Watching so many friends come into the chapel, I felt so blessed. I especially loved hugging each of them. And letting them know how much I love them and how grateful that Craig and I lived in Fallbrook for those past almost 14 years because it truly showed me more about family and love. The Fallbrook 2nd Ward was my family and will always be.
I am posting here the thoughts that I mostly shared. There were a few things I said from the moment of a full heart but this is what I prepared.
The Spirit of Prophecy
16 I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.
17 It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!
Joseph Smith History 1: 16-17
Hearing and reading the Prophet Joseph
Smith's account of the First Vision touched my heart as a freshman
seminary student some 40 years ago. Then I knew it to be true and I
know these words are still true. Each time I hear these words my
heart beats faster and I am reminded of the witness I was given to
know this is true. God, our Father, and Jesus Christ, our Redeemer
appeared to Joseph Smith and ushered in the dispensation of the
gospel to be shared to the whole world. Of which then and now I
wanted to be a part of. Because I knew that God lives and loves you
and I , because I knew that Jesus Christ was my Savior I wanted to
shout it from the rooftops as Alma did.
“ 1 O that
I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might
go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the
earth, and cry repentance unto every people! Alma 29: 1
But the time was not right at 14 for
me, I have waited for the time to be right, trusting God to know when
that would be.
Prophecy consists of divinely inspired
words or writings, which a person receives through revelation from
the Holy Ghost. The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy
(Rev.
19:10). A prophecy may pertain to the past, present, or future.
When a person prophesies, he speaks or writes that which God wants
him to know, for his own good or the good of others. Individuals may
receive prophecy or revelation for their own lives.
I did not know at 14 that my testimony
and desire was a prophecy for my life but I recognize it now.
Our Heavenly Father has been preparing
me through the guidance of the Holy Spirit for this moment and time.
As He has been preparing so many more for their moment and time
whether it is to share the gospel as a missionary or to stand strong
in the face of adversity.
Elder Russell M. Nelson shared in
October 2015 General Conference these words:
“Thirty -six years ago, in 1979
President Spencer W. Kimball made a profound prophecy about the
impact that covenant-keeping women would have on the future of the
Lord's Church. He prophesied: “Much of the major growth that is
coming to the Church in the last days will come because many of the
good women of the world...will be drawn to the Church in large
numbers. This will happen to the degree that the women of the Church
reflect righteousness and articulateness in their lives and to the
degree that the women of the Church are seen as distinct and
different – in happy ways – from the women of the world.” “
I have seen this prophecy of President
Kimball come true through so many of my young women and their choices
in their lives. When we moved to Fallbrook 14 years ago, I was
blessed to be called to teach seminary. Another one of the desires of
my heart from the age of 18 and 19. I taught for 8 years and had the
privilege of spending morning after morning with amazing young women
as we studied and learned from the scriptures together. Then I
watched as these young women chose the path of temple marriages and
missions. At one point I could name 10 or so of my girls serving a
mission along with a great number of young men. I felt their power as
they served and one by one as they came home I felt their love of
service and God, my heart was fueled again with a desire to serve a
mission along with my eternal companion, Craig.
Not to say that this
has been an easy path here. There are “walls” - as stated in
Teaching of the Presidents of the Church Howard W. Hunter lesson 8.
“need to take stock to determine whether “walls” that we have
built in our own minds need to come down.
For example, how about the “comfort wall”
that seems to prevent many couples and singles from going on a
mission? How about the “financial wall” of debt that interferes
with some members’ ability to go, or the “grandchildren wall,”
or the “health wall,” or the “lack of self-confidence wall,”
or the “self-satisfied wall,” or the “transgression wall,” or
the walls of fear, doubt, or complacency? Does anyone really doubt
for a minute that with the help of the Lord he or she could bring
those walls crashing down?A recent outing we took with Anthony and Jana's family in was to Arches National Park. We choose a few hikes to go on, one was to Delicate Arch. The trail to see Delicate Arch up close and personal is 3 miles roundtrip and climbs 480 feet. My six year old granddaughter Zoe to hike this whole way. She kept going because her parents reminded her, she was a Garrett and Garrett's do hard things.
Serving a mission to Italy is a hard thing for me. I have that grandchildren wall to climb over – but I keep reminding myself that I can call and video conference regularly even weekly with my family back home. I don't have to wait for Christmas or Mother's Day like the young people do.
I also have the wall of “lack of self-confidence” to climb over. It seemed each time I came to that wall I would pull out a General Conference talk and that wall would have another brick or two shattered and knocked over. Most recently reading Elder Gary E. Stevenson's words from October 2015, he said “ As I agonized over my inadequacies this week, I received a distinct impression which both chastened and comforted me: to focus not on what I can't do but rather to focus on what I can do. I an testify of the plain and precious truths of the gospel.”
Well, I can give great hugs and I am quite sure in Italy they like to hug as much as the next person. I can feel love and compassion for others. I can bake a pretty good chocolate chip cookie and I have been told by good authority that Italians love chocolate chip cookies. I can listen well and be sympathetic. And I can bear testimony of the simple truths of the gospel of Christ on earth today.
And I can follow the example of Ammon who was willing to work and serve King Lamoni all his days. I can serve to exactness, I am a great follower. I can teach the words of Christ because I love the words of Christ.
“And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in
Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write
according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what
source they may look for a remission of their sins.” 2 Nephi 25:26
I love my Savior, Jesus Christ. I feel
His love and guidance in my life, I recognize He has prepared me and
gifted me with many things to bring these prophecies of serving a
mission and serving strong true in my life.
I have another wall that needs to be
climbed. This is the language barrier wall, I don't know Italian. I
am studying Italian a bit here and there. I am praying to know
enough to share love and a simple testimony. My tongue twists and
stumbles over the words. My brain freezes and shoves words back to
the deep dark crevices. But I am trying. Craig jokingly refers to us
as Moses and Aaron. Somehow I have the role of Moses but I
definitely know he will most often have the role of Aaron. But again
I am not to focus on what I can't do but focus on what I can do. I
know “ti amo” , I know a smile and a touch is universal language.
And I know kind hearts in Italy will want to help me. But mostly I
know my Heavenly Father wants to and will help me in all manners of
things that I need.
I hope to rejoice as Ammon:
35 Now have we not reason to
rejoice? Yea, I say unto you, there never were men that had so
great reason to rejoice as we, since the world began; yea, and my
joy is carried away, even unto boasting in my God; for he has all
power, all wisdom, and all understanding; he comprehendeth all
things, and he is a merciful Being, even unto salvation, to those
who will repent and believe on his name.
36 Now if this is boasting, even so will I boast; for this is my life and my light, my joy and my salvation, and my redemption from everlasting wo. Yea, blessed is the name of my God, who has been mindful of this people,... yea, I say, blessed be the name of my God, who has been mindful of us, wanderers in a strange land.
37 Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever. Amen.
36 Now if this is boasting, even so will I boast; for this is my life and my light, my joy and my salvation, and my redemption from everlasting wo. Yea, blessed is the name of my God, who has been mindful of this people,... yea, I say, blessed be the name of my God, who has been mindful of us, wanderers in a strange land.
37 Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever. Amen.
- Alma26:35-37
I am a Garrett, I can do hard things.
I am a daughter of God, He is mindful of me and will be with me as He
always has been.
Sono grato per il Vangelo de Gesu
Cristo.
I am grateful for the gospel of Jesus
Christ
Io so Joseph Smith era un profeta di
Dio
I know Joseph Smith was a prophet of
God
Io so noi abbiamo un profeta sulla
terra oggi
I know we have a prophet on earth today
Io so che Gesu Cristo 'e il nostro
Salvatore
I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior
Amo Gesu Cristo
I love Jesus Christ
Amo mio Padre Celeste
I love my Heavenly Father
Il libro di Mormon 'e la parola di Dio
The Book of Mormon is the word of God
So che il Padre Ceslete risponde all
mie pregheire
I know Heavenly Father answers my
prayers
Nel noe di Gesu Cristo, Amen.
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen
No comments:
Post a Comment