1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:07,920 Welcome to Closer to Christ Through Conference. 2 00:00:07,920 --> 00:00:12,200 We're two friends who love Jesus sharing our own approach to conference. 3 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:13,200 Welcome today. 4 00:00:13,200 --> 00:00:17,280 Today we're going to talk about Be One with Christ and it's Elder Quentin L. Cook. 5 00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:21,720 Before we jump in, I just want to add we love the community that's being created here 6 00:00:21,720 --> 00:00:26,680 in an effort to reach more people that would benefit from studying conference in this way. 7 00:00:26,680 --> 00:00:30,080 Would you consider liking, subscribing, and writing a review for us? 8 00:00:30,080 --> 00:00:31,640 It helps more people find us. 9 00:00:31,640 --> 00:00:36,160 And additionally, maybe open a prayer on who in your circle could benefit from this content 10 00:00:36,160 --> 00:00:39,240 and then share the link with them when the answer comes. 11 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:42,080 So Abby, this talk was so great. 12 00:00:42,080 --> 00:00:48,440 Just to jump in, he started with talking about his grandfather on his deathbed and he was 13 00:00:48,440 --> 00:00:51,920 giving him a final testimony and some advice. 14 00:00:51,920 --> 00:00:55,520 For me, the message was to avoid any sense of entitlement or privilege because of his 15 00:00:55,520 --> 00:01:00,160 faithful ancestors, which by the way was an amazing pedigree, right? 16 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:03,880 Instead focus on the Savior and the atonement of our Savior. 17 00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:08,720 It isn't who we were related to that saves us in the end, but instead the report we come 18 00:01:08,720 --> 00:01:15,000 back to the Savior with on how well we kept the commandments while on earth. 19 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:18,200 I think that really summarizes this talk so well. 20 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:19,560 There was so much in it. 21 00:01:19,560 --> 00:01:21,240 And again, it felt like an Elder Bednar talk. 22 00:01:21,240 --> 00:01:22,560 There were so many references. 23 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:25,920 I spent a lot of time in the footnotes and like, what is that one line? 24 00:01:25,920 --> 00:01:27,280 Where did that one line come from? 25 00:01:27,280 --> 00:01:30,960 And it's a whole nother amazing talk, talk after talk and thought after thought. 26 00:01:30,960 --> 00:01:36,640 So I spent a lot of days like dissecting this one and I think it would suggest this one 27 00:01:36,640 --> 00:01:38,400 more than just listening to it. 28 00:01:38,400 --> 00:01:42,600 I would get this one in print also so that you can reference those footnotes and see 29 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:45,240 the scriptures he pulled from the thoughts over a lifetime. 30 00:01:45,240 --> 00:01:46,880 Because this is something he's super passionate about. 31 00:01:46,880 --> 00:01:50,160 Like Elder Bednar would be on personal revelation, I would say. 32 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:51,160 I'm not saying this last talk. 33 00:01:51,160 --> 00:01:58,520 I'm just saying like in general and he's clearly wants, he's really passionate about the Atonement 34 00:01:58,520 --> 00:01:59,520 of Jesus Christ. 35 00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:00,520 Absolutely. 36 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:03,520 And we see why as he goes through this talk. 37 00:02:03,520 --> 00:02:06,360 So I'm sure you know who Heber C. Kimball is. 38 00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:07,440 I've heard of him. 39 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:10,560 And then are you familiar with David Patton Kimball? 40 00:02:10,560 --> 00:02:12,800 I've heard the name but I don't have specifics on him. 41 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:13,800 Let me know. 42 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:18,240 Because he was so concerned about not locking in on what our own pedigree is and that being 43 00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:25,280 a prerequisite to having the Savior fully in our lives and being able to qualify for every 44 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:26,280 blessing. 45 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:31,480 He kind of brushed past that but one of his footnotes, it did link us to saints. 46 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:34,640 And I'm familiar with David Patton Kimball. 47 00:02:34,640 --> 00:02:36,720 Martin's Cove that's in our little state. 48 00:02:36,720 --> 00:02:41,480 And when you go to the Martin, when you go to the, what do they call it? 49 00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:43,240 The Pioneer Trail? 50 00:02:43,240 --> 00:02:44,240 I don't even know. 51 00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:45,240 They call it Pioneer Trails or something. 52 00:02:45,240 --> 00:02:50,280 Anyway, you go to Martin's Cove and you're actually in the Cove and you know that the 53 00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:52,360 Martin Hancock Company was there. 54 00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:53,840 They had reached the point of exhaustion. 55 00:02:53,840 --> 00:02:55,520 They're freezing, they're starving. 56 00:02:55,520 --> 00:02:56,960 They were waiting at that point. 57 00:02:56,960 --> 00:02:59,240 They were waiting for the rescue wagons to come from Salt Lake. 58 00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:03,840 But they knew that they needed to leave the Cove and get a little bit farther on the path 59 00:03:03,840 --> 00:03:08,060 so that they could intercept each other in a little better location. 60 00:03:08,060 --> 00:03:11,240 So 56 people died even in that safe haven of Martin's Cove. 61 00:03:11,240 --> 00:03:16,160 It was blocking from the wind and stuff and it did save lives, but even in the conditions 62 00:03:16,160 --> 00:03:18,680 they were having, like 56 people died. 63 00:03:18,680 --> 00:03:21,600 So we're at the point of exhaustion, hunger, we're freezing to death. 64 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:24,080 There's just so many things can go wrong. 65 00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:28,120 And so as they're moving along the trail, they have to come to the Sweetwater Crossing. 66 00:03:28,120 --> 00:03:35,060 So passing through that cold water, that's going to be people's last, the last thing 67 00:03:35,060 --> 00:03:36,060 that they do. 68 00:03:36,060 --> 00:03:39,720 That's going to be the closest design that they're making because that's going to kill 69 00:03:39,720 --> 00:03:44,280 a lot of people, but James E. Faust was the one that was talking about this experience 70 00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:49,160 because like we know Elder Cook, he just mentioned that he has ancestors to be proud of, but 71 00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:50,980 he didn't really spend time on this. 72 00:03:50,980 --> 00:03:55,880 But what I wanted to say was, in Elder Faust's words, it said, it was an emotional experience 73 00:03:55,880 --> 00:03:59,560 to see the Saltwater River crossing where most of the 500 members of the company were 74 00:03:59,560 --> 00:04:02,800 carried across the icy river by three brave young men. 75 00:04:02,800 --> 00:04:06,920 Later, all three of the boys died from the effects of the terrible strain and great exposure 76 00:04:06,920 --> 00:04:08,360 of that crossing. 77 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:10,400 And President Brigham Young heard of this heroic act. 78 00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:16,360 He wept like a child and later declared publicly, that act alone will ensure C. Alan Huntington, 79 00:04:16,360 --> 00:04:21,120 George W. Grant, and David P. Kimball, and everlasting salvation in the celestial kingdom 80 00:04:21,120 --> 00:04:23,400 of God, worlds without end. 81 00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:24,800 And so that's like a special moment. 82 00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:29,320 Like when you take kids to try to recreate the experience, sometimes they'll throw in 83 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:32,000 a Sweetwater Crossing just because it touches hearts. 84 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:33,040 Right, absolutely. 85 00:04:33,040 --> 00:04:35,440 And to have that in your family pedigree is an amazing thing. 86 00:04:35,440 --> 00:04:37,840 I didn't realize he was one from the Sweetwater Crossing. 87 00:04:37,840 --> 00:04:44,440 I mean, we'll recognize the prophet, Heber C. Kimball, but what the story is, is that 88 00:04:44,440 --> 00:04:48,600 David P. Kimball, so the son of Heber C. Kimball, he did die at age 44. 89 00:04:48,600 --> 00:04:52,080 And so Crozier is the grandfather that he's meeting at the deathbed. 90 00:04:52,080 --> 00:04:54,940 He's what, 86, 87, somewhere late 80s. 91 00:04:54,940 --> 00:05:01,400 But as a three year old, he became fatherless because at 44, Crozier had, or I'm sorry, 92 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:06,600 David had succumbed to the effects of the Sweetwater Crossing. 93 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:12,000 So obviously, I'm sure he grew up his whole life and that was a story that was meant to 94 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:18,200 bring faith and good thoughts and be proud of his heritage. 95 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:22,560 But we know Elder Cook is an apostle of the Lord and many years of service before that. 96 00:05:22,560 --> 00:05:28,200 So it's not because his great, great, great, or whatever, grandfather was a prophet. 97 00:05:28,200 --> 00:05:33,880 It's because he understands the atonement and he's applied it in his own life and he's 98 00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:38,960 used those faith-filled stories to propel his actions and to his own good deeds. 99 00:05:38,960 --> 00:05:40,780 And so that's the focus of the talk. 100 00:05:40,780 --> 00:05:44,160 So I just wanted to throw the family story in there just because I think it's special 101 00:05:44,160 --> 00:05:48,580 and it gives you an idea of if he can set aside the fact that it doesn't require those 102 00:05:48,580 --> 00:05:52,640 to get anything special or be any special standing. 103 00:05:52,640 --> 00:05:55,520 It's something completely different than that to be one with Christ. 104 00:05:55,520 --> 00:06:01,120 That's the message we're going to hope to share today as we talk through it. 105 00:06:01,120 --> 00:06:05,960 So I already mentioned Elder Cook knows his heritage very well. 106 00:06:05,960 --> 00:06:08,600 He comes from his own grandfather. 107 00:06:08,600 --> 00:06:09,600 He served multiple missions. 108 00:06:09,600 --> 00:06:16,560 He was a patriarch and his grandfather's stand like, oh, I hope that was enough to save me. 109 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:22,240 But the final words that he was impressing was that it's not good works alone that save 110 00:06:22,240 --> 00:06:23,240 us. 111 00:06:23,240 --> 00:06:24,800 It's Jesus Christ that makes that possible. 112 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:27,840 Because I'm thinking like, I'm sure that he was an amazing guy. 113 00:06:27,840 --> 00:06:32,680 I'm sure that it shouldn't even be a question, but it's probably a good question to always 114 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:38,120 wonder if we're doing what we need to be to show Jesus Christ that we love him, we love 115 00:06:38,120 --> 00:06:43,600 the gospel, and we love the direction that it's making our lives go in. 116 00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:47,040 It's interesting too that you say that because I was thinking, I actually had the same thoughts 117 00:06:47,040 --> 00:06:51,360 as I was listening and reading is that he had done so many amazing things. 118 00:06:51,360 --> 00:06:58,240 He had used his agency in righteous ways and did a lot of things for the benefit of the 119 00:06:58,240 --> 00:06:59,240 kingdom. 120 00:06:59,240 --> 00:07:01,240 And so I love that he was like, but- 121 00:07:01,240 --> 00:07:02,920 But was it enough? 122 00:07:02,920 --> 00:07:03,920 Right. 123 00:07:03,920 --> 00:07:05,640 And really, that's all great. 124 00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:09,600 But it's all about that plus the merits to save of Jesus Christ. 125 00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:10,600 He's the final word. 126 00:07:10,600 --> 00:07:11,600 I love it. 127 00:07:11,600 --> 00:07:17,480 I love that you mentioned that the atonement of Jesus Christ was something that he was, 128 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:21,120 like it was like my piece of my testimony, I told you like eternal families or whatever. 129 00:07:21,120 --> 00:07:26,560 That was the little raise, raise, raise, and then the pillar of my testimony and his in 130 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:28,480 the way that he's speaking about it. 131 00:07:28,480 --> 00:07:31,480 Things thoughts on the atonement of Jesus Christ were really important to him. 132 00:07:31,480 --> 00:07:36,560 And this moment with his grandfather on his deathbed and somebody he very much idolized 133 00:07:36,560 --> 00:07:42,960 and looked up to helped him solidify the testimony that he has of the atonement of Jesus Christ. 134 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:45,960 And so I love that. 135 00:07:45,960 --> 00:07:50,640 So just the right combination of words and feelings there at the end, like took what 136 00:07:50,640 --> 00:07:55,920 was already a deep love for the atonement and then just sealed it in his heart. 137 00:07:55,920 --> 00:08:02,040 So what didn't you say for the savior as he's hanging on the cross at Calvary? 138 00:08:02,040 --> 00:08:06,000 His last words would kind of be like his final testimony on his deathbed. 139 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:07,000 Right. 140 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:14,520 So in those words in the scriptures, John 17, verse 20, we get the intercessory prayer. 141 00:08:14,520 --> 00:08:18,360 He says, neither prayer for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through 142 00:08:18,360 --> 00:08:19,480 their word. 143 00:08:19,480 --> 00:08:23,000 So I mean, that means you, that means me, that means that any of our listeners and people 144 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:25,960 throughout the world that believe in Jesus Christ, he's praying for us. 145 00:08:25,960 --> 00:08:29,560 Let me believe in Jesus Christ. 146 00:08:29,560 --> 00:08:35,040 If we believe in Jesus Christ, that any word that he speaks in that recording in John is 147 00:08:35,040 --> 00:08:36,040 for us. 148 00:08:36,040 --> 00:08:40,520 So his, let's say, deathbed counsel and directions for us is a plea to the father that we may 149 00:08:40,520 --> 00:08:43,040 be as one. 150 00:08:43,040 --> 00:08:47,480 And to quote the scripture, it says, and now father, are to me and I in thee, and they 151 00:08:47,480 --> 00:08:49,520 may also be one with us. 152 00:08:49,520 --> 00:08:51,080 I love that. 153 00:08:51,080 --> 00:08:55,400 He continues, the glory which thou gavest me, I give them, I have given them that they 154 00:08:55,400 --> 00:08:58,320 may be one even as we are one. 155 00:08:58,320 --> 00:09:03,400 So this whole talk is going to focus on a oneness of, you know, the oneness that Christ, 156 00:09:03,400 --> 00:09:07,600 Jesus Christ prayed for after his betrayal and crucifixion. 157 00:09:07,600 --> 00:09:12,440 Oneness with Christ and our heavenly father can be obtained through the savior's atonement. 158 00:09:12,440 --> 00:09:18,080 So he does reference Doctrine and Covenants 20 a lot because it really just lines out 159 00:09:18,080 --> 00:09:23,760 ordinance principles, practices of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. 160 00:09:23,760 --> 00:09:25,400 And I didn't deep dive study into it. 161 00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:28,360 I was like so busy just with this talk, but it's definitely a side point. 162 00:09:28,360 --> 00:09:33,880 I do want to go back and make Section 20 like in my heart, something that, but from the 163 00:09:33,880 --> 00:09:41,280 talk he mentions savior atonement, plan of salvation and the ordinance of baptism and 164 00:09:41,280 --> 00:09:43,080 sacrament are prevalent in there. 165 00:09:43,080 --> 00:09:44,080 Yes. 166 00:09:44,080 --> 00:09:48,280 So Amy, requirements for baptism, what comes to you off the top of your head? 167 00:09:48,280 --> 00:09:52,160 Broken heart, contrite spirit, repenting of your sins and taking upon you the name of 168 00:09:52,160 --> 00:09:53,480 Jesus. 169 00:09:53,480 --> 00:09:56,760 And those come to you pretty easily because like you're kind of thinking through sacrament 170 00:09:56,760 --> 00:09:57,760 prayer. 171 00:09:57,760 --> 00:09:58,760 Right. 172 00:09:58,760 --> 00:10:01,080 Yeah, but those ones are for sure. 173 00:10:01,080 --> 00:10:05,080 So from the talk, those are included and then a humility before God and enduring to the 174 00:10:05,080 --> 00:10:09,920 end and then showing that our works that we have received, showing through our works that 175 00:10:09,920 --> 00:10:12,360 we have received the spirit of Christ. 176 00:10:12,360 --> 00:10:17,520 So what in that list? 177 00:10:17,520 --> 00:10:22,960 All of those things we could qualify, we could say that that's a group of spiritual things. 178 00:10:22,960 --> 00:10:23,960 Totally. 179 00:10:23,960 --> 00:10:24,960 And it's without pedigree. 180 00:10:24,960 --> 00:10:25,960 All of them. 181 00:10:25,960 --> 00:10:26,960 Right. 182 00:10:26,960 --> 00:10:27,960 The qualifier is not who's in your family. 183 00:10:27,960 --> 00:10:28,960 Where'd you come from? 184 00:10:28,960 --> 00:10:29,960 Right. 185 00:10:29,960 --> 00:10:30,960 How long have you been in? 186 00:10:30,960 --> 00:10:31,960 I love that part. 187 00:10:31,960 --> 00:10:32,960 I love that too. 188 00:10:32,960 --> 00:10:36,400 So then I can see like as I get through the talk, I'm like, that's why he just briefly 189 00:10:36,400 --> 00:10:37,400 mentions his pedigree. 190 00:10:37,400 --> 00:10:38,400 Absolutely. 191 00:10:38,400 --> 00:10:39,400 It's not what it was about. 192 00:10:39,400 --> 00:10:40,920 I don't know if any of the folks have been that, but I'm like, I have to mention the 193 00:10:40,920 --> 00:10:42,520 story because it touches me so much. 194 00:10:42,520 --> 00:10:43,520 Right? 195 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:44,520 And we're human. 196 00:10:44,520 --> 00:10:45,520 Like we like all of it. 197 00:10:45,520 --> 00:10:46,520 Yeah. 198 00:10:46,520 --> 00:10:49,760 So nowhere does it mention economic status, race, gender, or ethnicity requirements for 199 00:10:49,760 --> 00:10:50,760 baptism. 200 00:10:50,760 --> 00:10:55,400 All these qualifications are spiritual and an emphasis on the word all people are invited 201 00:10:55,400 --> 00:10:57,600 to partake of the Lord's goodness. 202 00:10:57,600 --> 00:11:00,960 Salvation comes as Jesus Christ justifies and sanctifies repentant souls because of 203 00:11:00,960 --> 00:11:02,400 the Savior's grace. 204 00:11:02,400 --> 00:11:08,840 So another one of his footnotes talked about how section 20 counters the Calvinist theory 205 00:11:08,840 --> 00:11:10,560 that was prevalent at the time. 206 00:11:10,560 --> 00:11:14,960 So they would say, you know, once you're predestined for salvation, nothing's going to change that. 207 00:11:14,960 --> 00:11:15,960 Wow. 208 00:11:15,960 --> 00:11:19,400 None of your deeds, no misdeed, no fallen soul is not going to be saved. 209 00:11:19,400 --> 00:11:21,480 It was already deemed that they were going to be saved. 210 00:11:21,480 --> 00:11:22,760 So you were locked in. 211 00:11:22,760 --> 00:11:25,880 Locked in for good, but not like that wouldn't counterbalance. 212 00:11:25,880 --> 00:11:27,560 Like if you did bad deeds, then it wouldn't. 213 00:11:27,560 --> 00:11:29,920 I mean, that sounds pretty cushy. 214 00:11:29,920 --> 00:11:31,440 Like you just get the word like, oh, you're saved. 215 00:11:31,440 --> 00:11:34,000 And then you just think we'll just coast the rest of our life. 216 00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:37,400 That's why I like that enduring to the end was definitely part of the baptismal covenants. 217 00:11:37,400 --> 00:11:40,680 And that's what we do. 218 00:11:40,680 --> 00:11:41,680 That's true. 219 00:11:41,680 --> 00:11:42,680 We believe that. 220 00:11:42,680 --> 00:11:43,680 Absolutely. 221 00:11:43,680 --> 00:11:53,640 So the way that it countered the Calvinist theory was by saying that it says, section 222 00:11:53,640 --> 00:11:58,480 20 says, we learned that there is a possibility that man may fall from grace and depart from 223 00:11:58,480 --> 00:12:00,160 the living God. 224 00:12:00,160 --> 00:12:04,320 So I already mentioned the endure to the end comes to my mind. 225 00:12:04,320 --> 00:12:08,800 And I want to hear that it's not just like, okay, you hit the check marks and now you're 226 00:12:08,800 --> 00:12:09,800 good. 227 00:12:09,800 --> 00:12:10,800 Now you don't have to do anything else. 228 00:12:10,800 --> 00:12:11,800 Right. 229 00:12:11,800 --> 00:12:12,960 That's not part of eternal progression. 230 00:12:12,960 --> 00:12:14,520 The progression is there. 231 00:12:14,520 --> 00:12:16,340 That's definitely a good way to say it. 232 00:12:16,340 --> 00:12:23,040 So what I like is I'm like prone to every day that I live, I'm prone to make a mistake 233 00:12:23,040 --> 00:12:25,240 in that day. 234 00:12:25,240 --> 00:12:28,840 And I was listening to something else completely unrelated to the atonement of Jesus Christ 235 00:12:28,840 --> 00:12:31,560 on my way home from my house just a minute ago. 236 00:12:31,560 --> 00:12:36,000 And it was talking about mindfulness and it's like, you might be saying a prayer, you might 237 00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:38,400 be reading the scriptures and then you find that your mind's wandering. 238 00:12:38,400 --> 00:12:40,680 Well, I was like, that's my ADD. 239 00:12:40,680 --> 00:12:44,840 But apparently it is human nature and we're intended to wander. 240 00:12:44,840 --> 00:12:48,800 What's great about mindfulness is that when we're trying to be mindful, we recognize that 241 00:12:48,800 --> 00:12:50,880 we wandered and then we come back to it. 242 00:12:50,880 --> 00:12:55,400 And so because I had this talk on my mind, I was like, not that we're looking for ways 243 00:12:55,400 --> 00:12:59,600 to sin and to turn away from Jesus Christ. 244 00:12:59,600 --> 00:13:00,880 It can be just minor things. 245 00:13:00,880 --> 00:13:02,440 It can be big things, it can be minor things. 246 00:13:02,440 --> 00:13:09,640 But the point is that when we do slip off of what our best intentions were and that 247 00:13:09,640 --> 00:13:13,120 we feel that pang of like, oh, I didn't really mean to do it that way. 248 00:13:13,120 --> 00:13:14,880 What am I thinking of in that moment? 249 00:13:14,880 --> 00:13:16,180 The atonement. 250 00:13:16,180 --> 00:13:17,180 And then what do I do? 251 00:13:17,180 --> 00:13:18,180 Either- 252 00:13:18,180 --> 00:13:19,180 Course correct. 253 00:13:19,180 --> 00:13:20,180 Course correct. 254 00:13:20,180 --> 00:13:22,200 I can continue on that path, but really I'm probably not going to get those impressions 255 00:13:22,200 --> 00:13:25,160 that like, oh, this is something the atonement would cover it because you're recognizing 256 00:13:25,160 --> 00:13:26,160 it. 257 00:13:26,160 --> 00:13:28,800 But yes, that's what I'm saying is that it's a course correction. 258 00:13:28,800 --> 00:13:31,560 And I'm like, okay, I could have done that better and that's why the atonement is so 259 00:13:31,560 --> 00:13:32,560 amazing. 260 00:13:32,560 --> 00:13:33,560 I agree. 261 00:13:33,560 --> 00:13:36,120 This Earth life was a test and I'm not going to get it perfectly, but there's always like 262 00:13:36,120 --> 00:13:41,200 a white out that I, you know, the Savior's white out that I can correct the things that 263 00:13:41,200 --> 00:13:42,880 didn't quite go how I wanted. 264 00:13:42,880 --> 00:13:43,880 That's a great thought. 265 00:13:43,880 --> 00:13:46,480 I love that, Abby. 266 00:13:46,480 --> 00:13:50,840 I think you'd be awesome to comment on this. 267 00:13:50,840 --> 00:13:54,740 There was a piece in the talk that said, one cannot control many events in life, such as 268 00:13:54,740 --> 00:13:57,400 health challenges and accidents. 269 00:13:57,400 --> 00:14:01,760 However, on matters of principle conduct, religious observance and righteous living, 270 00:14:01,760 --> 00:14:03,280 we are in control. 271 00:14:03,280 --> 00:14:06,400 Our faith in and worship of God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ is a choice that 272 00:14:06,400 --> 00:14:07,400 we make. 273 00:14:07,400 --> 00:14:13,980 So I asked the question, you know, there's a lot of intellectual debates and arguments 274 00:14:13,980 --> 00:14:16,400 happening over the idea of agency and free will. 275 00:14:16,400 --> 00:14:24,560 But when you think of things like, you know, health things or accidents, that might come 276 00:14:24,560 --> 00:14:30,280 to mind, what truths have you come to learn about agency in your lifetime? 277 00:14:30,280 --> 00:14:37,520 Again, the words of my dad come that, you know, things that happen, accident, illness, 278 00:14:37,520 --> 00:14:40,760 all of these things, they can make you bitter or better. 279 00:14:40,760 --> 00:14:45,920 And I just think that again and again, I'm understanding that it's not about what happens 280 00:14:45,920 --> 00:14:46,920 to us. 281 00:14:46,920 --> 00:14:47,920 It's about our reaction to it. 282 00:14:47,920 --> 00:14:53,600 I mean, he pretty much just said that as far as like, our agency doesn't come into play 283 00:14:53,600 --> 00:14:55,100 on what happens to us. 284 00:14:55,100 --> 00:14:58,480 It comes into play when we decide what to do with what happens to us. 285 00:14:58,480 --> 00:15:04,320 So he referenced COVID overarching, the overarching idea of COVID. 286 00:15:04,320 --> 00:15:08,240 Do you think that was a punishment, like God punishing the world and like, trying to thin 287 00:15:08,240 --> 00:15:09,400 the population? 288 00:15:09,400 --> 00:15:14,760 For me, it felt like a preparation, like a very gentle preparation and opening of the 289 00:15:14,760 --> 00:15:20,200 eyes and just saying, pay attention, because this is what is going to become more of the 290 00:15:20,200 --> 00:15:21,200 norm. 291 00:15:21,200 --> 00:15:22,940 So we'll get used to this. 292 00:15:22,940 --> 00:15:29,200 And for me, I definitely beefed up my, like a supply that I would have on hand for, you 293 00:15:29,200 --> 00:15:34,000 know, hydrogen peroxide and just things like that, you know, all of those types of things. 294 00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:38,520 But to me, it felt like a very gentle nudge and just be mindful. 295 00:15:38,520 --> 00:15:41,760 This is a new way of living and it's not scary. 296 00:15:41,760 --> 00:15:44,120 It's not, oh, shoot, what are we going to do now? 297 00:15:44,120 --> 00:15:45,120 Are we going to backtrack? 298 00:15:45,120 --> 00:15:49,000 It was, I felt like a preparation for what will come in maybe years and years. 299 00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:50,160 I don't know. 300 00:15:50,160 --> 00:15:51,520 But that's what I felt it was. 301 00:15:51,520 --> 00:15:53,840 And you know, everyone has their own take on it. 302 00:15:53,840 --> 00:15:57,320 But for me, it was very gentle and just a wake up call. 303 00:15:57,320 --> 00:16:01,200 So the question I posed to the audience to take some time to think about it, what was 304 00:16:01,200 --> 00:16:03,040 your reaction to COVID? 305 00:16:03,040 --> 00:16:05,080 We're on the other side of it. 306 00:16:05,080 --> 00:16:07,420 We're four years off. 307 00:16:07,420 --> 00:16:10,960 If you've considered a punishment during the time, has something changed that's made you 308 00:16:10,960 --> 00:16:12,600 reconsider that idea? 309 00:16:12,600 --> 00:16:14,580 Because I'm totally with you, Amy. 310 00:16:14,580 --> 00:16:16,720 Since that time, we've gotten chickens. 311 00:16:16,720 --> 00:16:19,600 I've thought more about like where my meat is sourced. 312 00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:21,640 We've grown a garden. 313 00:16:21,640 --> 00:16:23,120 We've kept more toilet paper on hand. 314 00:16:23,120 --> 00:16:24,120 Yeah. 315 00:16:24,120 --> 00:16:27,540 I mean, I know these are dumb things, but just so grateful for like the way that the 316 00:16:27,540 --> 00:16:34,880 church has made it so doable to have a home centered gospel discussions. 317 00:16:34,880 --> 00:16:35,880 The materials are there. 318 00:16:35,880 --> 00:16:39,320 We were able to perform church things in our homes. 319 00:16:39,320 --> 00:16:40,560 Absolutely. 320 00:16:40,560 --> 00:16:43,520 And really, like we had a year of preparation for that. 321 00:16:43,520 --> 00:16:48,720 But really, we just, when, what other time would we be able to just really make our homes 322 00:16:48,720 --> 00:16:52,640 these sacred places and be doing the gospel there 100%? 323 00:16:52,640 --> 00:16:53,640 Oh, totally. 324 00:16:53,640 --> 00:16:55,160 There was a whole different feeling in the home. 325 00:16:55,160 --> 00:16:59,000 I was excited to get back to church, but I am so grateful for the time that we had to 326 00:16:59,000 --> 00:17:00,480 experiment with that. 327 00:17:00,480 --> 00:17:01,480 Yeah. 328 00:17:01,480 --> 00:17:03,000 I'm an introvert, so I wasn't excited. 329 00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:06,000 I loved every bit of it. 330 00:17:06,000 --> 00:17:08,480 I know, but think about the comments you make in Sunday school. 331 00:17:08,480 --> 00:17:10,080 I wouldn't benefit from those if- 332 00:17:10,080 --> 00:17:13,440 I was going to say, like I did come back, right? 333 00:17:13,440 --> 00:17:17,160 There is something about gathering with saints and drawing strength. 334 00:17:17,160 --> 00:17:18,680 And I absolutely love that. 335 00:17:18,680 --> 00:17:25,080 So that over, that superseded any feelings I had about not wanting to go. 336 00:17:25,080 --> 00:17:26,080 Right. 337 00:17:26,080 --> 00:17:29,640 So, it's COVID and then like health issues. 338 00:17:29,640 --> 00:17:33,840 Just chatting with a friend, just had an exchange earlier today and she has a sister that's 339 00:17:33,840 --> 00:17:36,760 battling cancer and she's like running away from God in this way. 340 00:17:36,760 --> 00:17:40,440 And I thought, man, just because this talk is totally on my mind, it's the same thing. 341 00:17:40,440 --> 00:17:42,400 I'm just reiterating what you already said. 342 00:17:42,400 --> 00:17:46,760 It's like, you can look at cancer, you could say, oh, God punishing me with cancer. 343 00:17:46,760 --> 00:17:50,040 And now I'm angry at him, I'm going to turn away from him. 344 00:17:50,040 --> 00:17:58,120 It's not like, that can be a very valid emotion that you're feeling, but I hope for you that 345 00:17:58,120 --> 00:18:03,360 that passes quickly and that you realize these bodies are just prone to decay and cancer 346 00:18:03,360 --> 00:18:05,920 is one of those possibilities. 347 00:18:05,920 --> 00:18:07,840 But I've watched cancer refine you. 348 00:18:07,840 --> 00:18:08,840 Oh yeah. 349 00:18:08,840 --> 00:18:09,840 It watched it refine you. 350 00:18:09,840 --> 00:18:11,360 It saved my life. 351 00:18:11,360 --> 00:18:12,360 In a different way, huh? 352 00:18:12,360 --> 00:18:13,360 It did. 353 00:18:13,360 --> 00:18:14,800 While you were fighting for your life, you really gained your life. 354 00:18:14,800 --> 00:18:17,480 Yes, because it stripped away everything that who I was. 355 00:18:17,480 --> 00:18:18,480 I was a mom. 356 00:18:18,480 --> 00:18:19,480 Who you thought you were? 357 00:18:19,480 --> 00:18:20,480 The labels. 358 00:18:20,480 --> 00:18:21,480 I was a wife. 359 00:18:21,480 --> 00:18:22,480 I was a friend. 360 00:18:22,480 --> 00:18:23,480 These were good things. 361 00:18:23,480 --> 00:18:24,880 They were great things, but I wasn't any of them at that time. 362 00:18:24,880 --> 00:18:26,160 I was just Amy. 363 00:18:26,160 --> 00:18:29,020 And that was the first time in my life I was ever just Amy. 364 00:18:29,020 --> 00:18:30,640 And was that enough? 365 00:18:30,640 --> 00:18:32,700 And was, you know what I mean? 366 00:18:32,700 --> 00:18:36,320 And so through that, yeah, I feel like the Lord strengthened me in all the ways I turned 367 00:18:36,320 --> 00:18:41,880 to him and he gave me a mirror and just kind of said, you can do this and you are strong 368 00:18:41,880 --> 00:18:43,560 enough and good enough and all those things. 369 00:18:43,560 --> 00:18:45,520 So who knew that would ever come out of it? 370 00:18:45,520 --> 00:18:47,120 And then you get to put those pieces back on. 371 00:18:47,120 --> 00:18:49,360 You get to reassemble yourself. 372 00:18:49,360 --> 00:18:51,040 But who did that with you? 373 00:18:51,040 --> 00:18:52,040 The Lord. 374 00:18:52,040 --> 00:18:53,040 Yep. 375 00:18:53,040 --> 00:18:55,640 So your relationship with him completely changed in the process of that. 376 00:18:55,640 --> 00:18:57,360 And you would never go back on cancer. 377 00:18:57,360 --> 00:18:58,520 I would never. 378 00:18:58,520 --> 00:18:59,520 I know. 379 00:18:59,520 --> 00:19:00,520 Isn't that crazy to verbalize that? 380 00:19:00,520 --> 00:19:01,520 Absolutely. 381 00:19:01,520 --> 00:19:02,520 I've had that moment. 382 00:19:02,520 --> 00:19:03,520 It is crazy. 383 00:19:03,520 --> 00:19:05,380 I wouldn't give that trial back. 384 00:19:05,380 --> 00:19:08,800 So I'm hoping that we're reaching the ears of a listener that's maybe in the middle of 385 00:19:08,800 --> 00:19:10,960 their trial and that they're angry about something. 386 00:19:10,960 --> 00:19:11,960 It's so hard. 387 00:19:11,960 --> 00:19:16,200 And from this comfortable chair and not going through your trial that we're saying to you, 388 00:19:16,200 --> 00:19:22,080 hold on, pick something to be hopeful in and pick Jesus Christ to be hopeful in because 389 00:19:22,080 --> 00:19:25,400 what's going on in your life right now is no way a punishment for you. 390 00:19:25,400 --> 00:19:29,800 It's an opportunity to learn for you to become more like Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father 391 00:19:29,800 --> 00:19:32,440 so that we can comfortably abide in their presence one day again. 392 00:19:32,440 --> 00:19:33,440 Oh, absolutely. 393 00:19:33,440 --> 00:19:35,680 You know, when you were saying that, Abby, it reminded me of something. 394 00:19:35,680 --> 00:19:38,720 I received a blessing while I was going through cancer. 395 00:19:38,720 --> 00:19:43,880 And I just love this validation that I got from the Lord because it said, Heavenly Father 396 00:19:43,880 --> 00:19:46,880 knows you have every reason to be angry. 397 00:19:46,880 --> 00:19:47,880 Oh, I love that. 398 00:19:47,880 --> 00:19:49,880 But you haven't chosen that. 399 00:19:49,880 --> 00:19:53,200 It hasn't even occurred to you because that's not your nature. 400 00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:54,200 I loved that part. 401 00:19:54,200 --> 00:19:56,820 But you sharing that lets our listeners that are angry. 402 00:19:56,820 --> 00:19:58,360 There's nothing wrong with being angry. 403 00:19:58,360 --> 00:19:59,360 You have every right. 404 00:19:59,360 --> 00:20:00,920 You've taught me all emotions are good. 405 00:20:00,920 --> 00:20:01,920 Absolutely. 406 00:20:01,920 --> 00:20:04,980 The ones that you let sit and fester and that you don't do anything with, that's when it 407 00:20:04,980 --> 00:20:06,440 becomes Satan's tool. 408 00:20:06,440 --> 00:20:07,440 Totally. 409 00:20:07,440 --> 00:20:12,000 Absolutely, you should feel scared and angry and let those be countered with the things 410 00:20:12,000 --> 00:20:15,320 that the Savior can offer when we're one with him. 411 00:20:15,320 --> 00:20:20,360 Counter fear with faith and anger with like, what's the opportunity here? 412 00:20:20,360 --> 00:20:22,200 After you felt it and it moves through you. 413 00:20:22,200 --> 00:20:26,720 This is so easy to say because neither of us are dealing with that right now. 414 00:20:26,720 --> 00:20:27,720 I'm not in bed right now. 415 00:20:27,720 --> 00:20:28,720 I'm walking. 416 00:20:28,720 --> 00:20:29,720 I'm driving. 417 00:20:29,720 --> 00:20:30,720 Yeah. 418 00:20:30,720 --> 00:20:31,720 Yes. 419 00:20:31,720 --> 00:20:32,720 And walking on two feet. 420 00:20:32,720 --> 00:20:36,920 And so we totally understand it sounds like, well, you're not going through what I'm going 421 00:20:36,920 --> 00:20:37,920 through. 422 00:20:37,920 --> 00:20:39,080 That's absolutely true. 423 00:20:39,080 --> 00:20:42,960 But because of covenants that we made and being willing to suffer with those that suffer 424 00:20:42,960 --> 00:20:47,920 more with those that mourn, our baptismal covenants and trying to be one with Jesus 425 00:20:47,920 --> 00:20:53,760 Christ, I guess it's our opportunity to say like, we have had our own things. 426 00:20:53,760 --> 00:20:55,080 We have had our own trials. 427 00:20:55,080 --> 00:20:56,840 We're on the backside of those ones. 428 00:20:56,840 --> 00:21:01,600 We're looking forward to some more because we do know the growth that comes from them. 429 00:21:01,600 --> 00:21:02,600 I know, right? 430 00:21:02,600 --> 00:21:04,880 But it's a good idea. 431 00:21:04,880 --> 00:21:09,040 It's kind of like the wise and foolish versions. 432 00:21:09,040 --> 00:21:12,880 The wise versions, they fill their lamps. 433 00:21:12,880 --> 00:21:15,920 That's the immediate things we do, but then they also fill their vessels, which is the 434 00:21:15,920 --> 00:21:17,720 reserve that you can hang on to. 435 00:21:17,720 --> 00:21:21,040 You put some of these ideas in reserve so that you don't immediately think you're being 436 00:21:21,040 --> 00:21:23,680 punished when something bad happens in your life. 437 00:21:23,680 --> 00:21:24,680 It's a good way to put it. 438 00:21:24,680 --> 00:21:26,680 I like that. 439 00:21:26,680 --> 00:21:28,720 Okay. 440 00:21:28,720 --> 00:21:31,520 It feels kind of jumpy, but this talk was so intense. 441 00:21:31,520 --> 00:21:32,520 There was so much in it. 442 00:21:32,520 --> 00:21:39,720 I just found a question, what blessing have you seen in your own life or you've observed 443 00:21:39,720 --> 00:21:41,920 in others when you put family first? 444 00:21:41,920 --> 00:21:45,680 That's a great question. 445 00:21:45,680 --> 00:21:50,040 I mean, in the scriptures or my own life? 446 00:21:50,040 --> 00:21:52,080 It can be any of the above. 447 00:21:52,080 --> 00:21:55,960 If it's in the scriptures, it's something you're observing, some lesson that you've 448 00:21:55,960 --> 00:21:56,960 learned. 449 00:21:56,960 --> 00:22:02,640 So, I'm just thinking like when Lehi went into the wilderness, he took nothing save 450 00:22:02,640 --> 00:22:03,640 it were his family. 451 00:22:03,640 --> 00:22:04,640 Good answer. 452 00:22:04,640 --> 00:22:05,640 I love that. 453 00:22:05,640 --> 00:22:06,640 You know what I mean? 454 00:22:06,640 --> 00:22:07,640 He just held onto that and moved on. 455 00:22:07,640 --> 00:22:11,760 I've sort of felt that way in some ways when we've felt the need to move. 456 00:22:11,760 --> 00:22:13,760 I was even happy where I was in all the different streets. 457 00:22:13,760 --> 00:22:16,200 You like all the things around you and your comfort level. 458 00:22:16,200 --> 00:22:19,840 I was just grateful and happy and it was time to move. 459 00:22:19,840 --> 00:22:22,640 I took my family and I moved. 460 00:22:22,640 --> 00:22:26,000 We have been blessed for that in different ways that I didn't see coming. 461 00:22:26,000 --> 00:22:29,800 It was a blessing, but it was hard in the time that it happened. 462 00:22:29,800 --> 00:22:33,800 But the family unit becomes strengthened because that's what you knew before. 463 00:22:33,800 --> 00:22:34,800 Oh my gosh. 464 00:22:34,800 --> 00:22:37,680 That was the one piece of continuity like from where you left to where you're coming 465 00:22:37,680 --> 00:22:40,400 to and as you're in a new area. 466 00:22:40,400 --> 00:22:41,920 My kids are friends. 467 00:22:41,920 --> 00:22:43,440 My kids hang out. 468 00:22:43,440 --> 00:22:46,760 My kids say, hey, we're going to go grab treats and watch a movie and they just do it on their 469 00:22:46,760 --> 00:22:49,080 own and it is the most beautiful thing to see. 470 00:22:49,080 --> 00:22:51,360 Sometimes I'm sad they don't have friends because I would love that. 471 00:22:51,360 --> 00:22:55,980 However, I'm choosing to focus on the blessing that yes, putting family first. 472 00:22:55,980 --> 00:22:58,000 Family is the one you're going to have forever. 473 00:22:58,000 --> 00:22:59,000 That's perfect. 474 00:22:59,000 --> 00:23:03,080 Today's world, it's easy to focus on material and occupational success. 475 00:23:03,080 --> 00:23:08,700 Some lose sight of the eternal principles and choices that have actual eternal significance, 476 00:23:08,700 --> 00:23:10,040 but the prophets always count. 477 00:23:10,040 --> 00:23:13,760 He's counsel us and it's just going to come up a lot to think celestial. 478 00:23:13,760 --> 00:23:19,600 And so, I mean, it kind of feels like I'm jumping in this conversation, but I'm like, 479 00:23:19,600 --> 00:23:21,720 that's something to really consider. 480 00:23:21,720 --> 00:23:23,360 Where's your family priority in this? 481 00:23:23,360 --> 00:23:26,760 Are they seeing you strive to think celestially? 482 00:23:26,760 --> 00:23:29,160 Are they seeing you put Jesus Christ first in your life? 483 00:23:29,160 --> 00:23:31,080 And what effect is that having on your family? 484 00:23:31,080 --> 00:23:32,080 Yeah. 485 00:23:32,080 --> 00:23:37,640 Just as I read that piece of the talk, I thought of two of my sisters. 486 00:23:37,640 --> 00:23:41,320 Their husbands were both in medical school at different times. 487 00:23:41,320 --> 00:23:46,760 And I know some of their colleagues, they maybe had a life partner or partner, but they 488 00:23:46,760 --> 00:23:50,240 had no intention of getting married until medical school was locked away or maybe a 489 00:23:50,240 --> 00:23:53,560 handful of them were married, but they had no intention of starting families. 490 00:23:53,560 --> 00:23:54,560 It's a lot to do at once. 491 00:23:54,560 --> 00:23:55,560 Yeah. 492 00:23:55,560 --> 00:23:59,000 Cassie started her family pretty immediately while they were still in their bachelor degree 493 00:23:59,000 --> 00:24:00,000 work. 494 00:24:00,000 --> 00:24:04,800 And then with almost a short year later, she added another one. 495 00:24:04,800 --> 00:24:11,480 What a blessing because since she's had some issues and being able to have a baby and she's 496 00:24:11,480 --> 00:24:14,400 gone to heroics to bring more children to the earth. 497 00:24:14,400 --> 00:24:19,320 But I think what if they'd followed the more wise counsel to, because you're like barely 498 00:24:19,320 --> 00:24:23,360 can afford groceries for medical school, like it's a very hard time. 499 00:24:23,360 --> 00:24:28,400 And if she had postponed till it was convenient rather than just going for the family, we 500 00:24:28,400 --> 00:24:31,440 wouldn't have our two special guys here with us. 501 00:24:31,440 --> 00:24:36,880 And then my youngest sister also, they did the medical school thing and married right 502 00:24:36,880 --> 00:24:42,640 after David's mission and a son soon after and our little, he has hypoplastic left heart 503 00:24:42,640 --> 00:24:43,640 syndrome. 504 00:24:43,640 --> 00:24:50,920 So he's been a blessing and a challenge like right from the beginning and again, where 505 00:24:50,920 --> 00:24:55,080 they were doing their prerequisite work was so close to the University of Utah where there's 506 00:24:55,080 --> 00:24:58,360 amazing healthcare for open heart surgery stuff. 507 00:24:58,360 --> 00:25:01,160 Thanks in part to President Nelson. 508 00:25:01,160 --> 00:25:05,720 And then their next placement was in California and like literally the next surgery that all 509 00:25:05,720 --> 00:25:08,800 they needed, it's kind of like a phased approach to the surgeries. 510 00:25:08,800 --> 00:25:11,880 It was where like that surgery was perfected. 511 00:25:11,880 --> 00:25:12,880 Isn't that amazing? 512 00:25:12,880 --> 00:25:13,880 Yeah. 513 00:25:13,880 --> 00:25:16,720 I mean, and since like now David's a doctor and he's like, oh, we should have done this 514 00:25:16,720 --> 00:25:18,000 thing to treat his heart. 515 00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:20,400 But I'm like, no, you can only work with the information that you have. 516 00:25:20,400 --> 00:25:22,640 And I see the blessings from the outside. 517 00:25:22,640 --> 00:25:24,480 I think they made the right decisions for him. 518 00:25:24,480 --> 00:25:29,920 And you know, what I'm saying is it would have been easier to not be dealing with that. 519 00:25:29,920 --> 00:25:32,480 But now we're 10 years on the other side of those hard things. 520 00:25:32,480 --> 00:25:37,720 And I definitely see the unity in their family and the growth and the strength and the way 521 00:25:37,720 --> 00:25:39,720 that it kind of charted the course in their life. 522 00:25:39,720 --> 00:25:44,920 So you could put things off, but it's or you could blame God and be like, oh, he doesn't 523 00:25:44,920 --> 00:25:47,440 love us because we've got these children with challenges. 524 00:25:47,440 --> 00:25:52,000 But it's just that's not how that's not how our loving Heavenly Father thinks. 525 00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:56,600 There's a very different picture when you're like always thinking that like the things 526 00:25:56,600 --> 00:25:59,200 that happen in your life are as a way to punish you. 527 00:25:59,200 --> 00:26:00,200 Right? 528 00:26:00,200 --> 00:26:02,760 Like it's not the vision that I have. 529 00:26:02,760 --> 00:26:04,560 It's a loving Heavenly Father. 530 00:26:04,560 --> 00:26:09,040 And he has to let some things happen in your life just by virtue of that's what the earth 531 00:26:09,040 --> 00:26:10,440 that's what we were presented. 532 00:26:10,440 --> 00:26:14,840 I think we fully well knew that there were going to be challenges as we were coming. 533 00:26:14,840 --> 00:26:17,040 Maybe not exactly know exactly how that was going to look. 534 00:26:17,040 --> 00:26:18,040 But it's like I need to learn patience. 535 00:26:18,040 --> 00:26:23,760 And he's like, okay, you're going to get this child or I need to learn humility and you're 536 00:26:23,760 --> 00:26:26,840 going to have, you know, this thing that you're going to have to overcome. 537 00:26:26,840 --> 00:26:27,840 Right. 538 00:26:27,840 --> 00:26:31,440 And it's always I see all these things presented to me as an opportunity. 539 00:26:31,440 --> 00:26:36,440 I can take it or I can leave it same, you know, if I want to be progressing more than 540 00:26:36,440 --> 00:26:41,640 I'm going to, you know, run full, full strength ahead if I don't have time for that right 541 00:26:41,640 --> 00:26:46,040 then or the enough emotional reserve, I might let it be for a minute. 542 00:26:46,040 --> 00:26:50,200 We're not going to take the we're not going to accept the challenge to learn that lesson 543 00:26:50,200 --> 00:26:51,200 in that moment. 544 00:26:51,200 --> 00:26:53,920 We're just see it as it's not a failure. 545 00:26:53,920 --> 00:26:55,200 Don't worry, he'll recycle. 546 00:26:55,200 --> 00:26:57,080 He'll bring you back that opportunity. 547 00:26:57,080 --> 00:26:58,080 Absolutely. 548 00:26:58,080 --> 00:27:01,840 Well, so it was cute. 549 00:27:01,840 --> 00:27:06,840 He referenced a poem he learned from his mission by Ella Wheeler Wilcox. 550 00:27:06,840 --> 00:27:11,360 There is no chance, no destiny, no fate can circumvent or hinder or control the firm resolve 551 00:27:11,360 --> 00:27:13,000 of a determined soul. 552 00:27:13,000 --> 00:27:17,480 And again, the idea of life events happening that we obviously have no control over or 553 00:27:17,480 --> 00:27:20,120 health matters that we have no control over. 554 00:27:20,120 --> 00:27:25,520 But what matters is the way that we conduct ourselves in those trials, how we observe 555 00:27:25,520 --> 00:27:28,120 our religion or how we live our lives. 556 00:27:28,120 --> 00:27:33,920 We have total control of what we choose to do with the detours that kind of happen. 557 00:27:33,920 --> 00:27:35,200 We don't even have to call them detours. 558 00:27:35,200 --> 00:27:37,320 They're kind of exactly what was meant to be on the path. 559 00:27:37,320 --> 00:27:47,120 It's just how do we navigate that little bumpier terrain? 560 00:27:47,120 --> 00:27:54,920 Just a brief mention, he talked about how he really wanted to say, we're so similar. 561 00:27:54,920 --> 00:27:58,960 We're children of God and we are so like him. 562 00:27:58,960 --> 00:28:02,160 But in this world, they'll take small differences and magnify them. 563 00:28:02,160 --> 00:28:03,480 I loved that part. 564 00:28:03,480 --> 00:28:09,140 It was so true because they are small things. 565 00:28:09,140 --> 00:28:14,240 But if you have an adversarial spirit around you, it just tends to magnify it. 566 00:28:14,240 --> 00:28:15,240 You know what I mean? 567 00:28:15,240 --> 00:28:17,560 And it's not to say that they're not there, but they're small. 568 00:28:17,560 --> 00:28:21,760 And what really is the bigger thing is that we are all so similar and we can be one in 569 00:28:21,760 --> 00:28:23,240 Christ. 570 00:28:23,240 --> 00:28:24,240 It's totally true. 571 00:28:24,240 --> 00:28:30,760 He makes us really think, once we have the idea in our own heart and we've drawn close 572 00:28:30,760 --> 00:28:36,600 to Jesus Christ and we know that we're working towards becoming one with him and we allow 573 00:28:36,600 --> 00:28:41,160 the atonement to affect our lives, then we look and say, what can we do in the bigger 574 00:28:41,160 --> 00:28:47,280 picture in our wards, in our communities, this worldwide church, we're all signing up 575 00:28:47,280 --> 00:28:48,840 for that same baptismal covenant. 576 00:28:48,840 --> 00:28:52,680 Some of us sign up for the same temple covenant and it unifies us in a different way. 577 00:28:52,680 --> 00:28:55,400 We become part of this one family. 578 00:28:55,400 --> 00:29:02,200 And so the things that somebody's doing in Africa is they're joining the church and they 579 00:29:02,200 --> 00:29:05,600 become part of this gathering of Israel. 580 00:29:05,600 --> 00:29:07,480 Aren't we all brothers and sisters? 581 00:29:07,480 --> 00:29:13,240 I mean, we are in a different way anyway, but I'm just seeing his vision of this oneness 582 00:29:13,240 --> 00:29:17,180 is like he's trying to bring the family together at the table and say, we're really way more 583 00:29:17,180 --> 00:29:18,400 similar than we are different. 584 00:29:18,400 --> 00:29:19,400 I love that, Abby. 585 00:29:19,400 --> 00:29:22,120 That's a good visual right there. 586 00:29:22,120 --> 00:29:23,120 Should I wrap it up? 587 00:29:23,120 --> 00:29:24,120 I feel like come to the table. 588 00:29:24,120 --> 00:29:25,120 Yeah, come, come. 589 00:29:25,120 --> 00:29:30,680 This is the prophet, he quoted the prophet in his kind of final part of his talk and 590 00:29:30,680 --> 00:29:36,920 it said, the prophet has given us the admonition to gather Israel on both sides of the veil. 591 00:29:36,920 --> 00:29:40,760 On every continent and across the Isles of the sea, faithful people are being gathered 592 00:29:40,760 --> 00:29:43,680 to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 593 00:29:43,680 --> 00:29:47,880 Differences in culture, language, gender, race and nationality fade into insignificance 594 00:29:47,880 --> 00:29:52,640 as the faithful enter the covenant path and come into our beloved Redeemer. 595 00:29:52,640 --> 00:29:53,640 What a great rally call. 596 00:29:53,640 --> 00:29:56,760 It is a good rally call. 597 00:29:56,760 --> 00:29:59,440 Maybe think of what you can do to be part of that. 598 00:29:59,440 --> 00:30:00,440 Become one with Christ yourself. 599 00:30:00,440 --> 00:30:03,880 Is there a little change that you can make in your daily life to just feel that closeness 600 00:30:03,880 --> 00:30:04,960 with him? 601 00:30:04,960 --> 00:30:10,280 And then once you have filled that in yourself, what can you do to bring others? 602 00:30:10,280 --> 00:30:11,280 Love that. 603 00:30:11,280 --> 00:30:12,280 And maybe it's not even a change, Abby. 604 00:30:12,280 --> 00:30:16,480 Maybe it's just taking a quick moment to visualize yourself and see where you fit in and just 605 00:30:16,480 --> 00:30:18,480 be mindful of that. 606 00:30:18,480 --> 00:30:20,360 We'll catch you next time. 607 00:30:20,360 --> 00:30:47,360 Have a good one.