WEBVTT 00:00:07.499 --> 00:00:09.660 Welcome to Closer to Christ through General Conference, 00:00:09.880 --> 00:00:12.080 where two friends who love Jesus share our own 00:00:12.080 --> 00:00:13.939 approach to studying the most recent General 00:00:13.939 --> 00:00:16.879 Conference talks. This is Abbey and Amy. Let's 00:00:16.879 --> 00:00:30.719 jump into it. Today we're discussing the talk, 00:00:30.879 --> 00:00:33.159 Return Unto Me That I May Heal You, by Elder 00:00:33.159 --> 00:00:37.159 S. Mark Palmer of the Seventy. One night during 00:00:37.159 --> 00:00:39.420 a terrible storm, a willow tree in Elder Palmer's 00:00:39.420 --> 00:00:42.539 yard was uprooted and seemed beyond saving. He'd 00:00:42.539 --> 00:00:45.179 planned to cut it down for firewood, but a neighbor 00:00:45.179 --> 00:00:48.719 intervened, urging them to give the tree a chance 00:00:48.719 --> 00:00:51.950 to recover. Despite initial skepticism, they 00:00:51.950 --> 00:00:53.729 followed the neighbor's advice to prop it up, 00:00:53.789 --> 00:00:56.329 trim the branches, take care of it, hoping that 00:00:56.329 --> 00:00:58.049 the single remaining root would help it survive. 00:00:58.189 --> 00:01:00.990 And the result? After some time, he says, we 00:01:00.990 --> 00:01:03.750 saw signs of life as the tree began to take root. 00:01:03.969 --> 00:01:06.689 Now, 12 years later, the tree is vibrant and 00:01:06.689 --> 00:01:09.209 full of life with strong roots and once again 00:01:09.209 --> 00:01:11.049 contributing to the beauty of the landscape. 00:01:11.769 --> 00:01:14.090 Elder Palmer said the story of the willow tree 00:01:14.090 --> 00:01:16.450 reminded him how one can find hope even when 00:01:16.450 --> 00:01:18.450 all seems lost in relation to those who were 00:01:18.450 --> 00:01:21.730 once rooted in the gospel of Jesus Christ or 00:01:21.730 --> 00:01:24.609 others that maybe just have one root barely hanging 00:01:24.609 --> 00:01:27.349 on. So you might say, what does it look like 00:01:27.349 --> 00:01:30.969 to have but a single root hanging on? We might 00:01:30.969 --> 00:01:33.349 have those around us that once had testimonies 00:01:33.349 --> 00:01:35.209 of the gospel that were strong and vibrant like 00:01:35.209 --> 00:01:37.329 the willow. And then through a series of events 00:01:37.329 --> 00:01:41.390 that are... personal. These testimonies become 00:01:41.390 --> 00:01:43.709 weakened, leading to a loss of faith and maybe 00:01:43.709 --> 00:01:47.250 job loss, becoming offended by a comment, a policy 00:01:47.250 --> 00:01:49.150 change. Man, there are just so many things, right? 00:01:49.230 --> 00:01:51.269 A dispute with a neighbor, unexpected loss, chronic 00:01:51.269 --> 00:01:53.969 illness or pain, addiction, death of a loved 00:01:53.969 --> 00:01:56.930 one. Any combination of any number of these things 00:01:56.930 --> 00:01:59.810 might be the wind that uproots a person who was 00:01:59.810 --> 00:02:02.510 once deeply rooted in the gospel. And it's also 00:02:02.510 --> 00:02:04.510 important to be aware that those that join us 00:02:04.510 --> 00:02:06.829 weekly are trying with all their might as they're 00:02:06.829 --> 00:02:09.150 hanging on with the slimmest of roots, tapping 00:02:09.150 --> 00:02:11.810 into that gospel soil, one small gust of life's 00:02:11.810 --> 00:02:13.650 challenges, and they may have nothing left to 00:02:13.650 --> 00:02:16.590 hold on to anymore. Not a question that, you 00:02:16.590 --> 00:02:18.770 know, you're asking people to answer, but something 00:02:18.770 --> 00:02:20.969 I thought of as I heard this part was a question 00:02:20.969 --> 00:02:24.849 to self -reflect on, asking myself, would I treat 00:02:24.849 --> 00:02:26.990 those around me in the church differently if 00:02:26.990 --> 00:02:28.729 I knew that they were hanging on by one root? 00:02:30.169 --> 00:02:32.949 Absolutely. In his service around the world, 00:02:33.030 --> 00:02:35.210 Elder Palmer has been able to witness stories 00:02:35.210 --> 00:02:37.610 of so many who have chosen to renew their discipleship 00:02:37.610 --> 00:02:40.789 and come back into their church home. Rather 00:02:40.789 --> 00:02:43.129 than discarding their faith and belief like worthless 00:02:43.129 --> 00:02:45.409 firewood, instead they have responded to spiritual 00:02:45.409 --> 00:02:47.949 promptings and loving invitations to return. 00:02:48.229 --> 00:02:50.169 Let's see what we can learn from some of the 00:02:50.169 --> 00:02:53.229 insights in his examples. Okay, he talked about 00:02:53.229 --> 00:02:56.620 an instance that he had at a state conference 00:02:56.620 --> 00:02:59.620 in Korea. A returning member expressed gratitude 00:02:59.620 --> 00:03:01.699 for the kindness and acceptance he received despite 00:03:01.699 --> 00:03:04.500 his struggles with faith, and he noted that many 00:03:04.500 --> 00:03:06.379 less active friends also desire to regain their 00:03:06.379 --> 00:03:08.240 faith and even encouraged each other to return 00:03:08.240 --> 00:03:10.740 to church. Could we draw the analogy that the 00:03:10.740 --> 00:03:13.770 neighbor that rushed to another's fallen? to 00:03:13.770 --> 00:03:15.669 his fallen willow tree, know something about 00:03:15.669 --> 00:03:17.830 others who have taken a beating by the wind and 00:03:17.830 --> 00:03:19.729 saw them too brought back to life with little 00:03:19.729 --> 00:03:23.189 attention and care. I've personally had my own 00:03:23.189 --> 00:03:25.550 testimony strengthened by people who have stepped 00:03:25.550 --> 00:03:27.770 away for a time and then took the difficult steps 00:03:27.770 --> 00:03:30.469 to come back. They have a unique ability to testify 00:03:30.469 --> 00:03:35.270 of their experiences and my resolve to work on 00:03:35.270 --> 00:03:37.770 digging a little bit deeper in hopes of weathering 00:03:37.770 --> 00:03:41.349 life's storms happens as they share their testimony. 00:03:41.870 --> 00:03:45.210 of being away and coming back. This example he 00:03:45.210 --> 00:03:47.750 shared concluded with an invitation for all who 00:03:47.750 --> 00:03:50.750 are seeking faith to come back with the promise 00:03:50.750 --> 00:03:53.050 that their faith can grow through worship with 00:03:53.050 --> 00:03:57.810 fellow believers. Very good. Another one he shares, 00:03:57.949 --> 00:04:00.409 Abby, is a former missionary from Africa wrote 00:04:00.409 --> 00:04:02.629 to a church leader seeking forgiveness for taking 00:04:02.629 --> 00:04:05.569 offense at a teaching about a cultural tradition 00:04:05.569 --> 00:04:08.150 which led him to leave the church. He expressed 00:04:08.150 --> 00:04:10.590 deep regret for the heavy personal losses he 00:04:10.590 --> 00:04:13.550 experienced over 15 years and the harm he may 00:04:13.550 --> 00:04:15.669 have caused. Grateful to have returned, he shared 00:04:15.669 --> 00:04:18.069 his joy in finding his way back. The message 00:04:18.069 --> 00:04:20.610 ends with an invitation for others who recognize 00:04:20.610 --> 00:04:24.730 that they've lost what they've lost to return 00:04:24.730 --> 00:04:27.329 and once again experience the joy of the gospel. 00:04:28.490 --> 00:04:30.810 And then there was a third example. It was from 00:04:30.810 --> 00:04:33.149 a sister who lived in the United States who was 00:04:33.149 --> 00:04:35.389 away from the church for some time. And I want 00:04:35.389 --> 00:04:37.449 to read her account word for word because it 00:04:37.449 --> 00:04:40.589 highlights that there are things that we can 00:04:40.589 --> 00:04:44.250 do for those that we love, those in our immediate 00:04:44.250 --> 00:04:47.110 circle, if they've stepped away or if they're 00:04:47.110 --> 00:04:49.629 just hanging on, for the perfect example of how 00:04:49.629 --> 00:04:51.750 guiding principles were used in this situation. 00:04:54.029 --> 00:04:56.829 I'm talking about guiding principles like we 00:04:56.829 --> 00:04:59.509 talked about in Elder Anderson's talk on cherishing 00:04:59.509 --> 00:05:02.269 life. I knew that when I was directed to the 00:05:02.269 --> 00:05:03.810 footnotes in that talk that they would become 00:05:03.810 --> 00:05:07.910 very important to me in many ways. And I thought 00:05:07.910 --> 00:05:10.170 it was awesome that it popped up in just this 00:05:10.170 --> 00:05:12.829 talk, just a couple down the line. Hey, you could 00:05:12.829 --> 00:05:17.370 use it here. Please reiterate that. So maybe 00:05:17.370 --> 00:05:20.860 you could read her testimony of how. of her coming 00:05:20.860 --> 00:05:22.379 back, and then I'll circle back to the guiding 00:05:22.379 --> 00:05:24.959 principles. Perfect. These are her words. I could 00:05:24.959 --> 00:05:27.060 list a myriad of reasons for why I walked away 00:05:27.060 --> 00:05:28.800 from the church, the gospel, and in a way my 00:05:28.800 --> 00:05:31.120 family, but they really don't matter. I didn't 00:05:31.120 --> 00:05:33.240 make one big decision to leave the church. I 00:05:33.240 --> 00:05:35.879 probably made a thousand choices. But one thing 00:05:35.879 --> 00:05:37.939 I've always known is that my parents did make 00:05:37.939 --> 00:05:40.240 one big decision, and they stuck to it. They 00:05:40.240 --> 00:05:43.079 decided to love me. I couldn't possibly know 00:05:43.079 --> 00:05:45.620 how many tears had been shed. How many sleepless 00:05:45.620 --> 00:05:48.420 nights, nor how many heartfelt pleading words 00:05:48.420 --> 00:05:51.040 of prayer have been uttered on my behalf. They 00:05:51.040 --> 00:05:53.399 didn't call me out on my sins. Rather, they called 00:05:53.399 --> 00:05:58.000 out to me in my sinfulness. They didn't make 00:05:58.000 --> 00:06:00.180 me feel unwelcome in their home and at gatherings 00:06:00.180 --> 00:06:02.839 for the family. Any of those feelings were of 00:06:02.839 --> 00:06:05.420 my own doing. Instead, they continued to welcome 00:06:05.420 --> 00:06:08.220 me. They must have seen my light dim over time, 00:06:08.339 --> 00:06:12.480 but they knew that the person I was then was 00:06:12.480 --> 00:06:15.439 just a shadow of who I was yet to become. Just 00:06:15.439 --> 00:06:17.379 as my path away from the church was complex, 00:06:17.639 --> 00:06:20.180 so was my way back. But one thing that was not 00:06:20.180 --> 00:06:22.339 hard about coming back was the feeling of being 00:06:22.339 --> 00:06:25.819 back home where I belong. That whole testimony 00:06:25.819 --> 00:06:28.339 was just full of examples of these guiding principles. 00:06:28.699 --> 00:06:31.120 To minister effectively, we're encouraged to 00:06:31.120 --> 00:06:33.339 begin with love. Every person deserves kindness, 00:06:33.480 --> 00:06:35.680 even if we don't fully understand their experiences. 00:06:36.240 --> 00:06:38.860 Then we listen with empathy. We avoid assumptions. 00:06:39.100 --> 00:06:42.180 We build trust through sincere interest. Teach 00:06:42.180 --> 00:06:44.120 true principles gently and with the Spirit's 00:06:44.120 --> 00:06:46.120 guidance to help others stay on the path to eternal 00:06:46.120 --> 00:06:48.360 joy. I just felt like her testimony was just 00:06:48.360 --> 00:06:51.399 full of that feeling that she just felt like 00:06:51.399 --> 00:06:53.300 her interactions, they were never one of like 00:06:53.300 --> 00:06:57.740 rebuke or chastisement, just love. Yeah. Encourage 00:06:57.740 --> 00:06:59.779 faith by helping others trust in God, understanding 00:06:59.779 --> 00:07:01.699 Christ's atonement, and seeking guidance through 00:07:01.699 --> 00:07:03.959 prayer and scripture study. I think in her situation, 00:07:04.199 --> 00:07:07.720 just demonstrating, you stay in the church, you 00:07:07.720 --> 00:07:10.600 continue to do the things that you're doing to 00:07:10.600 --> 00:07:15.740 foster your relationship with Jesus Christ. that's 00:07:15.740 --> 00:07:17.259 trying to distance themselves from it that's 00:07:17.259 --> 00:07:18.800 the best thing you can do rather than well you 00:07:18.800 --> 00:07:20.939 need to do this and you need to do that you do 00:07:20.939 --> 00:07:22.800 it for yourself and they're able to be eyewitness 00:07:22.800 --> 00:07:25.759 to what a life with jesus christ looks like instead 00:07:25.759 --> 00:07:29.100 of being told all these changes that they need 00:07:29.100 --> 00:07:30.939 to make that clearly they're not in a time it's 00:07:30.939 --> 00:07:35.439 not the time or place for that for them um seek 00:07:35.439 --> 00:07:37.680 guidance through prayer and scripture study ultimately 00:07:37.680 --> 00:07:40.300 loving action Attentive listening and spiritual 00:07:40.300 --> 00:07:43.120 sensitivity are key to meeting an individual's 00:07:43.120 --> 00:07:46.300 needs. Elder Palmer extends many invitations 00:07:46.300 --> 00:07:48.899 in this talk, but one that he extended here was 00:07:48.899 --> 00:07:52.060 to invite all those who have ever felt the Spirit 00:07:52.060 --> 00:07:55.459 and have stepped away from the Church who wonder, 00:07:55.519 --> 00:07:58.079 is there really a place for me back in the restored 00:07:58.079 --> 00:08:03.850 Church of Jesus Christ? It's also... for anyone 00:08:03.850 --> 00:08:06.250 who's barely hanging on who are tempted to step 00:08:06.250 --> 00:08:08.529 away. Very good. The answer to the question is 00:08:08.529 --> 00:08:11.449 yes, there's a place for you here. I like that 00:08:11.449 --> 00:08:14.069 she was very open and honest about it not being 00:08:14.069 --> 00:08:17.629 an easy path back, but it was a small and simple 00:08:17.629 --> 00:08:20.509 steps away. And so she wasn't, I don't think 00:08:20.509 --> 00:08:22.410 she was really unprepared for it to take the 00:08:22.410 --> 00:08:24.490 time and the effort, but what she had in the 00:08:24.490 --> 00:08:27.230 process was just love and understanding and acceptance 00:08:27.230 --> 00:08:30.170 the whole way along. And still being connected, 00:08:30.310 --> 00:08:32.590 right? If you don't have connection with a person, 00:08:32.649 --> 00:08:36.190 then that lowers the amount of love and everything 00:08:36.190 --> 00:08:39.409 else that you can give to them. So is this person 00:08:39.409 --> 00:08:41.269 you? Have you stepped away for some time and 00:08:41.269 --> 00:08:43.149 questioned whether there is a place to come back 00:08:43.149 --> 00:08:46.649 to you? If so, Abby and I join Elder Palmer in 00:08:46.649 --> 00:08:49.230 his invitation to you. It's an invitation extended 00:08:49.230 --> 00:08:51.409 with love and a sincere desire to welcome you 00:08:51.409 --> 00:08:53.590 back to your spiritual home. We pray that you 00:08:53.590 --> 00:08:55.629 will feel the witness of the Holy Ghost and also 00:08:55.629 --> 00:09:07.840 hear this loving invitation. I like that he just 00:09:07.840 --> 00:09:10.080 briefly paused there to say the words that I'm 00:09:10.080 --> 00:09:13.679 going to utter is out of love, not out of chastisement. 00:09:13.960 --> 00:09:17.980 So when he says that it's like, when are you 00:09:17.980 --> 00:09:20.779 going to come back to me? Repent! Be converted! 00:09:21.480 --> 00:09:24.860 You read it exactly perfectly. When will you 00:09:24.860 --> 00:09:26.980 return to me? I've been waiting for you, child. 00:09:27.120 --> 00:09:31.059 Come back. Giving him an opportunity to repent 00:09:31.059 --> 00:09:33.399 of their sins and be converted because he wants 00:09:33.399 --> 00:09:36.000 nothing more than to heal us from those things 00:09:36.000 --> 00:09:38.759 that are challenging us. People are often really 00:09:38.759 --> 00:09:43.240 loud and vocal on their way out. But we're reminded 00:09:43.240 --> 00:09:46.620 every week that many more are responding to the 00:09:46.620 --> 00:09:48.840 Savior's invitation by returning to discipleship 00:09:48.840 --> 00:09:51.960 and church activity. But usually they do that 00:09:51.960 --> 00:09:55.080 quietly, humbly. Seeking the healing that Jesus 00:09:55.080 --> 00:09:58.100 promises. This isn't the narrative that's circulated 00:09:58.100 --> 00:10:02.879 around social media. Right? Social media wants 00:10:02.879 --> 00:10:04.820 to think everybody's on their way out. When in 00:10:04.820 --> 00:10:07.980 reality, record numbers of young people are choosing 00:10:07.980 --> 00:10:10.299 to stay strong and to grow their faith in Jesus 00:10:10.299 --> 00:10:14.059 Christ. Absolutely, Abby. When those around us 00:10:14.059 --> 00:10:15.840 leave, it often causes us to reflect our own 00:10:15.840 --> 00:10:19.730 testimony and our why. For choosing the gospel. 00:10:19.870 --> 00:10:22.029 I know it has for me and it's strengthened it 00:10:22.029 --> 00:10:24.950 each time. Like, why do I stay? And it strengthens 00:10:24.950 --> 00:10:27.070 my resolve and also my relationship with Jesus 00:10:27.070 --> 00:10:29.610 Christ and with Heavenly Father. When Jesus taught 00:10:29.610 --> 00:10:31.429 a hard truth and some of his followers chose 00:10:31.429 --> 00:10:35.210 to leave, he asked, will ye also go away? I love 00:10:35.210 --> 00:10:37.570 Peter's response. He says, to whom shall we go? 00:10:37.889 --> 00:10:40.529 Thou hast the words of eternal life. Can we all 00:10:40.529 --> 00:10:43.009 take the opportunity to do the same as we witness 00:10:43.009 --> 00:10:46.169 others around us make the decision to leave? 00:10:46.840 --> 00:10:49.139 Can we look to the Savior and ask what can we 00:10:49.139 --> 00:10:51.940 do to become more rooted in his teachings? What 00:10:51.940 --> 00:10:53.940 message that is out there today offered more 00:10:53.940 --> 00:10:56.759 comfort, more peace in the gospel of Jesus Christ? 00:10:57.039 --> 00:10:58.980 If you too believe that there is nothing that 00:10:58.980 --> 00:11:00.759 comes close to offering more than the Savior 00:11:00.759 --> 00:11:03.860 already has, then please stay. He circles back 00:11:03.860 --> 00:11:07.279 here to the lesson from the willow tree. To summarize, 00:11:07.559 --> 00:11:09.940 he says, the return may be hard, but it's worth 00:11:09.940 --> 00:11:12.259 it. Like the willow tree, growth often begins 00:11:12.259 --> 00:11:14.500 with vulnerability and letting go of pride. I 00:11:14.500 --> 00:11:17.200 mean that. willow tree was not pretty when the 00:11:17.200 --> 00:11:19.080 pictures of it you're like oh yeah it's down 00:11:19.080 --> 00:11:21.399 yeah if you go to this imprint you'll see like 00:11:21.399 --> 00:11:23.419 a play -by -play of what that pruning process 00:11:23.419 --> 00:11:26.059 looked like for sure be patient faith and strength 00:11:26.059 --> 00:11:28.019 take time to rebuild just as the willow took 00:11:28.019 --> 00:11:30.360 years to regain its beauty and i love that the 00:11:30.360 --> 00:11:33.100 analogy was tied to a tree it's not quick pro 00:11:33.100 --> 00:11:35.860 a quick process that's true you don't really 00:11:35.860 --> 00:11:38.019 know what the root system looks like under a 00:11:38.019 --> 00:11:40.320 tree as that's re -establishing you know you 00:11:40.320 --> 00:11:43.850 use a flower It grows quickly. It dies quickly. 00:11:44.029 --> 00:11:45.929 We're talking about something that's got some 00:11:45.929 --> 00:11:49.309 sustainability. Nourish your faith consistently. 00:11:49.549 --> 00:11:51.870 Regular worship, taking the sacrament will sustain 00:11:51.870 --> 00:11:55.830 spiritual growth. I was in a talk from a friend. 00:11:55.929 --> 00:11:59.429 She was doing a mental health class. We had this 00:11:59.429 --> 00:12:01.929 conversation where sometimes maybe you're going 00:12:01.929 --> 00:12:03.649 through the motions when it comes to the sacrament 00:12:03.649 --> 00:12:05.929 or reading the scriptures or whatever it is. 00:12:06.009 --> 00:12:09.230 But all of those things, even if they lack emotion 00:12:09.230 --> 00:12:13.200 because of the mental state that you're in, Consistency 00:12:13.200 --> 00:12:16.620 in doing those faith -promoting activities one 00:12:16.620 --> 00:12:21.960 day will pay off. Staying sensitive to the Spirit 00:12:21.960 --> 00:12:24.419 like sunlight to a tree. The Spirit helps your 00:12:24.419 --> 00:12:26.720 testimony grow when you're open to its promptings. 00:12:26.879 --> 00:12:29.220 Again, putting yourself in a situation where 00:12:29.220 --> 00:12:32.779 there's a possibility for the Spirit to take 00:12:32.779 --> 00:12:35.820 hold is key. It doesn't happen the first time 00:12:35.820 --> 00:12:39.360 or the second time, but you keep doing it. Again 00:12:39.360 --> 00:12:42.519 and again, it's going to eventually sink deep. 00:12:42.799 --> 00:12:44.720 And then remember that God knows your potential. 00:12:44.960 --> 00:12:46.799 Just as the neighbor saw hope in the willow, 00:12:46.820 --> 00:12:49.480 the Lord never gives up on you and can heal all 00:12:49.480 --> 00:12:52.460 through Christ's atonement. Amy, let's go to 00:12:52.460 --> 00:12:54.259 your final thoughts, and then I'll wrap it up 00:12:54.259 --> 00:12:57.200 after that. I love this talk for a lot of reasons. 00:12:57.340 --> 00:12:59.379 It gives us a chance to reflect on where our 00:12:59.379 --> 00:13:02.039 own testimonies are, that when life's storms 00:13:02.039 --> 00:13:07.070 beat us up or beat upon us. Am I prepared with 00:13:07.070 --> 00:13:09.529 deep roots that I need to sustain the harsh winds? 00:13:09.850 --> 00:13:11.990 Another reason I love this talk is that many 00:13:11.990 --> 00:13:15.230 invitations are made in the hopes that people 00:13:15.230 --> 00:13:17.850 who are on the verge of collapse or who've been 00:13:17.850 --> 00:13:19.809 gone for a short time or even many years can 00:13:19.809 --> 00:13:24.639 hear that invitation. It was this talk that maybe 00:13:24.639 --> 00:13:26.820 definitely the wrong thing to say is if somebody 00:13:26.820 --> 00:13:29.399 comes back, where have you been? He said that 00:13:29.399 --> 00:13:31.639 part. Where have you been? He's passed, whatever. 00:13:32.539 --> 00:13:34.919 What would the Savior do? He'd see you. He'd 00:13:34.919 --> 00:13:39.120 maybe just embrace you in a hug. Words wouldn't 00:13:39.120 --> 00:13:41.120 really be necessary. Totally true. Glad to see 00:13:41.120 --> 00:13:42.860 you here. Yeah. You don't need to say the words. 00:13:42.860 --> 00:13:48.179 Whatever's kept you away. Love that he takes 00:13:48.179 --> 00:13:51.139 some of the principles that Elder Palmer summarized 00:13:51.139 --> 00:13:53.980 with love, encouraging those around us to know 00:13:53.980 --> 00:13:55.840 that the return might be difficult. Like I just 00:13:55.840 --> 00:13:57.600 said, there may be a couple of conversations, 00:13:57.840 --> 00:14:00.019 not that you need to tell everybody, but a few 00:14:00.019 --> 00:14:02.740 key conversations. It will be worth it, you coming 00:14:02.740 --> 00:14:06.399 back. And you will have the support and love. 00:14:06.799 --> 00:14:09.840 in the progress. Be patient with yourself as 00:14:09.840 --> 00:14:11.799 you're coming back. Be patient with others that 00:14:11.799 --> 00:14:14.059 are coming back. Share your faith with them, 00:14:14.059 --> 00:14:17.240 to the Spirit as it directs you with the things 00:14:17.240 --> 00:14:19.080 that you can do as you minister to these family 00:14:19.080 --> 00:14:21.299 and friends. And again, my heart goes out to 00:14:21.299 --> 00:14:24.399 anyone who's coming back for any amount of time. 00:14:24.970 --> 00:14:26.850 I know it's a hard thing to do. And sometimes 00:14:26.850 --> 00:14:28.710 you don't have the right words to say. And I 00:14:28.710 --> 00:14:32.029 pray that you will have peace and you will know 00:14:32.029 --> 00:14:34.309 that you are in the right place among friends, 00:14:34.429 --> 00:14:37.490 even if the words that they say might not be 00:14:37.490 --> 00:14:39.830 exactly what the Savior would say to you right 00:14:39.830 --> 00:14:43.570 then. Have patience and love. This talk is both 00:14:43.570 --> 00:14:46.590 an invitation to those who are on their way out 00:14:46.590 --> 00:14:49.649 or have been gone and to people that are in it 00:14:49.649 --> 00:14:53.330 currently and wanting to be in it more deeply 00:14:53.330 --> 00:14:57.179 rooted. He's, you know, both sides of that camp. 00:14:57.320 --> 00:15:00.480 There are jobs that we can do as members that 00:15:00.480 --> 00:15:03.159 are actively going right now. We have a responsibility 00:15:03.159 --> 00:15:07.700 to love as Jesus loved and to make a very well 00:15:07.700 --> 00:15:11.240 -inviting home. He referenced the church, you 00:15:11.240 --> 00:15:13.220 know, church home. Come back into our church 00:15:13.220 --> 00:15:16.340 home. If we see it in that way, what are we actively 00:15:16.340 --> 00:15:18.360 doing to help those around us? Are we making 00:15:18.360 --> 00:15:21.919 it easier for people to... tap into the atonement 00:15:21.919 --> 00:15:23.779 of Jesus Christ and come back or making it more 00:15:23.779 --> 00:15:26.019 difficult. Yeah. And again, the guiding principles. 00:15:26.220 --> 00:15:29.299 When I had this experience the other day, I was 00:15:29.299 --> 00:15:32.799 like, Amy, this would do well for you to learn 00:15:32.799 --> 00:15:34.659 and to have in your heart the guiding principles 00:15:34.659 --> 00:15:37.500 because they will be used every day. It literally 00:15:37.500 --> 00:15:39.860 is, when I say that, I mean like lead with love 00:15:39.860 --> 00:15:42.620 and, you know, use the scriptures, ask for the 00:15:42.620 --> 00:15:43.980 Holy Ghost, everything that we talked about. 00:15:44.440 --> 00:15:47.100 in this talk, if we have those in our heart, 00:15:47.200 --> 00:15:49.559 really all it's doing, like you could say guiding 00:15:49.559 --> 00:15:53.700 principles equal. a disciple of Christ. Yes, 00:15:53.840 --> 00:15:55.700 doing it in the Savior's way and maintaining 00:15:55.700 --> 00:15:58.500 these relationships that sometimes can be difficult 00:15:58.500 --> 00:16:00.639 because sometimes we don't know that when we're, 00:16:00.659 --> 00:16:02.700 you know, we don't get like a quick briefing 00:16:02.700 --> 00:16:05.799 before church or before a function with the Lord 00:16:05.799 --> 00:16:07.379 saying, you know, giving us a call and saying, 00:16:07.460 --> 00:16:09.620 hey, by the way, when you walk into church today, 00:16:09.679 --> 00:16:12.240 you are meeting people who are hanging on by 00:16:12.240 --> 00:16:15.379 a thread. When you speak, please take my spirit 00:16:15.379 --> 00:16:17.990 with you and speak to them with my love. That 00:16:17.990 --> 00:16:19.950 would be different. That was my first rhetorical 00:16:19.950 --> 00:16:22.830 question up at the top. Exactly. What if we assume 00:16:22.830 --> 00:16:25.330 that everybody was there hanging on by a thread? 00:16:25.470 --> 00:16:28.730 Not even that they don't, that they're struggling 00:16:28.730 --> 00:16:31.029 with the gospel principle. Life is just beating 00:16:31.029 --> 00:16:33.690 them down, which is really your scenario right 00:16:33.690 --> 00:16:36.149 now. Exactly. You can take that for so many months 00:16:36.149 --> 00:16:39.370 and years, but even the strongest can get beaten 00:16:39.370 --> 00:16:43.110 down by it. But what rebuilds from those people 00:16:43.110 --> 00:16:47.120 is even more beautiful, more deeply rooted. He 00:16:47.120 --> 00:16:49.679 mentioned that that tree was more beautiful after 00:16:49.679 --> 00:16:52.480 the whole incident than it would have been otherwise. 00:16:53.120 --> 00:16:57.620 Loved it. So I feel like what we're saying is 00:16:57.620 --> 00:17:01.220 to remember that the work and the glory of Jesus 00:17:01.220 --> 00:17:04.519 Christ is, or sorry, I said that poorly. Remember 00:17:04.519 --> 00:17:07.539 that it is the work and the glory of Jesus Christ 00:17:07.539 --> 00:17:09.700 to bring to pass the immortality and eternal 00:17:09.700 --> 00:17:12.569 life of men. He's our biggest cheerleader, and 00:17:12.569 --> 00:17:15.029 we can be extensions of that if we join with 00:17:15.029 --> 00:17:17.210 Him in the work to bring people to Jesus Christ. 00:17:17.970 --> 00:17:21.230 His testimony is what I'll finish up with. He 00:17:21.230 --> 00:17:23.349 said, I witness that there is rejoicing in heaven 00:17:23.349 --> 00:17:26.910 over those who return. You are needed. You are 00:17:26.910 --> 00:17:29.529 loved. I testify that Jesus Christ is our Savior 00:17:29.529 --> 00:17:32.369 and that He blesses all who return unto Him with 00:17:32.369 --> 00:17:34.910 greater peace and greater joy. His arms of mercy 00:17:34.910 --> 00:17:38.359 are not folded. They are open, extended to you. 00:17:38.500 --> 00:17:41.660 It is not too late for you to come back. With 00:17:41.660 --> 00:17:44.220 all of the love in our hearts, we welcome you 00:17:44.220 --> 00:17:48.720 home. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen. Thanks 00:17:48.720 --> 00:17:50.759 for being here, guys. See you next time.