaming down my face.\u00a0 I felt confused and frustrated.<\/p>\n

The thought came to my mind – a quote, from Harold B Lee.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t even know where I had heard it or who had said it.\u00a0 The thought was this:<\/p>\n

Learn to walk to the edge of the light, and then a few steps into the darkness; then the light will appear and show the way before you.<\/i><\/p>\n

I needed more faith.\u00a0 I was so consumed and stressed about everything, and I realized.\u00a0 I just need to let go.\u00a0 I need to let go in faith, and the Lord will take care of it for me.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.\u00a0 take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.\u00a0 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.<\/em> (Matthew 11:28-30)<\/p>\n

\u00a0After these thoughts came to my mind, I realized I needed to move forward in faith.\u00a0 I asked my dad for a blessing.\u00a0 I made an appointment with my bishop, and moved forward in faith.<\/p>\n

What is true faith?\u00a0 True faith is dedication to the gospel of Jesus Christ – it is to have \u201chope for things which are not seen, which are true.\u201d (Ether 12:6)<\/p>\n

Faith is the power to act. \u00a0 \u201cFor ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was the faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego that saved them from being burned from the fire. It was the faith of Alma and Amulek that caused the prison to tumble to the earth.<\/p>\n

We can do all things<\/i> through Christ who strengthens us.<\/p>\n

They had to act in faith – they endured all sorts of persecution, but they had faith that the Lord would deliver them!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Faith requires action.\u00a0 Faith is more than just saying, \u201cI believe in Jesus Christ.\u201d\u00a0 It is doing<\/i>.<\/p>\n

I have this problem.\u00a0 I like to take really random classes because I like learning really random things.\u00a0 Throughout my freshman year, I contemplated learning a language. I had studied Latin and Greek in high school, I could keep going with that.\u00a0 I loved Russian literature, so why not study Russian so one day I could read Crime and Punishment in the original language?<\/p>\n

But, Italian is the most beautiful language in the world.\u00a0 And almost on a whim, I signed up for it.\u00a0 I fell in love with the country the first day of class.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t even know why.\u00a0 Looking back, I realize I was acting on a prompting to learn Italian! I had faith, and I acted.<\/i><\/p>\n

A couple of months ago, I came home to receive my endowments at the temple.\u00a0 It just happened to be on the weekend of Stake Conference.\u00a0 Our ward is supposed to go to this building to watch the broadcast.\u00a0 But my family decided to sing in the choir, so I went to the stake center.<\/p>\n

And then, what do you know, Elder Rhien from the 70 is calling me up to the stand, to give me my first referral – Guido.<\/p>\n

Why was I prompted to take Italian? (Really, I didn\u2019t need the credit for anything.)\u00a0 Why did I come home that weekend? Why was I at the Stake Center? Coincidence?\u00a0 I think not.\u00a0 I acted in faith – and now, I am seeing what becomes of it.<\/p>\n

When we have faith, we act by being baptized.<\/p>\n

When we take that step of faith with baptism, we are taking upon us the name of Christ.<\/p>\n

As Paul states in 2nd Corinthians –<\/p>\n

Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in the tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.<\/p>\n

Paul also tells Timothy – Let no man despise thy youth.\u00a0 Be thou an example of the believers in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.<\/p>\n

I love my Savior.\u00a0 I want to follow Him.\u00a0 I am dedicated to Him. My Savior, my Redeemer, his name is written on my heart. What do I do with that?<\/p>\n

We hear this all of the time – keep the commandments, come unto Christ. But how do I come unto Christ?\u00a0 What does it mean to be dedicated to the gospel of Jesus Christ? THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS.<\/p>\n