WEBVTT 00:00:07.449 --> 00:00:09.630 Welcome to Closer to Christ, the General Conference, 00:00:09.869 --> 00:00:12.070 where two friends who love Jesus share our own 00:00:12.070 --> 00:00:13.949 approach to studying the most recent General 00:00:13.949 --> 00:00:16.870 Conference talks. This is Abby and Amy. Let's 00:00:16.870 --> 00:00:26.730 jump into it. Today we're discussing the talk 00:00:26.730 --> 00:00:29.370 Worship by Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the 00:00:29.370 --> 00:00:31.750 Quorum of the Twelve. Now, when Jesus was born 00:00:31.750 --> 00:00:34.090 in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the 00:00:34.090 --> 00:00:38.030 king, behold, there came wise men from the east 00:00:38.030 --> 00:00:40.469 to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born 00:00:40.469 --> 00:00:42.929 king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in 00:00:42.929 --> 00:00:46.090 the east, and we are come to worship him. We're 00:00:46.090 --> 00:00:48.490 going to suggest in this episode a self -reflection 00:00:48.490 --> 00:00:51.929 question. So that question is, what does worshiping 00:00:51.929 --> 00:00:54.880 God mean to you? How does that view of worship 00:00:54.880 --> 00:00:57.579 translate into the actions that we actually perform 00:00:57.579 --> 00:01:01.140 in our worship? I really love this talk, Abby, 00:01:01.259 --> 00:01:04.719 and I'm excited to jump in. Same. The Magi, as 00:01:04.719 --> 00:01:07.060 they were sometimes called, were wise in seeking 00:01:07.060 --> 00:01:10.260 to find and worship the Messiah. For them, worshiping 00:01:10.260 --> 00:01:12.340 meant falling down before the Savior, offering 00:01:12.340 --> 00:01:15.180 Him gifts of gold and precious fragrant spices. 00:01:15.599 --> 00:01:18.480 As Elder Christofferson said, I think there are 00:01:18.480 --> 00:01:20.959 many lessons to be offered by the Magi, so I 00:01:20.959 --> 00:01:23.599 spent some more time pondering on. you know how 00:01:23.599 --> 00:01:26.840 the magi worship through their example to come 00:01:26.840 --> 00:01:29.480 to and worship the savior the wise men needed 00:01:29.480 --> 00:01:31.599 spiritual awareness to recognize the sign of 00:01:31.599 --> 00:01:34.120 the star for sure it was available for all to 00:01:34.120 --> 00:01:36.420 see but they were the ones who had eyes to see 00:01:36.420 --> 00:01:38.480 it that means that they knew what sign they were 00:01:38.480 --> 00:01:40.980 looking for and they believed in the prophecies 00:01:40.980 --> 00:01:43.239 that had come before they were actively watching 00:01:43.239 --> 00:01:45.819 for their savior with only a star as their guide 00:01:45.819 --> 00:01:48.719 they spent years seeking the savior which meant 00:01:48.719 --> 00:01:51.379 a sacrifice of time and comforts and their safety 00:01:51.379 --> 00:01:54.099 in search for this prophesied Savior. We know 00:01:54.099 --> 00:01:57.219 that they faced obstacles like Herod, his deception, 00:01:57.299 --> 00:01:59.700 and the uncertainty about where to find this 00:01:59.700 --> 00:02:01.760 child. But through that all, they persisted. 00:02:02.140 --> 00:02:05.200 And they didn't stop at seeing the star. They 00:02:05.200 --> 00:02:08.319 acted with purpose in seeking the Savior. When 00:02:08.319 --> 00:02:10.840 they finally met Him, they knew Him. They fell 00:02:10.840 --> 00:02:12.539 at his feet. They offered these gifts, which 00:02:12.539 --> 00:02:15.439 symbolize his kingship, divinity, and future 00:02:15.439 --> 00:02:17.800 suffering, further testifying that they knew 00:02:17.800 --> 00:02:20.300 they were in the presence of their Savior. And 00:02:20.300 --> 00:02:22.699 then after meeting him, were warned in a dream 00:02:22.699 --> 00:02:24.439 not to return to Herod, meaning that they are 00:02:24.439 --> 00:02:27.180 willing to obey and depart in another way, showing 00:02:27.180 --> 00:02:29.520 continued responsiveness to God's direction. 00:02:30.400 --> 00:02:34.009 Wow. In his words, their journey is a powerful 00:02:34.009 --> 00:02:36.729 pattern for all who seek to worship Christ today. 00:02:36.849 --> 00:02:39.250 It totally is, Abby. Have you ever seen that 00:02:39.250 --> 00:02:42.289 movie? It's called The Fourth Wise Men. Fantastic. 00:02:42.930 --> 00:02:45.770 Where's it on or where'd you see it? It's from 00:02:45.770 --> 00:02:47.710 the 80s. Anyway, look it up at some point. Sounds 00:02:47.710 --> 00:02:50.110 during Christmas. It just talks about like this 00:02:50.110 --> 00:02:52.909 life, but it really is. Be the wise men that 00:02:52.909 --> 00:02:55.509 seek him. Yes. And he spent his whole life looking 00:02:55.509 --> 00:02:56.990 for him. He wasn't one of the three, right? He 00:02:56.990 --> 00:02:59.750 was the fourth. So he was later. Anyway, as you're 00:02:59.750 --> 00:03:02.729 reading this, I'm just thinking of, yes, a life 00:03:02.729 --> 00:03:05.990 of sacrifice and all the things that they did. 00:03:06.050 --> 00:03:08.789 This is very powerful. So to reiterate the question, 00:03:08.949 --> 00:03:11.150 what does worshiping God mean to you and me? 00:03:11.610 --> 00:03:13.710 Typically, our thoughts go to the way we practice 00:03:13.710 --> 00:03:16.930 our religion at home and in private. Elder Christofferson 00:03:16.930 --> 00:03:19.080 is... pondered on the matter of worshiping our 00:03:19.080 --> 00:03:21.240 Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son, our Savior. 00:03:21.460 --> 00:03:24.159 And he identified four concepts to focus on. 00:03:24.360 --> 00:03:26.520 Number one, the actions that constitute our worship. 00:03:26.900 --> 00:03:29.360 Number two, the attitudes and feelings that figure 00:03:29.360 --> 00:03:32.360 into our worship. Number three, the exclusivity 00:03:32.360 --> 00:03:34.639 of our worship. I like that. And when I first 00:03:34.639 --> 00:03:35.960 heard that, I was like, what does that mean? 00:03:36.039 --> 00:03:37.319 So we're going to jump into it. It is the one 00:03:37.319 --> 00:03:39.060 that I was like, what does he mean by that? And 00:03:39.060 --> 00:03:41.300 it's perfect. Number four, the need to emulate 00:03:41.300 --> 00:03:44.819 the holy beings that we worship. So we gather 00:03:44.819 --> 00:03:46.879 in consecrated spaces to perform acts. devotion. 00:03:47.219 --> 00:03:49.419 In an effort to separate ourselves from the world, 00:03:49.500 --> 00:03:51.340 we'll join to partake of the sacrament on His 00:03:51.340 --> 00:03:53.699 holy day. This is the primary purpose for our 00:03:53.699 --> 00:03:56.219 buildings, dedicated chapels. But, he mentioned, 00:03:56.340 --> 00:03:58.740 even non -dedicated spaces treated with a degree 00:03:58.740 --> 00:04:01.560 of sanctity can also work. It caused me to think 00:04:01.560 --> 00:04:04.520 of the little one -room bar that I attended sacrament 00:04:04.520 --> 00:04:06.539 meeting in when I was in Aguas Calientes, Peru. 00:04:07.120 --> 00:04:10.000 And it was a bar, pretty obvious, but it was 00:04:10.000 --> 00:04:12.319 cleaned and prepared in such a way that the emblems 00:04:12.319 --> 00:04:18.319 of the sacrament... 20 years later, it's still 00:04:18.319 --> 00:04:21.079 special. So I don't know. I just like kind of 00:04:21.079 --> 00:04:23.279 reminiscing on that. Like sacrament rooms are 00:04:23.279 --> 00:04:25.040 nice. We can cherish them and they're beautiful, 00:04:25.100 --> 00:04:29.060 but you can make a place to worship just about 00:04:29.060 --> 00:04:30.939 anywhere that, you know, more than one person 00:04:30.939 --> 00:04:33.060 is willing to gather in his name. That's awesome. 00:04:34.350 --> 00:04:37.269 set it apart make it holy right this talk causes 00:04:37.269 --> 00:04:39.709 us to ponder on the actions we do as we gather 00:04:39.709 --> 00:04:42.449 on the lord's day we dress our best according 00:04:42.449 --> 00:04:45.870 to our means not extra not extravagantly but 00:04:45.870 --> 00:04:49.050 modestly in a way to signal our respect and reverence 00:04:49.050 --> 00:04:53.279 for deity in our attitude Or rather, is our attitude 00:04:53.279 --> 00:04:55.839 one of reverence and respect? Joining in prayer, 00:04:55.920 --> 00:04:58.259 really joining, not just listening when singing 00:04:58.259 --> 00:05:00.920 the hymns. Teaching and learning from each other 00:05:00.920 --> 00:05:03.720 is a form of worship. Jesus says, remember that 00:05:03.720 --> 00:05:05.939 on this, the Lord's day, thou shalt offer thine 00:05:05.939 --> 00:05:08.779 oblations, meaning your offerings of time, talents, 00:05:08.839 --> 00:05:11.540 and means in service of God and fellow men, and 00:05:11.540 --> 00:05:13.860 thy sacraments unto the Most High, confessing 00:05:13.860 --> 00:05:15.930 thy sins unto the brethren. unto thy brethren 00:05:15.930 --> 00:05:19.209 and before the Lord. Our object is to come together 00:05:19.209 --> 00:05:22.470 to remember him and also be instructed more perfectly 00:05:22.470 --> 00:05:26.129 in his gospel. Abby, I just was listening to 00:05:26.129 --> 00:05:28.350 the part, it's in Alma, in the Book of Mormon, 00:05:28.449 --> 00:05:30.730 where it talked about the hearer not being any 00:05:30.730 --> 00:05:33.310 better than the preacher, you know, the one who's 00:05:33.310 --> 00:05:35.189 teaching and the one who's listening. And that's 00:05:35.189 --> 00:05:36.589 what this reminds me of too, that that's just 00:05:36.589 --> 00:05:39.189 part of the way that God would have it is we're 00:05:39.189 --> 00:05:42.089 all learning together and it's very, there's 00:05:42.089 --> 00:05:43.910 a nice flow to it. There's not like a hierarchy 00:05:43.910 --> 00:05:46.300 of like, I'm the teacher and you're not. Because 00:05:46.300 --> 00:05:48.199 we all know darn well that one week we might 00:05:48.199 --> 00:05:49.740 be the teacher and the next week we might be 00:05:49.740 --> 00:05:51.860 the listener. That's how it works with us. Level 00:05:51.860 --> 00:05:54.259 playing field because the spirit is the medium 00:05:54.259 --> 00:05:56.040 that we're all concerned about. That if you're 00:05:56.040 --> 00:05:57.319 the one that's supposed to be listening to the 00:05:57.319 --> 00:05:58.860 lesson, the spirit can prick. And if you're the 00:05:58.860 --> 00:06:00.259 one teaching the lesson, if you're doing it by 00:06:00.259 --> 00:06:03.600 the spirit, that, yeah, no one's better, but 00:06:03.600 --> 00:06:06.019 we're all being better together. Love that. Most 00:06:06.019 --> 00:06:07.759 recent general conference, just the previous 00:06:07.759 --> 00:06:10.040 one, Elder Patrick Kieran reminded us that we 00:06:10.040 --> 00:06:12.139 do not gather on the Sabbath simply to attend 00:06:12.139 --> 00:06:13.980 sacrament meeting and check it off the list. 00:06:14.600 --> 00:06:16.980 We come together to worship. There's a significant 00:06:16.980 --> 00:06:19.579 difference between the two. To attend means to 00:06:19.579 --> 00:06:22.620 be present. To worship is to intentionally praise 00:06:22.620 --> 00:06:25.319 and adore our God in a way that transforms us. 00:06:25.699 --> 00:06:28.579 It's awesome. I'm going to say it again. To attend 00:06:28.579 --> 00:06:31.740 means to be present, but to worship is to intentionally 00:06:31.740 --> 00:06:35.579 praise and adore our God in a way that transforms 00:06:35.579 --> 00:06:39.110 us. That is so powerful. I think we're going 00:06:39.110 --> 00:06:42.370 to continue going back to Elder Kieran's talk 00:06:42.370 --> 00:06:44.329 on that because there's just so much to learn 00:06:44.329 --> 00:06:47.730 there. It was nice knowing it came from a perspective 00:06:47.730 --> 00:06:50.550 of maybe having more exposure to other churches. 00:06:50.709 --> 00:06:52.550 Like, I don't have that. So when I listen to 00:06:52.550 --> 00:06:54.970 his words, I'm like, I've tried to go and attend 00:06:54.970 --> 00:06:58.569 other meetings. If a friend's invited me to their 00:06:58.569 --> 00:07:03.879 services, I've taken that opportunity. he has 00:07:03.879 --> 00:07:07.360 he he's seen what worship looks like when like 00:07:07.360 --> 00:07:11.959 when things look a little bit different maybe 00:07:11.959 --> 00:07:14.779 I don't know I just appreciated his perspective 00:07:14.779 --> 00:07:17.180 I heard the talk in that way the way that he 00:07:17.180 --> 00:07:19.480 brought up like joyful reverence was in that 00:07:19.480 --> 00:07:22.759 talk and I was like exactly it doesn't mean like 00:07:22.759 --> 00:07:25.279 just sitting with your feet on the floor and 00:07:25.279 --> 00:07:28.100 cross -armed and not saying a word. It's showing 00:07:28.100 --> 00:07:30.079 that we're so satisfied with the things that 00:07:30.079 --> 00:07:32.060 we're hearing, like our spirits pricked and we 00:07:32.060 --> 00:07:34.860 can make some noise, but it doesn't have to be 00:07:34.860 --> 00:07:37.279 like exaggerated and exuberant noise. It doesn't 00:07:37.279 --> 00:07:39.360 have to include drums and guitars and stuff. 00:07:39.500 --> 00:07:42.399 Right. I just, I liked his thoughts. And so I'm 00:07:42.399 --> 00:07:45.120 really glad that this talk brought it up. Yeah, 00:07:45.220 --> 00:07:47.379 circle back around again. I agree, Abby. Because 00:07:47.379 --> 00:07:49.459 we've had six months to think on that talk. And 00:07:49.459 --> 00:07:51.279 then this one just kind of handpicked some of 00:07:51.279 --> 00:07:53.540 the most amazing lines from it and builds on 00:07:53.540 --> 00:07:56.860 it. Yes, transformative. Devoting our Sabbath 00:07:56.860 --> 00:07:59.759 to the Lord and his purposes is itself an act 00:07:59.759 --> 00:08:03.160 of worship. He referenced how years ago, then 00:08:03.160 --> 00:08:06.100 Elder Russell M. Nelson observed, how do we hallow 00:08:06.100 --> 00:08:08.379 the Sabbath day? Many years ago, that might have 00:08:08.379 --> 00:08:10.199 been a compiled list of things to do and things 00:08:10.199 --> 00:08:12.459 not to do on the Sabbath. From the scriptures, 00:08:12.660 --> 00:08:14.819 we learned that our conduct and attitude on the 00:08:14.819 --> 00:08:17.959 Sabbath constitute a sign between us and Heavenly 00:08:17.959 --> 00:08:20.980 Father. Lists are no longer necessary when this 00:08:20.980 --> 00:08:24.199 is our litmus. The do's and don'ts are unnecessary 00:08:24.199 --> 00:08:28.899 once we remember to just gauge what we are about 00:08:28.899 --> 00:08:32.240 to do with this question. What sign is this giving 00:08:32.240 --> 00:08:34.460 to Father in Heaven? Or Elder Christofferson 00:08:34.460 --> 00:08:37.500 stated it like this, what sign do I want to give 00:08:37.500 --> 00:08:40.700 to God? That's so good. It's nice to be done 00:08:40.700 --> 00:08:43.120 with the checklist items. I do remember seeing 00:08:43.120 --> 00:08:45.259 that list when I was a kid and I was like, I 00:08:45.259 --> 00:08:47.879 felt overwhelmed by it. I was like, sheesh, I 00:08:47.879 --> 00:08:49.320 feel like I can kind of feel in my heart what 00:08:49.320 --> 00:08:50.899 feels good and what doesn't because a kid knows 00:08:50.899 --> 00:08:54.120 that. I do want to specify like the list coming 00:08:54.120 --> 00:08:56.620 maybe from the church. It's no longer appropriate 00:08:56.620 --> 00:08:59.240 or necessary. I do have a friend and she had, 00:08:59.340 --> 00:09:02.759 well, I'm just, I'm just saying. that is the 00:09:02.759 --> 00:09:04.100 church we used to live in. It's like, well, we 00:09:04.100 --> 00:09:05.700 don't do that on Sundays. Well, who said? It's 00:09:05.700 --> 00:09:07.740 like, well, you know, I'm not saying it was like 00:09:07.740 --> 00:09:10.820 a correlated list, but you'd be like, oh, you 00:09:10.820 --> 00:09:13.159 jump on the tramp on Sundays. Oh, blah, blah, 00:09:13.200 --> 00:09:15.000 blah. Like whatever, whatever your thing is. 00:09:15.480 --> 00:09:18.440 But we're kind of past that. We were saying, 00:09:18.480 --> 00:09:20.460 what sign do we want to give to the Lord? I do 00:09:20.460 --> 00:09:22.120 have a friend, she was raising eight kids. And 00:09:22.120 --> 00:09:24.879 so they did as a family create a list and it 00:09:24.879 --> 00:09:27.080 didn't say things we can't do on Sunday. It said 00:09:27.080 --> 00:09:30.730 things we do on Sunday. And it was fun. things 00:09:30.730 --> 00:09:32.950 write a note color a picture and i'm not going 00:09:32.950 --> 00:09:34.590 to go it's i'm not going to make the list for 00:09:34.590 --> 00:09:37.330 you because as a family you can decide you know 00:09:37.330 --> 00:09:39.909 totally what what that looks like so i'm not 00:09:39.909 --> 00:09:41.889 saying a list is inappropriate i'm just saying 00:09:41.889 --> 00:09:45.389 that the message is what you know what sign are 00:09:45.389 --> 00:09:48.909 we going to give to the lord you know my kid 00:09:48.909 --> 00:09:50.529 wanted to go fishing today my husband's like 00:09:50.529 --> 00:09:52.539 we're not going to go fishing and i'm like And 00:09:52.539 --> 00:09:56.419 my litmus is like, we did church, we've worshipped, 00:09:56.480 --> 00:09:58.740 we've done other good things. I don't think it's 00:09:58.740 --> 00:10:00.580 that big of a deal. I can totally support my 00:10:00.580 --> 00:10:01.860 husband if he doesn't want to do the fishing 00:10:01.860 --> 00:10:03.419 thing. But he's like, well, there's six other 00:10:03.419 --> 00:10:05.799 days we can do that. Okay, we can have that discussion. 00:10:06.000 --> 00:10:08.019 I'm not going to get in a fight about it, but 00:10:08.019 --> 00:10:13.139 we can all have our list. Some people are like, 00:10:13.200 --> 00:10:15.120 we don't watch sports on Sundays. And some families, 00:10:15.200 --> 00:10:17.759 that's their together time. They love the energy 00:10:17.759 --> 00:10:21.409 of a sports game. That's not our thing. I mean, 00:10:21.429 --> 00:10:22.929 we turn on the Super Bowl just so we can have 00:10:22.929 --> 00:10:26.090 gummy food. But I'm just saying I appreciate 00:10:26.090 --> 00:10:28.750 that we've moved past that. The lists aren't 00:10:28.750 --> 00:10:31.389 necessary and they're not. The point was missed 00:10:31.389 --> 00:10:33.509 when we were kind of doing it in list fashion. 00:10:33.629 --> 00:10:36.710 Agreed. Also, it kind of like you shut your brain 00:10:36.710 --> 00:10:39.250 off sometimes when you see a list. And like you 00:10:39.250 --> 00:10:40.590 were just saying, you know, we've been to church. 00:10:40.629 --> 00:10:42.809 I feel like. Now, it's one thing because I was 00:10:42.809 --> 00:10:44.750 just talking about this literally with my mom 00:10:44.750 --> 00:10:46.190 because we live right by the river and people 00:10:46.190 --> 00:10:47.470 were going down the river and we were chatting 00:10:47.470 --> 00:10:49.549 about it on Sunday, right? So I was saying, you 00:10:49.549 --> 00:10:53.190 know, and she was too, we've been to church and 00:10:53.190 --> 00:10:58.409 we renewed our covenants and being out in nature. 00:10:59.179 --> 00:11:01.120 I don't see anything. This is me. Don't see anything 00:11:01.120 --> 00:11:03.080 wrong with that. And then the next thing I said 00:11:03.080 --> 00:11:05.860 was, the difference is when you replace nature 00:11:05.860 --> 00:11:08.759 with renewing your covenants. Now, if it's replacing 00:11:08.759 --> 00:11:10.440 it, that's a whole other conversation. Do you 00:11:10.440 --> 00:11:12.679 know what I mean? So yeah, I feel like that the 00:11:12.679 --> 00:11:15.740 list is wide. And as long as we ask, what sign 00:11:15.740 --> 00:11:17.960 do I want to give to God? I think that that will 00:11:17.960 --> 00:11:20.299 direct us and our families will be happy with 00:11:20.299 --> 00:11:22.340 that. Right. And then it doesn't make it like, 00:11:22.440 --> 00:11:25.159 oh, it's Sunday. We can't do this, that, and 00:11:25.159 --> 00:11:28.779 the other. What can we do? Anything that draws 00:11:28.779 --> 00:11:33.080 you closer to your Savior. Like you said, you've 00:11:33.080 --> 00:11:34.639 renewed your covenants and then passed that. 00:11:34.700 --> 00:11:38.000 Yes. Our Sabbath day worship is intended to be 00:11:38.000 --> 00:11:39.759 centered around the great atoning sacrifice of 00:11:39.759 --> 00:11:42.100 Jesus Christ. We appropriately and specially 00:11:42.100 --> 00:11:44.399 celebrate his resurrection at Easter, but also 00:11:44.399 --> 00:11:46.840 every week as we partake of the sacramental emblems 00:11:46.840 --> 00:11:48.480 of his atonement, including his resurrection. 00:11:49.370 --> 00:11:51.649 for the penitent partaking of the sacrament is 00:11:51.649 --> 00:11:54.269 the highlight of sabbath worship worshiping together 00:11:54.269 --> 00:11:57.950 as the body of christ has unique power and benefits 00:11:57.950 --> 00:12:00.149 as we teach and serve and sustain one another 00:12:00.149 --> 00:12:02.649 maybe many of you have the opportunity to partake 00:12:02.649 --> 00:12:04.429 of the emblems of the sacrament in your own home 00:12:04.429 --> 00:12:07.250 during the months of covid like us was that like 00:12:07.250 --> 00:12:11.610 a worldwide I don't know, in our area, whoever, 00:12:12.529 --> 00:12:16.409 the powers that be authorized the priesthood 00:12:16.409 --> 00:12:18.070 bearers to perform the sacrament in the home. 00:12:18.149 --> 00:12:20.490 And for us, it was a sacred experience. I cherished 00:12:20.490 --> 00:12:24.470 that time in our homes. I cherished having one 00:12:24.470 --> 00:12:29.970 of our rooms dedicated to this special act. And 00:12:29.970 --> 00:12:34.149 when I reflect back on it, I'm reminded of those 00:12:34.149 --> 00:12:37.720 tender feelings that I have about it. When we 00:12:37.720 --> 00:12:40.120 got back to church and we gathered to do that 00:12:40.120 --> 00:12:43.039 same thing together in unity with other ward 00:12:43.039 --> 00:12:47.399 members, my testimony of gathering together was 00:12:47.399 --> 00:12:51.200 strengthened. I loved being at home, but I was 00:12:51.200 --> 00:12:54.299 able to see the contrast of that compared to 00:12:54.299 --> 00:12:56.759 gathering together to do the same thing. 100%. 00:12:56.759 --> 00:13:01.220 I was actually surprised. Of being willing and 00:13:01.220 --> 00:13:03.700 wanting to go back? Just because I loved being... 00:13:04.159 --> 00:13:05.940 like I'm an introvert and I love being home so 00:13:05.940 --> 00:13:07.820 much that I was like, there's no way I'm going 00:13:07.820 --> 00:13:11.379 to love going back as much as I love this because 00:13:11.379 --> 00:13:13.500 it's been such a beautiful experience. And I 00:13:13.500 --> 00:13:16.019 too was taken back. When I went back, there was 00:13:16.019 --> 00:13:18.379 just a feeling of this is why we gather and just 00:13:18.379 --> 00:13:20.659 such an expansive feeling. And it was like, I 00:13:20.659 --> 00:13:22.820 love this. Like I was so happy to be back. What 00:13:22.820 --> 00:13:25.639 a blessing, you know? Agreed. Elder Christofferson 00:13:25.639 --> 00:13:27.879 referenced a recent research study here. And 00:13:27.879 --> 00:13:30.200 when looking deeper into that, we found it was 00:13:30.200 --> 00:13:33.159 conducted in February of the same year. So the 00:13:33.159 --> 00:13:36.340 research, showed that 56 % of U .S. Christian 00:13:36.340 --> 00:13:39.279 adults viewed their spiritual lives as entirely 00:13:39.279 --> 00:13:42.159 private. This was so interesting to me. The remainder 00:13:42.159 --> 00:13:45.000 of Christians, 44%, tend to be more open when 00:13:45.000 --> 00:13:46.820 thinking about sharing their spiritual life and 00:13:46.820 --> 00:13:49.289 walk with others. And then it's this. Christians 00:13:49.289 --> 00:13:51.789 who view their lives as entirely private are 00:13:51.789 --> 00:13:53.649 less likely to say that it is very important 00:13:53.649 --> 00:13:56.350 to see progress in their spiritual life, that 00:13:56.350 --> 00:13:58.250 their faith is very important in their life today, 00:13:58.330 --> 00:14:01.610 and that they have weekly time with God. So again, 00:14:01.710 --> 00:14:03.929 that brings us back to there is something about 00:14:03.929 --> 00:14:05.870 sharing it when we share it, it grows, right? 00:14:06.009 --> 00:14:08.289 Christians who seek to grow in their faith and 00:14:08.289 --> 00:14:10.970 walk with Christ are more likely to do so when 00:14:10.970 --> 00:14:13.309 they're open to journeying alongside others. 00:14:13.509 --> 00:14:15.789 That includes sharing about their spiritual life 00:14:15.789 --> 00:14:18.070 so that fellow believers and friends can challenge 00:14:18.070 --> 00:14:21.610 them to grow in healthy ways. It makes the scripture 00:14:21.610 --> 00:14:23.889 we referenced earlier, remember on this, the 00:14:23.889 --> 00:14:26.710 Lord's day, thou shall offer thine offerings 00:14:26.710 --> 00:14:29.809 of time, talents, or means in service of God 00:14:29.809 --> 00:14:31.950 and fellow men. More special knowing that in 00:14:31.950 --> 00:14:34.090 worship together, we grow our faith and make 00:14:34.090 --> 00:14:36.429 more time for God. When I was listening to this, 00:14:36.450 --> 00:14:38.970 Abby, this talk this week, I just thought back 00:14:38.970 --> 00:14:42.409 on, it kind of is comfortable just to kind of 00:14:42.409 --> 00:14:44.679 keep your faith close to your heart. Kind of 00:14:44.679 --> 00:14:46.860 is comfortable and you're not going to mess up. 00:14:46.899 --> 00:14:48.039 You're not going to step on toes. You're not 00:14:48.039 --> 00:14:50.059 going to whatever. But as I read this and or 00:14:50.059 --> 00:14:52.120 listen to it, I really I feel like the spirit 00:14:52.120 --> 00:14:55.360 was really testifying to my heart that it really 00:14:55.360 --> 00:14:58.200 is a spiritual gift to be able to share that, 00:14:58.259 --> 00:15:01.059 to articulate that. And I think we're all working 00:15:01.059 --> 00:15:02.919 on that. I don't think it's comfortable for anyone. 00:15:02.980 --> 00:15:04.679 Maybe it is. Maybe there are the people are like, 00:15:04.759 --> 00:15:06.960 you're a joke. It's very comfortable for me. 00:15:07.000 --> 00:15:09.340 I practice it for so long. But I think for most 00:15:09.340 --> 00:15:12.659 of us. it's hard and we might make mistakes and 00:15:12.659 --> 00:15:14.240 we might fall but that's what spiritual gifts 00:15:14.240 --> 00:15:16.299 look like and that's what being a disciple of 00:15:16.299 --> 00:15:18.500 christ looks like is that we continue to try 00:15:18.500 --> 00:15:20.740 and we continue to lift others up and grow in 00:15:20.740 --> 00:15:23.259 that way and what's also true is like sometimes 00:15:23.259 --> 00:15:24.820 you're the one that has to prepare the lesson 00:15:24.820 --> 00:15:27.340 but just like the warm body that's come out of 00:15:27.340 --> 00:15:29.899 their comfortable home you know gotten dressed 00:15:29.899 --> 00:15:31.600 up and ready and just sitting in that chair even 00:15:31.600 --> 00:15:33.840 if they're not really wanting to or open to opening 00:15:33.840 --> 00:15:36.100 their mouths and sharing a lot just being there 00:15:36.700 --> 00:15:39.019 being a receptacle of that lesson that's being 00:15:39.019 --> 00:15:45.960 taught, it still does add to that community worship. 00:15:46.980 --> 00:15:50.960 You can still be quiet, an introvert, a wallflower, 00:15:51.139 --> 00:15:53.860 but still there. Totally. Gathering. That's like 00:15:53.860 --> 00:15:55.500 such a sign to the Lord. Like, especially if 00:15:55.500 --> 00:15:57.320 you do come from that place where you would way 00:15:57.320 --> 00:15:58.759 rather be at home and he totally knows that about 00:15:58.759 --> 00:16:01.940 you and you just show up. You know, if I'm sitting 00:16:01.940 --> 00:16:03.639 there and I'm impressed to say something and 00:16:03.639 --> 00:16:07.389 I don't, like... I need to share. Like, it's 00:16:07.389 --> 00:16:09.629 good for me to share, but sometimes I'm just 00:16:09.629 --> 00:16:13.450 content just to sit and listen. Oh, yeah. Church 00:16:13.450 --> 00:16:15.289 is where we are supported in our faith journey. 00:16:15.690 --> 00:16:17.509 Home is where our gospel efforts are centered, 00:16:17.610 --> 00:16:20.450 though. In our homes, kind of tweaked, you know, 00:16:20.529 --> 00:16:23.649 church -centered or home -centered, church -supported. 00:16:23.909 --> 00:16:26.389 But in our homes, we perform daily acts of worship. 00:16:26.570 --> 00:16:28.669 The Savior reminds us, nevertheless, thy vow 00:16:28.669 --> 00:16:30.909 shall be offered up in righteousness on all days 00:16:30.909 --> 00:16:33.580 and at all times. And we're not a church all 00:16:33.580 --> 00:16:36.039 the time. So we do know that extends to the other 00:16:36.039 --> 00:16:38.379 days of the week. We remember the Zoramites had 00:16:38.379 --> 00:16:40.580 been banned from gathering together to worship 00:16:40.580 --> 00:16:43.139 in their synagogues, but we know from that that 00:16:43.139 --> 00:16:45.100 they were instructed to worship in whatsoever 00:16:45.100 --> 00:16:48.100 place that they may be instead. Okay, let them 00:16:48.100 --> 00:16:50.440 withhold your synagogues from you, but that doesn't 00:16:50.440 --> 00:16:53.000 mean that there's not places to worship. It's 00:16:53.000 --> 00:16:55.159 nice to know that in an effort to obey the law 00:16:55.159 --> 00:16:57.240 of the land you're living in, if you're banned 00:16:57.240 --> 00:16:59.080 from worshiping together, that your individual 00:16:59.080 --> 00:17:02.460 efforts at home or inside your home you know 00:17:02.460 --> 00:17:06.480 can be made more powerful um speaking about prayer 00:17:06.480 --> 00:17:09.940 as a form of worship they say you must pour out 00:17:09.940 --> 00:17:11.980 your souls in your closets in your secret places 00:17:11.980 --> 00:17:14.380 and in your wilderness yea and when you do not 00:17:14.380 --> 00:17:16.240 cry unto the lord let your hearts be full drawn 00:17:16.240 --> 00:17:19.640 out in prayer unto him continually so these verbal 00:17:19.640 --> 00:17:21.859 prayers in these quiet places where you're not 00:17:21.859 --> 00:17:24.039 banned from doing that and in your heart if if 00:17:24.039 --> 00:17:26.480 that's where you can pray you know pray pray 00:17:26.480 --> 00:17:30.960 in your heart Just heard the news on some recent 00:17:30.960 --> 00:17:33.559 developments in China. So in July of this year, 00:17:33.599 --> 00:17:36.500 2025, Chinese officials have banned the activities 00:17:36.500 --> 00:17:38.099 of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter -day 00:17:38.099 --> 00:17:42.039 Saints in Beijing. The church has operated there 00:17:42.039 --> 00:17:44.180 for over 20 years under unofficial arrangements, 00:17:44.579 --> 00:17:47.380 but recent national crackdowns on foreign religious 00:17:47.380 --> 00:17:50.099 groups have led closure in several cities. The 00:17:50.099 --> 00:17:52.839 LDS Church, which is not among China's five legally 00:17:52.839 --> 00:17:55.640 sanctioned religions, has emphasized its intent 00:17:55.640 --> 00:17:57.769 to follow the law. Obviously, we follow the law 00:17:57.769 --> 00:18:00.490 of the land that we're in while seeking mutual 00:18:00.490 --> 00:18:02.910 understanding. So foreign members like those 00:18:02.910 --> 00:18:04.869 of the U .S. embassy staff are now unable to 00:18:04.869 --> 00:18:07.390 meet in person. And broader restrictions remain, 00:18:07.549 --> 00:18:12.849 such as separating Chinese and foreign worshipers. 00:18:12.990 --> 00:18:16.470 You know, that's always been a thing, a part 00:18:16.470 --> 00:18:18.069 of their law. Like if you're Chinese national 00:18:18.069 --> 00:18:22.130 versus. Like an expatriate. So experts view the 00:18:22.130 --> 00:18:24.069 ban as part of a larger campaign against foreign 00:18:24.069 --> 00:18:25.970 -based religions and non -governmental organizations. 00:18:26.690 --> 00:18:30.089 The situation presents a difficulty for the Chinese 00:18:30.089 --> 00:18:32.349 government because if they are to recognize the 00:18:32.349 --> 00:18:35.150 LDS government, or I'm sorry, the LDS church, 00:18:35.349 --> 00:18:37.950 it could open up the door for other world religions 00:18:37.950 --> 00:18:39.650 to seek official status. And I think they're 00:18:39.650 --> 00:18:42.440 pretty content. with the standard, with the five 00:18:42.440 --> 00:18:45.480 that they have. I mean, the ones that were recently 00:18:45.480 --> 00:18:48.400 banned apparently didn't like file like a certain 00:18:48.400 --> 00:18:50.440 paperwork or whatever that they needed to. So 00:18:50.440 --> 00:18:52.559 we understand that, like you've got to follow 00:18:52.559 --> 00:18:55.200 things to a T and follow their rules. But I was 00:18:55.200 --> 00:18:57.259 just thinking, you know, there's probably some 00:18:57.259 --> 00:18:58.920 broken hearts where they're not able to gather 00:18:58.920 --> 00:19:01.839 together. But where we're saying, and we're saying, 00:19:01.880 --> 00:19:04.019 we're saying gather and join together, it's our 00:19:04.019 --> 00:19:06.359 obligation, our duty to gather together because 00:19:06.359 --> 00:19:09.559 we benefit so much from each other. It becomes 00:19:09.559 --> 00:19:11.559 impossible to gather together. I feel like the 00:19:11.559 --> 00:19:15.759 Lord. can magnify your individual worship opportunities. 00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:19.140 If that's what's available to you, if that is 00:19:19.140 --> 00:19:20.960 the best you are doing, he will give you 100 00:19:20.960 --> 00:19:24.460 % of the blessings that he is able. And we probably 00:19:24.460 --> 00:19:26.359 all felt that at some time or another. For sure. 00:19:26.599 --> 00:19:29.400 So if you were to be in a country that banned 00:19:29.400 --> 00:19:31.640 religious gatherings, we experienced that here 00:19:31.640 --> 00:19:33.180 during COVID like we were just talking about. 00:19:33.700 --> 00:19:35.960 The message also spoke of searching the scriptures, 00:19:36.279 --> 00:19:38.500 bearing testimony of Christ, performing charitable 00:19:38.500 --> 00:19:41.210 acts and service. And receiving the Holy Ghost. 00:19:41.309 --> 00:19:43.289 So, again. Is another way of worshiping. Exactly. 00:19:43.529 --> 00:19:48.029 Yeah. I totally believe that the Lord. Those 00:19:48.029 --> 00:19:51.589 things can go, like, take, they can recharge 00:19:51.589 --> 00:19:55.150 us. Yes. As much as gathering together would 00:19:55.150 --> 00:19:57.450 have had we been able to gather. Yes. And the 00:19:57.450 --> 00:20:00.170 Lord is very creative. If there is not a way 00:20:00.170 --> 00:20:01.769 that we're able to do something that we think, 00:20:01.769 --> 00:20:03.529 like, there's only one way, like before, it's 00:20:03.529 --> 00:20:05.660 the only one. Way to go to church was to be at 00:20:05.660 --> 00:20:07.799 church. Then COVID happened. And probably for 00:20:07.799 --> 00:20:09.460 other people, other things happened. And the 00:20:09.460 --> 00:20:12.319 Lord's like, there are numerous ways for me to 00:20:12.319 --> 00:20:15.259 allow you to feel of my spirit for you to do 00:20:15.259 --> 00:20:17.720 all of these things. So I just feel that over 00:20:17.720 --> 00:20:19.960 and over again that, yes, he can compensate for 00:20:19.960 --> 00:20:23.200 that. Love it. Okay. The next concept he discussed 00:20:23.200 --> 00:20:25.700 were the attitudes and feelings that contribute 00:20:25.700 --> 00:20:29.700 to our worship. So the tale. end of the list 00:20:29.700 --> 00:20:32.259 that we were reviewing included living in thanksgiving 00:20:32.259 --> 00:20:34.660 daily like that list that you went through um 00:20:34.660 --> 00:20:37.799 the the the last thing on that list was thanksgiving 00:20:37.799 --> 00:20:39.680 daily but i was like that feels like it should 00:20:39.680 --> 00:20:41.279 go with the attitudes and feelings instead of 00:20:41.279 --> 00:20:44.200 like leading into it so do we ever just stop 00:20:44.200 --> 00:20:46.680 and think that expressing gratitude of the things 00:20:46.680 --> 00:20:49.079 that are around us is a form of worship i mean 00:20:49.079 --> 00:20:53.880 i i think i know that it I know that my feelings 00:20:53.880 --> 00:20:55.920 of gratitude for the thing strengthen my relationship 00:20:55.920 --> 00:20:58.380 with him, but it's cool to be reminded like that's 00:20:58.380 --> 00:21:00.319 a form of worship to point out the things that 00:21:00.319 --> 00:21:01.700 you're grateful for that you see around you. 00:21:02.599 --> 00:21:05.119 We have the choice to consider worship as an 00:21:05.119 --> 00:21:06.900 obligation, something we've checked off a list, 00:21:06.980 --> 00:21:11.490 a list of duties that we have, or we can. feel 00:21:11.490 --> 00:21:13.809 that our acts of worship are reprieved from the 00:21:13.809 --> 00:21:15.789 world and something that brings us joyful renewal. 00:21:16.009 --> 00:21:17.569 Did you like how I used that word, joyful renewal? 00:21:17.569 --> 00:21:20.150 Yes, of course. Honestly, thinking here of the 00:21:20.150 --> 00:21:22.829 times that I've let assignments or callings take 00:21:22.829 --> 00:21:24.990 so much out of me that I feel drained instead 00:21:24.990 --> 00:21:27.430 of joyfully renewed. And so I feel like that 00:21:27.430 --> 00:21:30.210 was an opportunity to reassess the things that 00:21:30.210 --> 00:21:32.750 I'm doing and simplify when appropriate. Like 00:21:32.750 --> 00:21:35.509 if you're not feeling recharged after your efforts, 00:21:38.170 --> 00:21:40.230 Is there an opportunity to simplify it so that 00:21:40.230 --> 00:21:42.990 we can feel joyfully renewed instead? That's 00:21:42.990 --> 00:21:45.230 a great question, Abby. Is the extra things that 00:21:45.230 --> 00:21:47.390 we're doing, drawing us closer to Jesus Christ, 00:21:47.529 --> 00:21:50.150 were they really necessary? I'm fine being exhausted 00:21:50.150 --> 00:21:52.890 if those efforts were like really impactful. 00:21:53.250 --> 00:21:57.390 Totally. Like FSY. Yes. I'm exhausted. Like the 00:21:57.390 --> 00:21:59.269 sleep that you get after like a week long of 00:21:59.269 --> 00:22:02.970 that is insane. But I'm totally aware that that's 00:22:02.970 --> 00:22:04.210 going to be the thing. And I'm totally happy 00:22:04.210 --> 00:22:06.039 to give that. Because it's not like my whole 00:22:06.039 --> 00:22:07.960 life. And you signed up two more times after 00:22:07.960 --> 00:22:10.019 the first one. Yeah, like I'll sign up as much 00:22:10.019 --> 00:22:13.079 as they'll ever let me. So great. And plus, my 00:22:13.079 --> 00:22:14.980 responsibility is way minimal compared to these 00:22:14.980 --> 00:22:17.759 poor counselors and leaders, these youth leaders 00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:22.140 that they have. But again, they do it fully aware 00:22:22.140 --> 00:22:24.940 that that's what they can offer to the Lord in 00:22:24.940 --> 00:22:27.559 that season of their life. I love that. True 00:22:27.559 --> 00:22:30.000 worship means loving God and yielding our will 00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:32.529 to Him. the most precious gift we can offer. 00:22:32.950 --> 00:22:35.170 This was the pattern of Jesus' own worship of 00:22:35.170 --> 00:22:37.089 the Father. His life and his atoning sacrifice 00:22:37.089 --> 00:22:40.069 were dedicated to the glory of the Father. Poignantly, 00:22:40.130 --> 00:22:44.990 we remember Jesus' heart -rending plea in the 00:22:44.990 --> 00:22:47.289 midst of unimaginable suffering and anguish. 00:22:47.569 --> 00:22:50.269 He says, O my Father, if it be possible, let 00:22:50.269 --> 00:22:53.170 this cup pass from me. But then he's submissive. 00:22:54.130 --> 00:22:57.509 Nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt. 00:22:58.009 --> 00:23:00.430 Each day we can choose to offer for a sacrifice 00:23:00.430 --> 00:23:03.410 unto him of a broken heart and a contrite spirit. 00:23:03.730 --> 00:23:05.789 Isn't that cool? Each day we can do that? Yeah. 00:23:06.170 --> 00:23:08.410 If we mess that up one day, it's fine. The next 00:23:08.410 --> 00:23:10.569 day is going to come. We have another chance. 00:23:10.650 --> 00:23:11.869 It's kind of hard for black and white thinking, 00:23:11.950 --> 00:23:13.430 but when you remember that, you're like, oh yeah, 00:23:13.509 --> 00:23:17.490 every day. Yes, every day is a new day. His third 00:23:17.490 --> 00:23:19.809 point was about the exclusivity of our worship. 00:23:19.849 --> 00:23:21.289 And like you said, that's the one that peaked 00:23:21.289 --> 00:23:23.230 our ears as he was starting it. And it's the 00:23:23.230 --> 00:23:25.130 one that I wanted to dig the most into. He totally 00:23:25.130 --> 00:23:27.470 did it on purpose. Yeah. What does he mean? Are 00:23:27.470 --> 00:23:32.069 we exclusive? D &C, one talks about, this is 00:23:32.069 --> 00:23:34.160 the quote from there. they have strayed from 00:23:34.160 --> 00:23:36.019 mine ordinances and have broken my everlasting 00:23:36.019 --> 00:23:38.400 covenant they seek not the lord to establish 00:23:38.400 --> 00:23:40.559 his righteousness but every man walketh in his 00:23:40.559 --> 00:23:42.920 own way and after the image of his own god whose 00:23:42.920 --> 00:23:45.859 image is the likeness of the world and recounts 00:23:45.859 --> 00:23:47.859 the story of shadrach meshach and abednego because 00:23:47.859 --> 00:23:51.160 from them we learned that when we put our trust 00:23:51.160 --> 00:23:56.119 in the one true god anything that um anything 00:23:56.119 --> 00:23:59.279 that we let take precedence of in a in another 00:23:59.279 --> 00:24:03.509 way is like worshiping is is idol worship one 00:24:03.509 --> 00:24:07.109 who places loyalty to a party or cause ahead 00:24:07.109 --> 00:24:09.529 of divine direction is worshiping a false god 00:24:09.529 --> 00:24:13.130 even those who purport to worship god but don't 00:24:13.130 --> 00:24:15.049 keep his commandments are walking in their own 00:24:15.049 --> 00:24:17.730 way they say they draw near to me with their 00:24:17.730 --> 00:24:20.220 lips but their hearts are far from me So the 00:24:20.220 --> 00:24:23.740 object of our worship is exclusively the only 00:24:23.740 --> 00:24:27.200 true God and Jesus Christ whom he has sent. There 00:24:27.200 --> 00:24:30.839 it goes. I like that because it's not a list 00:24:30.839 --> 00:24:32.339 of what those things look like, but it's like 00:24:32.339 --> 00:24:34.180 anything that takes our focus away from them. 00:24:34.779 --> 00:24:38.480 Absolutely. Abby, I love any time that a talk 00:24:38.480 --> 00:24:41.779 references scripture stories because it kind 00:24:41.779 --> 00:24:43.480 of like takes you back to it. You remember it 00:24:43.480 --> 00:24:46.519 again. One of my absolute favorites is this one 00:24:46.519 --> 00:24:48.960 with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Just because 00:24:48.960 --> 00:24:51.460 like when you go back and read it, you know, 00:24:51.460 --> 00:24:53.000 if you take the time to do that and you just 00:24:53.000 --> 00:24:58.460 remember like this was a dire situation. They 00:24:58.460 --> 00:25:02.319 had no assumption that anything other than being 00:25:02.319 --> 00:25:04.779 burned alive was going to be happening to them. 00:25:04.880 --> 00:25:08.230 And I love it. Still didn't deny it. Right? When 00:25:08.230 --> 00:25:10.809 you read that, you're like, holy cow, like that, 00:25:10.869 --> 00:25:14.190 reading that scripture story puts into my heart 00:25:14.190 --> 00:25:17.730 like a firmer conviction to have that type of 00:25:17.730 --> 00:25:20.099 faith in Jesus Christ and in my God. You know 00:25:20.099 --> 00:25:22.619 what I mean? And for everyone, like I hope my 00:25:22.619 --> 00:25:24.359 children to have that. Anyway, I just love that 00:25:24.359 --> 00:25:26.460 story. Anytime it's talked about or referenced, 00:25:26.579 --> 00:25:30.380 it makes my heart happy. Okay, so his fourth 00:25:30.380 --> 00:25:34.099 and final point of worship is this idea that 00:25:34.099 --> 00:25:36.180 as we come to know the Father and the Son, our 00:25:36.180 --> 00:25:38.619 worship should cause us to want to emulate the 00:25:38.619 --> 00:25:40.880 things they did. Ultimately, how we live may 00:25:40.880 --> 00:25:44.339 be the best, most genuine form of worship. Cultivating 00:25:44.339 --> 00:25:47.000 their attributes and character in ourselves is 00:25:47.000 --> 00:25:50.079 the most sincere. form of worship. I love this, 00:25:50.079 --> 00:25:52.380 that he added this too. It's very good. As the 00:25:52.380 --> 00:25:55.720 saying goes, imitation is the sincerest form 00:25:55.720 --> 00:25:58.759 of flattery. With respect to deity, emulation 00:25:58.759 --> 00:26:02.660 is the sincerest form of veneration. Now he sounds 00:26:02.660 --> 00:26:06.920 like President Nelson. Or Oaks. Yes, he does. 00:26:07.259 --> 00:26:11.559 So good. This means to me that we've studied 00:26:11.559 --> 00:26:15.119 enough to know the true nature of Heavenly Father 00:26:15.119 --> 00:26:18.500 and His Son, Jesus Christ. And we don't naturally 00:26:18.500 --> 00:26:21.119 come by those characteristics on our own. But 00:26:21.119 --> 00:26:23.700 implementing them. And emulating, yeah. Yeah, 00:26:23.720 --> 00:26:26.420 implementing them despite the opposition that 00:26:26.420 --> 00:26:28.339 we're facing because of those natural man tendencies 00:26:28.339 --> 00:26:31.259 we have in an act of sustained effort on our 00:26:31.259 --> 00:26:34.700 part helps us to see holiness. And in doing so, 00:26:34.700 --> 00:26:39.519 we become more Christ -like. And this is because 00:26:39.519 --> 00:26:43.079 of our acts of worship. True worship is transformative. 00:26:44.569 --> 00:26:47.470 I love it too, because in the last podcast we 00:26:47.470 --> 00:26:50.089 did, I was trying to get at this point. And when 00:26:50.089 --> 00:26:52.329 I reread this talk, I'm like, he said it perfectly. 00:26:52.789 --> 00:26:55.410 But it's like, you stay tuned on the next talk. 00:26:55.509 --> 00:26:57.950 It's going to come. Yes. Yes. It is so good. 00:26:58.069 --> 00:27:00.910 It's exactly it. In doing so, we become like 00:27:00.910 --> 00:27:03.630 Christ. Love that. The covenant path, the path 00:27:03.630 --> 00:27:06.009 of worship, love, and loyalty to God begins with 00:27:06.009 --> 00:27:08.470 baptism, taking upon us the name of Christ and 00:27:08.470 --> 00:27:10.750 keeping his commandments. We receive the gift 00:27:10.750 --> 00:27:13.289 of the Holy Ghost, the messenger of the Savior's 00:27:13.289 --> 00:27:15.720 grace that redeems and cleanses us from sin as 00:27:15.720 --> 00:27:19.079 we repent we could even say that in repenting 00:27:19.079 --> 00:27:21.720 we are worshiping him oh absolutely right because 00:27:21.720 --> 00:27:23.660 we're turning to him and we're also seeing that 00:27:23.660 --> 00:27:26.279 he is actually transforming our lives for the 00:27:26.279 --> 00:27:30.430 better Therefore, follow additional priesthood 00:27:30.430 --> 00:27:32.309 ordinances and covenants made in the house of 00:27:32.309 --> 00:27:34.910 the Lord that further sanctify us. The ceremonies 00:27:34.910 --> 00:27:36.930 and also ordinances of the temple constitute 00:27:36.930 --> 00:27:39.509 an elevated form of worship. President Russell 00:27:39.509 --> 00:27:41.829 M. Nelson has emphasized that every man and every 00:27:41.829 --> 00:27:45.250 woman who participates in priesthood ordinances 00:27:45.250 --> 00:27:47.250 and who makes and keeps covenants with God has 00:27:47.250 --> 00:27:50.650 direct access to the power of God. I love this. 00:27:51.479 --> 00:27:53.380 I love all the things we've talked about today 00:27:53.380 --> 00:27:56.579 and just the different quotes from the brethren 00:27:56.579 --> 00:27:59.059 and the different scripture stories they brought 00:27:59.059 --> 00:28:03.160 to mind. Yes. Now, an action item. Abby, do you 00:28:03.160 --> 00:28:04.539 have something else to say? I was just thinking 00:28:04.539 --> 00:28:07.299 of an action item right here. What is one way 00:28:07.299 --> 00:28:09.559 that... I might tweak what I'm doing to improve 00:28:09.559 --> 00:28:11.720 my worship. I love that. That's a great way to 00:28:11.720 --> 00:28:14.240 synthesize it. It's like this talk, as you're 00:28:14.240 --> 00:28:16.140 listening to it, you may think, yes, I'm doing 00:28:16.140 --> 00:28:17.839 those things. I'm seeing the benefits of making 00:28:17.839 --> 00:28:21.039 my worship not just a Sunday experience and not 00:28:21.039 --> 00:28:22.880 just a home experience, but the fusion of both 00:28:22.880 --> 00:28:26.079 as far as we're able to, permitted to, given 00:28:26.079 --> 00:28:27.900 the confines of governments that we're in or 00:28:27.900 --> 00:28:31.900 whatever. But I love that idea that we might 00:28:31.900 --> 00:28:36.190 think, maybe I can be a little bit more. receptive 00:28:36.190 --> 00:28:38.109 as this emblems of the sacrament or during the 00:28:38.109 --> 00:28:40.289 prayer or maybe i'm more intentional about my 00:28:40.289 --> 00:28:42.990 time in the scriptures yeah whatever it is it 00:28:42.990 --> 00:28:45.299 doesn't There's a million things that we could 00:28:45.299 --> 00:28:47.140 be doing, maybe more acts of service during the 00:28:47.140 --> 00:28:50.140 week. I like the idea of just picking one way 00:28:50.140 --> 00:28:52.359 to tweak that. And it's like whatever comes to 00:28:52.359 --> 00:28:54.259 your mind, I just take that and run with that 00:28:54.259 --> 00:28:57.000 because I also feel like that is the Spirit telling 00:28:57.000 --> 00:28:59.140 me that and the Lord knows what blessings I need 00:28:59.140 --> 00:29:01.839 coming up. Well, you've had that impression, 00:29:01.920 --> 00:29:03.859 like you said, that you were usually more hesitant 00:29:03.859 --> 00:29:06.279 to share and speak up in church. And so you kind 00:29:06.279 --> 00:29:07.980 of just sit. It was about bearing your testimony 00:29:07.980 --> 00:29:10.690 or something. And then back in the day, this 00:29:10.690 --> 00:29:13.890 was years ago, but just that one, that one small 00:29:13.890 --> 00:29:15.650 tweak that it was like, Amy, you've got a testimony 00:29:15.650 --> 00:29:17.190 of me and I'd like you to share it. Like there's 00:29:17.190 --> 00:29:18.890 somebody that needs to hear that. Yeah, it's 00:29:18.890 --> 00:29:22.309 fine. Like, don't let, don't let your probably 00:29:22.309 --> 00:29:24.710 going to cry that that embarrasses you. But he's 00:29:24.710 --> 00:29:26.170 like, that's not embarrassing to me. Like, I 00:29:26.170 --> 00:29:27.549 just need you to share your testimony. And you've 00:29:27.549 --> 00:29:29.410 done that thing. And you've been able to be way 00:29:29.410 --> 00:29:32.390 more open about sharing your testimony at that 00:29:32.390 --> 00:29:34.990 point. And I can think of a million things that 00:29:34.990 --> 00:29:39.349 he's done to tweak me, you know. And there's 00:29:39.349 --> 00:29:41.250 a lot more room that I can improve. I'm not going 00:29:41.250 --> 00:29:43.769 to feel overwhelmed and like devastated by all 00:29:43.769 --> 00:29:45.430 the things that I could be doing. I like this 00:29:45.430 --> 00:29:49.289 action item. Pick one thing to tweak this week 00:29:49.289 --> 00:29:51.829 or for the next little bit that you can tweak 00:29:51.829 --> 00:29:54.349 your worship. And you know, I mean, the gospel 00:29:54.349 --> 00:29:57.980 is so, it's so full. There are so many aspects 00:29:57.980 --> 00:30:01.779 of it. And to be honest, I'm not 100 % all the 00:30:01.779 --> 00:30:04.200 time thinking, what's the one thing I can tweak 00:30:04.200 --> 00:30:06.880 in my Sunday worship to be closer to God? So 00:30:06.880 --> 00:30:09.099 I really appreciate talks like this that focus 00:30:09.099 --> 00:30:12.759 on one aspect of it, because as we... But you 00:30:12.759 --> 00:30:14.759 said Sunday worship, and so the only thing I 00:30:14.759 --> 00:30:17.210 would click on that... Yeah, like, yeah, seven 00:30:17.210 --> 00:30:20.190 days. Yeah, my worship week is seven days long. 00:30:20.349 --> 00:30:22.849 Yes. And so like, but just that, it's like, as 00:30:22.849 --> 00:30:26.029 we visit every single talk, we get a full picture 00:30:26.029 --> 00:30:27.690 of all of the things that we can be doing. So 00:30:27.690 --> 00:30:29.789 I do love that. I have the same sentiment as 00:30:29.789 --> 00:30:31.829 you. I don't want to be overwhelmed with a list 00:30:31.829 --> 00:30:33.289 and be like, shoot, because really, if we were 00:30:33.289 --> 00:30:35.230 looking at all the things I'm not doing, that 00:30:35.230 --> 00:30:37.630 could be a cause for depression. However, just 00:30:37.630 --> 00:30:40.809 doing one. special tweak, one little tweak, that's 00:30:40.809 --> 00:30:43.230 it, then I feel very hopeful in that. And even 00:30:43.230 --> 00:30:44.970 opening that up to the heavens, like Heavenly 00:30:44.970 --> 00:30:47.470 Father, like I have a desire to be more worshipful. 00:30:47.609 --> 00:30:49.710 What's one thing you can see that I can improve 00:30:49.710 --> 00:30:51.569 on? And you let him give you some guidance on 00:30:51.569 --> 00:30:53.569 picking the one thing. Yeah. Kind of helps put 00:30:53.569 --> 00:30:55.390 the other ones on the shelf and like not be so 00:30:55.390 --> 00:30:57.910 noisy. Now, what I know to be true is when you 00:30:57.910 --> 00:31:00.650 focus on the thing that you're impressed to focus 00:31:00.650 --> 00:31:03.369 on, sometimes the things that you've shelved 00:31:03.369 --> 00:31:05.769 just kind of magically take care of themselves. 00:31:06.029 --> 00:31:08.740 Yeah. Like that one time when I moved here and 00:31:08.740 --> 00:31:10.140 I was praying about all these different things 00:31:10.140 --> 00:31:12.299 and I just felt that I didn't hear any words, 00:31:12.400 --> 00:31:15.359 but I felt the words in my heart. What if it's 00:31:15.359 --> 00:31:17.539 all the same mountain? And I was like, thank 00:31:17.539 --> 00:31:20.019 you. That's a good one. Of course it is. And 00:31:20.019 --> 00:31:21.920 it might have come up in the podcast, but it 00:31:21.920 --> 00:31:23.380 might have come up in another podcast or another 00:31:23.380 --> 00:31:26.000 conversation. But the gist of somebody being 00:31:26.000 --> 00:31:27.779 like, I don't read my scriptures. My mom didn't 00:31:27.779 --> 00:31:29.420 read her scriptures. And the mom was like, what? 00:31:29.950 --> 00:31:32.170 I definitely read my scriptures. I got up really 00:31:32.170 --> 00:31:33.910 early in the morning before the kids were up. 00:31:33.990 --> 00:31:35.869 Did you hear the same conversation? No, but this 00:31:35.869 --> 00:31:37.869 wasn't anything podcast related. But the gist 00:31:37.869 --> 00:31:40.210 of it was the mom's like, I got up before like 00:31:40.210 --> 00:31:42.910 things were crazy. Oh, you know who it was? It 00:31:42.910 --> 00:31:45.299 was Al Carraway. Pretty sure, you know, the cute 00:31:45.299 --> 00:31:47.519 tattooed Mormon is what she calls herself, I 00:31:47.519 --> 00:31:50.940 think. I'm pretty sure it was her thing that 00:31:50.940 --> 00:31:53.180 I was watching. And so she makes it a point to 00:31:53.180 --> 00:31:55.220 get her scriptures out and like the kids will 00:31:55.220 --> 00:31:57.799 like hang on her and see her. But she's in her 00:31:57.799 --> 00:31:59.400 scriptures and she says oftentimes they'll go 00:31:59.400 --> 00:32:01.440 get their own little books or scriptury things 00:32:01.440 --> 00:32:03.579 and they'll come in and worship with her. And 00:32:03.579 --> 00:32:06.039 so I thought, yeah, it makes sense to maximize 00:32:06.039 --> 00:32:07.640 your time as a mom to do it in the early hours 00:32:07.640 --> 00:32:10.569 before your kids can see you. And I get that, 00:32:10.650 --> 00:32:12.670 but it's also okay to have a very distracted, 00:32:13.109 --> 00:32:17.069 disjointed worship time. If that's what stage 00:32:17.069 --> 00:32:19.569 of life you're in. Well, because then your kids 00:32:19.569 --> 00:32:22.549 see that that's what matters to you. And so like 00:32:22.549 --> 00:32:24.970 we've talked in other podcasts about making laundry 00:32:24.970 --> 00:32:27.710 sacred, you know, like you're listening to the 00:32:27.710 --> 00:32:29.230 scriptures or listening to a conversation, reflecting 00:32:29.230 --> 00:32:31.369 on something, you know, that's definitely during 00:32:31.369 --> 00:32:32.930 those waking hours, the kids are around, they 00:32:32.930 --> 00:32:36.970 know, you know, they know that. When I have a 00:32:36.970 --> 00:32:39.250 few minutes to spare, that's something that I 00:32:39.250 --> 00:32:41.009 like to do. It's not the only thing I do. I do 00:32:41.009 --> 00:32:43.390 also listen to music, or there are other podcasts 00:32:43.390 --> 00:32:46.470 out there, Murder Mysteries or whatever. It doesn't 00:32:46.470 --> 00:32:51.789 have to be just gospel all the time, but even 00:32:51.789 --> 00:32:55.369 if it's not in a gospel podcast every hour of 00:32:55.369 --> 00:32:58.750 every day, the general feeling in your home can 00:32:58.750 --> 00:33:02.710 be one of joyful worship and a rejuvenating atmosphere 00:33:02.710 --> 00:33:04.529 because of all of the little things that are 00:33:04.529 --> 00:33:08.079 happening. I agree, Abby. Absolutely. You feel 00:33:08.079 --> 00:33:09.720 like you've shared everything you wanted to? 00:33:09.900 --> 00:33:15.599 I do. Okay. I was just thinking, as I was listening 00:33:15.599 --> 00:33:17.640 to this talk and thinking on it, the efforts 00:33:17.640 --> 00:33:19.500 that I put into my individual worship during 00:33:19.500 --> 00:33:23.539 the week magnify me as an individual, and it 00:33:23.539 --> 00:33:25.920 helps me come prepared on Sundays. I gather to 00:33:25.920 --> 00:33:28.200 worship with others, with friends, and with the 00:33:28.200 --> 00:33:30.640 people around me. It gives me something to offer 00:33:30.640 --> 00:33:33.319 and to share. But the follow -up to that is that 00:33:33.319 --> 00:33:36.579 when I go, on Sundays, other people have also 00:33:36.579 --> 00:33:38.319 done that same preparation. They fill my cup 00:33:38.319 --> 00:33:41.200 too. They share insights from their personal 00:33:41.200 --> 00:33:44.440 studies and their worship activities that I can't, 00:33:44.440 --> 00:33:47.440 that, you know, in a different way or their perspective 00:33:47.440 --> 00:33:49.240 on it or their way that they testify of it. It's 00:33:49.240 --> 00:33:50.980 just something that I can't duplicate. Amy and 00:33:50.980 --> 00:33:52.779 I are in primary and the primary presidency just 00:33:52.779 --> 00:33:55.559 implemented on Fast Sundays. Like instead of 00:33:55.559 --> 00:33:58.599 doing a scripture and a talk, it's like a little 00:33:58.599 --> 00:34:01.339 three to five minute primary testimony meeting. 00:34:01.559 --> 00:34:04.339 So cute. It was the cutest thing. And I'm like, 00:34:04.799 --> 00:34:07.740 Yeah, COVID church at home wasn't the worst thing 00:34:07.740 --> 00:34:10.119 in the world. Kind of loved it. But like that 00:34:10.119 --> 00:34:12.719 moment, the cute little voices coming from the 00:34:12.719 --> 00:34:14.099 pulpit and the sweet little truths that they 00:34:14.099 --> 00:34:16.380 bore. I'm like, I can't duplicate that on my 00:34:16.380 --> 00:34:18.699 own. And it just added to my, oh, I love this 00:34:18.699 --> 00:34:21.639 gospel and the joy that it brings me. It was 00:34:21.639 --> 00:34:23.940 very sweet. It was awesome. I was looking forward 00:34:23.940 --> 00:34:25.280 to it when they announced it last Sunday and 00:34:25.280 --> 00:34:27.059 it was everything I thought it would be today. 00:34:27.159 --> 00:34:29.480 I'm like, thank you for putting me in the primary 00:34:29.480 --> 00:34:33.159 right now. And I'll wrap it up with his testimony. 00:34:34.170 --> 00:34:36.190 May we, as the ancient Nephites and Lamanites, 00:34:36.289 --> 00:34:38.369 fall down at the feet of Jesus and worship Him. 00:34:38.449 --> 00:34:42.329 May we, as commanded by Jesus, fall down and 00:34:42.329 --> 00:34:44.789 worship the Father in the name of the Son. May 00:34:44.789 --> 00:34:47.210 we receive the Holy Spirit and yield our hearts 00:34:47.210 --> 00:34:50.070 to God, have no other gods before Him, and as 00:34:50.070 --> 00:34:52.510 disciples of Jesus Christ, emulate His character 00:34:52.510 --> 00:34:56.369 in our own lives. I testify that as we do, we 00:34:56.369 --> 00:34:59.590 will experience joy in worship. And He does this 00:34:59.590 --> 00:35:01.780 in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Thank you 00:35:01.780 --> 00:35:03.500 so much for being with us today. Thank you for 00:35:03.500 --> 00:35:05.199 taking a minute to worship, whether you're hearing 00:35:05.199 --> 00:35:07.179 this on a Sunday or a Thursday or whatever day 00:35:07.179 --> 00:35:10.179 of the week it is. We appreciate you for being 00:35:10.179 --> 00:35:12.900 here with us. That's a wrap. Amen. See you next 00:35:12.900 --> 00:35:13.199 time.