WEBVTT 00:00:07.519 --> 00:00:09.640 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 --> 00:00:13.960 approach to studying the most recent General 00:00:13.960 --> 00:00:16.879 Conference talks. This is Abby and Amy. Let's 00:00:16.879 --> 00:00:28.489 jump into it. Today's talk, personal preparation 00:00:28.489 --> 00:00:30.629 to meet the Savior by Elder Dale G. Renlund, 00:00:30.649 --> 00:00:34.450 Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. talk is awesome. 00:00:34.590 --> 00:00:36.409 It's one of those you could study over and over 00:00:36.409 --> 00:00:39.090 again. Elder Redland prefaces the entire talk 00:00:39.090 --> 00:00:41.310 by quoting what our beloved prophet said in the 00:00:41.310 --> 00:00:43.850 last conference. I appreciate it when the apostles 00:00:43.850 --> 00:00:47.109 expound on the words of the prophet because there's 00:00:47.109 --> 00:00:49.729 so much to them in just a handful of words. He 00:00:49.729 --> 00:00:51.869 can say so much and it takes us some time to 00:00:51.869 --> 00:00:53.509 digest and think on it and see what it's going 00:00:53.509 --> 00:00:56.109 to mean in our life. And when an apostle has 00:00:56.109 --> 00:00:58.950 had a few extra months to think on it, it creates 00:00:58.950 --> 00:01:00.929 a deeper understanding, another layer of testimony 00:01:00.929 --> 00:01:04.560 to the things. that I'm already working on. Here 00:01:04.560 --> 00:01:07.420 are what President Nelson's words were. It says, 00:01:07.500 --> 00:01:09.980 now is the time for you and for me to prepare 00:01:09.980 --> 00:01:11.900 for the second coming of our Lord and Savior, 00:01:12.000 --> 00:01:15.560 Jesus the Christ. And he goes on to say, or Elder 00:01:15.560 --> 00:01:17.540 Renlund goes on to say, when President Nelson 00:01:17.540 --> 00:01:20.099 speaks about the second coming, it is always 00:01:20.099 --> 00:01:23.719 with joyful optimism. I mentioned a primary girl 00:01:23.719 --> 00:01:27.420 who recently told, said that she becomes anxious 00:01:27.420 --> 00:01:30.269 when she hears. things of the second coming mentioned 00:01:30.269 --> 00:01:32.569 she said i'm scared because bad things are going 00:01:32.569 --> 00:01:35.810 to happen before jesus comes so it makes you 00:01:35.810 --> 00:01:38.090 think of the question is there anyone who isn't 00:01:38.090 --> 00:01:39.750 scared about the things that are going to happen 00:01:39.750 --> 00:01:43.739 before jesus comes again i agree I've thought 00:01:43.739 --> 00:01:46.280 the same thing. I think that if we're being truthful, 00:01:46.480 --> 00:01:48.459 there's an element of not knowing all the details 00:01:48.459 --> 00:01:51.579 or maybe knowing some scary details and then 00:01:51.579 --> 00:01:54.420 focusing on those grim events rather than the 00:01:54.420 --> 00:01:56.859 great part of the great and terrible day. And 00:01:56.859 --> 00:01:58.700 I don't know, Abby, if I had to guess, I'd say 00:01:58.700 --> 00:02:00.739 that there are days or seasons when each of us 00:02:00.739 --> 00:02:03.200 have a Peter moment where we trust the Savior, 00:02:03.439 --> 00:02:05.599 we have Him and His character in our sights, 00:02:05.739 --> 00:02:07.819 and we step out onto the ocean to walk to Him 00:02:07.819 --> 00:02:10.740 in faith. And then we have our days or our seasons 00:02:10.740 --> 00:02:14.360 where we think, what was I thinking? We start 00:02:14.360 --> 00:02:17.020 sinking because we let our focus toggle to the 00:02:17.020 --> 00:02:19.280 terrible part of the great and terrible day. 00:02:19.419 --> 00:02:21.719 Yep. I think the power here is to be aware of 00:02:21.719 --> 00:02:24.060 those seasons or days. You know, if we're in 00:02:24.060 --> 00:02:25.719 a moment where we're not thinking of Him and 00:02:25.719 --> 00:02:27.300 we're just focused on the terrible, then it's 00:02:27.300 --> 00:02:29.180 time to remind ourselves. It's time to return 00:02:29.180 --> 00:02:32.960 to God and repent. It's not that it's a horrible 00:02:32.960 --> 00:02:35.419 thing to doubt or fear. Those things can certainly 00:02:35.419 --> 00:02:39.000 exist in our lives. We're human. that we want 00:02:39.000 --> 00:02:41.960 to cast out that fear and replace it with the 00:02:41.960 --> 00:02:44.919 joy that we can have as we focus on something 00:02:44.919 --> 00:02:47.300 else, our Savior Jesus Christ and His power to 00:02:47.300 --> 00:02:49.719 redeem and save. And then we refocus our efforts 00:02:49.719 --> 00:02:54.770 on Jesus, our Savior. So we've given some insight 00:02:54.770 --> 00:02:56.870 on this. What is Elder Renlund's advice for not 00:02:56.870 --> 00:02:59.050 only children who may be fearful of the last 00:02:59.050 --> 00:03:01.509 days, but to adults too? He's talking to me. 00:03:01.569 --> 00:03:04.870 Right. The best advice for the primary child, 00:03:05.069 --> 00:03:08.030 for you and for me, these are his words, is to 00:03:08.030 --> 00:03:11.030 follow the Savior's teaching. His instructions 00:03:11.030 --> 00:03:14.389 are neither mysterious nor complex. When we follow 00:03:14.389 --> 00:03:17.389 them, we do not need to fear or be anxious. And 00:03:17.389 --> 00:03:19.530 then Elder Renlund focuses on three parables 00:03:19.530 --> 00:03:21.430 that Jesus taught toward the end of his ministry. 00:03:22.779 --> 00:03:24.960 answered the age -old question as to when he 00:03:24.960 --> 00:03:27.020 would come again. If you look at the footnote 00:03:27.020 --> 00:03:29.460 three, oh, I did notice, Abby, I don't know why 00:03:29.460 --> 00:03:30.719 I didn't notice it before. Nope, this is brand 00:03:30.719 --> 00:03:32.840 new. Numbered paragraphs. On paragraphs, brand 00:03:32.840 --> 00:03:34.900 new. Stop it. Yeah, I was going to mention that 00:03:34.900 --> 00:03:35.800 to you. It was fantastic, I loved it. So you 00:03:35.800 --> 00:03:37.199 could be reading the talk, you could be like, 00:03:37.300 --> 00:03:38.840 let's go to paragraph four instead of like a 00:03:38.840 --> 00:03:40.039 guessing game. Right, for Relief Society? Yes. 00:03:40.340 --> 00:03:42.479 Loved it. I was like, why didn't we think of 00:03:42.479 --> 00:03:45.020 that before? But whoever did it, kudos. So footnote 00:03:45.020 --> 00:03:47.860 three, I love this. This is the quote that is... 00:03:48.650 --> 00:03:53.229 that is used. And it's also in reference to Isaiah 00:03:53.229 --> 00:03:57.569 45, 23, Zechariah 12, 10, and the DNC 88, 104. 00:03:57.889 --> 00:04:00.129 It says, the Lord's second coming will occur 00:04:00.129 --> 00:04:02.770 at the beginning of the millennial era when he 00:04:02.770 --> 00:04:05.330 returns in glory and will acknowledge that he 00:04:05.330 --> 00:04:08.569 was and is the promised Messiah. In returning 00:04:08.569 --> 00:04:10.770 to these three parables, Elder Renlund says, 00:04:11.449 --> 00:04:13.969 These teachings are crucial because personal 00:04:13.969 --> 00:04:17.550 preparation to meet Him, Jesus Christ, is central 00:04:17.550 --> 00:04:21.949 to life's purpose. So, parable one, the five 00:04:21.949 --> 00:04:25.490 foolish and the five wise virgins. In this parable 00:04:25.490 --> 00:04:27.790 alone, he taught us three key points. The first 00:04:27.790 --> 00:04:30.069 one, he said, is that they did not need to fear 00:04:30.069 --> 00:04:32.410 or be anxious because they would survive and 00:04:32.410 --> 00:04:35.029 prosper. They would prevail. If we are wise, 00:04:35.189 --> 00:04:37.129 we receive the truth by accepting the gospel 00:04:37.129 --> 00:04:38.889 of Jesus Christ through priesthood, ordinance, 00:04:38.970 --> 00:04:43.050 and covenants. The second lesson is that as we 00:04:43.050 --> 00:04:45.569 strive to remain worthy of having the Holy Ghost 00:04:45.569 --> 00:04:56.139 always with us, this capability... I like how 00:04:56.139 --> 00:04:58.139 he said it because we're always talking about, 00:04:58.259 --> 00:05:00.339 you know, you can't share your oil. Like they 00:05:00.339 --> 00:05:01.779 would have shared their oil if they could, but 00:05:01.779 --> 00:05:04.160 sharing your oil is impossible in this situation 00:05:04.160 --> 00:05:06.339 because you have to have your own deep personal 00:05:06.339 --> 00:05:07.939 connection with Jesus Christ. You can't give 00:05:07.939 --> 00:05:10.819 somebody else that thing. Totally. You can give 00:05:10.819 --> 00:05:15.560 them the light that comes as you exemplify. your 00:05:15.560 --> 00:05:17.720 testimony because you know about jesus christ 00:05:17.720 --> 00:05:19.860 agreed but you can't share the oil yes and the 00:05:19.860 --> 00:05:21.839 first time i understood this i'm sure it has 00:05:21.839 --> 00:05:24.160 been taught for decades and decades but the first 00:05:24.160 --> 00:05:26.939 time i understood it was when elder bednar said 00:05:26.939 --> 00:05:30.220 that the that it's the oil of conversion and 00:05:30.220 --> 00:05:32.779 i was like it clicked i was like of course i 00:05:32.779 --> 00:05:35.100 can't i can't transfer my conversion to somebody 00:05:35.100 --> 00:05:37.360 else so i understood it at that point and yes 00:05:37.360 --> 00:05:40.360 i do appreciate the the clarification um third 00:05:40.360 --> 00:05:43.899 element of that Parable that Jesus highlighted 00:05:43.899 --> 00:05:46.680 is avoiding deception. We are wise when we accept 00:05:46.680 --> 00:05:48.459 the gospel, seek to have the Holy Ghost with 00:05:48.459 --> 00:05:53.519 it, and avoid deception. One key teaching element 00:05:53.519 --> 00:05:55.540 that's woven throughout all of the parables, 00:05:55.620 --> 00:05:57.779 the five wise virgins could not help those without 00:05:57.779 --> 00:05:59.939 oil. No one can accept the gospel, take the Holy 00:05:59.939 --> 00:06:02.100 Ghost as a guide, and avoid deception on our 00:06:02.100 --> 00:06:06.240 behalf. Nobody can do that for us. We have to 00:06:06.240 --> 00:06:08.139 do that for ourselves. I did love that, too. 00:06:08.279 --> 00:06:10.379 I love that he was clear about it. Yeah. And 00:06:10.379 --> 00:06:12.860 he not only accept the gospel, but then take 00:06:12.860 --> 00:06:14.800 the Holy Ghost as our guide and avoid deception. 00:06:15.579 --> 00:06:20.199 I also love that, like he's saying, we are the 00:06:20.199 --> 00:06:22.639 ones that do this for ourselves. Yes, we look 00:06:22.639 --> 00:06:24.579 to the brethren. Yes, we look to our prophet 00:06:24.579 --> 00:06:27.550 and they help guide our work. Yes, it's nice 00:06:27.550 --> 00:06:29.850 when we're born to families that foster that 00:06:29.850 --> 00:06:31.430 within us, that it's something we're going to 00:06:31.430 --> 00:06:33.870 want. But at the end of the day, we're the one 00:06:33.870 --> 00:06:35.610 who's in a situation where a friend might say 00:06:35.610 --> 00:06:37.970 something like, hey, if you do X, Y, Z, you'll 00:06:37.970 --> 00:06:39.910 have greater understanding about the Lord and 00:06:39.910 --> 00:06:41.629 get to know him better than anything else. And 00:06:41.629 --> 00:06:44.329 I'm kind of thinking, I feel like my temple covenants 00:06:44.329 --> 00:06:46.990 have me there. I'm pretty happy with that. I 00:06:46.990 --> 00:06:48.870 don't feel like I need to do X, Y, Z. That would 00:06:48.870 --> 00:06:51.350 mean take me outside and maybe, you know, have 00:06:51.350 --> 00:06:56.079 something extra other than the patterns that 00:06:56.079 --> 00:06:58.980 God has already established. So that's really 00:06:58.980 --> 00:07:01.759 what it is, is that in the everyday lives, we 00:07:01.759 --> 00:07:04.959 were the ones making those. We are the ones who 00:07:04.959 --> 00:07:08.379 are in. control of our own choices. And do we 00:07:08.379 --> 00:07:10.300 believe this thing or not? Yes, we can always, 00:07:10.319 --> 00:07:12.139 after the thing, like after our friends are gone 00:07:12.139 --> 00:07:14.199 and everyone's at home, that night I can definitely 00:07:14.199 --> 00:07:15.600 pray and be like, Heavenly Father, what was going 00:07:15.600 --> 00:07:17.899 on there? Receive more clarification for myself. 00:07:18.120 --> 00:07:20.779 You have the right to know, are you being deceived? 00:07:20.980 --> 00:07:24.540 Or do they have the foreknowledge to give you 00:07:24.540 --> 00:07:26.040 a good point or point you in the right direction? 00:07:26.160 --> 00:07:28.240 Or is what they're saying going to pull you farther 00:07:28.240 --> 00:07:30.259 away from the Savior? So they have that third 00:07:30.259 --> 00:07:33.139 point. Very clear there. And I like too how it 00:07:33.139 --> 00:07:35.079 had three points in that one parable. I was like, 00:07:35.139 --> 00:07:37.100 man, this is just chock full. You know what I 00:07:37.100 --> 00:07:39.720 mean? That's why you say you like listen to it 00:07:39.720 --> 00:07:42.319 once. Maybe that's the parable that you get further 00:07:42.319 --> 00:07:44.560 clarification on. And you're like, oh. That hits 00:07:44.560 --> 00:07:46.439 different than it has ever before. Absolutely. 00:07:46.480 --> 00:07:48.139 Or maybe one of these other ones. Why don't you 00:07:48.139 --> 00:07:51.259 cover parable two? So parable two. Okay, we pretty 00:07:51.259 --> 00:07:52.860 much know about this one. The parable of the 00:07:52.860 --> 00:07:55.579 talents. Most of us are quite familiar. Talents 00:07:55.579 --> 00:07:57.519 here means money, and oftentimes it's translated 00:07:57.519 --> 00:08:01.220 in our day to mean physical talents, abilities, 00:08:01.439 --> 00:08:04.720 or spiritual gifts. So a man gave differing amounts 00:08:04.720 --> 00:08:07.779 of money that he referred to as talents to three 00:08:07.779 --> 00:08:11.199 servants, two of them. multiplied them doubled 00:08:11.199 --> 00:08:13.560 them and the other one hid right because there 00:08:13.560 --> 00:08:16.420 was a feeling of lack and the two heard well 00:08:16.420 --> 00:08:19.019 done good and faithful servant thou has been 00:08:19.019 --> 00:08:21.360 faithful over a few things i will make the ruler 00:08:21.360 --> 00:08:24.800 over many things enter thou into the joy of the 00:08:24.800 --> 00:08:27.920 lord um whereas the other one was chided and 00:08:27.920 --> 00:08:31.740 was said um the words wicked and slothful were 00:08:31.740 --> 00:08:33.919 said and all that he had was taken which was 00:08:33.919 --> 00:08:36.519 just that one and i really like these words this 00:08:36.519 --> 00:08:39.039 is what elder renlin said about it i think he 00:08:39.039 --> 00:08:41.759 has a really good point he said yet had this 00:08:41.759 --> 00:08:44.679 servant doubled his talent So just one to two, 00:08:44.820 --> 00:08:49.039 he would have received the same commendation 00:08:49.039 --> 00:08:52.139 and reward as the other servants. Of course, 00:08:52.179 --> 00:08:55.299 right? The Lord is a very fair. And then this 00:08:55.299 --> 00:08:57.700 one message of this parable is that God expects 00:08:57.700 --> 00:08:59.759 us to magnify the abilities we've been given, 00:08:59.820 --> 00:09:02.580 but he does not want us to compare our abilities 00:09:02.580 --> 00:09:05.519 to those of others. Love this story about Zuzia. 00:09:05.759 --> 00:09:10.879 It is an 18th century scholar. Zuzia of Anipol, 00:09:10.919 --> 00:09:14.019 and he was a renowned teacher who began to fear 00:09:14.019 --> 00:09:18.279 as he approached death. Says Zuzia, if God says 00:09:18.279 --> 00:09:20.659 to me, Zuzia, why were you not another Moses? 00:09:20.820 --> 00:09:22.659 I will say, because you didn't give me the greatness 00:09:22.659 --> 00:09:25.120 of soul that you gave Moses. And if I stand before 00:09:25.120 --> 00:09:27.600 God and he says, Zuzia, why were you not another 00:09:27.600 --> 00:09:29.620 Solomon? I'll say, because you didn't give me 00:09:29.620 --> 00:09:32.299 the wisdom of Solomon. But alas, what will I 00:09:32.299 --> 00:09:35.039 say if I stand before my maker and he says, Zuzia, 00:09:35.159 --> 00:09:38.809 why were you not Zuzia? Why were you not the 00:09:38.809 --> 00:09:42.250 man I gave you the capacity to be? Ah, this is 00:09:42.250 --> 00:09:45.210 why I tremble. This story made a great point. 00:09:45.470 --> 00:09:48.110 When we get caught up in looking to others and 00:09:48.110 --> 00:09:51.049 comparing our gifts to theirs, then we get lost 00:09:51.049 --> 00:09:54.250 in the comparison. God wants us to know ourselves. 00:09:55.690 --> 00:09:59.750 I feel like knowing ourselves is a huge deal. 00:09:59.870 --> 00:10:01.769 And part of that is turning to God and saying, 00:10:01.870 --> 00:10:04.230 who am I? You know, like, help me to find my 00:10:04.230 --> 00:10:07.610 gifts. Indeed, God will be disappointed if we 00:10:07.610 --> 00:10:10.610 do not rely upon the merits, mercy, and grace 00:10:10.610 --> 00:10:13.629 of the Savior to magnify the God -given abilities 00:10:13.629 --> 00:10:16.070 that we have received. With His loving grace, 00:10:16.669 --> 00:10:19.509 and assistance, he expects us to become the best 00:10:19.509 --> 00:10:22.470 version of ourselves, that we may start with 00:10:22.470 --> 00:10:24.769 differing abilities is irrelevant to him. And 00:10:24.769 --> 00:10:26.809 it should be to us. I think that's funny that 00:10:26.809 --> 00:10:29.029 it says that just the fact that we start with 00:10:29.029 --> 00:10:31.409 differing abilities is irrelevant because to 00:10:31.409 --> 00:10:34.309 a lot of us, it's not. We're keenly aware of 00:10:34.309 --> 00:10:36.710 what we have or what we lack as far as abundance 00:10:36.710 --> 00:10:38.610 goes. Do you know what I mean? I know exactly 00:10:38.610 --> 00:10:40.289 what you mean. But to him, I just love that he 00:10:40.289 --> 00:10:43.700 says it's irrelevant. And I'm like, okay, I'll 00:10:43.700 --> 00:10:45.879 remember that. But until the next time I don't. 00:10:47.000 --> 00:10:49.840 And what hit me like a ton of bricks. How many 00:10:49.840 --> 00:10:51.179 times have we heard the story of the talents? 00:10:51.360 --> 00:10:54.179 A multitude. You even brought up spiritual gifts 00:10:54.179 --> 00:10:56.820 today in our little primary lesson. And, you 00:10:56.820 --> 00:10:58.759 know, thoughts go through my mind. But today 00:10:58.759 --> 00:11:00.679 as you're speaking, we're referencing this talk. 00:11:00.720 --> 00:11:04.559 I'm thinking what a neat tool it is of Satan's 00:11:04.559 --> 00:11:09.039 to cause us to only focus on gifts. in a way 00:11:09.039 --> 00:11:11.360 that we're just looking at others and doubting 00:11:11.360 --> 00:11:13.419 ourselves, thinking, I don't even want to start 00:11:13.419 --> 00:11:15.059 that process because I'll never be as good as 00:11:15.059 --> 00:11:17.980 that. Yeah, I'm not a Solomon. Once we get to 00:11:17.980 --> 00:11:20.200 the point where we recognize somebody else's 00:11:20.200 --> 00:11:22.139 gift and we're just excited for them that they 00:11:22.139 --> 00:11:24.419 have it and we see it because they're using it 00:11:24.419 --> 00:11:26.259 on behalf of others. They're demonstrating because 00:11:26.259 --> 00:11:28.279 they're doing something for other people. Once 00:11:28.279 --> 00:11:31.559 we strip that layer of having any jealousy form 00:11:31.559 --> 00:11:33.799 in relation to that, that's when he really can 00:11:33.799 --> 00:11:36.159 help us see who we are and what our talents are. 00:11:36.460 --> 00:11:39.700 Amen. Amen. That is a great point, Abby. And 00:11:39.700 --> 00:11:41.860 I've always felt this about spiritual gifts that 00:11:41.860 --> 00:11:47.299 as soon as two really big, two really big words 00:11:47.299 --> 00:11:50.460 that come to my mind are shame and jealousy. 00:11:51.019 --> 00:11:55.200 Those are two ways that Satan operates out of. 00:11:55.200 --> 00:11:56.980 As soon as those feelings come in, you know, 00:11:57.000 --> 00:11:59.860 100%, that is not from God. Just kick it right 00:11:59.860 --> 00:12:03.059 back from where it came. Because yes, you can 00:12:03.059 --> 00:12:05.580 acknowledge what others have and be joyful and 00:12:05.580 --> 00:12:07.620 happy that they have that and acknowledge that 00:12:07.620 --> 00:12:09.940 they are serving others and then ask how you 00:12:09.940 --> 00:12:12.179 can do the same. There's always abundance. What 00:12:12.179 --> 00:12:14.879 can I do to take their talents and magnify what 00:12:14.879 --> 00:12:18.399 they're doing to further your work? Yeah. He's 00:12:18.399 --> 00:12:22.419 going to run with that. Yeah. I love it. Should 00:12:22.419 --> 00:12:24.399 I go into parable three? Go for it, Abby. Okay, 00:12:24.399 --> 00:12:26.360 sheep and the goats. And I just want to make 00:12:26.360 --> 00:12:28.460 the point. I said that I would reference like 00:12:28.460 --> 00:12:30.840 where there were Easter, nods to Easter messages 00:12:30.840 --> 00:12:32.720 throughout the conference session. And these, 00:12:32.860 --> 00:12:35.940 remember, these are the three parables that Jesus 00:12:35.940 --> 00:12:39.320 taught teaching Tuesday. Yes, I feel good about 00:12:39.320 --> 00:12:42.179 that. It's coming to mind because I was like, 00:12:42.240 --> 00:12:44.059 what was the sheep and the goats? But that was 00:12:44.059 --> 00:12:46.820 the third parable he discussed. Finally, the 00:12:46.820 --> 00:12:48.659 Savior told the parable of the sheep and the 00:12:48.659 --> 00:12:51.000 goats. When he returns in his glory, before him 00:12:51.000 --> 00:12:53.299 shall be gathered all nations, and he shall separate 00:12:53.299 --> 00:12:55.940 them one from another, as a shepherd divided 00:12:55.940 --> 00:12:58.220 his sheep from the goats. And he shall set the 00:12:58.220 --> 00:13:00.019 sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the 00:13:00.019 --> 00:13:02.840 left. The distinguishing factor of those on the 00:13:02.840 --> 00:13:04.519 left hand of God and those on the right hand 00:13:04.519 --> 00:13:07.639 of God are those who feed and clothed and took 00:13:07.639 --> 00:13:09.679 him in, visited him when he was sick or imprisoned, 00:13:09.980 --> 00:13:12.159 when the crowd was perplexed and asked when. 00:13:12.360 --> 00:13:14.360 And in response, the Savior said, Verily I say 00:13:14.360 --> 00:13:16.179 unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one 00:13:16.179 --> 00:13:18.139 of the least of these, my brethren, ye have done 00:13:18.139 --> 00:13:21.019 it unto me. So when we serve others, we serve 00:13:21.019 --> 00:13:22.960 God. This was where Elder Renlund shared the 00:13:22.960 --> 00:13:26.279 parable story about Farmer Paavo. I love that 00:13:26.279 --> 00:13:29.940 story. The story goes, Paavo, Paavo, you unfortunate 00:13:29.940 --> 00:13:33.460 old man. God has forsaken us. Paavo in turn stoically 00:13:33.460 --> 00:13:37.039 said, spark with the rye flour to make bread 00:13:37.039 --> 00:13:39.759 so the children won't go hungry i'll work hard 00:13:39.759 --> 00:13:41.779 to drain the marshy fields god is testing us 00:13:41.779 --> 00:13:43.899 but he will provide each time the crops were 00:13:43.899 --> 00:13:45.919 destroyed pavo would direct his wife to double 00:13:45.919 --> 00:13:47.659 the bark and the flour so that they would not 00:13:47.659 --> 00:13:50.200 go hungry year after year they lived like this 00:13:50.200 --> 00:13:53.159 and at last the crops were successful Pavel's 00:13:53.159 --> 00:13:58.519 wife explained that at last they could have full 00:13:58.519 --> 00:14:01.100 flour to make the bread. And then Pavel reminded 00:14:01.100 --> 00:14:03.240 her that the neighbor's crop had failed and they 00:14:03.240 --> 00:14:05.860 would continue to eat mixed bark with the rye 00:14:05.860 --> 00:14:09.220 flour. I was kind of sad for her at that point. 00:14:09.259 --> 00:14:11.519 I was like, she finally had her day. And then 00:14:11.519 --> 00:14:13.659 really he reminded her, it's not our day. Like 00:14:13.659 --> 00:14:15.519 we are our brother's keeper. But I'm going to 00:14:15.519 --> 00:14:19.220 say, I think that rye flour and bark mixed together. 00:14:19.899 --> 00:14:21.840 When you could be just eating flour, but knowing 00:14:21.840 --> 00:14:23.539 that you're giving it to your neighbors is going 00:14:23.539 --> 00:14:25.320 to taste different. A little sweeter, right? 00:14:25.500 --> 00:14:28.919 Yeah, sure. For sure. The lesson of the Savior's 00:14:28.919 --> 00:14:31.500 parable of the sheep and the goats is what we 00:14:31.500 --> 00:14:34.840 are to use the gifts we have been given. Our 00:14:34.840 --> 00:14:37.980 time, our talents, our blessings to serve Heavenly 00:14:37.980 --> 00:14:39.940 Father's children, especially the most vulnerable 00:14:39.940 --> 00:14:44.279 and needy. Now we circle back. So we're going 00:14:44.279 --> 00:14:46.340 to circle back to the primary girl who was scared 00:14:46.340 --> 00:14:48.019 of the events leading up to the second coming. 00:14:48.179 --> 00:14:50.220 This is what Elder Renlund says toward the end 00:14:50.220 --> 00:14:52.840 of his talk. He says, my invitation to the anxious 00:14:52.840 --> 00:14:55.320 primary child I mentioned earlier, and really 00:14:55.320 --> 00:14:57.899 to each of you is to follow Jesus Christ, to 00:14:57.899 --> 00:14:59.759 trust the Holy Ghost as you would a cherished 00:14:59.759 --> 00:15:02.139 friend, seek God's guidance to develop your unique 00:15:02.139 --> 00:15:05.100 abilities and help others, even when it isn't 00:15:05.100 --> 00:15:08.490 easy, which that's Paavo and his wife. Elder 00:15:08.490 --> 00:15:11.009 Renlund ends with this. He said, you'll be ready 00:15:11.009 --> 00:15:13.429 to meet the Savior. You can join President Nelson 00:15:13.429 --> 00:15:16.690 in being joyfully optimistic. In doing so, you'll 00:15:16.690 --> 00:15:18.649 help the world prepare for the second coming 00:15:18.649 --> 00:15:20.789 of Jesus Christ, and you'll be blessed with sufficient 00:15:20.789 --> 00:15:23.350 hope to enter the rest in joy of the Lord now 00:15:23.350 --> 00:15:27.429 and in the future. Before we jump, let's jump 00:15:27.429 --> 00:15:29.529 to the footnote on what it says about the rest 00:15:29.529 --> 00:15:31.649 of the Lord. But I was just thinking what a neat 00:15:31.649 --> 00:15:34.690 spiritual gift that is to joyfully proclaim. 00:15:36.409 --> 00:15:38.750 the second coming of Jesus Christ. Right. Rather 00:15:38.750 --> 00:15:42.690 than add to, you know, just the fair part of 00:15:42.690 --> 00:15:46.070 what it could be. Just because there's some unknowns. 00:15:46.590 --> 00:15:49.210 But if the prophet has demonstrated that we can 00:15:49.210 --> 00:15:51.669 be joyfully optimistic about it, it's a good 00:15:51.669 --> 00:15:53.370 reminder that when we're just feeling the fear 00:15:53.370 --> 00:15:56.750 about it, that it's just time to take a few breaths 00:15:56.750 --> 00:16:00.370 and contemplate it and be excited about the things 00:16:00.370 --> 00:16:02.490 we do know. I love that you say that. Honestly, 00:16:02.789 --> 00:16:06.360 Abby, in my daily life, Whenever someone's talking 00:16:06.360 --> 00:16:08.259 about the things that are fearful that are going 00:16:08.259 --> 00:16:11.039 to happen at the end, that's the first thing 00:16:11.039 --> 00:16:13.580 that comes to my mind is every time I've heard 00:16:13.580 --> 00:16:17.519 President Nelson testify about the second coming, 00:16:17.639 --> 00:16:20.500 he does it with such conviction and optimism. 00:16:22.039 --> 00:16:24.500 And I'm like, he knows that it's going to be 00:16:24.500 --> 00:16:26.899 mixed, right? For sure. And yet he's focusing 00:16:26.899 --> 00:16:28.600 on that. That's what I'm going to do, too, because 00:16:28.600 --> 00:16:31.720 that's where I feel. I don't know, I feel like 00:16:31.720 --> 00:16:34.039 I'm more using my agency in that way rather than 00:16:34.039 --> 00:16:36.039 getting stuck in swirling the drain with the 00:16:36.039 --> 00:16:38.200 fear. Because it's, I mean, it's a real thing, 00:16:38.279 --> 00:16:40.179 right? But again, it's what you focus on. And 00:16:40.179 --> 00:16:42.179 yes, I love the way that he's modeled that for 00:16:42.179 --> 00:16:47.200 us. So as you mentioned the footnote here, I 00:16:47.200 --> 00:16:50.259 love this footnote. It was from, it's a teaching 00:16:50.259 --> 00:16:53.259 from President Joseph F. Smith. He says, the 00:16:53.259 --> 00:16:56.480 rest, so the rest of the Lord. referred to is 00:16:56.480 --> 00:16:58.980 not physical rest. It is the spiritual rest and 00:16:58.980 --> 00:17:01.019 peace, which are born from a settled conviction 00:17:01.019 --> 00:17:03.919 of the truth. We may thus enter into the rest 00:17:03.919 --> 00:17:06.460 of the Lord today, saying it's not something 00:17:06.460 --> 00:17:08.519 that's far off. We can do this right now. And 00:17:08.519 --> 00:17:11.119 that is what I feel like what you just said is 00:17:11.119 --> 00:17:14.200 President Nelson has entered the rest of the 00:17:14.200 --> 00:17:16.940 Lord and he's showing us how to do that in our 00:17:16.940 --> 00:17:18.920 daily lives, which isn't that what a prophet 00:17:18.920 --> 00:17:21.339 is? It is what a prophet is. And it's obvious 00:17:21.339 --> 00:17:23.400 that he just does a self -check and he's like, 00:17:23.500 --> 00:17:26.369 am I ready to meet you? today and he says the 00:17:26.369 --> 00:17:28.789 answer is yes what does he have to be fearful 00:17:28.789 --> 00:17:34.289 of yeah for sure so it says um we must thus enter 00:17:34.289 --> 00:17:37.009 into the rest of the lord today by becoming by 00:17:37.009 --> 00:17:39.130 coming to an understanding of the truth of the 00:17:39.130 --> 00:17:41.529 gospel those who have entered into this rest 00:17:41.529 --> 00:17:44.529 are those whose minds have become satisfied, 00:17:44.769 --> 00:17:46.769 who have set their eyes upon the mark of their 00:17:46.769 --> 00:17:48.390 high calling with an invincible determination 00:17:48.390 --> 00:17:51.269 in their hearts to be steadfast in the truth, 00:17:51.390 --> 00:17:53.269 who are treading in humility and righteousness, 00:17:53.529 --> 00:17:56.210 the path marked out for followers of Jesus Christ. 00:17:56.410 --> 00:17:58.769 I appreciate the words and clarification on what 00:17:58.769 --> 00:18:00.970 the rest of the Lord means. I have Christian 00:18:00.970 --> 00:18:02.930 friends who've talked about it and they envision 00:18:02.930 --> 00:18:04.710 the rest of the Lord as sitting at the Lord's 00:18:04.710 --> 00:18:07.529 feet, Jesus's feet forever. I've also heard described 00:18:07.529 --> 00:18:09.490 as the feeling that you get while doing temple 00:18:09.490 --> 00:18:12.019 work. Meaning while you're working in the temple, 00:18:12.140 --> 00:18:15.160 the rest is more of, you know, mind and spirit 00:18:15.160 --> 00:18:17.519 than of body. He then goes on to describe what 00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:19.579 the rest of the Lord is not. And I appreciate 00:18:19.579 --> 00:18:21.740 this as well. I think we can all say that we 00:18:21.740 --> 00:18:23.940 felt like this at one time or another for a short 00:18:23.940 --> 00:18:27.460 period or maybe for a season. He says this, but 00:18:27.460 --> 00:18:29.759 there are many who not having reached this point 00:18:29.759 --> 00:18:32.730 of determined conviction are driven. about by 00:18:32.730 --> 00:18:35.430 every wind of doctrine, thus being ill at ease, 00:18:35.509 --> 00:18:38.430 unsettled, restless. These are they who are discouraged 00:18:38.430 --> 00:18:40.569 over incidents that occur in the church and in 00:18:40.569 --> 00:18:43.509 the nation and the turmoils of men. They harbor 00:18:43.509 --> 00:18:45.769 a feeling of suspicion, unrest, and uncertainty. 00:18:46.410 --> 00:18:48.329 Their thoughts are disturbed and they become 00:18:48.329 --> 00:18:51.069 excited with the least change, like one at sea 00:18:51.069 --> 00:18:54.170 who has lost his bearings. Love that so much. 00:18:54.950 --> 00:18:58.309 And then he just, this is correlated to Moroni 00:18:58.309 --> 00:19:03.140 7 .3. He says, or this is what it says, Wherefore, 00:19:03.160 --> 00:19:05.420 I would speak unto you that are of the church, 00:19:05.599 --> 00:19:07.759 that are peaceable followers of Christ, and that 00:19:07.759 --> 00:19:10.079 have obtained a sufficient hope by which ye can 00:19:10.079 --> 00:19:12.460 enter into the rest of the Lord from this time 00:19:12.460 --> 00:19:15.339 henceforth, until ye shall rest with him in heaven. 00:19:16.200 --> 00:19:19.180 Love those words. It's great. It's what a neat 00:19:19.180 --> 00:19:21.779 promise to know that we can be part of those 00:19:21.779 --> 00:19:25.009 that fill at rest our spirit. our mind can be 00:19:25.009 --> 00:19:29.710 can be put at ease of these things i i will readily 00:19:29.710 --> 00:19:32.529 admit i have looked at some of the events of 00:19:32.529 --> 00:19:34.509 of the second coming of our savior jesus christ 00:19:34.509 --> 00:19:37.890 with fear i recognize that come from satan so 00:19:37.890 --> 00:19:43.450 i i do try to put those off but um i i love that 00:19:43.450 --> 00:19:45.690 that's a promise that's been made to us and it's 00:19:45.690 --> 00:19:48.250 good to be reminded of it that that it's not 00:19:48.250 --> 00:19:51.430 um It's not just putting off bad things that 00:19:51.430 --> 00:19:52.690 are going to happen. It's saying, no, it's truly 00:19:52.690 --> 00:19:54.190 going to be a great and glorious and marvelous 00:19:54.190 --> 00:19:57.710 thing. We live through hard things already in 00:19:57.710 --> 00:20:00.009 this day and age, like that quote that you were 00:20:00.009 --> 00:20:05.650 saying, uncertainty, turmoils, just the way that 00:20:05.650 --> 00:20:08.029 the world is. We are living. We're living in 00:20:08.029 --> 00:20:09.930 a time when we experience that, but we don't 00:20:09.930 --> 00:20:12.079 have to get caught up in that. We can be with 00:20:12.079 --> 00:20:14.480 our Savior, Jesus Christ, in feeling peace, even 00:20:14.480 --> 00:20:16.359 though it's unknown. We don't really technically 00:20:16.359 --> 00:20:18.480 know the outcome. We know that if it's with the 00:20:18.480 --> 00:20:22.759 Savior, we do know the outcome. Amen. All right. 00:20:22.880 --> 00:20:25.519 That wraps us up today. Thanks for being here. 00:20:25.579 --> 00:20:26.460 We'll catch you on the next one.