Farewell Talk

Hey everyone! This is an outline of my farewell talk. Eric (my brother-in-law) will be posting an audio recording of the talk, so if you wait till next week, you can hear it rather than trying to figure out my notes. Thank you for all your support.

First, desire and do what is right.
• In D & C 64: 34, it says “the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind”
• D & C 4: 2
• We know what is required, but are we willing to say as the Savior did in Gethsemane Luke 22:42
• Despite the pain and suffering, are we willing and desire to do Heavenly Father’s will for us
• Dallin H. Oaks stated, “Desires dictate our priorities, priorities shape our choices, and choices determine our actions. The desires we act on determine our changing, our achieving, and our becoming.”
• There is a difference between action—notice how in the song it states I’ll go, I’ll say and I’ll be
• Lynn G. Robbins talked about this during the last general conference in his talk titled “What Manner of Men and Woman Ought Ye to Be?”, he said:
o “To be and to do are inseparable. As interdependent doctrines they reinforce and promote each other.”
o “To do without to be is hypocrisy, or feigning to be what one is not—a pretender.
o “Be without do really isn’t being—it is self-deception, believing oneself to be good merely because one’s intentions are good.”
• However, as we are willing to go, say, be and do what is good and right, we will be able to do Heavenly Father’s will

Second, recognize Heavenly Father’s will for us. (Be)
• “… It is not enough for anyone just to go through the motions. The commandments, ordinances, and covenants of the gospel are not a list of deposits required to be made in some heavenly account. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become” (“The Challenge to Become,” Ensign, Nov. 2000, 32).
• Be willing to ask
o D&C 88:63
o We are promised that if we ask, we will be told—it may be gradual or not when we expect it, but it will come
o I know that as we search, are patient and listen, He will show us His will
• How do we be who Heavenly Father wants us to be?
o Start with the obvious—your callings (Relief Society president, bishop, Sunday school teacher, counselor, etc.) or as simple as home and visiting teaching
o Home and visiting teaching story
o Thomas S. Monson said “our personal influence will be felt for good wherever we are, whatever our callings.”
o Lynn G. Robbins also talked about becoming lists (vs. to do lists)—you can’t just check it off
o 1 Timothy 4:12
• Part of that is Matthew 5:14-16
o President Dieter F. Uchtdorf in April 2010 conference told a story
“A story is told that during the bombing of a city in World War II, a large statue of Jesus Christ was severely damaged. When the townspeople found the statue among the rubble, they mourned because it had been a beloved symbol of their faith and of God’s presence in their lives.
Experts were able to repair most of the statue, but its hands had been damaged so severely that they could not be restored. Some suggested that they hire a sculptor to make new hands, but others wanted to leave it as it was—a permanent reminder of the tragedy of war. Ultimately, the statue remained without hands. However, the people of the city added on the base of the statue of Jesus Christ a sign with these words: “You are my hands.”
“There is a profound lesson in this story. When I think of the Savior, I often picture Him with hands outstretched, reaching out to comfort, heal, bless, and love. And He always talked with, never down to, people. He loved the humble and the meek and walked among them, ministering to them and offering hope and salvation.
“That is what He did during His mortal life; it is what He would be doing if He were living among us today; and it is what we should be doing as His disciples and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“On this beautiful Easter morning, our thoughts and hearts are drawn to Him—the Hope of Israel and the Light of the World.
“As we emulate His perfect example, our hands can become His hands; our eyes, His eyes; our heart, His heart.”
o Joseph B. Wirthlin at this last general conference said “I urge you to examine your life. Determine where you are and what you need to do to be the kind of person you want to be. Create inspiring, noble, and righteous goals that fire your imagination and create excitement in your heart. And then keep your eye on them. Work consistently towards achieving them.”
• As we recognize not only the person we want to be, but also who Heavenly Father wants us to be we will align our own will with His will for us

Third, follow through with His will and the promptings of the Spirit.
Follow through (Go)
• 1 Nephi 3:7
• Feelings of inadequacy arise
o Henry B. Erying reminds us “When those feelings of inadequacy strike us, it is the time to remember the Savior. He assures us that we don’t do this work alone.”
• Poem titled “Footprints” by Margaret Fishback Powers
“One night I dreamed a dream.
 I was walking along the beach with my Lord. Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, one belonging to me and one to my Lord.
“When the last scene of my life shot before me I looked back at the footprints in the sand. There was only one set of footprints. I realized that this was at the lowest and saddest times of my life. This always bothered me and I questioned the Lord about my dilemma.
“'Lord, You told me when I decided to follow You, You would walk and talk with me all the way. But I'm aware that during the most troublesome times of my life there is only one set of footprints. I just don't understand why, when I need You most, You leave me.'
“He whispered, 'My precious child, I love you and will never leave you, never, ever, during your trials and testings. When you saw only one set of footprints, It was then that I carried you.'
• In times of doubt, have the faith to ask the Lord?
o The spirit
o Patriarchal blessing
o The scriptures
o Music
o Temple
• He will reassure of His will whether it be big or small, but we need to be willing to search and listen

Follow promptings of the Spirit (Listen and action, which may include say)
• 1 Nephi 4:6-7
• Alma 5:46
• We may not know Heavenly Father’s will for us as we are prompted, but know that He does have a will and purpose for us to accomplish while on this earth
• Henry B. Erying “We can expect in our service to have help sent to us at the right time who will see strength in us and lift us up. And we can look forward to being the one sent by the Lord to encourage another.”
• David B. Haight who said, “As time goes on, it is the love that we give and the service that we render that becomes so important in our lives,” nicely summarizes the key to Heavenly Father’s will for us.
o Look back at high school and those events that seemed so important now seem so unimportant (not to belittle those events and emotions): I remember the little events of service (visiting teaching, service projects, helping a friend in need)
As I look toward my college experience so far, it has much been the same—lots of little acts of service