WEBVTT 00:00:07.220 --> 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 --> 00:00:13.960 approach to studying the most recent General 00:00:13.960 --> 00:00:16.839 Conference talks. This is Abbey and Amy. Let's 00:00:16.839 --> 00:00:22.920 jump into it. Today we're discussing the talk, 00:00:22.920 --> 00:00:24.960 True to the Faith that Our Parents Have Cherished, 00:00:25.039 --> 00:00:28.780 by Elder Hans T. Boom of the Seventy. So he starts 00:00:28.780 --> 00:00:31.629 out. In the Nashville, Tennessee temple hangs 00:00:31.629 --> 00:00:34.170 a painting titled Carry On. The story behind 00:00:34.170 --> 00:00:37.490 the painting is as follows. In Missouri in 1862, 00:00:37.710 --> 00:00:40.409 the 14 -year -old Mary Wanless promised her dying 00:00:40.409 --> 00:00:43.109 stepmother that she would see to it that her 00:00:43.109 --> 00:00:46.429 disabled father and her four much younger siblings 00:00:46.429 --> 00:00:48.729 would all make it to the valley of the Great 00:00:48.729 --> 00:00:51.329 Salt Lake. Mary drove the oxen and milk cows 00:00:51.329 --> 00:00:53.689 that pulled the wagon in which her father was 00:00:53.689 --> 00:00:55.710 bedridden and she cared for her siblings as well. 00:00:56.679 --> 00:00:59.020 After each day's journey, she fed the family 00:00:59.020 --> 00:01:01.979 by foraging edible plants, flowers, and berries. 00:01:02.200 --> 00:01:05.040 Her only compass was the instruction she'd received 00:01:05.040 --> 00:01:08.180 to keep traveling west, quote, until the clouds 00:01:08.180 --> 00:01:11.719 become mountains. This is just such an extraordinary 00:01:11.719 --> 00:01:13.719 story. As I was listening to it again, Abby, 00:01:13.799 --> 00:01:16.719 I was like, wow, that is so commendable. They 00:01:16.719 --> 00:01:18.359 reached the Utah Valley in September, having 00:01:18.359 --> 00:01:21.359 traveled all summer and spring. Her father died 00:01:21.359 --> 00:01:23.560 not long after the family settled in Utah County, 00:01:23.640 --> 00:01:26.530 where Mary later married. and raised her own 00:01:26.530 --> 00:01:29.409 family. Pioneer stories like this, again, strengthen 00:01:29.409 --> 00:01:31.969 our testimonies and resolve to be such an example 00:01:31.969 --> 00:01:34.870 for those who come after us. Elder Boom shared 00:01:34.870 --> 00:01:37.569 about his own heritage in the gospel of both 00:01:37.569 --> 00:01:40.450 his parents and his in -laws. He mentioned that 00:01:40.450 --> 00:01:42.349 his parents embraced the gospel and were baptized 00:01:42.349 --> 00:01:44.730 in their young adult years. Both had difficult 00:01:44.730 --> 00:01:48.170 childhoods. A summary of that is that the... 00:01:49.299 --> 00:01:51.459 During World War II, his father was put in a 00:01:51.459 --> 00:01:53.980 concentration camp in Indonesia and his mother 00:01:53.980 --> 00:01:57.730 faced hunger with a broken home. Hunger and a 00:01:57.730 --> 00:02:00.030 broken home, like she would survive off tulip 00:02:00.030 --> 00:02:03.310 bulbs. Yes. Yeah, to live. When I first heard 00:02:03.310 --> 00:02:04.930 that, I was like, did he just say tulip bulbs? 00:02:04.989 --> 00:02:06.709 And I was like, yes, he's from Denmark. Yeah. 00:02:06.790 --> 00:02:09.990 Oh, yeah. Despite their hardships and limited 00:02:09.990 --> 00:02:11.949 means, the couple met through their church, and 00:02:11.949 --> 00:02:13.550 they married in the burned Switzerland temple. 00:02:13.689 --> 00:02:16.030 They began their family living in a small attic 00:02:16.030 --> 00:02:18.590 apartment in Amsterdam. When they'd finally saved 00:02:18.590 --> 00:02:21.490 enough money for a washing machine, the bishop 00:02:21.490 --> 00:02:22.990 approached him and asked if they would contribute 00:02:22.990 --> 00:02:26.069 to the building fund, and they decided to continue. 00:02:26.189 --> 00:02:27.990 hand washing their clothing and gave all that 00:02:27.990 --> 00:02:30.530 they had to the building of the church. That's 00:02:30.530 --> 00:02:32.830 a small story of the sacrifices they were willing 00:02:32.830 --> 00:02:35.430 to make. But in fact, the family faced many challenges. 00:02:35.490 --> 00:02:38.030 But these trials, one after the next, strengthened 00:02:38.030 --> 00:02:40.629 their faith in Jesus Christ. It's amazing, Abby. 00:02:41.550 --> 00:02:43.289 He asked, how did two people who experienced 00:02:43.289 --> 00:02:45.449 so many trials in their younger years become 00:02:45.449 --> 00:02:47.729 the very best parents I could ever wish for? 00:02:47.889 --> 00:02:50.490 The answer is simple. They fully embrace the 00:02:50.490 --> 00:02:52.930 gospel and live by their covenants to this very 00:02:52.930 --> 00:02:55.830 day. They've been married now for 65 years. His 00:02:55.830 --> 00:02:58.069 mother passed away from complications of Alzheimer's, 00:02:58.069 --> 00:03:01.870 but at 92, he still resides in his home, his 00:03:01.870 --> 00:03:04.349 father, and thought it was special that he mentioned 00:03:04.349 --> 00:03:07.969 something ago. Some time ago. Some time ago that 00:03:07.969 --> 00:03:09.889 the dreadful experience in the camp in Indonesia 00:03:09.889 --> 00:03:13.530 during World War II had prepared him to patiently 00:03:13.530 --> 00:03:15.810 care for his wife for so many years as she fell 00:03:15.810 --> 00:03:17.889 ill and deteriorated from this horrible disease. 00:03:18.229 --> 00:03:20.930 And also for the fateful day, he had to entrust 00:03:20.930 --> 00:03:23.610 the primary care to others and he couldn't be 00:03:23.610 --> 00:03:25.610 at her side anymore. Abby, when I heard this 00:03:25.610 --> 00:03:28.030 too, my heart hurt for him. Number one, that 00:03:28.030 --> 00:03:31.189 he was in a camp in Indonesia and it's like part 00:03:31.189 --> 00:03:34.120 of you is like. Just be angry about that. And 00:03:34.120 --> 00:03:36.400 just be like, that's done. Never looking back. 00:03:36.460 --> 00:03:39.020 Like, I paid my dues. The fact that he was like, 00:03:39.120 --> 00:03:42.379 that prepared me for this hard thing. You know, 00:03:42.419 --> 00:03:43.979 like my heart broke for him. And I just thought, 00:03:44.039 --> 00:03:47.400 man, what a humble man to be like, yeah, even 00:03:47.400 --> 00:03:49.319 in this hard time of me caring for my wife while 00:03:49.319 --> 00:03:51.879 she's having this. terrible disease that is so 00:03:51.879 --> 00:03:54.699 sad when someone like kind of passes away twice 00:03:54.699 --> 00:03:57.319 because their mind is gone he was able to look 00:03:57.319 --> 00:03:59.379 at back in his life and find the blessings i 00:03:59.379 --> 00:04:01.759 just my heart went out of something terrible 00:04:01.759 --> 00:04:05.259 that he had argued he said these pioneer parents 00:04:05.259 --> 00:04:08.000 lived by the motto just carry on having a perfect 00:04:08.000 --> 00:04:09.900 hope in christ to be raised up at the last day 00:04:09.900 --> 00:04:12.520 and dwell with him in glory forever this attitude 00:04:12.520 --> 00:04:15.340 impacted elder boom and many others in the generations 00:04:15.340 --> 00:04:19.350 that have come after them Let's look at the pioneer 00:04:19.350 --> 00:04:21.670 heritage of his in -laws. So in the village where 00:04:21.670 --> 00:04:24.670 my wife grew up, that's what he says, her parents 00:04:24.670 --> 00:04:26.589 who were good church -going people embraced the 00:04:26.589 --> 00:04:29.589 gospel as a young married couple with my wife 00:04:29.589 --> 00:04:31.250 as their two -year -old daughter and only child 00:04:31.250 --> 00:04:33.370 at the time. Their decision to become members 00:04:33.370 --> 00:04:35.290 of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter -day 00:04:35.290 --> 00:04:38.189 Saints had a great impact on their lives as they 00:04:38.189 --> 00:04:40.889 were shunned by villagers and also by their family. 00:04:41.050 --> 00:04:43.930 It took many years, loving notes to family members 00:04:43.930 --> 00:04:45.810 and service to the community before they were 00:04:45.810 --> 00:04:49.060 finally accepted. On one occasion, When his wife's 00:04:49.060 --> 00:04:51.600 father was serving as a bishop, he was falsely 00:04:51.600 --> 00:04:54.980 accused of something that was immediately released. 00:04:55.259 --> 00:04:58.319 His mother -in -law was so hurt, she asked her 00:04:58.319 --> 00:04:59.899 husband if they should continue going to church, 00:04:59.959 --> 00:05:02.300 and I did love his answer. He answered that they 00:05:02.300 --> 00:05:04.660 of course would continue to go to church, since 00:05:04.660 --> 00:05:07.040 this is not the church of men, but this is the 00:05:07.040 --> 00:05:09.480 church of Jesus Christ. It took some time before 00:05:09.480 --> 00:05:11.319 the truth came to light and apologies were made. 00:05:11.560 --> 00:05:13.540 What could have been their breaking point just 00:05:13.540 --> 00:05:16.800 added? to their strength and their conviction. 00:05:17.199 --> 00:05:19.339 Exactly. Both sets of parents are demonstrating 00:05:19.339 --> 00:05:21.399 something, you know, maybe we take for granted. 00:05:21.680 --> 00:05:25.439 Faith and testimonies of our parents don't come 00:05:25.439 --> 00:05:27.620 because things are just easy. Things have just 00:05:27.620 --> 00:05:29.660 easily come to them. Typically they come because 00:05:29.660 --> 00:05:31.779 they've been able to weather the hardships and 00:05:31.779 --> 00:05:35.279 remain faithful because, and their testimonies 00:05:35.279 --> 00:05:37.379 have been strengthened because their lives are 00:05:37.379 --> 00:05:40.100 focused on Jesus Christ. Their testimonies are 00:05:40.100 --> 00:05:42.300 forged from difficult things that they've had 00:05:42.300 --> 00:05:44.490 to endure. And they're able to endure because 00:05:44.490 --> 00:05:46.290 of their enduring testimony of their Savior. 00:05:46.730 --> 00:05:49.569 Amen to that, Abby. Sometimes we do think that 00:05:49.569 --> 00:05:51.149 people are staying in the gospel because they 00:05:51.149 --> 00:05:52.970 don't have a clear understanding of things. Do 00:05:52.970 --> 00:05:55.550 we sometimes think that? What they demonstrate 00:05:55.550 --> 00:05:58.149 is that they just have had too many experiences 00:05:58.149 --> 00:06:00.069 with the Spirit and can say with the Prophet 00:06:00.069 --> 00:06:04.139 Joseph, I knew it and I could not deny it. He 00:06:04.139 --> 00:06:06.240 referenced one of my all -time favorite songs, 00:06:06.420 --> 00:06:08.740 The Army of Helaman, this phrase, We have been 00:06:08.740 --> 00:06:11.040 born as Nephi of old to goodly parents who love 00:06:11.040 --> 00:06:13.240 the Lord. We have been taught and we understand 00:06:13.240 --> 00:06:16.579 that we must do as the Lord commands. And I loved, 00:06:16.899 --> 00:06:18.759 I've been a primary chorister multiple times, 00:06:18.839 --> 00:06:20.839 and sometimes there's words to songs and you 00:06:20.839 --> 00:06:22.300 think, do we need to edit this? Is this going 00:06:22.300 --> 00:06:24.839 to hurt feelings? And he said a truth that I've 00:06:24.839 --> 00:06:27.740 shared many times, even if this isn't the case 00:06:27.740 --> 00:06:31.379 in your own home. Like his mother, his own mother 00:06:31.379 --> 00:06:33.800 experiences a child. You can sing words like 00:06:33.800 --> 00:06:36.399 that and you can know if you continue on the 00:06:36.399 --> 00:06:38.259 path that you're on, that you can become one 00:06:38.259 --> 00:06:40.040 of the goodly parents who love the Lord. So sometimes 00:06:40.040 --> 00:06:41.720 you're singing that song and you're agreeing 00:06:41.720 --> 00:06:43.839 and testifying. Yep, I came of goodly parents, 00:06:43.980 --> 00:06:46.860 Nephi. Yeah, I love that, Abby. But sometimes 00:06:46.860 --> 00:06:49.339 that's just enough to say, I'm going to be a 00:06:49.339 --> 00:06:51.639 goodly parent. And I love that. We don't have 00:06:51.639 --> 00:06:53.769 to change, modify the words. because it doesn't 00:06:53.769 --> 00:06:58.029 fit some lives. It can fit everybody's life going 00:06:58.029 --> 00:07:02.569 forward. Amy, do you like that song? I love that 00:07:02.569 --> 00:07:05.629 song. I thought so. When you sing armies of Helaman 00:07:05.629 --> 00:07:10.069 and the phrase, we'll be the Lord's missionaries 00:07:10.069 --> 00:07:12.850 to bring the world his truth. What does that 00:07:12.850 --> 00:07:15.589 spark in you? I love it so much. The first time 00:07:15.589 --> 00:07:18.970 I really... felt the words of this song was when 00:07:18.970 --> 00:07:20.910 my oldest sister, she's about 10 years older 00:07:20.910 --> 00:07:23.970 than me, went on a mission and my dad put together 00:07:23.970 --> 00:07:26.350 a slideshow. And this was in the 80s, right? 00:07:26.490 --> 00:07:29.709 And he used this song and I just bawled through 00:07:29.709 --> 00:07:33.410 it. And now as I'm about to send off my third 00:07:33.410 --> 00:07:36.870 child as a missionary, also when I was on my 00:07:36.870 --> 00:07:38.990 own mission, I mean, like, yeah, this bringing 00:07:38.990 --> 00:07:42.500 the world is truth. As being missionaries, when 00:07:42.500 --> 00:07:45.500 I watched my siblings go, when I went myself 00:07:45.500 --> 00:07:50.959 and now as watching my children go. So, yes, 00:07:51.019 --> 00:07:54.860 just today, you know, my son had his farewell 00:07:54.860 --> 00:07:58.120 last week and he will be set apart next week. 00:07:58.319 --> 00:08:01.879 And he was talking with my with my dad. My mom 00:08:01.879 --> 00:08:03.740 and dad are here and we were having dinner together. 00:08:04.040 --> 00:08:07.879 And I just loved that my dad made the comment 00:08:07.879 --> 00:08:11.110 that. One of the legacies that we have as a family 00:08:11.110 --> 00:08:13.810 is that we are missionaries and we have served 00:08:13.810 --> 00:08:16.310 the Lord in our youth and that we also continue 00:08:16.310 --> 00:08:20.170 serving the Lord. And I loved hearing that from 00:08:20.170 --> 00:08:22.870 my dad because he's now, you know, in his mid 00:08:22.870 --> 00:08:26.350 80s. And I love that part of the legacy is that 00:08:26.350 --> 00:08:28.850 we continue on regardless of our age. What a 00:08:28.850 --> 00:08:31.149 beautiful thing to have, you know, and I feel 00:08:31.149 --> 00:08:33.629 like that goes so well with this whole talk and 00:08:33.629 --> 00:08:36.990 just the whole feeling that Elder Boom created. 00:08:38.059 --> 00:08:40.039 Your son gets to be true to the faith that his 00:08:40.039 --> 00:08:42.120 parents have cherished and their parents have 00:08:42.120 --> 00:08:44.919 cherished. Right. And his children will cherish 00:08:44.919 --> 00:08:48.279 the faith that he has cherished. It's a great 00:08:48.279 --> 00:08:51.059 cycle. Elder Broom said, I have felt it on many 00:08:51.059 --> 00:08:53.700 occasions while singing the song in several FSY 00:08:53.700 --> 00:08:56.940 settings and other youth gatherings. I got immediately 00:08:56.940 --> 00:09:00.279 excited on this part because in a couple weeks, 00:09:00.460 --> 00:09:03.139 I get to attend with my husband, our third FSY. 00:09:03.659 --> 00:09:05.740 This probably airs the week that we're there. 00:09:06.269 --> 00:09:09.269 Love it. And I will too get to experience, because 00:09:09.269 --> 00:09:12.350 every year that power that fills the room as 00:09:12.350 --> 00:09:14.389 hundreds of youth participate in the youth medley 00:09:14.389 --> 00:09:16.669 as they sing this song, the Spirit testifies 00:09:16.669 --> 00:09:18.909 to me, we are raising up the next generation 00:09:18.909 --> 00:09:22.230 of the Lord's missionaries. We are in great hands. 00:09:22.889 --> 00:09:26.149 Amen, Abby. Another song that he references is 00:09:26.149 --> 00:09:28.809 True to the Faith. And I love this song. Shall 00:09:28.809 --> 00:09:30.929 the youth of Zion falter in defending truth and 00:09:30.929 --> 00:09:34.169 right? While the enemy assaileth, shall we shrink 00:09:34.169 --> 00:09:37.029 or shun the fight? No. True to the faith that 00:09:37.029 --> 00:09:40.169 our parents have cherished. Such a great song. 00:09:40.289 --> 00:09:44.539 And so just. So strong. The lyrics are strong. 00:09:44.600 --> 00:09:48.200 The feeling behind it is so strong. A great action 00:09:48.200 --> 00:09:50.159 item here. Please learn and receive strength 00:09:50.159 --> 00:09:52.940 from the faith and testimonies of those who came 00:09:52.940 --> 00:09:55.240 before you. It'll help you understand that in 00:09:55.240 --> 00:09:58.120 order to gain or grow testimony, a testimony, 00:09:58.360 --> 00:10:00.980 sacrifices will have to be made and that sacrifice 00:10:00.980 --> 00:10:06.110 brings forth the blessings of heaven. You know, 00:10:06.149 --> 00:10:09.210 I would maybe ask you a question because you're 00:10:09.210 --> 00:10:11.210 just immediately in the sending a missionary 00:10:11.210 --> 00:10:13.870 out. How have your own personal trials you've 00:10:13.870 --> 00:10:16.129 been going through the last few months maybe 00:10:16.129 --> 00:10:19.279 been a blessing to your family? As you've demonstrated 00:10:19.279 --> 00:10:21.620 your faithfulness to your covenants. It's interesting 00:10:21.620 --> 00:10:24.559 that you say that because sometimes like I'll 00:10:24.559 --> 00:10:26.720 be laying on the bathroom floor and I'm really 00:10:26.720 --> 00:10:29.519 sick. I can't do anything. So I have my phone 00:10:29.519 --> 00:10:31.519 with me. And one time I started just writing 00:10:31.519 --> 00:10:33.000 my prayer down. I was like, Heavenly Father, 00:10:33.100 --> 00:10:36.120 I'm so frustrated. I feel like I've wasted away. 00:10:36.809 --> 00:10:39.309 the time I have with my son. And I'm like, this 00:10:39.309 --> 00:10:42.950 doesn't feel fair to me. And then because it 00:10:42.950 --> 00:10:45.590 was a prayer and because I turned to him soon, 00:10:45.830 --> 00:10:48.210 I started saying, you know what, Heavenly Father, 00:10:48.450 --> 00:10:50.730 actually, now that I'm thinking about it and 00:10:50.730 --> 00:10:55.070 now that I'm voicing this, I see the blessings 00:10:55.070 --> 00:10:57.450 of the things how I've been very intentional 00:10:57.450 --> 00:11:01.490 with the time I have with him because my time 00:11:01.490 --> 00:11:05.149 and my energy. have been so small. I'm like, 00:11:05.230 --> 00:11:07.590 we will do this. We will do this. We will do 00:11:07.590 --> 00:11:09.649 that. There were three specific things that we 00:11:09.649 --> 00:11:12.129 were able to make happen. And I feel like, because 00:11:12.129 --> 00:11:14.690 again, I turned to the Lord in my frustration 00:11:14.690 --> 00:11:17.529 that he sent the Holy Ghost and the Holy Ghost 00:11:17.529 --> 00:11:20.289 kind of whispered to my heart and said, you haven't 00:11:20.289 --> 00:11:22.370 been this intentional with your other two missionaries 00:11:22.370 --> 00:11:25.450 even. Because sometimes when time and energy 00:11:25.450 --> 00:11:30.889 feel like they are in, yes, in infinite. Thank 00:11:30.889 --> 00:11:33.700 you. That's the word infinite. then we treat 00:11:33.700 --> 00:11:37.639 it as such. But I knew how precious it was because 00:11:37.639 --> 00:11:39.759 of what I'm going through that I was able to 00:11:39.759 --> 00:11:41.519 say, we're doing this, this, and this, and we 00:11:41.519 --> 00:11:44.320 got it done. And that was a huge blessing. So 00:11:44.320 --> 00:11:45.960 it was so funny because I started the prayer 00:11:45.960 --> 00:11:48.659 by saying how frustrated I was. I ended the prayer 00:11:48.659 --> 00:11:51.720 by crying in gratitude and saying, Heavenly Father, 00:11:51.820 --> 00:11:54.179 thank you so much for that because I will always 00:11:54.179 --> 00:11:59.340 remember it. So who knew, right? He did. He reminds 00:11:59.340 --> 00:12:01.639 us of the powerful invitation our beloved prophet, 00:12:01.840 --> 00:12:04.080 President Russell M. Nelson, shared when he asked 00:12:04.080 --> 00:12:06.980 every worthy, able young man to prepare for and 00:12:06.980 --> 00:12:09.139 serve a mission. For Latter -day Saint young 00:12:09.139 --> 00:12:11.340 men, missionary service is a priesthood responsibility. 00:12:11.899 --> 00:12:13.899 For young and able sisters, a mission is also 00:12:13.899 --> 00:12:16.659 powerful, but optional. You could be called as 00:12:16.659 --> 00:12:19.179 a service or a teaching missionary. Both types 00:12:19.179 --> 00:12:21.240 of missionaries contribute to the same goal, 00:12:21.340 --> 00:12:23.840 bringing souls to Christ, each in their own unique 00:12:23.840 --> 00:12:26.559 and powerful way. In both types of service, you 00:12:26.559 --> 00:12:28.360 will show the Lord you love Him and that you 00:12:28.360 --> 00:12:31.740 want to get to know Him. Remember, for how knoweth 00:12:31.740 --> 00:12:33.879 a man the Master whom he has not served, and 00:12:33.879 --> 00:12:37.159 who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the 00:12:37.159 --> 00:12:40.480 thoughts and intents of his heart? I got to attend 00:12:40.480 --> 00:12:43.700 my own meeting today, and then we went. This 00:12:43.700 --> 00:12:45.639 is the first week that our graduating seniors 00:12:45.639 --> 00:12:47.539 are transitioning into the single adult ward. 00:12:47.639 --> 00:12:50.080 So cool. So Adam invited me to come up with him. 00:12:51.549 --> 00:12:54.590 stake youth specialist. So this is my fake calling. 00:12:54.970 --> 00:12:57.529 That's why I said it that way. But I'm like, 00:12:57.570 --> 00:12:59.509 yeah, I'm going to go. So we go there and like 00:12:59.509 --> 00:13:01.850 quite a missionary theme in the whole meeting 00:13:01.850 --> 00:13:05.210 today. Your own son, for his testimony, this 00:13:05.210 --> 00:13:07.669 will be the second to last week before serving 00:13:07.669 --> 00:13:15.490 the Lord. But in that meeting, a sweet young 00:13:15.490 --> 00:13:19.110 man worked his way up to the pulpit. He served 00:13:19.110 --> 00:13:21.929 a service mission here in Star Valley. And his 00:13:21.929 --> 00:13:27.590 body is weak and frail in some ways, but it is 00:13:27.590 --> 00:13:32.409 housing a mighty, fine, strong spirit. And he 00:13:32.409 --> 00:13:36.710 got up to the pulpit, and he invited everybody 00:13:36.710 --> 00:13:39.269 to serve a mission. He's speaking to a lot of 00:13:39.269 --> 00:13:40.850 just graduating seniors, and some have made that 00:13:40.850 --> 00:13:42.809 decision, and they're going to go. Some are maybe 00:13:42.809 --> 00:13:45.009 contemplating it. Some maybe think it's not for 00:13:45.009 --> 00:13:54.129 them. in such a sweet way it wasn't like a shaming 00:13:54.129 --> 00:13:56.549 way he invited everybody to if they are having 00:13:56.549 --> 00:13:58.850 fear about the idea of serving mission to cast 00:13:58.850 --> 00:14:00.649 it off and i'm just looking at him and i'm thinking 00:14:00.649 --> 00:14:03.690 you were born into a body that made that challenging 00:14:03.690 --> 00:14:07.289 and difficult but he served a faithful faithful 00:14:07.289 --> 00:14:09.669 mission he touched so many lives like who's not 00:14:09.669 --> 00:14:12.559 going to open the door for for this elder He 00:14:12.559 --> 00:14:14.720 served in the temple. One funny story, we were 00:14:14.720 --> 00:14:17.600 cleaning the temple one evening and he would 00:14:17.600 --> 00:14:19.860 go change his clothes like in the laundry. There 00:14:19.860 --> 00:14:22.059 was like a little room in there and there was 00:14:22.059 --> 00:14:23.960 just kind of clothes in a heap on the floor in 00:14:23.960 --> 00:14:26.340 this like back mechanic room. And I'm like, oh. 00:14:27.049 --> 00:14:28.649 Elder so -and -so, I'm not going to say his name. 00:14:28.690 --> 00:14:30.549 Elder so -and -so must have been serving today. 00:14:30.710 --> 00:14:33.870 But it's so cute. Like nobody cares about his 00:14:33.870 --> 00:14:36.029 clothes being there. I guess what I'm saying 00:14:36.029 --> 00:14:39.149 is we were driving. We were on a little Sunday 00:14:39.149 --> 00:14:43.429 drive after that. And I told my husband, it's 00:14:43.429 --> 00:14:47.289 very easy to picture him standing by their Savior, 00:14:47.370 --> 00:14:53.870 Jesus Christ. And his spirit's so much bigger 00:14:53.870 --> 00:14:56.740 than his. frail body here on earth side like 00:14:56.740 --> 00:14:59.419 i just it's easy to imagine just amazing things 00:14:59.419 --> 00:15:01.200 from him and for him to testify and encourage 00:15:01.200 --> 00:15:03.600 and invite everybody to cast off their fears 00:15:03.600 --> 00:15:06.000 and don't be afraid to to listen to the prophet's 00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:08.259 counsel and to serve very in whatever way that 00:15:08.259 --> 00:15:10.960 they can i'm like how cool is that that this 00:15:10.960 --> 00:15:12.539 is being shared today and then we're going to 00:15:12.539 --> 00:15:15.039 go into recording this talk i love that thank 00:15:15.039 --> 00:15:18.700 you elder thank you elder indeed all of us whether 00:15:18.700 --> 00:15:20.840 we are the first generation in the gospel or 00:15:20.840 --> 00:15:24.029 the fifth could ask ourselves, what stories of 00:15:24.029 --> 00:15:26.269 faith, strength, and celestial commitment will 00:15:26.269 --> 00:15:30.090 I pass on to the next generation? I'll give you 00:15:30.090 --> 00:15:31.929 a minute to think about that, but I would ask, 00:15:31.970 --> 00:15:34.649 what would you put down in print or voice recording? 00:15:34.909 --> 00:15:36.929 What would you say in this podcast to that question? 00:15:39.110 --> 00:15:43.490 I want to share my own testimony that I know 00:15:43.490 --> 00:15:49.490 that we come to know Jesus Christ. more than 00:15:49.490 --> 00:15:52.929 any other time usually in our trials. I agree. 00:15:54.409 --> 00:15:57.509 Maybe I'll mention here, yesterday my husband 00:15:57.509 --> 00:16:02.690 and I ran down to Utah to take our daughter to 00:16:02.690 --> 00:16:05.350 a funeral. We have a young couple in our ward. 00:16:05.429 --> 00:16:08.029 They haven't been married just about three years, 00:16:08.190 --> 00:16:11.809 and she serves in their young women's as one 00:16:11.809 --> 00:16:14.929 of their leaders. Her husband was diagnosed with 00:16:14.929 --> 00:16:17.529 cancer last Friday, and he passed away on Monday. 00:16:18.330 --> 00:16:20.330 And the funeral services were Saturday in Utah. 00:16:23.090 --> 00:16:26.289 Such a tragic event, like lots of tears shed. 00:16:26.490 --> 00:16:28.909 They're like the oldest in their family. So all 00:16:28.909 --> 00:16:32.210 of their younger siblings, you know, all of their 00:16:32.210 --> 00:16:33.870 grandparents, aunts and uncles, all of them are 00:16:33.870 --> 00:16:36.690 still living because his life was cut so short. 00:16:36.750 --> 00:16:42.360 But a couple of things that stood out were. Just 00:16:42.360 --> 00:16:44.480 ways that they testified in that funeral, different 00:16:44.480 --> 00:16:46.200 speakers about the tender mercies that they're 00:16:46.200 --> 00:16:48.100 seeing and the sustaining power of the Spirit 00:16:48.100 --> 00:16:51.399 as their knowledge of God's plan being a perfect 00:16:51.399 --> 00:16:54.919 plan. It came out one speaker after the next. 00:16:55.840 --> 00:16:58.139 Maybe they don't understand why this has happened, 00:16:58.220 --> 00:17:00.440 but they know that with time they'll understand 00:17:00.440 --> 00:17:04.380 it a little bit better. The mom spoke and she 00:17:04.380 --> 00:17:07.910 said, And his parents had scheduled the temple 00:17:07.910 --> 00:17:09.630 appointment for the following day, the Tuesday. 00:17:09.990 --> 00:17:11.849 And she's like, I don't want to go to the temple. 00:17:11.930 --> 00:17:14.789 But, you know, felt like, yeah, I'll go to the 00:17:14.789 --> 00:17:17.569 temple. So they all attended together. And the 00:17:17.569 --> 00:17:19.210 temple president took some time with them and 00:17:19.210 --> 00:17:21.349 testified to them that if they could look for 00:17:21.349 --> 00:17:23.529 the what in this tragic situation, it would soften 00:17:23.529 --> 00:17:26.869 the blow of the why this happened. And her husband, 00:17:27.009 --> 00:17:31.109 who passed, was a natural missionary. The crowd 00:17:31.109 --> 00:17:36.859 was eclectic. It's hard to explain that, but 00:17:36.859 --> 00:17:40.460 he was search and rescue. He was a snowboarder. 00:17:40.460 --> 00:17:43.400 He was a biker. He was a salesman. He was in 00:17:43.400 --> 00:17:46.240 construction. There's just a myriad of places 00:17:46.240 --> 00:17:50.799 life has taken him, and he's been such an example 00:17:50.799 --> 00:17:55.619 of... He's been such an example, such a missionary, 00:17:55.799 --> 00:17:57.640 always testifying of Jesus Christ, and that's 00:17:57.640 --> 00:17:59.420 attracted people to him. And he's kept these 00:17:59.420 --> 00:18:02.000 friendships through life. It was actually said, 00:18:02.099 --> 00:18:04.119 some people have a few friends that are really 00:18:04.119 --> 00:18:06.160 close, and some people have a lot of friends. 00:18:06.819 --> 00:18:10.079 But this man has a lot of close friends. And 00:18:10.079 --> 00:18:11.579 that's true. And you're looking, it was like 00:18:11.579 --> 00:18:15.240 a state conference type of crowd, right? So his 00:18:15.240 --> 00:18:18.680 younger sibling stood up and said that he aspires 00:18:18.680 --> 00:18:23.519 to live life like his brother. I guess what I 00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:25.319 felt from this, from the talks, from the things 00:18:25.319 --> 00:18:27.859 that were shared is that he was an amazing missionary, 00:18:28.059 --> 00:18:30.759 this side of the veil, and that I have no doubt, 00:18:30.839 --> 00:18:32.559 and they all testified, they have no doubt that 00:18:32.559 --> 00:18:34.559 he's going to continue in his missionary efforts 00:18:34.559 --> 00:18:37.019 on the other side of the veil. So even though 00:18:37.019 --> 00:18:39.339 his life was cut short on earth, the message, 00:18:39.519 --> 00:18:43.059 the testimony that he's able to bear, people 00:18:43.059 --> 00:18:45.500 are looking to be true to the faith that he has 00:18:45.500 --> 00:18:48.519 cherished going forward. That's so good, Abby. 00:18:50.619 --> 00:18:53.119 There is a challenge of elder boom. He says, 00:18:53.200 --> 00:18:55.420 let us all continue in our efforts to get to 00:18:55.420 --> 00:18:57.619 know our Savior Jesus Christ better and to make 00:18:57.619 --> 00:19:00.279 him the center of our lives. He is the rock upon 00:19:00.279 --> 00:19:02.859 which we must build so that when times become 00:19:02.859 --> 00:19:08.440 difficult, we will be able to stand firm. And 00:19:08.440 --> 00:19:11.079 then his final words, let us be true to the faith 00:19:11.079 --> 00:19:13.200 that our parents have cherished, true to the 00:19:13.200 --> 00:19:15.579 truth for which martyrs have perished. To God's 00:19:15.579 --> 00:19:17.759 command, soul, heart, and hand, faithful and 00:19:17.759 --> 00:19:22.529 true, we will ever stand. We'll catch on the 00:19:22.529 --> 00:19:23.789 next one. See you next time.