Mom's Sacrament Meeting Talk Given Sunday, April 16, 2017

Mom’s Sacrament Meeting Talk

16 April 2017

In 3 Nephi chapter 11, we read:

9 And it came to pass that he stretched forth his hand and spake unto the people, saying:

10 Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world.

11 And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning.

12 And it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words the whole multitude fell to the earth; for they remembered that it had been prophesied among them that Christ should show himself unto them after his ascension into heaven.

13 And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto them saying:

14 Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world.

15 And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come.

Today, we celebrate the resurrection and life of Jesus Christ. The sacrifice He made for us was described by Jeffrey R. Holland as “the most majestic manifestation of pure love ever to be demonstrated in the history of this world.”

Jesus showed us by his example how to love…and how to live.

He taught in Matthew 16:25, “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”

President Thomas S. Monson said, “I believe the Savior is telling us that unless we lose ourselves in service to others, there is little purpose to our own lives. Those who live only for themselves eventually shrivel up and …lose their lives, while those who lose themselves in service to others grow and flourish – and in effect save their lives.”

As members of the Church, we are given abundant opportunities to serve.  Inspired leaders prayerfully fill needs in wards, in stakes, in missions. We are called on to use our hands to care for a bedridden mother, to help load and unload a moving truck, to prepare a meal for missionaries. Today, we have been served by the hands of ordained young men as they prepared and blessed the Sacrament.

As we partake, pray and ponder, we remember what Christ has done for us. We repent and recommit ourselves.

We promise to always remember Him, and we are promised that we will have His Spirit with us.

It is that Spirit that I am here to testify of. We are given Heavenly Help as we serve in our callings.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf taught:“You must do…what disciples of Christ have done in every dispensation: counsel together, use all resources available, seek the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, ask the Lord for his confirmation, and then roll up your sleeves and go to work.

“I give you a promise,” he said. “If you will follow this pattern, you will receive specific guidance as to the who, what, when and where of providing in the Lords way.”

And so, the Lord asks us to be His Hands.

I am blessed to serve in three capacities right now.

As a Visiting Teacher  

Writing letters to an inmate sister at the Women’s prison

And as a leader with Angie Day to a wonderful group of 8 year old boys known as the Wolf Cub Scout Den

I can testify that in each and every capacity, I have been blessed by His Spirit. The only thing I have to do…is listen. And then, express my gratitude for that inspiration.

Visiting teaching  

Julie B. Beck said: “Through Relief Society [and visiting teaching] we practice being disciples of Christ. We learn what He would have us learn, we do what He would have us do, and we become what He would have us become.”²She continued, “We are the Lord’s hands. He is dependent upon each of us. The more we see our visiting teaching assignment as one of the most important responsibilities we have, the more we will minister to those we visit.”

I am far from perfect       Striving Daily To Improve        Pray

Letter Writing to my inmate Sister

         I have a yellow notebook. I take notes nearly every Sunday.

         It is YOUR inspired words I share

                  The testimony you bear

                  The lessons you prepare and teach

                  The talks you give

                  The comments you make in class

I am so thankful that You act on the promptings you receive

Cub Scouts

         Needed a Service Project for Requirement   

         Sister Day    realized a need       Didn’t want to be self serving

         2    Year old  Grandson   Daniel   

         Current bed caused him injury            slept on a special sleeping pad

                  Could use a few more               Boys could make them

         She presented the idea to the boys

They took the pictures Sister Day had prepared shared what they would be doing with the Cub Scout Committee

We later spent our meeting time tying knots around the edges of 2 sleeping pads.

         At the end, Daniel’s Mom brought Daniel for them to meet.

                  Within moments, every boy was sitting all around Daniel  

                  They had a new friend

The work of their hands made his sleep better

Heavenly Hands reach out and enable our earthly hands to do His work, and I am ever so grateful for this!

I close with these words from President Uchtdorf:

“On this Easter Sunday, and every day, as we contemplate with reverence and awe how our Savior embraces us, comforts us, and heals us, let us commit to become His hands, that others through us may feel His loving embrace.”