WEBVTT 00:00:16.239 --> 00:00:18.660 Hey there, everybody. Welcome out to another 00:00:18.660 --> 00:00:21.660 episode of Redeemed Through His Blood. I'm Scott 00:00:21.660 --> 00:00:25.579 Durfey and I'm joined as always by David Durfey, 00:00:25.739 --> 00:00:28.440 soon to be Elder Durfey. We have some news, Dave. 00:00:28.800 --> 00:00:31.239 I'm not set apart, but this letter... Soon to 00:00:31.239 --> 00:00:33.320 be. This letter I've got right here in front 00:00:33.320 --> 00:00:37.920 of me says, Dear Elder Durfey. So... Well, Dave 00:00:37.920 --> 00:00:41.219 got his mission call, everybody. February 21st, 00:00:41.359 --> 00:00:44.939 2025. And you know that we're usually two to 00:00:44.939 --> 00:00:47.820 three weeks late in releasing these because we 00:00:47.820 --> 00:00:50.619 do have a few in queue and so on. So when you 00:00:50.619 --> 00:00:53.200 get this, it'll probably be mid -March towards 00:00:53.200 --> 00:00:56.200 the end of March. But Dave received his mission 00:00:56.200 --> 00:00:59.200 call this past week, and he's got some great 00:00:59.200 --> 00:01:01.619 news for us. Pretty sweet. Tell us about it. 00:01:02.000 --> 00:01:04.079 So I just, you know, I want to read the letter. 00:01:04.459 --> 00:01:06.280 And I think I've read it enough, I won't get 00:01:06.280 --> 00:01:13.459 emotional this time. But when it came, I was 00:01:13.459 --> 00:01:19.420 actually on my phone looking at my emails and 00:01:19.420 --> 00:01:21.459 all of a sudden it popped up and said that your 00:01:21.459 --> 00:01:25.560 mission call is in the portal. I can't even imagine. 00:01:26.420 --> 00:01:29.239 What did your stomach do right then? Well, my 00:01:29.239 --> 00:01:33.069 wife was there in the kitchen. I was sitting 00:01:33.069 --> 00:01:37.489 in the family room. And I said, hey, Chris, our 00:01:37.489 --> 00:01:40.609 mission call just came. She said, what? Anyway, 00:01:41.349 --> 00:01:45.010 we went in my office. We knelt down and prayed, 00:01:45.730 --> 00:01:51.109 cried. We got up, opened the portal. We read 00:01:51.109 --> 00:01:56.150 the call and cried. And then after we read it, 00:01:56.269 --> 00:01:58.730 we knelt back down and thanked our Heavenly Father. 00:01:59.989 --> 00:02:04.019 So it was kind of a sweet. You know, I've always 00:02:04.019 --> 00:02:08.060 felt strongly and pictured in my mind that when 00:02:08.060 --> 00:02:11.020 we received the call, I didn't want to open it 00:02:11.020 --> 00:02:12.599 and read it for the first time when everybody 00:02:12.599 --> 00:02:14.740 was cheering and yelling and loud, you know, 00:02:15.780 --> 00:02:19.740 and whatever. I wanted to have it be quiet. I 00:02:19.740 --> 00:02:23.020 wanted it to be peaceful. I wanted it to be between 00:02:23.020 --> 00:02:28.599 me and my sweetheart and God. And it was really 00:02:28.599 --> 00:02:34.729 a moment we'll never forget. And then my sweet 00:02:34.729 --> 00:02:36.750 granddaughter had just come home from a mission 00:02:36.750 --> 00:02:40.849 two days before. Sweet Sierra. This was last 00:02:40.849 --> 00:02:44.669 Friday, and Sierra had just come home from Philadelphia 00:02:44.669 --> 00:02:47.750 on her mission Wednesday, and she was speaking 00:02:47.750 --> 00:02:52.430 on Sunday. So Chris and I decided, we can't even 00:02:52.430 --> 00:02:55.189 tell our family we've got our call because we 00:02:55.189 --> 00:02:58.780 don't want to have it ruin Sierra's... first 00:02:58.780 --> 00:03:02.259 weekend at home and her homecoming and her talk 00:03:02.259 --> 00:03:05.000 and the family get together at the house. We 00:03:05.000 --> 00:03:07.819 didn't want them talking about our call. We wanted 00:03:07.819 --> 00:03:11.620 them talking about her. So we didn't want upstage, 00:03:11.620 --> 00:03:16.039 you know, this event, this big welcome home, 00:03:16.219 --> 00:03:19.479 which she deserved. She was an amazing missionary. 00:03:19.560 --> 00:03:24.460 I was just so grateful and humbled by her talk, 00:03:24.479 --> 00:03:27.830 which was amazing, Scott. She really gets it. 00:03:27.830 --> 00:03:32.969 She really understands it anyway, so we It wasn't 00:03:32.969 --> 00:03:35.629 until Sunday afternoon when things were really 00:03:35.629 --> 00:03:40.590 winding down that I Told the rest of the family 00:03:40.590 --> 00:03:44.050 Hey, mom, and I got our call and we're gonna 00:03:44.050 --> 00:03:50.150 read it Monday night tomorrow night And so that 00:03:50.150 --> 00:03:53.349 was so exciting for them and So they didn't have 00:03:53.349 --> 00:03:56.110 to wait too long, 24 hours. They came over Monday 00:03:56.110 --> 00:04:01.110 night. And we got everybody around and read it. 00:04:01.110 --> 00:04:02.889 And there was cheering. And I think somebody 00:04:02.889 --> 00:04:05.210 recorded it. I think it's on Facebook or something. 00:04:05.710 --> 00:04:09.870 Yeah, Isaac did. OK. I didn't know if they were 00:04:09.870 --> 00:04:11.349 going to do that. I didn't either. I haven't 00:04:11.349 --> 00:04:13.189 even seen it. But Deb's the one that told me 00:04:13.189 --> 00:04:16.250 that she had seen it. But Isaac did. Anyway, 00:04:16.389 --> 00:04:20.540 it was sweet. And we're thankful that. Our family 00:04:20.540 --> 00:04:26.399 was so excited about it, and just then we had 00:04:26.399 --> 00:04:31.379 Banana Splits. That's an appropriate crescendo 00:04:31.379 --> 00:04:33.879 to opening the mission call. I don't know if 00:04:33.879 --> 00:04:36.740 they call bananas down there. That's great. So 00:04:36.740 --> 00:04:39.100 go ahead and read it. Anyway, the only reason 00:04:39.100 --> 00:04:42.160 I want to read it is because of the doctrine 00:04:42.160 --> 00:04:47.139 here. If someone hasn't... And there's I'm sure 00:04:47.139 --> 00:04:49.579 a few out there listening to the podcast and 00:04:49.579 --> 00:04:54.439 have never really heard What the missionary letter 00:04:54.439 --> 00:04:59.560 says and I think it's it's awesome Dear elder 00:04:59.560 --> 00:05:02.579 Durfee, my wife also received one. Oh, really? 00:05:02.639 --> 00:05:05.699 Okay said dear sister That was because when you 00:05:05.699 --> 00:05:07.360 read dear elder Durfee, I'm like, what about 00:05:07.360 --> 00:05:10.180 Chris? She receives you got her over it Okay, 00:05:10.480 --> 00:05:12.399 does it say exactly the same thing same thing? 00:05:12.399 --> 00:05:16.470 Okay But I think that's so sweet. I do too. We 00:05:16.470 --> 00:05:19.230 each got our own letter and it would have been 00:05:19.230 --> 00:05:21.910 fine if they would have said dear elder and sister 00:05:21.910 --> 00:05:25.670 or dear sister and elder, but Anyway, dear elder 00:05:25.670 --> 00:05:30.110 Durfee You are hereby called to serve as a missionary 00:05:30.110 --> 00:05:31.889 of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter -day 00:05:31.889 --> 00:05:37.110 Saints So I guess I'm already called Haven't 00:05:37.110 --> 00:05:41.089 been set apart But I'm called it's official. 00:05:41.089 --> 00:05:43.569 I'm called. I'm a missionary That's awesome. 00:05:43.670 --> 00:05:48.050 I need to start acting like it. That's the first 00:05:48.050 --> 00:05:50.790 line of the first paragraph. You are hereby called 00:05:50.790 --> 00:05:53.649 to serve as a missionary of the Church of Jesus 00:05:53.649 --> 00:05:56.290 Christ of Latter -day Saints. Second paragraph. 00:05:57.290 --> 00:06:00.329 You have been recommended as one worthy to represent 00:06:00.329 --> 00:06:04.970 the Lord as a minister of the restored gospel 00:06:04.970 --> 00:06:09.670 of Jesus Christ. A lot of doctrine in that. You 00:06:09.670 --> 00:06:12.230 will be an official representative of the Church. 00:06:13.170 --> 00:06:16.230 As such, you will be expected to honor the covenants 00:06:16.230 --> 00:06:19.310 you have made with your Heavenly Father, keep 00:06:19.310 --> 00:06:22.589 the commandments, maintain the highest standards 00:06:22.589 --> 00:06:25.550 of conduct, and follow the righteous counsel 00:06:25.550 --> 00:06:28.670 of your mission president. Follow the righteous 00:06:28.670 --> 00:06:31.709 counsel of your mission president. Maybe there 00:06:31.709 --> 00:06:35.430 are some that aren't so righteous. As you devote 00:06:35.430 --> 00:06:38.110 your time and attention to serving the Lord, 00:06:39.250 --> 00:06:41.889 you will be blessed with increased knowledge, 00:06:43.340 --> 00:06:47.579 testimony of Jesus Christ and His restored gospel. 00:06:48.639 --> 00:06:52.060 Restored gospel. It's not just gospel. It's restored 00:06:52.060 --> 00:06:55.160 gospel. It's in that paragraph twice. But what 00:06:55.160 --> 00:06:58.199 a promise. As you devote your time and attention 00:06:58.199 --> 00:07:01.100 to serving the Lord, you will be blessed with 00:07:01.100 --> 00:07:03.339 increased knowledge and testimony of Jesus Christ. 00:07:04.220 --> 00:07:05.980 You know, we're going to go on a mission for 00:07:05.980 --> 00:07:08.319 a lot of reasons, Scott, but I can't think of 00:07:08.319 --> 00:07:10.399 any reason or blessing that would be greater 00:07:10.399 --> 00:07:13.649 than that. Increased knowledge and testimony 00:07:13.649 --> 00:07:19.250 of Jesus Christ That's the second paragraph third 00:07:19.250 --> 00:07:23.089 paragraph Your purpose will be to help others 00:07:23.089 --> 00:07:26.470 Come unto Christ by serving them as the Savior 00:07:26.470 --> 00:07:32.810 would So I got to go to work and Find out Scott 00:07:32.810 --> 00:07:37.649 how the Savior serves others helps to heal others 00:07:37.649 --> 00:07:42.180 teaches others I I love that line. Your purpose 00:07:42.180 --> 00:07:45.899 will be to help others come unto Christ by serving 00:07:45.899 --> 00:07:49.600 them as the Savior would. They could have said 00:07:49.600 --> 00:07:51.300 a lot of things there, Scott. They could have 00:07:51.300 --> 00:07:57.980 said by teaching them, by filling the blank, 00:07:58.699 --> 00:08:05.579 but it's by serving them. Then continuing in 00:08:05.579 --> 00:08:11.430 that paragraph. As you serve, With all your heart, 00:08:11.709 --> 00:08:14.449 might, mind, and strength, you will feel the 00:08:14.449 --> 00:08:19.410 joy that comes from giving of yourself to lift 00:08:19.410 --> 00:08:24.670 others. They too can then have the opportunity 00:08:24.670 --> 00:08:29.490 to receive sacred ordinances and make covenants 00:08:29.490 --> 00:08:33.649 with Heavenly Father." That's the end of paragraph 00:08:33.649 --> 00:08:39.769 3. I think that's... What's the end result? to 00:08:39.769 --> 00:08:44.570 help others to receive sacred ordinances and 00:08:44.570 --> 00:08:48.789 make covenants with their Heavenly Father. Isn't 00:08:48.789 --> 00:08:52.029 that awesome? Yeah, I love that. Re -read the 00:08:52.029 --> 00:08:55.190 part about joy, too. Yeah, as you serve with 00:08:55.190 --> 00:08:58.190 all your heart, mind, and strength, you will 00:08:58.190 --> 00:09:02.250 feel the joy that comes from giving of yourself 00:09:02.250 --> 00:09:09.259 to lift others. Anyway, so that's paragraph 3 00:09:09.259 --> 00:09:12.659 paragraph 4 This is the big one this one everybody 00:09:12.659 --> 00:09:17.000 waits for and we're all Nobody heard anything 00:09:17.000 --> 00:09:19.299 in those first three paragraphs and they seldom 00:09:19.299 --> 00:09:25.360 do This you are assigned not called assigned 00:09:25.360 --> 00:09:28.600 so I'm called to be a missionary But I'm assigned 00:09:28.600 --> 00:09:31.580 to a mission and assignments can change. This 00:09:31.580 --> 00:09:34.220 is really important. I remember when I was branch 00:09:34.220 --> 00:09:36.620 president missionary training center The Brother 00:09:36.620 --> 00:09:39.600 made a big deal out of that. You're not called 00:09:39.600 --> 00:09:43.740 to a mission. You're called to be a missionary. 00:09:44.419 --> 00:09:48.159 And then you are assigned to a mission. And assignments 00:09:48.159 --> 00:09:53.700 can change. So don't get stuck on the mission. 00:09:54.919 --> 00:09:57.879 Focus on being a missionary, no matter where 00:09:57.879 --> 00:10:01.450 the assignment might be. You know, some couldn't 00:10:01.450 --> 00:10:04.570 get their visa or they, for health reasons, couldn't, 00:10:04.710 --> 00:10:06.509 their missions had to change. That happened all 00:10:06.509 --> 00:10:09.190 the time to missionaries in my branch at the 00:10:09.190 --> 00:10:11.509 Missionary Training Center. And it could be devastating 00:10:11.509 --> 00:10:13.830 to them because they felt like they had been 00:10:13.830 --> 00:10:16.769 called to a certain mission. You're not called 00:10:16.769 --> 00:10:21.049 to a mission. You're assigned a mission area. 00:10:21.289 --> 00:10:23.549 That's an interesting insight that I had never 00:10:23.549 --> 00:10:26.440 considered. That's important. Yeah, I can see 00:10:26.440 --> 00:10:29.340 how it is important. For those few individuals 00:10:29.340 --> 00:10:32.960 who struggle or feel guilty that they didn't... 00:10:32.960 --> 00:10:37.879 Well, I got called to Japan, but I couldn't go 00:10:37.879 --> 00:10:40.679 because of this and this and whatever. You're 00:10:40.679 --> 00:10:43.899 not called to Japan. You're called to be a missionary. 00:10:44.320 --> 00:10:46.320 And sometimes when we think that we are called 00:10:46.320 --> 00:10:49.039 to Japan and then we're not able to go to Japan. 00:10:49.519 --> 00:10:51.679 Exactly. How have I let Heavenly Father down? 00:10:51.679 --> 00:10:53.799 Because there's probably people there waiting 00:10:53.799 --> 00:10:55.539 for me to come. And if I don't come, they're 00:10:55.539 --> 00:11:00.899 not going to get a chance. I know. I know. So 00:11:00.899 --> 00:11:03.639 I think that's really important. You're called 00:11:03.639 --> 00:11:06.500 to be a missionary. Thank you for that. And that's 00:11:06.500 --> 00:11:10.909 in the very first paragraph. fourth paragraph, 00:11:10.970 --> 00:11:14.370 does it say, you are assigned. And we still don't 00:11:14.370 --> 00:11:17.070 know where that is, so. Drawing it out, aren't 00:11:17.070 --> 00:11:20.350 I? Yeah, yeah, yeah. You are assigned to labor 00:11:20.350 --> 00:11:25.750 in the Australia Sydney mission. Wow. Isn't that 00:11:25.750 --> 00:11:29.529 sweet? Yeah. Wow. I look at that, and I'm still 00:11:29.529 --> 00:11:31.570 a little in shock. Yeah. You know we have listeners 00:11:31.570 --> 00:11:35.389 in Sydney now. That's awesome. Yeah. Well, I'm 00:11:35.389 --> 00:11:38.549 coming. He's coming. I'm coming. I can't wait. 00:11:39.839 --> 00:11:43.860 So it continues this fourth paragraph. Your main 00:11:43.860 --> 00:11:47.059 assignment is to serve as a member and leader 00:11:47.059 --> 00:11:52.000 support missionary. MLS for short, MLS missionary, 00:11:52.259 --> 00:11:55.000 which is awesome. We'll have so many options 00:11:55.000 --> 00:11:57.200 and we'll just do whatever we're called to do 00:11:57.200 --> 00:12:01.059 by our mission president. Under the direction 00:12:01.059 --> 00:12:03.879 of the mission president, you may also be invited 00:12:03.879 --> 00:12:07.419 to teach the gospel, strengthen new and returning 00:12:07.419 --> 00:12:10.870 members of the church. minister to local leaders 00:12:10.870 --> 00:12:15.230 and units and fulfill other assignments as needed. 00:12:15.850 --> 00:12:21.850 David, we don't need, in writing, something to 00:12:21.850 --> 00:12:23.789 tell us that you will be teaching the gospel. 00:12:25.629 --> 00:12:29.970 You will be teaching the gospel, even if it's 00:12:29.970 --> 00:12:31.830 just through the way you live or those that you 00:12:31.830 --> 00:12:36.509 influence. I'd love to be teaching it. Maybe 00:12:36.509 --> 00:12:39.539 I'll teach it. Wherever they send me, I'll start 00:12:39.539 --> 00:12:42.039 an institute class or something. Yeah. Yeah. 00:12:42.279 --> 00:12:44.820 Or I don't know. Anyway. Maybe you'll need some 00:12:44.820 --> 00:12:46.840 assistance. Maybe we'll get a work in the temple. 00:12:46.980 --> 00:12:49.419 Oh, yeah. You know, and do a ceiling session 00:12:49.419 --> 00:12:53.419 once in a while. Or I don't know. I know there's, 00:12:53.419 --> 00:12:56.279 I think, four districts in this mission. And 00:12:56.279 --> 00:12:59.480 maybe they'll need a patriarch to do if they 00:12:59.480 --> 00:13:02.149 get. The mission president, to do that, would 00:13:02.149 --> 00:13:03.850 have to get permission from the president of 00:13:03.850 --> 00:13:06.009 the Quorum of the Twelve. But if they got permission 00:13:06.009 --> 00:13:07.870 from the Quorum of the Twelve, I could give patriarchal 00:13:07.870 --> 00:13:11.629 blessings to members of the church in the districts 00:13:11.629 --> 00:13:15.610 in the mission. So we'll see. All those things 00:13:15.610 --> 00:13:18.889 are possibilities. You will begin your missionary 00:13:18.889 --> 00:13:23.090 training on Monday, July 14, 2025, after being 00:13:23.090 --> 00:13:25.830 set apart by your stake president. Please see 00:13:25.830 --> 00:13:28.009 the missionary portal for additional information 00:13:28.009 --> 00:13:31.769 on your training experience. It is anticipated 00:13:31.769 --> 00:13:34.009 that you will serve for a period of 18 months. 00:13:35.350 --> 00:13:38.110 So I think, you know, I was a little disappointed 00:13:38.110 --> 00:13:41.509 to hear I had to wait so long. But I understand 00:13:41.509 --> 00:13:45.570 after the packet and the portal fills up with 00:13:45.570 --> 00:13:48.289 all this information that takes a while to get 00:13:48.289 --> 00:13:52.129 a visa. So we have to go to work on getting the 00:13:52.129 --> 00:13:55.090 visa. And that may take a few months. Yeah. So 00:13:55.090 --> 00:13:58.950 you're leaving in July. That'll bring you back 00:13:58.950 --> 00:14:01.730 home. Which will be winter there. Right. But 00:14:01.730 --> 00:14:04.909 that'll bring you back home in December. Or January. 00:14:05.070 --> 00:14:07.809 Or January. And you will be experiencing summer 00:14:07.809 --> 00:14:10.610 there to come home to winter here. Right. Yeah. 00:14:11.590 --> 00:14:16.250 Right. Last paragraph, which is so sweet. Promise. 00:14:16.750 --> 00:14:21.299 This is this first sentence. our Heavenly Father 00:14:21.299 --> 00:14:25.279 will reward you and your family for your service. 00:14:26.899 --> 00:14:29.120 And the most important thing in there is your 00:14:29.120 --> 00:14:33.980 family. I know Chris and I will be blessed, but 00:14:33.980 --> 00:14:36.860 really I'm more concerned about this being a 00:14:36.860 --> 00:14:39.759 blessing to our family. And I know it will be. 00:14:40.279 --> 00:14:43.419 As we serve Heavenly Father's kids, I know He 00:14:43.419 --> 00:14:48.580 blesses my kids. That's been a true pattern throughout 00:14:48.580 --> 00:14:52.289 my life. Well, Dave, we've talked a lot about 00:14:52.289 --> 00:14:55.970 your mission to Fresno, California, a lot on 00:14:55.970 --> 00:14:59.070 here. And I don't think it's, if you've been 00:14:59.070 --> 00:15:01.190 listening to the podcast for any length of time 00:15:01.190 --> 00:15:05.509 at all, you know how much Dave has loved his 00:15:05.509 --> 00:15:07.730 mission. David and I were actually talking about 00:15:07.730 --> 00:15:11.669 some experiences from his original mission early 00:15:11.669 --> 00:15:14.090 this morning. It's always on my mind. Before 00:15:14.090 --> 00:15:18.620 we got started here, as did I. It'll be interesting 00:15:18.620 --> 00:15:22.080 now. I think that that was a super special experience 00:15:22.080 --> 00:15:25.940 for you and one that'll never be matched. And 00:15:25.940 --> 00:15:28.899 it'll never be matched. But just think how wonderful 00:15:28.899 --> 00:15:32.299 it is to be going with a companion that you chose. 00:15:33.340 --> 00:15:36.700 This last paragraph continues. Great blessings 00:15:36.700 --> 00:15:40.399 and joy. There's joy again. Great blessings and 00:15:40.399 --> 00:15:45.200 joy await you as you humbly and prayerfully serve 00:15:45.200 --> 00:15:50.179 the Lord. in this labor of love among His children. 00:15:51.220 --> 00:15:55.740 We place our confidence in you and pray that 00:15:55.740 --> 00:16:00.360 the Lord will help you become an effective missionary. 00:16:01.960 --> 00:16:09.320 Sincerely, Russell M. Nelson, President. That's 00:16:09.320 --> 00:16:14.210 the letter. And so, so exciting. Yeah. But yeah, 00:16:14.210 --> 00:16:16.190 Scott, you're right. When I came home from my 00:16:16.190 --> 00:16:18.490 mission, I've probably told this before, but 00:16:18.490 --> 00:16:24.250 Chris, who was attending BYU and had been waiting 00:16:24.250 --> 00:16:27.389 for me, and was one year behind me in high school, 00:16:27.529 --> 00:16:31.649 and we fell in love my junior year, her sophomore 00:16:31.649 --> 00:16:35.570 year, and were high school sweethearts. And when 00:16:35.570 --> 00:16:39.850 I went on my mission and then came home, I remember 00:16:39.850 --> 00:16:43.330 her telling me. that she felt like maybe she 00:16:43.330 --> 00:16:47.370 should go on a mission. That she had gone to 00:16:47.370 --> 00:16:51.509 a fireside and Steve and Covey had singled her 00:16:51.509 --> 00:16:55.330 out and told her what a great missionary she 00:16:55.330 --> 00:16:58.090 should be and maybe she should go on a mission 00:16:58.090 --> 00:17:01.350 and she started getting that in her mind so that 00:17:01.350 --> 00:17:05.349 by the time I came home she was starting to think 00:17:05.349 --> 00:17:07.089 she was going to go on a mission. Back then you 00:17:07.089 --> 00:17:11.269 had to be 21 to go and she was only 20. So she 00:17:11.269 --> 00:17:12.970 wouldn't even be able to go for another year. 00:17:13.130 --> 00:17:14.769 So you had a year to work on her. Which means 00:17:14.769 --> 00:17:18.529 I'd have to wait a year and a half. So it'd be 00:17:18.529 --> 00:17:23.329 two and a half years before we could get married. 00:17:24.210 --> 00:17:28.890 And I remember saying, Chris, we should just 00:17:28.890 --> 00:17:33.789 get married and raise up our children to go on 00:17:33.789 --> 00:17:37.890 missions. And I promise that when you and I are 00:17:37.890 --> 00:17:41.640 older, we'll go on a mission together. You should 00:17:41.640 --> 00:17:44.980 go on a mission and you are a missionary and 00:17:44.980 --> 00:17:49.819 we should go on a mission together So I I always 00:17:49.819 --> 00:17:53.420 felt like that was a sacred. Yeah promise I had 00:17:53.420 --> 00:17:56.740 made to her. Yeah, and I've been so Throughout 00:17:56.740 --> 00:18:01.400 my life prayerful Desiring expressing my desire 00:18:01.400 --> 00:18:04.299 to my Heavenly Father that I could fulfill that 00:18:04.299 --> 00:18:10.210 promise and I'm just So grateful that that that 00:18:10.210 --> 00:18:13.150 time has come but that he's blessed us to be 00:18:13.150 --> 00:18:17.890 able to do this together and I I Don't know. 00:18:18.009 --> 00:18:21.150 I may have told you this Scott, but about six 00:18:21.150 --> 00:18:24.670 weeks ago. I Was in the temple and I was doing 00:18:24.670 --> 00:18:28.450 a ceiling session. I Had this ordinance card 00:18:28.450 --> 00:18:31.410 in front of me, you know each couple or child 00:18:31.410 --> 00:18:34.690 to parents They have an ordinance card and each 00:18:34.690 --> 00:18:37.579 couple the names of the couple in there where 00:18:37.579 --> 00:18:39.920 they were married and the date they were married 00:18:39.920 --> 00:18:47.980 is on an individual ordinance card. Well, I'm 00:18:47.980 --> 00:18:52.779 performing this sealing and all of a sudden I 00:18:52.779 --> 00:18:55.720 start to get just out of nowhere. I just start 00:18:55.720 --> 00:18:58.420 getting really emotional. I feel the spirit of 00:18:58.420 --> 00:19:02.079 the Lord and I start to tear up. My voice starts 00:19:02.079 --> 00:19:08.700 to quiver. I'm looking at this ordinance card 00:19:08.700 --> 00:19:12.380 and I see Australia. I can't remember the town, 00:19:13.160 --> 00:19:18.079 but it was from Australia. This couple had lived 00:19:18.079 --> 00:19:22.480 and been married in Australia. And I had this 00:19:22.480 --> 00:19:26.299 powerful feeling come over me that these were 00:19:26.299 --> 00:19:30.480 my people and that I had this connection with 00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:33.779 Australia and that maybe we should serve in Australia. 00:19:35.960 --> 00:19:38.339 That was six weeks ago when we were just about 00:19:38.339 --> 00:19:41.799 ready to resubmit our papers after fulfilling 00:19:41.799 --> 00:19:44.660 all the medical requirements after our challenges 00:19:44.660 --> 00:19:49.940 health challenges and anyway, I Went home and 00:19:49.940 --> 00:19:52.579 the first thing I said when I got home was hey 00:19:52.579 --> 00:19:55.640 Chris I had an interesting experience and I told 00:19:55.640 --> 00:19:59.500 her about it and I said I I think maybe we should 00:19:59.500 --> 00:20:03.660 edit our Mission papers and maybe we should request 00:20:03.660 --> 00:20:09.660 to go to Australia And she said, no, David, she 00:20:09.660 --> 00:20:14.200 was really resolute about this. No, David, I 00:20:14.200 --> 00:20:17.259 just want the Lord to call us wherever we need 00:20:17.259 --> 00:20:20.400 to be, wherever He wants us to be, wherever He 00:20:20.400 --> 00:20:27.099 can. Let's let the Lord call us. So the first 00:20:27.099 --> 00:20:29.259 time we submitted our papers and then resubmitted 00:20:29.259 --> 00:20:33.759 them, we never asked to go anywhere. Yeah, we 00:20:33.759 --> 00:20:35.960 just wanted the Lord to call us and we made that 00:20:35.960 --> 00:20:39.480 clear in our application that we would go anywhere 00:20:39.480 --> 00:20:44.779 Well when we read this call in my office on Friday 00:20:44.779 --> 00:20:50.779 That came that came flooding back to me this 00:20:50.779 --> 00:20:53.420 experience that I had the temple about Australia 00:20:53.420 --> 00:20:59.559 and you know So it was it was very sweet confirmation, 00:20:59.700 --> 00:21:04.420 but I got to tell you one more thing When I was 00:21:04.420 --> 00:21:08.039 18 19 getting ready to go on a mission 19 really 00:21:08.039 --> 00:21:12.299 didn't go until I was You know after 19 years 00:21:12.299 --> 00:21:15.980 old and and I remember everybody asking me Where 00:21:15.980 --> 00:21:17.920 do you want to where do you want to serve and 00:21:17.920 --> 00:21:20.819 my answer was always Australia? huh, and I would 00:21:20.819 --> 00:21:24.420 say well, I really want to go to Australia, but 00:21:24.420 --> 00:21:27.420 Because because I want to go to Australia the 00:21:27.420 --> 00:21:31.680 Lord will probably send me to Alaska That was 00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:37.119 my answer And you know, I learned, as you know, 00:21:37.579 --> 00:21:40.240 that your assignment, wherever you serve, is 00:21:40.240 --> 00:21:44.819 not so much about weather or geography or any 00:21:44.819 --> 00:21:48.980 of that. It's about people and where you can 00:21:48.980 --> 00:21:51.759 be most effective and maybe where the Lord has 00:21:51.759 --> 00:21:54.680 prepared people for you, whatever the assignment 00:21:54.680 --> 00:21:58.920 may be. Anyway, that was always my answer. I 00:21:58.920 --> 00:22:00.980 always wanted to serve a mission in Australia. 00:22:01.519 --> 00:22:06.880 So this is kind of a sweet thing, Scott, to be 00:22:06.880 --> 00:22:11.460 able to see that desire fulfilled and have kind 00:22:11.460 --> 00:22:17.359 of a witness of it before the call even came. 00:22:17.700 --> 00:22:22.839 And I'm so glad that Chris was resolute on that. 00:22:23.319 --> 00:22:25.900 Firm. Yeah. He was very firm about that. Right. 00:22:26.039 --> 00:22:29.579 Right. That makes this experience even more faith 00:22:29.579 --> 00:22:32.740 building. Really sweet. Really, really sweet. 00:22:33.960 --> 00:22:36.000 We're excited about it. We have a lot of work 00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:38.880 to do to get ready. Yeah, we're excited for you, 00:22:39.680 --> 00:22:43.400 too. Because of that, we're going to wind this 00:22:43.400 --> 00:22:47.640 podcast down. And that'll be kind of sad and 00:22:47.640 --> 00:22:54.539 hard in a way for you and me. But anyway, we'll 00:22:54.539 --> 00:22:58.440 maybe do three or four more. I'll go on my mission. 00:22:58.500 --> 00:23:00.619 We'll pick it up in 18 months or whatever. There 00:23:00.619 --> 00:23:05.619 you go So we'll probably just for logistics sake, 00:23:05.759 --> 00:23:09.160 we'll probably be releasing our last episodes 00:23:09.160 --> 00:23:11.660 the first or second week of April. That means 00:23:11.660 --> 00:23:14.619 that we'll be recording through March. Now's 00:23:14.619 --> 00:23:17.579 a great time, gang, to submit your questions. 00:23:18.400 --> 00:23:21.220 It would definitely be appropriate for you to 00:23:21.220 --> 00:23:25.079 send well wishing emails if you feel so inclined 00:23:25.079 --> 00:23:28.059 to Dave here and Chris for their mission. You 00:23:28.059 --> 00:23:30.660 can do that. He redeems us. What I'd really love 00:23:30.660 --> 00:23:33.059 is to learn something about Sydney. Yeah, there 00:23:33.059 --> 00:23:34.819 you go. To learn something about Sydney. You 00:23:34.819 --> 00:23:37.500 know what I've already done since I've only had 00:23:37.500 --> 00:23:39.200 the call for what, three or four days? Yeah, 00:23:39.420 --> 00:23:43.460 since well before. About a week, five days now. 00:23:44.880 --> 00:23:46.779 Anyway, what I've already done, Scott, is I've 00:23:46.779 --> 00:23:50.460 gone through the church website, looked up everything 00:23:50.460 --> 00:23:54.759 on Sydney, gone to YouTube and all of that. And 00:23:54.759 --> 00:23:57.759 I've actually prepared a map of the mission. 00:23:57.759 --> 00:24:01.890 Oh, how cool. And I've circled every and how 00:24:01.890 --> 00:24:04.450 many chapels are in each town. Are there a lot 00:24:04.450 --> 00:24:07.089 of chapels? Yeah, they've got quite a few. In 00:24:07.089 --> 00:24:09.670 the Sydney Mission, I counted 53 chapels. Oh, 00:24:09.670 --> 00:24:12.150 is that right? And in a lot of those, there are 00:24:12.150 --> 00:24:15.250 multiple wards. Sure. So I think they have well 00:24:15.250 --> 00:24:17.730 over 100 wards in this mission. Oh, very cool. 00:24:17.990 --> 00:24:24.509 Like several stakes. They have 25 buildings in 00:24:24.509 --> 00:24:29.809 Sydney, the suburbs of Sydney. And then they've 00:24:29.809 --> 00:24:33.690 got them all the way kind of back into the hinterland 00:24:33.690 --> 00:24:38.390 up to probably saying this wrong Dubo Dubo and 00:24:38.390 --> 00:24:44.269 up to Narrabri and up to almost the Gold Coast. 00:24:44.369 --> 00:24:47.269 Our mission goes up almost to the Gold Coast 00:24:47.269 --> 00:24:53.410 up near Brisbane up to Coffs Harbor. So I've 00:24:53.410 --> 00:24:56.289 written down where all of the chapels, meeting 00:24:56.289 --> 00:25:01.839 houses are located. in the Sydney mission and 00:25:01.839 --> 00:25:06.099 I guess we could be called any of those and Serving 00:25:06.099 --> 00:25:09.619 that ward or wards or steak or what whatever. 00:25:09.700 --> 00:25:14.799 Yeah, but Well, so if you're if you're in Australia 00:25:14.799 --> 00:25:16.960 you're familiar with that then please help me 00:25:16.960 --> 00:25:21.210 then send stuff that way to prepare me He redeems 00:25:21.210 --> 00:25:24.069 us at gmail .com. That's our email address. He 00:25:24.069 --> 00:25:27.690 redeems us at gmail .com. So go ahead and send 00:25:27.690 --> 00:25:31.930 those questions. Get David all informed on his 00:25:31.930 --> 00:25:36.930 new adventures. I hope he comes back with a really 00:25:36.930 --> 00:25:39.730 cool accent so that our next iteration of the 00:25:39.730 --> 00:25:41.549 podcast might be even more interesting. Dave, 00:25:41.849 --> 00:25:45.049 that's change. I do think I have this one down. 00:25:45.630 --> 00:25:48.410 Good day, mate. Say it one more time. Good day, 00:25:48.490 --> 00:25:54.630 mate. Yeah, keep working on it Yeah, I don't 00:25:54.630 --> 00:25:56.650 know I don't know what makes me an authority 00:25:56.650 --> 00:25:59.329 on that accent keep working on it nonetheless 00:25:59.329 --> 00:26:03.089 I'm not too good with languages Including the 00:26:03.089 --> 00:26:06.210 English language. I would disagree with that. 00:26:06.609 --> 00:26:09.910 Let's let's move into a question. I So congratulations. 00:26:09.930 --> 00:26:12.829 First of all, congratulations Chris. We're so 00:26:12.829 --> 00:26:17.029 happy and all of obviously nervous Yeah, for 00:26:17.029 --> 00:26:19.730 sure. You know, Chris, bless her heart, has been 00:26:19.730 --> 00:26:21.930 on a mission. She wants to be a perfect missionary. 00:26:22.809 --> 00:26:28.049 So we've memorized the missionary purpose. Doctrine 00:26:28.049 --> 00:26:31.549 and Covenant, Section 4? Well, no, it's in Preach 00:26:31.549 --> 00:26:36.950 My Gospel. Invite others to come unto Christ 00:26:36.950 --> 00:26:40.890 by receiving, anyway. Yeah, that was before. 00:26:40.970 --> 00:26:44.380 I mean, that came after my mission, too. But 00:26:44.380 --> 00:26:48.420 anyway, we're excited for you. I got a text. 00:26:48.799 --> 00:26:52.240 This is from a listener, Dave. Good friend of 00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:58.259 mine, but also a listener. And this man has meant 00:26:58.259 --> 00:27:01.119 just an awful lot to me. He's been a leader to 00:27:01.119 --> 00:27:04.640 me. It was really important to part of my coming 00:27:04.640 --> 00:27:08.579 back to the church after I had had my membership 00:27:08.579 --> 00:27:13.220 removed, you know, 20 years ago -ish. And this 00:27:13.220 --> 00:27:18.079 man was really instrumental in loving me through 00:27:18.079 --> 00:27:21.019 that process. But he sends this question. He 00:27:21.019 --> 00:27:24.099 sends this question. He says, I'm just going 00:27:24.099 --> 00:27:27.339 to read it. He says, I would love to share my 00:27:27.339 --> 00:27:29.720 thoughts and questions about this, but I'm struggling 00:27:29.720 --> 00:27:32.400 to figure out on how to communicate those thoughts 00:27:32.400 --> 00:27:36.319 through text. And then he goes on. And I love 00:27:36.319 --> 00:27:40.259 this. This is somebody who's really paying attention. 00:27:40.700 --> 00:27:44.619 to their own relationship with deity. No matter 00:27:44.619 --> 00:27:49.319 how often Christ reminds us to focus on the Father 00:27:49.319 --> 00:27:53.140 and His plan, for some reason, we focus on Christ 00:27:53.140 --> 00:27:55.359 and His participation instead of the Father. 00:27:56.119 --> 00:27:58.619 I think my question is part of my attempt to 00:27:58.619 --> 00:28:02.140 feel more of the Father's involvement in His 00:28:02.140 --> 00:28:04.640 plan. We talked a little bit about that this 00:28:04.640 --> 00:28:07.240 morning. Dave, do you want to just kind of share 00:28:07.240 --> 00:28:10.930 some of your thoughts on that? Well, I think 00:28:10.930 --> 00:28:13.390 it's awesome that this person is really sensitive 00:28:13.390 --> 00:28:16.410 about their relationship with their Heavenly 00:28:16.410 --> 00:28:18.670 Father. That's kind of what I hear in that question. 00:28:19.390 --> 00:28:21.670 That they're really concerned about that, and 00:28:21.670 --> 00:28:24.670 that they're concerned about not putting the 00:28:24.670 --> 00:28:29.529 Son before the Father, and nobody would be more 00:28:29.529 --> 00:28:32.910 offended by that than the Son Himself. I know 00:28:32.910 --> 00:28:37.630 that. Jesus Christ, everything He did was to 00:28:37.630 --> 00:28:41.940 deflect. to the Father over and over and over 00:28:41.940 --> 00:28:45.200 again. He always said, this isn't me that's doing 00:28:45.200 --> 00:28:49.480 this. I'm doing this because of the Father. I 00:28:49.480 --> 00:28:54.680 do the will of the Father. I mean, people were 00:28:54.680 --> 00:28:59.700 praying to Him and He apologized to the Father. 00:29:00.259 --> 00:29:04.099 It's in 3 Nephi 19, right? They're praying to 00:29:04.099 --> 00:29:08.079 Him and He apologizes to the Father. They're 00:29:08.079 --> 00:29:10.740 praying to me, he says, because I am with them. 00:29:11.359 --> 00:29:14.359 And he teaches over and over and over again, 00:29:14.720 --> 00:29:17.799 don't pray to me, pray to the Father, in my name. 00:29:19.039 --> 00:29:23.380 And it's interesting, Scott, that in Jacob chapter 00:29:23.380 --> 00:29:28.880 4, we of course worship the Godhead, the Father, 00:29:29.000 --> 00:29:32.559 the Son, the Holy Ghost, they are one. They are 00:29:32.559 --> 00:29:34.819 one in mind. They're one in purpose. They're 00:29:34.819 --> 00:29:39.759 one in unity. We worship them. Of course we worship 00:29:39.759 --> 00:29:42.440 the Father in the name of the Son. Of course 00:29:42.440 --> 00:29:46.380 we worship the Son. He is our spiritual Father, 00:29:46.480 --> 00:29:49.420 the Father of our salvations, the Father of our 00:29:49.420 --> 00:29:52.619 spiritual lives. We've taken His name upon us. 00:29:52.619 --> 00:29:57.099 We have been born of Him, Jesus Christ. Of course 00:29:57.099 --> 00:30:00.339 we worship Him. Of course the Holy Ghost plays 00:30:00.339 --> 00:30:03.740 a role in our worship and that through the Holy 00:30:03.740 --> 00:30:07.539 Ghost it makes our prayers heard and answered. 00:30:07.960 --> 00:30:11.160 The Holy Ghost has such an important role to 00:30:11.160 --> 00:30:15.960 connect us to the Father and to the Son. The 00:30:15.960 --> 00:30:19.359 Holy Ghost speaks the words of the Son. I mean, 00:30:19.420 --> 00:30:23.059 they're so connected that you can't separate 00:30:23.059 --> 00:30:26.720 them out or think that we worship one and not 00:30:26.720 --> 00:30:32.630 the other. They're all involved in our sacred 00:30:32.630 --> 00:30:36.670 worship. They're all involved in that. And so 00:30:36.670 --> 00:30:41.549 it's kind of wrong to see that you worship one 00:30:41.549 --> 00:30:46.829 and not think about the others. However, there 00:30:46.829 --> 00:30:50.289 is so much emphasis right now in the church about 00:30:50.289 --> 00:30:53.710 having a relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus 00:30:53.710 --> 00:30:56.170 Christ is the answer to all of our questions. 00:30:56.569 --> 00:31:00.349 He's the solution to all our problems. This is 00:31:00.349 --> 00:31:06.349 taught over and over and over again lately, as 00:31:06.349 --> 00:31:11.609 it should be. And it's all true. And amen, right? 00:31:11.750 --> 00:31:17.809 Amen, hallelujah. However, I think this good 00:31:17.809 --> 00:31:21.470 brother who's asking the question has a real... 00:31:21.339 --> 00:31:25.200 legitimate concern. And that is, you better not 00:31:25.200 --> 00:31:29.059 think about the Son and put Him first before 00:31:29.059 --> 00:31:32.640 you think about the Father and think about who's 00:31:32.640 --> 00:31:36.660 in charge. And there is, whether we like to think 00:31:36.660 --> 00:31:39.339 of them all as one in unity and every else, there 00:31:39.339 --> 00:31:43.440 is hierarchy in this Godhead. There is hierarchy. 00:31:43.440 --> 00:31:47.599 And we worship the Father in the name of the 00:31:47.599 --> 00:31:51.869 Son through the Holy Spirit. so I mean, that's 00:31:51.869 --> 00:31:57.230 the pattern and Jacob teaches that so I Jacob 00:31:57.230 --> 00:32:03.190 who's such a doctrinal you know his his Doctrinal 00:32:03.190 --> 00:32:07.109 discourse in second Nephi to chapter. I'm sorry 00:32:07.109 --> 00:32:09.950 doctor second Nephi chapter like six through 00:32:09.950 --> 00:32:13.710 ten He gives us such an he gives the most amazing. 00:32:13.710 --> 00:32:16.670 I think it's the most amazing doctrinal sermon 00:32:16.670 --> 00:32:20.670 in the entire Book of Mormon so I've always kind 00:32:20.670 --> 00:32:23.710 of thought of Jacob the brother of Nephi is mr. 00:32:24.150 --> 00:32:27.630 Doctrine and he understands this relationship 00:32:27.630 --> 00:32:33.470 and the Kind of process of worship verse 5 if 00:32:33.470 --> 00:32:35.450 you want to read it Scott. Yeah, so this is Jacob 00:32:35.450 --> 00:32:38.849 chapter 4 verse 5 Behold they believed in Christ 00:32:38.849 --> 00:32:41.950 and worshiped the father in his name and also 00:32:41.950 --> 00:32:45.670 we worship the father in his name and For this 00:32:45.670 --> 00:32:51.559 intent we keep the law of Moses Behold, they 00:32:51.559 --> 00:32:56.460 believed in Christ. Their faith is in Christ. 00:32:56.779 --> 00:33:00.180 Their faith is in Christ and His atonement. Their 00:33:00.180 --> 00:33:02.640 faith is in Christ, His atonement, His redemption. 00:33:03.319 --> 00:33:05.920 It's through Christ that we're redeemed. We get 00:33:05.920 --> 00:33:09.420 that. Our faith is in Christ. That's the fourth 00:33:09.420 --> 00:33:12.940 article of faith. Right? But who did they worship? 00:33:14.279 --> 00:33:19.920 They worshiped the Father in the name. of Christ. 00:33:22.339 --> 00:33:26.599 I think that's so critical. I mean, we don't 00:33:26.599 --> 00:33:29.079 have to read the rest of it. I just think that's 00:33:29.079 --> 00:33:33.579 so important. And over in verse 11, he talks 00:33:33.579 --> 00:33:36.779 about that the reconciliation is through the 00:33:36.779 --> 00:33:40.059 atonement of Jesus Christ, redemption, the power 00:33:40.059 --> 00:33:43.480 of His resurrection. Why not speak of the atonement, 00:33:43.519 --> 00:33:47.099 he says? I've always loved that. Why not speak 00:33:47.099 --> 00:33:49.839 of the Atonement? Why not speak of Christ? Let's 00:33:49.839 --> 00:33:53.380 get on the rooftops and bear witness and shout 00:33:53.380 --> 00:33:56.640 the name of Jesus Christ and our relationship 00:33:56.640 --> 00:34:02.420 with Him. But it's not the Son's plan, Scott. 00:34:04.180 --> 00:34:13.000 The Son fulfilled the plan of the Father. Praise 00:34:13.000 --> 00:34:18.840 the Lord. Jesus Christ. But it is the Father's 00:34:18.840 --> 00:34:23.539 plan and the ultimate form of our worship and 00:34:23.539 --> 00:34:27.219 our praise and our gratitude should go to the 00:34:27.219 --> 00:34:32.440 Father in the name of the Son who fulfilled. 00:34:32.860 --> 00:34:36.460 the plan. In verse 11 right there of Jacob 4, 00:34:36.599 --> 00:34:39.360 it really kind of points out the hierarchy that 00:34:39.360 --> 00:34:41.519 you were talking about earlier, right? Yeah. 00:34:41.699 --> 00:34:45.159 Wherefore, beloved brethren, be reconciled unto 00:34:45.159 --> 00:34:47.639 Him through the atonement of Christ. Unto who? 00:34:47.780 --> 00:34:50.480 Unto the Father. So be reconciled unto the Father. 00:34:51.139 --> 00:34:52.739 So the ultimate reconciliation... Not Jesus. 00:34:52.960 --> 00:34:55.960 No. That's the reconciliation comes through Jesus, 00:34:56.179 --> 00:34:58.539 administrated through the power of the Holy Ghost. 00:34:58.579 --> 00:35:04.579 Absolutely. But our relationship and the hierarchy 00:35:04.579 --> 00:35:08.179 is just absolutely established there. Wherefore, 00:35:08.360 --> 00:35:10.860 beloved brethren, be reconciled unto Him through 00:35:10.860 --> 00:35:14.880 the atonement of Jesus Christ. Unto Him, unto 00:35:14.880 --> 00:35:19.150 the Father. So the Father is... where our ultimate 00:35:19.150 --> 00:35:25.449 worship goes. Yeah, we do worship the Son, and 00:35:25.449 --> 00:35:28.550 there's worship of the Holy Ghost too, but ultimately 00:35:28.550 --> 00:35:31.170 even that worship, David, the way I see it, even 00:35:31.170 --> 00:35:34.469 that worship, because it's done through the Spirit 00:35:34.469 --> 00:35:37.730 of the Holy Ghost, ultimately transcends to the 00:35:37.730 --> 00:35:41.900 Father as well. Yeah, absolutely. Now in that 00:35:41.900 --> 00:35:44.880 verse God in verse 11 wherefore beloved brethren 00:35:44.880 --> 00:35:48.119 be reconciled unto him if you take that pronoun 00:35:48.119 --> 00:35:52.239 and you take it back the next Preceding three 00:35:52.239 --> 00:35:55.639 or four verses the real him is really the Lord 00:35:55.639 --> 00:36:00.519 now the Lord I Just I gotta say this sometimes 00:36:00.519 --> 00:36:04.699 people pray and they say oh Lord and Some people 00:36:04.699 --> 00:36:06.760 get upset about that. I've had people come to 00:36:06.760 --> 00:36:09.920 me upset about that and say they're praying to 00:36:09.920 --> 00:36:14.239 Jesus by saying the Lord. And I always say, listen, 00:36:14.840 --> 00:36:20.719 the Lord in the Old Testament, L, capital L, 00:36:21.039 --> 00:36:26.760 little o, little r, little d, is Elohim. The 00:36:26.760 --> 00:36:29.360 Lord can mean Elohim. The Lord is a title. It's 00:36:29.360 --> 00:36:33.099 not a name. The Lord is a title. So the Lord 00:36:33.099 --> 00:36:36.880 can be the Father, and sometimes it can be the 00:36:36.880 --> 00:36:40.469 Son. capital in the Old Testament, capital L, 00:36:40.750 --> 00:36:46.909 capital O, capital R, capital D is Jehovah. I 00:36:46.909 --> 00:36:49.829 just think that's really important to understand 00:36:49.829 --> 00:36:54.769 when the Lord's a title, they have titles. So 00:36:54.769 --> 00:36:57.730 you're right about this, that's how I read that, 00:36:58.010 --> 00:37:02.349 that we are reconciled to the Father, the Lord, 00:37:02.409 --> 00:37:07.019 Elohim, through the Atonement. of Jesus Christ, 00:37:07.139 --> 00:37:12.099 His only begotten Son. I think so many times 00:37:12.099 --> 00:37:15.199 when it's Christmas, Scott, we don't focus enough 00:37:15.199 --> 00:37:18.900 on the Father. I think when it's Easter, it's 00:37:18.900 --> 00:37:22.019 so easy to sometimes leave the Father out of 00:37:22.019 --> 00:37:24.139 the picture and of all the people who suffered. 00:37:25.000 --> 00:37:28.679 It was the Father who had—think of the suffering. 00:37:29.460 --> 00:37:33.400 I mean, honestly, any parent who's listening 00:37:33.400 --> 00:37:37.579 to this podcast, Knows that this the suffering 00:37:37.579 --> 00:37:41.260 the mental anguish is is greater watching your 00:37:41.260 --> 00:37:44.800 child suffer Then if you were to suffer how many 00:37:44.800 --> 00:37:48.039 children have or I'm sorry how many parents have 00:37:48.039 --> 00:37:50.679 prayed? That the suffering of their children 00:37:50.679 --> 00:37:55.320 be transferred to them. I Mean we don't give 00:37:55.320 --> 00:38:00.340 the father enough attention or credit for what 00:38:00.340 --> 00:38:05.840 he suffered for what he sacrificed. I mean, the 00:38:05.840 --> 00:38:11.599 Savior sacrificed his life. The Father sacrificed 00:38:11.599 --> 00:38:17.300 his son, which is the greater sacrifice. The 00:38:17.300 --> 00:38:21.099 Father tried to teach that to Abraham when he 00:38:21.099 --> 00:38:25.659 told Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac. What 00:38:25.659 --> 00:38:28.579 do you think Abraham would have preferred to 00:38:28.579 --> 00:38:34.019 sacrifice? Yeah, himself, no doubt. So I mean 00:38:34.019 --> 00:38:40.539 we we all need to We all need to pay more attention 00:38:40.539 --> 00:38:45.380 and understand to greater degree the role of 00:38:45.380 --> 00:38:50.340 the father his plan of redemption and What he 00:38:50.340 --> 00:38:54.619 was willing to sacrifice for his children and 00:38:54.619 --> 00:38:58.820 for the world because he loves the world I I 00:38:58.820 --> 00:39:02.829 just I just love that I You know, I love the 00:39:02.829 --> 00:39:08.909 scripture in John chapter 3. In John chapter 00:39:08.909 --> 00:39:12.690 3, God so loved the world. God, the Father. That 00:39:12.690 --> 00:39:15.369 He gave His only begotten Son. So loved the world 00:39:15.369 --> 00:39:18.329 that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever 00:39:18.329 --> 00:39:21.650 believeth in Him should not perish, but have 00:39:21.650 --> 00:39:24.349 everlasting life. But here's the next verse, 00:39:24.949 --> 00:39:30.309 Scott. And the Father sent His Son into the world, 00:39:31.019 --> 00:39:36.679 Not to condemn the world But that through his 00:39:36.679 --> 00:39:41.880 son the world might be saved I'm off a few words 00:39:41.880 --> 00:39:46.840 there, but that's the point the father Sent the 00:39:46.840 --> 00:39:50.300 son into the world not to condemn the world, 00:39:50.300 --> 00:39:54.000 but that through Him the son the world might 00:39:54.000 --> 00:40:00.969 be saved you got that You had it. Job 3 .17. 00:40:01.289 --> 00:40:04.190 I'll just read 16 and 17. For God so loved the 00:40:04.190 --> 00:40:06.969 world that He gave His only begotten Son, that 00:40:06.969 --> 00:40:09.289 whosoever believeth in Him should not perish 00:40:09.289 --> 00:40:13.190 but have everlasting life. For God sent not His 00:40:13.190 --> 00:40:17.289 Son into the world to condemn the world, but 00:40:17.289 --> 00:40:21.289 that the world through Him might be saved. Through 00:40:21.289 --> 00:40:30.000 Him. I know. That's it. Through Jesus, we go 00:40:30.000 --> 00:40:32.739 back into the presence of the Father. But we 00:40:32.739 --> 00:40:35.900 don't pray to Jesus. We pray to the Father. And 00:40:35.900 --> 00:40:40.519 on that point, it's so important, I think, that 00:40:40.519 --> 00:40:45.820 we understand the synonymous relationship between 00:40:45.820 --> 00:40:51.920 prayer and worship. It's Amulek, I think, in 00:40:51.920 --> 00:40:58.239 Alma chapter 33. Verse 3 or 4 there, Scott. In 00:40:58.239 --> 00:41:02.519 Alma 33, listen to what Amulek tells the people 00:41:02.519 --> 00:41:08.800 on the hill of Oneida about after Alma has taught 00:41:08.800 --> 00:41:12.440 them about faith, Amulek begins to question them. 00:41:13.099 --> 00:41:15.780 And what does he say in verse 3 or 4? Verse 3, 00:41:15.820 --> 00:41:18.239 do you remember to have read what Zenas, the 00:41:18.239 --> 00:41:21.940 prophet of old, has said concerning prayer or 00:41:21.940 --> 00:41:25.559 worship? Prayer or worship synonymous. Yeah prayer 00:41:25.559 --> 00:41:28.119 worship is synonymous. So who do we worship? 00:41:28.420 --> 00:41:30.659 We worship the father we pray to the father. 00:41:30.659 --> 00:41:34.000 We worship the father In the name of the son, 00:41:34.019 --> 00:41:36.500 of course, I worship my savior and Redeemer. 00:41:36.519 --> 00:41:41.679 Of course I do but not in the same way I Don't 00:41:41.679 --> 00:41:46.820 pray to Jesus It's not appropriate. I Pray to 00:41:46.820 --> 00:41:49.159 the father in the name of Jesus. Nobody would 00:41:49.159 --> 00:41:52.409 be more hurt or offended If I prayed to Jesus, 00:41:52.570 --> 00:41:56.730 then Jesus. He deflects everything to the Father. 00:41:57.730 --> 00:42:01.070 So it's just, I think, really important in our 00:42:01.070 --> 00:42:04.230 mind we remember that. Who are we praying to? 00:42:04.750 --> 00:42:09.010 Who do we worship? In the name of the Son, through 00:42:09.010 --> 00:42:13.190 the Son. Temple makes this very clear, right? 00:42:13.420 --> 00:42:17.519 very clear delineates very clearly the difference 00:42:17.519 --> 00:42:20.719 between Elohim and Jehovah. We're trying to get 00:42:20.719 --> 00:42:24.739 back into the presence of the Father through 00:42:24.739 --> 00:42:28.320 His Son and His Atonement. I mean that's the 00:42:28.320 --> 00:42:33.340 whole process of the temple endowment. So I just 00:42:33.340 --> 00:42:38.940 think it's such a great point that that our friend 00:42:38.940 --> 00:42:42.820 listener brings up and one that we all need to 00:42:42.820 --> 00:42:46.659 kind of think about in terms of am I guilty because 00:42:46.659 --> 00:42:51.099 I think it would be blasphemy to ever put the 00:42:51.099 --> 00:42:55.239 son before your relationship with the father 00:42:55.239 --> 00:42:58.159 and You know this good brother is probably about 00:42:58.159 --> 00:43:01.239 my same age Who's asking this and he probably 00:43:01.239 --> 00:43:05.090 remembers the kind of condemning? Condemning 00:43:05.090 --> 00:43:09.230 is that the right word? I think it is Anyway 00:43:09.230 --> 00:43:13.130 the powerful the powerful talk of Bruce R McConkey 00:43:13.130 --> 00:43:17.969 back in I think March of 1981 or 1982 it was 00:43:17.969 --> 00:43:20.929 82 then he talks about the relationship between 00:43:20.929 --> 00:43:23.809 the father of the son and the Holy Ghost that 00:43:23.809 --> 00:43:27.250 we should not seek to have a special relationship 00:43:27.250 --> 00:43:32.559 with Jesus at the cost of affecting our relationship 00:43:32.559 --> 00:43:37.179 with the Father. And if we are going to get out 00:43:37.179 --> 00:43:40.780 of whack and out of balance, if we're going to 00:43:40.780 --> 00:43:44.019 worship a member of the Godhead or have a relationship 00:43:44.019 --> 00:43:47.940 with a member of the Godhead more than any of 00:43:47.940 --> 00:43:50.500 the other two, maybe we should err on having 00:43:50.500 --> 00:43:53.599 a relationship with the Holy Ghost. Because the 00:43:53.599 --> 00:43:57.420 Holy Ghost is the one that connects us to the 00:43:57.420 --> 00:44:00.260 Father and the Son through His Spirit. Through 00:44:00.260 --> 00:44:03.019 the Holy Ghost, we receive revelation. Through 00:44:03.019 --> 00:44:07.760 the Holy Ghost, we become sanctified, justified. 00:44:08.420 --> 00:44:11.619 I mean, you know, so I just think it's really 00:44:11.619 --> 00:44:15.280 important that we understand the relationship 00:44:15.280 --> 00:44:18.599 between the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and 00:44:18.599 --> 00:44:24.210 our relationship to them. Keep all of that in 00:44:24.210 --> 00:44:30.469 balance and in perspective, in proper, holy perspective. 00:44:31.250 --> 00:44:35.909 Right. Love it. Philip, Philip, I just bring 00:44:35.909 --> 00:44:39.050 this up. Philip wanted to see the Father. Show 00:44:39.050 --> 00:44:43.329 us the Father, which ought to say something about 00:44:43.329 --> 00:44:47.730 what Jesus had taught about the Father and the 00:44:47.730 --> 00:44:50.860 Son. their relationship and not being the same 00:44:50.860 --> 00:44:55.760 physical, corporeal being, you know, flesh and 00:44:55.760 --> 00:45:00.480 bone. Philip says, show us the Apostle Philip, 00:45:01.079 --> 00:45:03.900 not the Seventy Philip. The Apostle says, show 00:45:03.900 --> 00:45:08.719 us the Father. And Jesus says, Philip, Philip, 00:45:08.719 --> 00:45:12.199 Philip, how long have I been with you? If you've 00:45:12.199 --> 00:45:15.360 seen me, you've seen the Father. Now it's true, 00:45:15.360 --> 00:45:20.530 if I really want to know the character. and personality 00:45:20.530 --> 00:45:24.409 and the attributes of the Father. I can learn 00:45:24.409 --> 00:45:28.469 that best by studying the life of the Son. So 00:45:28.469 --> 00:45:32.170 it's obvious that we study the life of the Son. 00:45:32.630 --> 00:45:36.690 But why? If it's just to have a relationship 00:45:36.690 --> 00:45:41.789 with Jesus, we're out of whack. We study the 00:45:41.789 --> 00:45:43.909 life. I mean, this was what Jesus was telling 00:45:43.909 --> 00:45:48.480 Philip. We study the life of the Son. that we 00:45:48.480 --> 00:45:53.780 may not only know Him and love Him, but Jesus 00:45:53.780 --> 00:45:57.440 would even be happier if through His life we 00:45:57.440 --> 00:46:02.900 came to know the Father and loved Him. That was 00:46:02.900 --> 00:46:11.179 His purpose. Everything. Well, good day. Thanks 00:46:11.179 --> 00:46:14.760 for sharing your mission. Yeah, excited about 00:46:14.760 --> 00:46:18.860 that. I have a lot of preparation to make. I'm 00:46:18.860 --> 00:46:22.119 grateful that we had this question asked, and 00:46:22.119 --> 00:46:24.900 definitely something that should cause pause 00:46:24.900 --> 00:46:27.619 and consideration for each one of us, and at 00:46:27.619 --> 00:46:30.159 least an opportunity to take personal inventory. 00:46:30.750 --> 00:46:33.710 and maybe even do a personal assessment on where 00:46:33.710 --> 00:46:36.289 am I with my relationship with deity and have 00:46:36.289 --> 00:46:39.349 I over rotated to one or the other or am I in 00:46:39.349 --> 00:46:42.389 danger of ever doing that and what do I need 00:46:42.389 --> 00:46:46.429 to do to maintain my focus on the Father because 00:46:46.429 --> 00:46:50.849 of the Son through the Holy Ghost? Good question, 00:46:51.190 --> 00:46:54.469 Scott. Yeah. Hope everybody will. really ponder 00:46:54.469 --> 00:46:56.610 those questions. They're important questions 00:46:56.610 --> 00:46:59.329 and the answers to these questions are the very 00:46:59.329 --> 00:47:02.170 things that guide our lives in the ways that 00:47:02.170 --> 00:47:04.929 we claim that we want them guided. So there we 00:47:04.929 --> 00:47:08.630 have it. Instruments of grace. Thank you everybody. 00:47:08.829 --> 00:47:11.489 Thanks for being with us gang Appreciate you 00:47:11.489 --> 00:47:13.250 being with us each and every week as we draw 00:47:13.250 --> 00:47:15.469 these to a close We're gonna be doing it with 00:47:15.469 --> 00:47:17.889 some a little bit of sadness in our heart But 00:47:17.889 --> 00:47:21.070 we are really grateful for for your attendance 00:47:21.070 --> 00:47:24.110 and being with us before I close today again 00:47:24.110 --> 00:47:26.929 Just a reminder to send us your questions that 00:47:26.929 --> 00:47:29.869 he redeems us at gmail .com Another thing and 00:47:29.869 --> 00:47:31.829 I should probably make mention of this at the 00:47:31.829 --> 00:47:34.210 beginning of the podcast next time We record 00:47:34.210 --> 00:47:36.750 this as well. We have a lot of new listeners 00:47:37.039 --> 00:47:40.280 A lot of you are brand new to us within the last 00:47:40.280 --> 00:47:44.000 several weeks. And we love that. We welcome you. 00:47:44.139 --> 00:47:48.110 We hope that you've been. Fortified we hope that 00:47:48.110 --> 00:47:50.969 you've been blessed by being here with us I'm 00:47:50.969 --> 00:47:52.989 going to extend an invitation to those of you 00:47:52.989 --> 00:47:55.889 who are just joining us if you will go back to 00:47:55.889 --> 00:47:58.650 season 3 we're in currently in season 3 I think 00:47:58.650 --> 00:48:01.469 this will be episode 66 or something like that. 00:48:01.750 --> 00:48:05.670 So if you'll go back approximately 66 weeks to 00:48:05.670 --> 00:48:11.219 season 3 episode 1 and participate in the coursework 00:48:11.219 --> 00:48:14.139 that follows right along with the Divine Gift 00:48:14.139 --> 00:48:16.539 of Forgiveness. You'll learn all about that when 00:48:16.539 --> 00:48:19.280 you go there. David was very instrumental in 00:48:19.280 --> 00:48:21.559 helping produce that piece of work with Elder 00:48:21.559 --> 00:48:26.940 Anderson. So go back and do that course beginning 00:48:26.940 --> 00:48:30.039 with week one and go all the way through it. 00:48:30.659 --> 00:48:33.340 And for having done that, I promise you a new. 00:48:34.259 --> 00:48:37.019 closer relationship with all of deity. Hey gang, 00:48:37.099 --> 00:48:39.219 thanks so much for being with us today. We love 00:48:39.219 --> 00:48:41.300 you, we hope you feel that, but more importantly 00:48:41.300 --> 00:48:43.980 we hope you feel of the love from our Heavenly 00:48:43.980 --> 00:48:47.219 Father through the Holy Ghost. Thanks for being 00:48:47.219 --> 00:48:48.760 with us. We look forward to being with you again 00:48:48.760 --> 00:48:50.239 next week and until then, be well.