WEBVTT 00:00:02.159 --> 00:00:04.379 Welcome to Closer to Christ through General Conference, 00:00:04.580 --> 00:00:06.559 where two friends who love Jesus share our own 00:00:06.559 --> 00:00:08.240 approach to studying the most recent General 00:00:08.240 --> 00:00:11.359 Conference talks. This is Abby and Amy. Let's 00:00:11.359 --> 00:00:31.530 jump into it. Today we're talking about Do Your 00:00:31.530 --> 00:00:34.009 Part With All Your Heart. This is by Elder Dieter 00:00:34.009 --> 00:00:36.869 F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. 00:00:36.990 --> 00:00:39.250 Thank you so much for being here with us today. 00:00:39.390 --> 00:00:41.170 Abby, it's great to see you. It's good to be 00:00:41.170 --> 00:00:44.210 here. So this talk starts with a classic airplane 00:00:44.210 --> 00:00:46.030 story because, of course, President Uchtdorf, 00:00:46.149 --> 00:00:48.549 he was invited to try. I love this. I laughed 00:00:48.549 --> 00:00:50.590 through it. He was invited to try out the flight 00:00:50.590 --> 00:00:53.390 simulator that he had done regularly in his career 00:00:53.390 --> 00:00:56.170 as a pilot. But it had been many years since 00:00:56.170 --> 00:00:58.890 his last experience. So he said of this invitation, 00:00:59.170 --> 00:01:01.409 before I had time to fully process the question, 00:01:01.609 --> 00:01:04.150 I heard a voice sounding astonishing like my 00:01:04.150 --> 00:01:07.590 own saying. Yes, I would like that very much. 00:01:08.329 --> 00:01:12.010 He had a reputation to protect and an ego to 00:01:12.010 --> 00:01:16.049 protect. What once had been second nature to 00:01:16.049 --> 00:01:19.530 him when he was regularly flying now took every 00:01:19.530 --> 00:01:22.569 bit of his concentration. What's the lesson he 00:01:22.569 --> 00:01:25.010 learned from this experience? It's really an 00:01:25.010 --> 00:01:27.250 important reminder that getting good at anything 00:01:27.250 --> 00:01:30.510 takes consistent self -discipline and practice. 00:01:30.870 --> 00:01:34.540 Such a good lesson. So good. All of us can think 00:01:34.540 --> 00:01:36.159 back to a skill that we put a lot of time and 00:01:36.159 --> 00:01:39.040 effort into acquiring. For sure. Maybe the use 00:01:39.040 --> 00:01:40.780 of an instrument. Maybe you learn to speak another 00:01:40.780 --> 00:01:45.099 language. Maybe you're a pilot yourself. Canning, 00:01:45.099 --> 00:01:47.260 crocheting, sewing, public speaking. The list 00:01:47.260 --> 00:01:49.430 could go on and on. just a myriad of talents 00:01:49.430 --> 00:01:51.849 that people could possess. And sometimes you 00:01:51.849 --> 00:01:55.010 put so much effort into this that you don't think 00:01:55.010 --> 00:01:58.090 that, you know, you'll ever lose that. But if 00:01:58.090 --> 00:02:00.049 you set it aside for a while and then try to 00:02:00.049 --> 00:02:02.510 pick it up, you know, after the time that you're 00:02:02.510 --> 00:02:05.989 not doing it regularly, it's with difficulty 00:02:05.989 --> 00:02:09.569 when you come back to it. You're rusty. The skills 00:02:09.569 --> 00:02:12.849 of atrophied and it's that consistency that we 00:02:12.849 --> 00:02:15.900 need to keep. sharp on the things that we want 00:02:15.900 --> 00:02:19.219 to maintain like sharpness and being good at. 00:02:19.439 --> 00:02:23.680 So what a great backdrop to talk about the idea 00:02:23.680 --> 00:02:25.599 that President Uchtdorf wanted to share. And 00:02:25.599 --> 00:02:29.539 it's the idea that to be a disciple of Jesus 00:02:29.539 --> 00:02:32.639 Christ takes that same consistent daily effort. 00:02:33.879 --> 00:02:37.300 What a great reminder that discipleship does 00:02:37.300 --> 00:02:40.180 take self -discipline, just like anything else 00:02:40.180 --> 00:02:43.139 we want to be good at. Discipleship is not a 00:02:43.139 --> 00:02:45.699 casual endeavor, and it doesn't happen just by 00:02:45.699 --> 00:02:48.919 accident. We have faith in Jesus Christ. Make 00:02:48.919 --> 00:02:50.900 a choice to commit our might in our mind and 00:02:50.900 --> 00:02:52.900 strength to the Savior with multiple small acts, 00:02:53.000 --> 00:02:54.520 right? It's just the small things that we do 00:02:54.520 --> 00:02:56.800 every single day consistently. We're continually 00:02:56.800 --> 00:02:59.120 learning and growing to know the Savior that 00:02:59.120 --> 00:03:01.840 we follow. We anticipate opposition from Satan 00:03:01.840 --> 00:03:04.060 and find that as we rely on the Lord in those 00:03:04.060 --> 00:03:06.879 trials, we come to know and depend on him on 00:03:06.879 --> 00:03:09.840 a deeper level and are then able to apply those 00:03:09.840 --> 00:03:12.780 lessons to others that we experience or maybe 00:03:12.780 --> 00:03:15.139 to others who will have those same trials. We 00:03:15.139 --> 00:03:17.780 constantly nourish. And day by day, we affirm 00:03:17.780 --> 00:03:20.520 that we are a disciple of Christ. It's true. 00:03:20.560 --> 00:03:23.060 It is little by little. It is day by day. And 00:03:23.060 --> 00:03:25.740 it's not the whole, you know, it's kind of like 00:03:25.740 --> 00:03:30.360 the water, how the water cut the canal or the 00:03:30.360 --> 00:03:32.300 opening in the Grand Canyon. It didn't happen 00:03:32.300 --> 00:03:35.000 overnight. It's small, consistent acts. It's 00:03:35.000 --> 00:03:39.780 His way. Line upon line. Baby steps. With our 00:03:39.780 --> 00:03:42.960 agency, you know, what other choice do we have? 00:03:43.360 --> 00:03:46.569 Faith has the convincing power. To convince us 00:03:46.569 --> 00:03:48.969 to act. If we don't act, we become less certain 00:03:48.969 --> 00:03:50.889 of the things that we once knew beyond a shadow 00:03:50.889 --> 00:03:53.229 of a doubt. The things that we once recognized 00:03:53.229 --> 00:03:55.770 as deterrence to the covenant path now all of 00:03:55.770 --> 00:03:57.889 a sudden look appealing. And the things we once 00:03:57.889 --> 00:04:02.050 held dear, we set aside and ignore until they 00:04:02.050 --> 00:04:06.050 can become completely forgotten. I can see that. 00:04:06.330 --> 00:04:10.860 And what can we do to choose discipleship? become 00:04:10.860 --> 00:04:13.219 a little more like him every day. He taught the 00:04:13.219 --> 00:04:14.840 way in one of his parables about the talents. 00:04:15.039 --> 00:04:17.779 So we've all heard this story. Those that use 00:04:17.779 --> 00:04:19.879 their talents kept or increased them. And then 00:04:19.879 --> 00:04:22.160 those who buried or didn't use the talent lost 00:04:22.160 --> 00:04:25.420 them. Pretty much the same principle in our lives. 00:04:25.600 --> 00:04:29.000 We were each born with special gifts, God -given 00:04:29.000 --> 00:04:31.519 gifts. And why do we have these gifts, Abby? 00:04:31.970 --> 00:04:34.629 Good question to ask ourselves. Sometimes the 00:04:34.629 --> 00:04:36.290 biggest challenge is knowing what those gifts 00:04:36.290 --> 00:04:39.250 are. That's true. Think back to a couple of weeks 00:04:39.250 --> 00:04:42.949 ago when we talked about encouraging us to get 00:04:42.949 --> 00:04:44.389 our praise vertically instead of horizontally. 00:04:44.930 --> 00:04:46.790 Sometimes when we're looking at developing gifts, 00:04:46.930 --> 00:04:50.290 is it with the intent that the guy to our left 00:04:50.290 --> 00:04:51.949 and the guy to our right is like, oh man, you're 00:04:51.949 --> 00:04:54.769 doing so great? Or are we trying to acquire those 00:04:54.769 --> 00:04:57.149 gifts so that we can do God's work and we get 00:04:57.149 --> 00:05:01.269 the vertical praise from those things? We need 00:05:01.269 --> 00:05:02.790 different gifts at different times in our lives, 00:05:02.829 --> 00:05:05.370 kind of depending on what season we're in, what 00:05:05.370 --> 00:05:08.149 callings we're trying to balance. And I would 00:05:08.149 --> 00:05:10.269 say patriarchal blessings are a really valuable 00:05:10.269 --> 00:05:14.750 place to see and understand what gifts you might 00:05:14.750 --> 00:05:17.170 have that are going to help you accomplish some 00:05:17.170 --> 00:05:22.089 of your purposes on earth. And I would say different 00:05:22.089 --> 00:05:25.470 callings that I've had. It's not like, oh, they 00:05:25.470 --> 00:05:27.589 called me to that. Good. I can use this great 00:05:27.589 --> 00:05:29.670 gift that I had. Most of the time I feel way 00:05:29.670 --> 00:05:32.029 underprepared, way inadequate for it. Yeah. And 00:05:32.029 --> 00:05:34.329 then I get to see different gifts magnified because 00:05:34.329 --> 00:05:38.170 I'll do my part in that calling. And what a neat 00:05:38.170 --> 00:05:41.490 way to, like you said, like I'm giving you this 00:05:41.490 --> 00:05:43.670 little talent. The talent of saying yes to the 00:05:43.670 --> 00:05:45.269 calling, even though you feel underprepared. 00:05:45.410 --> 00:05:47.649 And then what can I do with it? You know, help 00:05:47.649 --> 00:05:50.569 you see to delegate, help you have the gift of 00:05:50.569 --> 00:05:54.189 knowing who's. prepared to help you in this calling, 00:05:54.310 --> 00:05:57.329 in this aspect. For sure. Right? Yes. Callings 00:05:57.329 --> 00:05:59.750 are huge and a big, big help for that, for helping 00:05:59.750 --> 00:06:03.879 to... understand what your spiritual gifts are. 00:06:03.920 --> 00:06:05.860 And also, like you said, how we need different 00:06:05.860 --> 00:06:07.540 gifts at different times. I was just talking 00:06:07.540 --> 00:06:11.240 to Bailey, my daughter this today, and she is 00:06:11.240 --> 00:06:14.399 the Relief Society president of a single adult 00:06:14.399 --> 00:06:17.019 boards, like, you know, anyway, she was saying, 00:06:17.040 --> 00:06:20.220 mom, on my, on the way to my lesson, on the way 00:06:20.220 --> 00:06:23.639 to my meetings today, I was praying and I asked 00:06:23.639 --> 00:06:25.379 the Lord to please help me not to be awkward 00:06:25.379 --> 00:06:28.240 and not say things because it's like, she's not. 00:06:28.649 --> 00:06:30.930 uh generally out there talking to everyone but 00:06:30.930 --> 00:06:32.889 she puts herself out there because she does care 00:06:32.889 --> 00:06:35.170 and she wants to say things but anyway so i said 00:06:35.170 --> 00:06:38.310 you know what you are absolutely entitled to 00:06:38.310 --> 00:06:40.670 claim that blessing because you're doing this 00:06:40.670 --> 00:06:42.949 because you love god and you love your fellow 00:06:42.949 --> 00:06:45.269 man and so yeah he could totally bless you to 00:06:45.269 --> 00:06:47.970 be less awkward or just know what to say that 00:06:47.970 --> 00:06:49.769 would be something that would help someone else 00:06:49.769 --> 00:06:54.060 or She may say awkward things and feel less sick 00:06:54.060 --> 00:06:55.819 about the awkward things that she's saying because 00:06:55.819 --> 00:06:58.160 her heart was in the right place. There's a myriad 00:06:58.160 --> 00:07:00.639 of ways that he can bless her with whatever she 00:07:00.639 --> 00:07:03.540 needs. I agree. Sometimes it takes other people 00:07:03.540 --> 00:07:05.439 to point out gifts that we don't recognize in 00:07:05.439 --> 00:07:07.199 ourself. Not that we're doing things to be like, 00:07:07.279 --> 00:07:09.779 oh, yeah, you're so good at that. But it's special 00:07:09.779 --> 00:07:12.579 when somebody's like, wow, thank you for your 00:07:12.579 --> 00:07:15.399 gift of testimony or thank you for, you know, 00:07:15.399 --> 00:07:18.220 there's a lot of things that people could say. 00:07:18.839 --> 00:07:20.920 You have the spiritual gift of pointing out and 00:07:20.920 --> 00:07:23.120 recognizing others' gifts. Oh, that's nice, Abby. 00:07:24.240 --> 00:07:28.300 Thank you. So when I point out spiritual gifts 00:07:28.300 --> 00:07:30.910 to people, I know it's not... it's not my praise 00:07:30.910 --> 00:07:33.610 or adoration that they're looking for, but more 00:07:33.610 --> 00:07:36.209 of like an appreciation or an affirmation that 00:07:36.209 --> 00:07:38.490 I appreciate them using those talents on behalf 00:07:38.490 --> 00:07:41.170 of God's children. And also, I also feel like 00:07:41.170 --> 00:07:42.970 we've talked about this before, but when you 00:07:42.970 --> 00:07:45.990 serve someone or have the opportunity to see 00:07:45.990 --> 00:07:48.170 someone as God does, I feel like he gives you 00:07:48.170 --> 00:07:51.670 a portion of his view of that person. And it's 00:07:51.670 --> 00:07:53.790 just, it's a gift to be able to do that, you 00:07:53.790 --> 00:07:56.689 know? So I feel like he gives me sometimes just 00:07:56.689 --> 00:07:59.740 a quick little glimpse of, a portion of what 00:07:59.740 --> 00:08:01.720 he sees. When he gives you the opportunity to 00:08:01.720 --> 00:08:03.819 serve his children, you know that he's just as 00:08:03.819 --> 00:08:07.800 inclined to help other of his children help you. 00:08:08.040 --> 00:08:09.920 Yeah. When you're needing that, when you have 00:08:09.920 --> 00:08:12.360 a need. Totally. Great point, Abby. President 00:08:12.360 --> 00:08:14.680 Uchtdorf said, growing our talents doesn't happen 00:08:14.680 --> 00:08:16.980 if we put those gifts high on a shelf, like a 00:08:16.980 --> 00:08:19.319 trophy that we admire from time to time. Our 00:08:19.319 --> 00:08:22.100 gifts magnify and multiply only when we put them 00:08:22.100 --> 00:08:25.160 to use. On a shelf or... Buried underground. 00:08:25.439 --> 00:08:27.459 Yeah. Just really played off the parable of the 00:08:27.459 --> 00:08:28.939 talents. So good. And I don't think you need 00:08:28.939 --> 00:08:31.740 to spend a ton of time like rehashing the talents. 00:08:31.800 --> 00:08:34.279 You just jump into it and say, how have your 00:08:34.279 --> 00:08:38.759 talents been multiplied in using them? People 00:08:38.759 --> 00:08:40.759 would be like, well, I don't really want to talk 00:08:40.759 --> 00:08:42.379 about this. Well, fine. If you can't get them 00:08:42.379 --> 00:08:44.700 to talk about what they've seen, what blessings 00:08:44.700 --> 00:08:46.879 they've experienced in growing talents by doing 00:08:46.879 --> 00:08:51.919 his work, then you'd say, what gift have you 00:08:51.919 --> 00:08:53.480 recognized in others as they've had opportunities 00:08:53.480 --> 00:08:56.120 to serve you? For sure. That's easy. Everybody 00:08:56.120 --> 00:08:57.720 will start talking when you ask that question. 00:08:58.019 --> 00:09:02.259 Agreed. When I heard this talk, maybe when you 00:09:02.259 --> 00:09:04.059 guys heard this talk, did you sit there and think 00:09:04.059 --> 00:09:06.659 that you drew the short stick when you were in 00:09:06.659 --> 00:09:08.440 heaven and they were passing those talents out? 00:09:09.159 --> 00:09:11.159 Did you do a little self -deprecation and say, 00:09:11.220 --> 00:09:13.299 I don't have any gifts or talents, at least none 00:09:13.299 --> 00:09:16.519 that are valuable? That would be human nature. 00:09:17.039 --> 00:09:19.779 It's ingrained in each of us. And a lot of times 00:09:19.779 --> 00:09:22.159 we're also programmed to look around us and just 00:09:22.159 --> 00:09:24.639 think how amazing and impressive everybody else 00:09:24.639 --> 00:09:28.820 is and how boring we are. If you did that, stop 00:09:28.820 --> 00:09:32.860 it. I affirm what President Urquhart said. You 00:09:32.860 --> 00:09:35.799 bear within you a potential beyond your own capacity 00:09:35.799 --> 00:09:39.440 to imagine. That's very powerful. You are divine. 00:09:39.700 --> 00:09:42.179 You're destined. Your destiny is divine. You 00:09:42.179 --> 00:09:44.700 are not ordinary. You're gifted. Best quote of 00:09:44.700 --> 00:09:47.419 the talk. You left heaven to come here, but heaven 00:09:47.419 --> 00:09:50.039 has never left you. What did we do with our time 00:09:50.039 --> 00:09:52.419 before we came here? We certainly worked to learn 00:09:52.419 --> 00:09:54.299 our potential and reach the greatest heights 00:09:54.299 --> 00:09:56.620 we could there. We had talents in pre -earth 00:09:56.620 --> 00:10:00.419 life that we would use. again here on earth. 00:10:00.639 --> 00:10:03.340 And the DNC teaches us there are many gifts and 00:10:03.340 --> 00:10:05.220 to every person is given a gift by the Spirit 00:10:05.220 --> 00:10:08.419 of God. To some is given one and to some is given 00:10:08.419 --> 00:10:10.820 another and that all may be profited thereby. 00:10:11.139 --> 00:10:13.620 It doesn't say that, you know, so that we can 00:10:13.620 --> 00:10:16.159 be jealous of the ones we see in others or self 00:10:16.159 --> 00:10:18.299 -pity because we aren't given one. We should 00:10:18.299 --> 00:10:20.500 have a stronger emphasis on this part to every 00:10:20.500 --> 00:10:23.820 person is given a gift. And I also believe that 00:10:23.820 --> 00:10:27.220 every person is given multiple gifts. I don't 00:10:27.220 --> 00:10:29.580 think any person came down to earth with just 00:10:29.580 --> 00:10:32.240 one. Maybe they came down with just one, but 00:10:32.240 --> 00:10:34.399 they have the ability and capacity to grow those 00:10:34.399 --> 00:10:39.279 gifts and to learn what the others are. We're 00:10:39.279 --> 00:10:41.100 definitely going to hit on that. There's a point 00:10:41.100 --> 00:10:43.659 later in the talk. Let's bring that back up again. 00:10:44.860 --> 00:10:52.480 He referenced Moroni. Moroni said, What does 00:10:52.480 --> 00:10:55.299 everybody think that means? I think that... And 00:10:55.299 --> 00:10:59.799 another way to say it is that we just weren't 00:10:59.799 --> 00:11:02.659 born with any useful gifts. It's a denial of 00:11:02.659 --> 00:11:04.740 our divinity. It's a stumbling block to growing 00:11:04.740 --> 00:11:07.159 these gifts that are in each of us. There we 00:11:07.159 --> 00:11:09.440 go. We're on the same thing, Abby. Some say, 00:11:09.500 --> 00:11:11.399 I don't have any gifts because some of them just 00:11:11.399 --> 00:11:14.419 aren't really flashy. Just because they may not 00:11:14.419 --> 00:11:17.179 be flashy doesn't mean that they're any less 00:11:17.179 --> 00:11:21.679 important. President Uchtdorf has a... has a 00:11:21.679 --> 00:11:25.279 list and he, this is some of them. He has us 00:11:25.279 --> 00:11:28.419 ask whether it's something we've seen in ourselves 00:11:28.419 --> 00:11:31.120 or whether we see it in someone else. So showing 00:11:31.120 --> 00:11:33.860 compassion, noticing people who are overlooked 00:11:33.860 --> 00:11:38.139 or being, what is it? Observe, observant, like 00:11:38.139 --> 00:11:41.039 Elder Bednar talks about. Noticing or finding 00:11:41.039 --> 00:11:44.580 reasons to be joyful, being a peacemaker, noticing 00:11:44.580 --> 00:11:48.029 small miracles. Giving sincere compliments, forgiving, 00:11:48.389 --> 00:11:51.590 repenting, enduring, explaining things simply. 00:11:51.690 --> 00:11:53.470 That's so beautiful. Connecting with children, 00:11:53.690 --> 00:11:56.509 sustaining church leaders, helping others know 00:11:56.509 --> 00:11:59.610 that they belong. This is such a great list of, 00:11:59.610 --> 00:12:02.210 you know, there's... Non -typical. Yes. Like 00:12:02.210 --> 00:12:03.809 ones we don't give ourselves credit for. Exactly. 00:12:03.909 --> 00:12:07.370 You have a list you've shared in other lessons. 00:12:07.450 --> 00:12:09.710 It was like an eight by 10. Yeah. And this adds 00:12:09.710 --> 00:12:12.230 to that. I mean, there are just so many gifts. 00:12:13.039 --> 00:12:15.000 And what I love is that he's not saying this 00:12:15.000 --> 00:12:16.759 is an all -inclusive list. This is just to start 00:12:16.759 --> 00:12:18.700 to think like, oh, I can recognize that as a 00:12:18.700 --> 00:12:20.879 gift. It's basically like giving gratitude to 00:12:20.879 --> 00:12:22.899 where you're recognizing that you do have so 00:12:22.899 --> 00:12:25.139 many special things inside of you. 100%. These 00:12:25.139 --> 00:12:27.039 gifts were likely in full display when you were 00:12:27.039 --> 00:12:29.440 serving a child of God, he says. Such a sweet 00:12:29.440 --> 00:12:31.899 reminder to know by small and simple things are 00:12:31.899 --> 00:12:35.220 great things brought to pass. Amen to that. He 00:12:35.220 --> 00:12:38.159 really hits on the title of a talk here. Which 00:12:38.159 --> 00:12:40.460 is do your little part with all your heart. When 00:12:40.460 --> 00:12:43.600 I listened to this talk, you know, the first 00:12:43.600 --> 00:12:45.960 time, the second time, the third time, I felt 00:12:45.960 --> 00:12:48.639 like my biggest takeaway for me or the biggest 00:12:48.639 --> 00:12:51.379 urge that I got, maybe a lot of you feel this 00:12:51.379 --> 00:12:56.779 way as you're listening to it, is we can feel 00:12:56.779 --> 00:12:58.559 overwhelmed by the amount of things that need 00:12:58.559 --> 00:13:00.679 to be done in a day, in a week, in a month or 00:13:00.679 --> 00:13:03.500 whatever. And I'm grateful that I feel a sense 00:13:03.500 --> 00:13:05.379 of responsibility that I do need to contribute 00:13:05.379 --> 00:13:08.769 and participate. My takeaway from this talk was 00:13:08.769 --> 00:13:12.769 that I don't have to do it alone. And then I've 00:13:12.769 --> 00:13:17.289 been given spiritual gifts that will, that's 00:13:17.289 --> 00:13:20.710 how he aids me. Jesus will be with us, but he 00:13:20.710 --> 00:13:23.490 provides spiritual gifts to allow us to help 00:13:23.490 --> 00:13:26.710 ourselves while he's with us, right? No one ever 00:13:26.710 --> 00:13:29.730 asked me to do this thing solo. Bringing my gifts 00:13:29.730 --> 00:13:31.870 to the table and then allowing others to bring 00:13:31.870 --> 00:13:33.850 their gifts to the table allows us to develop. 00:13:34.299 --> 00:13:38.179 our own gifts individually. Absolutely. Did I 00:13:38.179 --> 00:13:41.519 hear in state conference? Yeah, I did. The gist 00:13:41.519 --> 00:13:45.980 of you're not here to be judged against the person 00:13:45.980 --> 00:13:48.059 to your right or left. You're here to be judged 00:13:48.059 --> 00:13:50.019 from the person you were yesterday to the person 00:13:50.019 --> 00:13:52.379 that you are tomorrow. He's looking for progress 00:13:52.379 --> 00:13:55.240 and he's looking for opportunities to help you 00:13:55.240 --> 00:13:59.279 progress towards him, not to progress above Amy, 00:13:59.460 --> 00:14:02.240 Garrett, Adam, you know? Yes. And I love that. 00:14:03.519 --> 00:14:05.799 So just a reminder, you don't have to do it all. 00:14:05.840 --> 00:14:08.440 We're just asked to do our part. And I think 00:14:08.440 --> 00:14:10.379 that's cute just to remember with your heart, 00:14:10.419 --> 00:14:14.019 like with the intent that we, like, let's encourage 00:14:14.019 --> 00:14:16.519 the joy that you can feel in doing something 00:14:16.519 --> 00:14:19.919 not out of obligation, but with your heart, my 00:14:19.919 --> 00:14:22.759 mind, all of those things kind of pointing towards 00:14:22.759 --> 00:14:26.419 Jesus. I love that, Abby. So here's a question. 00:14:26.620 --> 00:14:28.700 Are you still sitting there wondering what your 00:14:28.700 --> 00:14:31.899 gifts are? We remind you that these are spiritual 00:14:31.899 --> 00:14:34.340 gifts. We can pray to recognize these gifts by 00:14:34.340 --> 00:14:37.340 the Spirit, or we can get to work in a task that 00:14:37.340 --> 00:14:40.019 we think we have no business doing and see how 00:14:40.019 --> 00:14:44.179 some or many talents become magnified as we put 00:14:44.179 --> 00:14:47.200 them to use, just as we are taught in the parable. 00:14:47.720 --> 00:14:50.720 I've said this before, but in my patriarchal 00:14:50.720 --> 00:14:53.159 blessing, it says I've been blessed with a spirit 00:14:53.159 --> 00:14:56.879 of peace and love and many more gifts that will 00:14:56.879 --> 00:15:01.750 become apparent as I serve God. So it's interesting. 00:15:01.889 --> 00:15:04.330 When I was a teenager, I thought, man, what a 00:15:04.330 --> 00:15:06.769 bummer that I didn't get to hear the other things 00:15:06.769 --> 00:15:09.610 and that I have to figure them out myself. But 00:15:09.610 --> 00:15:11.830 of course, the Lord helps me. And it's just like 00:15:11.830 --> 00:15:15.649 you said before, Abby, when we do, then the blessings 00:15:15.649 --> 00:15:18.269 come, right? We understand after we do the things. 00:15:19.570 --> 00:15:21.590 We've talked about stewardship before, and I've 00:15:21.590 --> 00:15:23.350 thought on the word stewardship, but most of 00:15:23.350 --> 00:15:25.330 the time when I think of stewardship, I think 00:15:25.330 --> 00:15:29.820 of physical, tangible things. my home, my children, 00:15:30.100 --> 00:15:35.019 property, the things that I have, and maybe the 00:15:35.019 --> 00:15:37.039 families that I minister to. So I'm explaining 00:15:37.039 --> 00:15:39.419 some physical places and some people that I think 00:15:39.419 --> 00:15:42.879 that I have some responsibility over. But listen 00:15:42.879 --> 00:15:44.980 to this line from the talk. The day will come 00:15:44.980 --> 00:15:46.799 when we stand before our compassionate Father 00:15:46.799 --> 00:15:48.659 in heaven to give an accounting of our stewardship. 00:15:48.879 --> 00:15:50.840 He will want to know what we did with the gifts 00:15:50.840 --> 00:15:53.000 He gave us, in particular, how we use them to 00:15:53.000 --> 00:15:58.590 bless His children. Not just the physical possessions 00:15:58.590 --> 00:16:00.870 that I think that I have to take care of and 00:16:00.870 --> 00:16:05.529 my children, but he's given us the gifts to do 00:16:05.529 --> 00:16:07.590 those tasks that can be overwhelming and hard. 00:16:08.190 --> 00:16:11.789 And did we rely on him enough to, you know, did 00:16:11.789 --> 00:16:14.889 we check in more regularly when we're struggling 00:16:14.889 --> 00:16:17.049 with a child and we're taking it to prayer? He 00:16:17.049 --> 00:16:20.429 gives us an impression. So I can, in that way, 00:16:20.450 --> 00:16:21.970 because I was struggling with something from 00:16:21.970 --> 00:16:23.830 one of my children, he's given me the opportunity 00:16:23.830 --> 00:16:26.100 to communicate with them. and to hear him. Those 00:16:26.100 --> 00:16:28.259 are spiritual gifts. You know, if everything 00:16:28.259 --> 00:16:30.639 was just smooth sailing, maybe I wouldn't check 00:16:30.639 --> 00:16:33.259 in as much. So it's designed. It's not like, 00:16:33.299 --> 00:16:36.539 oh, and that was a hard time for you. It's by 00:16:36.539 --> 00:16:38.740 design. We have to have some resistance to these 00:16:38.740 --> 00:16:40.340 things so that we can rely on him and that he 00:16:40.340 --> 00:16:44.279 can help us to figure out what those spiritual 00:16:44.279 --> 00:16:47.679 gifts are that he knew when he watched us develop 00:16:47.679 --> 00:16:51.240 in the pre -earth life. He's not surprised when 00:16:51.240 --> 00:16:54.200 we get to earth and we use those things and then... 00:16:54.649 --> 00:16:56.429 remember, reconnect with them and become good 00:16:56.429 --> 00:16:58.789 at them again. He's not surprised by anything. 00:16:58.970 --> 00:17:01.710 Very good. I'm so glad that I heard this line 00:17:01.710 --> 00:17:03.610 and I'm so glad that it sparked in me a desire 00:17:03.610 --> 00:17:07.210 to check in more regularly with him. Like I said, 00:17:07.210 --> 00:17:10.150 he knows before and he's not surprised by what 00:17:10.150 --> 00:17:13.930 we're doing now. And he knows me and you more 00:17:13.930 --> 00:17:16.269 fully. He knows our potential more than anybody 00:17:16.269 --> 00:17:18.829 else. I love that too, Abby. I don't have it 00:17:18.829 --> 00:17:22.470 exactly, but President Monson said it. He said, 00:17:23.630 --> 00:17:27.109 Heavenly Father left the songs unwritten, the 00:17:27.109 --> 00:17:30.069 electricity in the clouds, all the different 00:17:30.069 --> 00:17:33.970 things He gave us all, left it in nature and 00:17:33.970 --> 00:17:36.589 also left it in each one of us, raw material, 00:17:36.690 --> 00:17:38.690 and we're the ones that get to create and get 00:17:38.690 --> 00:17:41.170 to expand and discover what they are, those gifts. 00:17:42.029 --> 00:17:44.450 Also, love that we are reminded that the plan 00:17:44.450 --> 00:17:47.690 in place is designed for us to learn to become 00:17:47.690 --> 00:17:50.630 like Him gradually and patiently and over a long 00:17:50.630 --> 00:17:53.769 arc of time. That's good. I'm glad for that. 00:17:54.069 --> 00:17:57.390 We are born with gifts, but for different seasons 00:17:57.390 --> 00:17:59.309 of our lives, it will give us the opportunity 00:17:59.309 --> 00:18:02.009 to build or bury those talents, depending on 00:18:02.009 --> 00:18:04.890 whether we take the opportunity or not. I think 00:18:04.890 --> 00:18:08.730 it's a good time to point to those who like to 00:18:08.730 --> 00:18:11.069 live life like an island and don't like to accept 00:18:11.069 --> 00:18:13.349 help from others. Sometimes it's hard. How do 00:18:13.349 --> 00:18:17.589 you expect them to grow and develop their talents? 00:18:17.829 --> 00:18:20.309 Allow others to bless their lives by serving 00:18:20.309 --> 00:18:22.759 you. Yeah. And the first thing that you kind 00:18:22.759 --> 00:18:24.720 of started talking about in that last bit was 00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:27.420 just a reminder, you know, of some spiritual 00:18:27.420 --> 00:18:29.859 gifts that were very lined out in your patriarchal 00:18:29.859 --> 00:18:34.200 blessing. What I find is you had me run through 00:18:34.200 --> 00:18:36.740 my patriarchal blessing and there was sort of 00:18:36.740 --> 00:18:42.119 a if -then scenario. So what were the two characteristics 00:18:42.119 --> 00:18:44.180 that you just shared? Spirit of peace and love. 00:18:44.420 --> 00:18:47.099 Yeah. So if you had no desire to try to work 00:18:47.099 --> 00:18:51.589 on the spirit of peace and love, call that done 00:18:51.589 --> 00:18:53.509 you buried those he's not going to add to it 00:18:53.509 --> 00:18:56.430 amen but as you know those two are that your 00:18:56.430 --> 00:18:59.349 starting place and you've really worked on those 00:18:59.349 --> 00:19:03.529 particular two that's when you see you know that 00:19:03.529 --> 00:19:07.369 he's multiplied and magnified that yeah question 00:19:07.369 --> 00:19:09.849 mark what are those exactly but you've got a 00:19:09.849 --> 00:19:12.710 gift of recognizing those like I know you do. 00:19:12.769 --> 00:19:14.930 You've pointed it out about, you've helped me 00:19:14.930 --> 00:19:17.130 expand my vision of what spiritual gifts are, 00:19:17.150 --> 00:19:18.789 not just like seven that you're going to find 00:19:18.789 --> 00:19:20.369 in the Doctrine and Covenants. The more that 00:19:20.369 --> 00:19:23.609 you listen, I mean, Uchtdorf just added awesome 00:19:23.609 --> 00:19:26.730 12 right there. But there's just like hints to 00:19:26.730 --> 00:19:29.130 all of these gifts that somebody can claim or 00:19:29.130 --> 00:19:31.069 that they can recognize that they have as you're 00:19:31.069 --> 00:19:37.599 thinking about it. I'd like just to remind. what 00:19:37.599 --> 00:19:40.359 the talk's emphasis was to start small but start 00:19:40.359 --> 00:19:42.279 somewhere start with faith and hope in jesus 00:19:42.279 --> 00:19:44.759 christ from the talk he said we know that our 00:19:44.759 --> 00:19:46.940 efforts alone cannot make us celestial but they 00:19:46.940 --> 00:19:48.940 can make us loyal and committed to jesus christ 00:19:48.940 --> 00:19:51.680 and he can make us celestial so step by step 00:19:51.680 --> 00:19:54.099 little by little we'll grow ever closer to that 00:19:54.099 --> 00:19:55.700 great and perfect day when we'll live with him 00:19:55.700 --> 00:19:59.000 and our loved ones in eternal joy what a great 00:19:59.000 --> 00:20:02.789 promise that's so good Let's take the chance 00:20:02.789 --> 00:20:05.470 daily, weekly to reflect on gratitude that we 00:20:05.470 --> 00:20:07.589 have for the lessons that we're learning along 00:20:07.589 --> 00:20:09.490 the way. Sometimes that's tricky, but really 00:20:09.490 --> 00:20:12.349 that's where the joy is. We know where we want 00:20:12.349 --> 00:20:15.630 to be living in eternal glory with. the Father 00:20:15.630 --> 00:20:17.869 and the Son. Gratitude for these experiences 00:20:17.869 --> 00:20:19.890 that we had yesterday that are making us into 00:20:19.890 --> 00:20:23.450 a new being today and knowing that tomorrow we 00:20:23.450 --> 00:20:26.269 have the potential to do better, be better, and 00:20:26.269 --> 00:20:28.170 learn more and grow into our spiritual gifts 00:20:28.170 --> 00:20:31.750 and also become disciples of Jesus Christ on 00:20:31.750 --> 00:20:37.109 our way back to our heavenly home. I would love 00:20:37.109 --> 00:20:41.400 to just again invite all of our listeners to 00:20:41.400 --> 00:20:43.740 continue this conversation on Facebook on the 00:20:43.740 --> 00:20:46.240 Closer to Christ page. Share an experience when 00:20:46.240 --> 00:20:48.220 a calling you've been asked to do requires you 00:20:48.220 --> 00:20:50.900 to develop a spiritual gift that you didn't previously 00:20:50.900 --> 00:20:54.079 recognize that you had. I swear, it feels like 00:20:54.079 --> 00:20:57.480 we're excavating, like we're working to uncover 00:20:57.480 --> 00:21:00.160 these gifts because they were there. They were 00:21:00.160 --> 00:21:02.559 planted in us. We had the seeds. And yeah, we 00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:05.480 would love to hear what your personal experiences 00:21:05.480 --> 00:21:09.279 are with this. It's a great suggestion. And if 00:21:09.279 --> 00:21:12.279 you feel uncomfortable sharing your own personal 00:21:12.279 --> 00:21:14.980 spiritual gift that you're recognizing, you could 00:21:14.980 --> 00:21:17.839 flip it and say, this is a gift I recognize in 00:21:17.839 --> 00:21:19.500 somebody else when they were serving me. Love 00:21:19.500 --> 00:21:21.960 it. So I'll close with this testimony. Sounds 00:21:21.960 --> 00:21:24.319 good. He said, I urge and bless every member 00:21:24.319 --> 00:21:26.460 of the church and all who desire to be part of 00:21:26.460 --> 00:21:28.920 it to trust the Savior and engage patiently, 00:21:29.119 --> 00:21:31.480 diligently, doing your part with all your heart 00:21:31.480 --> 00:21:33.880 that your joy may be full and that one day you 00:21:33.880 --> 00:21:37.200 will receive all the Father has. And not this, 00:21:37.200 --> 00:21:39.819 important. Amen.