WEBVTT 00:00:02.359 --> 00:00:04.639 Welcome to Closer to Christ through General Conference, 00:00:04.860 --> 00:00:06.719 where two friends who love Jesus share our own 00:00:06.719 --> 00:00:08.539 approach to studying the most recent General 00:00:08.539 --> 00:00:11.460 Conference talks. This is Abby and Amy. Let's 00:00:11.460 --> 00:00:32.789 jump into it. Today we're discussing the talk 00:00:32.789 --> 00:00:35.469 No One Sits Alone by Elder Garrett W. Gong of 00:00:35.469 --> 00:00:38.170 The Quorum of the Twelve. So Elder Gong begins 00:00:38.170 --> 00:00:41.229 by reminiscing about his time as a young adult 00:00:41.229 --> 00:00:48.520 making fortune cookies for a job. Later on, and 00:00:48.520 --> 00:00:50.759 to his surprise, he learned that fortune cookies 00:00:50.759 --> 00:00:53.259 were actually not originally part of Chinese 00:00:53.259 --> 00:00:56.100 culture. A fun fact, only Americans celebrate 00:00:56.100 --> 00:00:58.439 National Fortune Cookie Day, which got a laugh 00:00:58.439 --> 00:01:01.880 from everyone there. It's like such a dry cat 00:01:01.880 --> 00:01:05.500 humor. That was hilarious. Yeah, it was so good. 00:01:05.659 --> 00:01:09.299 And then he says this, only Chinese restaurants 00:01:09.299 --> 00:01:12.480 offer authentic American fortune cookies. Why 00:01:12.480 --> 00:01:14.599 the story of the fortune cookies? And he says, 00:01:14.599 --> 00:01:16.959 you know, looking at how different cultures practice 00:01:16.959 --> 00:01:19.200 a tradition like a fortune cookie, for example, 00:01:19.620 --> 00:01:21.859 it'll be the backdrop to understanding how gospel 00:01:21.859 --> 00:01:24.280 culture differs throughout the world as well. 00:01:24.340 --> 00:01:26.340 I loved how he framed it. Loved how he started 00:01:26.340 --> 00:01:29.260 that talk. Attention grabber for sure. The United 00:01:29.260 --> 00:01:32.519 Nations reports 281 million international migrants. 00:01:33.030 --> 00:01:35.390 And this is just drastically more than the numbers 00:01:35.390 --> 00:01:37.890 we've seen from the past. And he said, you know, 00:01:37.989 --> 00:01:39.989 this movement may be in part one of the reasons 00:01:39.989 --> 00:01:42.810 why we're seeing record numbers of converts finding 00:01:42.810 --> 00:01:44.489 the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter -day Saints. 00:01:45.109 --> 00:01:47.609 I love it when I hear, you know, somebody traveled 00:01:47.609 --> 00:01:49.510 for their education, picked up the gospel, and 00:01:49.510 --> 00:01:50.670 they take it to parts of the world that we're 00:01:50.670 --> 00:01:55.370 not really allowed to proselyte in. Yeah, war 00:01:55.370 --> 00:01:57.709 is terrible, but sometimes it causes people to 00:01:57.709 --> 00:02:00.109 flux out of their country for a time and maybe 00:02:00.109 --> 00:02:03.230 it's to a country where Christianity is new to 00:02:03.230 --> 00:02:05.030 them. And then it's kind of a stepping stone 00:02:05.030 --> 00:02:07.030 to finding the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter 00:02:07.030 --> 00:02:08.590 -day Saints, lots of different scenarios. So 00:02:08.590 --> 00:02:12.870 it's not always pleasant. It's not always pleasant 00:02:12.870 --> 00:02:14.990 reasons why people are moving about the world 00:02:14.990 --> 00:02:17.069 like they are, like out of choice. Sometimes 00:02:17.069 --> 00:02:19.990 there's real sad things about it. But what has 00:02:19.990 --> 00:02:22.610 happened with this gathering of saints and this 00:02:23.319 --> 00:02:26.139 you know, change of membership is that we can 00:02:26.139 --> 00:02:29.319 boast 125 languages spoken in our congregations, 00:02:29.960 --> 00:02:34.080 195 birth countries are recognized on our records, 00:02:34.240 --> 00:02:39.919 and we have grown to 31 ,916 congregations. Love 00:02:39.919 --> 00:02:43.939 that. From one room cabin. Yeah. Right? Yeah. 00:02:44.659 --> 00:02:48.840 So he uses Jacob five, the allegory of the olive 00:02:48.840 --> 00:02:54.300 tree as kind of the backdrop for how the Lord 00:02:54.300 --> 00:02:56.340 of the Vineyard and his servants are strengthening 00:02:56.340 --> 00:02:59.319 both olive tree roots and branches by gathering 00:02:59.319 --> 00:03:00.979 and grafting together those from these diverse 00:03:00.979 --> 00:03:05.919 locations. And I love that. Just like a worldwide 00:03:05.919 --> 00:03:09.500 interconnected tree. We're all made better as 00:03:09.500 --> 00:03:12.840 we're grafting in. And I mean, I'm learning more 00:03:12.840 --> 00:03:15.340 from like saints gathering like way across the 00:03:15.340 --> 00:03:19.699 world than I could think possible. Like I'm not 00:03:19.699 --> 00:03:21.460 trying to knock people around here, but it's 00:03:21.460 --> 00:03:25.300 just touching to see like mass baptisms And it's 00:03:25.300 --> 00:03:27.319 like it's so new to them and it just kind of 00:03:27.319 --> 00:03:28.960 gives it's like it's like watching the world 00:03:28.960 --> 00:03:31.340 to like kids eyes Their excitement of things 00:03:31.340 --> 00:03:33.580 you're like we need to be like that that excitement 00:03:33.580 --> 00:03:35.479 coming from these like different parts of the 00:03:35.479 --> 00:03:38.360 world I think is gonna be such a blessing to, 00:03:38.360 --> 00:03:41.099 it is such a blessing to all of us. Yes, I agree, 00:03:41.259 --> 00:03:43.300 Abby. The Lord expects His children everywhere 00:03:43.300 --> 00:03:45.740 to gather, which is a remarkable natural means 00:03:45.740 --> 00:03:48.659 to expand our lives, our lived fullness of His 00:03:48.659 --> 00:03:51.960 restored gospel. The poor, maimed, halted, and 00:03:51.960 --> 00:03:54.280 blind, we're all invited to come hither. And 00:03:54.280 --> 00:03:58.319 in a spiritual sense, isn't this each of us at 00:03:58.319 --> 00:04:01.819 one point or one season in our life? Yeah. And 00:04:01.819 --> 00:04:03.979 is there a limit to his invitation to gather? 00:04:04.259 --> 00:04:07.219 Nope. Absolutely not. All nations shall be invited 00:04:07.219 --> 00:04:09.759 unto a supper of the house of the Lord. Prepare 00:04:09.759 --> 00:04:11.740 ye the way of the Lord, that his kingdom may 00:04:11.740 --> 00:04:13.479 go forth upon the earth, that the inhabitants 00:04:13.479 --> 00:04:15.719 thereof may receive it, and be prepared for the 00:04:15.719 --> 00:04:18.800 days to come. All are invited together. And this 00:04:18.800 --> 00:04:21.699 diversity, to me, is a taste of what heaven's 00:04:21.699 --> 00:04:23.800 going to look like. I love that, Abby, how it 00:04:23.800 --> 00:04:29.129 says all are invited. I feel that over and over 00:04:29.129 --> 00:04:31.350 and over again, that if we're not there, it's 00:04:31.350 --> 00:04:33.850 because we didn't receive the invitation. All 00:04:33.850 --> 00:04:37.230 of us are invited. He references the parable 00:04:37.230 --> 00:04:39.569 of the Good Samaritan where Jesus invites, again, 00:04:39.910 --> 00:04:44.110 us to come to him in his inn or his church. He 00:04:44.110 --> 00:04:47.170 invites us to be good neighbors. The Good Samaritan 00:04:47.170 --> 00:04:50.269 promises to return and recompense the care of 00:04:50.269 --> 00:04:52.660 those in his inn. Living the gospel of Jesus 00:04:52.660 --> 00:04:55.480 Christ includes making room for all in His restored 00:04:55.480 --> 00:04:58.620 church. I love this talk. I know it's so fitting, 00:04:58.980 --> 00:05:01.339 like it's Christmas time. By the time this one 00:05:01.339 --> 00:05:02.800 airs, like we're going to be awfully close to 00:05:02.800 --> 00:05:04.720 Christmas. Yeah. And so in the spirit of Christmas, 00:05:04.879 --> 00:05:06.500 that room for the in really stands out. It's 00:05:06.500 --> 00:05:08.819 got special connotation this time of year, because 00:05:08.819 --> 00:05:10.759 it's a time for each of us to ask ourselves. 00:05:11.160 --> 00:05:14.019 Can I make room for the Savior? And one way that 00:05:14.019 --> 00:05:16.079 we show that we're making room for Him is by 00:05:16.079 --> 00:05:18.199 feeding His sheep, acting in charity as He did 00:05:18.199 --> 00:05:20.560 His entire life. And I think that's what Elder 00:05:20.560 --> 00:05:22.600 Gong's really good at in this talk, by inviting 00:05:22.600 --> 00:05:25.560 us to challenge, make that challenge for ourselves 00:05:25.560 --> 00:05:27.899 in our wards, or wards throughout the world, 00:05:28.220 --> 00:05:30.339 branches throughout the world, living by the 00:05:30.339 --> 00:05:32.480 motto that no one will sit alone, that we're 00:05:32.480 --> 00:05:34.699 going to make room in the inn for everyone that 00:05:34.699 --> 00:05:38.819 comes to the door. So great, Abby. So what does 00:05:38.819 --> 00:05:40.519 this mean when you come to church if you see 00:05:40.519 --> 00:05:42.879 someone sitting alone? He says, will you be the 00:05:42.879 --> 00:05:44.920 first to introduce yourself and then maybe offer 00:05:44.920 --> 00:05:48.379 a bench? Are you typically introverted and prefer 00:05:48.379 --> 00:05:52.240 to come in unnoticed? This may go against the 00:05:52.240 --> 00:05:54.120 very core of your personality, but in an effort 00:05:54.120 --> 00:05:57.300 to become more like Jesus, make that introduction 00:05:57.300 --> 00:06:00.220 or hello. make room on your bench. This doesn't 00:06:00.220 --> 00:06:02.120 always mean the brand new faces that are just 00:06:02.120 --> 00:06:04.639 joining us for the first time. Love that. There 00:06:04.639 --> 00:06:06.220 have been brothers and sisters sitting among 00:06:06.220 --> 00:06:08.839 us to sit alone week after week, just looking 00:06:08.839 --> 00:06:10.980 for the thing that makes us human, a connection. 00:06:11.379 --> 00:06:14.139 So yeah, it's just, like he said, it's not necessarily 00:06:14.139 --> 00:06:15.759 the people that are brand new. There could be 00:06:15.759 --> 00:06:18.300 someone else. They've been there a long time 00:06:18.300 --> 00:06:20.360 and hiding in plain sight. Right. And for some 00:06:20.360 --> 00:06:22.519 reason are unseen, whether they choose to be 00:06:22.519 --> 00:06:24.160 or whether we haven't noticed yet. And just like 00:06:24.160 --> 00:06:29.529 we're using in and his church kind of I'm seeing 00:06:29.529 --> 00:06:31.790 like bench sitting, you know, sitting on the 00:06:31.790 --> 00:06:34.449 bench alone. Same thing in their homes on our 00:06:34.449 --> 00:06:36.410 streets. Love that. You know, that we're thinking 00:06:36.410 --> 00:06:39.410 more than just your obligation on Sunday, one 00:06:39.410 --> 00:06:41.350 day a week that we're thinking, oh, hey, they're 00:06:41.350 --> 00:06:43.370 sitting alone. Can I go help? Can I sit by them? 00:06:43.430 --> 00:06:45.319 Can I get to know them a little bit better? you 00:06:45.319 --> 00:06:46.920 pop into a Relief Society lesson, you're visiting 00:06:46.920 --> 00:06:48.879 in another ward, sometimes you expect the people 00:06:48.879 --> 00:06:51.100 come up and introduce themselves to you. Maybe 00:06:51.100 --> 00:06:53.560 you flip the script and you be the one that extends 00:06:53.560 --> 00:06:56.180 the hand of invitation, or maybe a Relief Society 00:06:56.180 --> 00:07:00.040 activity or a ward party is happening. And is 00:07:00.040 --> 00:07:01.639 there somebody you don't typically see come out 00:07:01.639 --> 00:07:04.139 to those things that you can make that extra 00:07:04.139 --> 00:07:05.600 effort? Maybe you start with a prayer of Heavenly 00:07:05.600 --> 00:07:07.259 Father. Who's somebody that I can personally 00:07:07.259 --> 00:07:09.860 touch and invite to come to the inn? Which doesn't 00:07:09.860 --> 00:07:12.339 necessarily just mean Sunday. So good, Abby. 00:07:12.439 --> 00:07:14.060 It's a good place to start, though. It's true. 00:07:14.240 --> 00:07:16.180 Just like looking around on a Sunday. It's a 00:07:16.180 --> 00:07:17.980 weekly thing. Yeah. And then when we find that 00:07:17.980 --> 00:07:19.680 everybody's kind of got somebody to sit by, then 00:07:19.680 --> 00:07:22.240 we say, who's missing? Who's in their homes that 00:07:22.240 --> 00:07:24.139 would just need that little push to feel more 00:07:24.139 --> 00:07:28.240 welcomed and invited here. Awesome. So no one 00:07:28.240 --> 00:07:30.420 sits alone, has a physical, like we said, a physical 00:07:30.420 --> 00:07:32.959 connotation, and also has an emotional or spiritual 00:07:32.959 --> 00:07:35.220 component. So the story is shared of the young 00:07:35.220 --> 00:07:38.610 deacon who, gosh, I had to cry on that, who got 00:07:38.610 --> 00:07:40.410 new clothes and shoes in preparation to pass 00:07:40.410 --> 00:07:42.490 the emblems of the sacrament and then he was 00:07:42.490 --> 00:07:44.649 laughed at and made fun of by his peers because 00:07:44.649 --> 00:07:47.689 he lacked fashion. It caused him to turn away 00:07:47.689 --> 00:07:51.050 from the church and he hadn't been back since. 00:07:51.110 --> 00:07:52.850 Have we been laughed at, hurt or embarrassed? 00:07:53.430 --> 00:07:56.230 Have we abused or scorned others either intentionally 00:07:56.230 --> 00:07:58.810 or not? These injustices we all face in this 00:07:58.810 --> 00:08:02.149 mortal experience are exactly the reason that 00:08:02.149 --> 00:08:05.189 each of us is invited to the inn. Jesus Christ 00:08:05.319 --> 00:08:08.420 brings us all to his inn. And I did love that 00:08:08.420 --> 00:08:11.279 when he shared that story of Good Samaritan. 00:08:11.639 --> 00:08:15.360 The one about the boy, I liked that he very quickly, 00:08:15.480 --> 00:08:17.639 first he shared about, you know, all of our hearts 00:08:17.639 --> 00:08:19.620 were breaking for this boy who when he's 12 years 00:08:19.620 --> 00:08:22.160 old, this thing happens to him. And then right, 00:08:22.220 --> 00:08:24.660 you know, back to back, he just reminds us that 00:08:24.660 --> 00:08:26.959 sometimes, you know, we are the ones like you 00:08:26.959 --> 00:08:30.180 said, in every season, you know, we're one player 00:08:30.180 --> 00:08:32.639 or another, right? So we just said, sometimes 00:08:32.639 --> 00:08:35.679 we are the one who unintentionally or intentionally 00:08:35.679 --> 00:08:39.039 hurt someone and, you know, caused hurt there. 00:08:39.659 --> 00:08:41.899 Well, and in the Good Samaritan story that he's 00:08:41.899 --> 00:08:44.299 referencing, as he talks about the end, you know, 00:08:44.320 --> 00:08:49.299 coming to the end to be healed and brought back 00:08:49.299 --> 00:08:52.000 up by the Savior. I mean, all of the things we've 00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:54.860 heard about that story. I mean, a priest walks 00:08:54.860 --> 00:08:57.440 by, so like your ecclesiastical leader. So it's 00:08:57.440 --> 00:09:00.279 a good reminder that you can be hurt in a church 00:09:00.279 --> 00:09:04.919 setting or by leaders of a church. put pitting 00:09:04.919 --> 00:09:06.700 like a church against another. I'm just saying 00:09:06.700 --> 00:09:10.500 the people that you... If you're maimed and beaten 00:09:10.500 --> 00:09:12.480 and bruised on the side of the road and you need 00:09:12.480 --> 00:09:15.759 help sometimes, it isn't somebody that you think, 00:09:15.799 --> 00:09:17.500 oh, they're going to come and help me. It's like 00:09:17.500 --> 00:09:20.919 the unexpected traveler that steps in and fills 00:09:20.919 --> 00:09:25.059 that role, brings us to the savior. So there's 00:09:25.059 --> 00:09:26.740 a lot of things to think about in the way that 00:09:26.740 --> 00:09:29.509 he worded that. He hears a quote from his talk. 00:09:29.629 --> 00:09:31.470 It says, in his church and through his ordinances 00:09:31.470 --> 00:09:33.710 and covenants, we come to each other and to Jesus 00:09:33.710 --> 00:09:35.490 Christ. We love and are loved, serve and are 00:09:35.490 --> 00:09:37.950 served, forgive and are forgiven. Jesus was spit 00:09:37.950 --> 00:09:42.190 upon, smitten, he suffered and was trampled under 00:09:42.190 --> 00:09:45.159 the feet of men. Not to make an excuse for people 00:09:45.159 --> 00:09:47.960 that injure us, but when instances Inevitably 00:09:47.960 --> 00:09:50.139 happen like they're going to in this earth life 00:09:50.139 --> 00:09:52.220 I think we can find some comfort knowing that 00:09:52.220 --> 00:09:54.360 our Savior Jesus Christ knows exactly what that 00:09:54.360 --> 00:09:57.500 feels like for sure Absolutely. It's easy, you 00:09:57.500 --> 00:09:59.220 know to read and to listen to these stories of 00:09:59.220 --> 00:10:01.860 the Savior's life during his mortal mystery ministry 00:10:01.860 --> 00:10:05.179 and Just be baffled that people have treated 00:10:05.179 --> 00:10:07.460 our Savior in that way. But if we think of it 00:10:07.460 --> 00:10:10.279 this way The way that we treat his children here 00:10:10.279 --> 00:10:13.419 on earth in our day is a sign of how we would 00:10:13.419 --> 00:10:16.659 have treated him in his day. And just a couple 00:10:16.659 --> 00:10:19.019 of good questions. Have we made room in the end? 00:10:19.279 --> 00:10:23.840 And is there room for us to improve? I love this 00:10:23.840 --> 00:10:27.100 from his talk. In his restored church, we are 00:10:27.100 --> 00:10:29.480 all better when no one sits alone. Let us not 00:10:29.480 --> 00:10:31.539 simply accommodate or tolerate. Let us genuinely 00:10:31.539 --> 00:10:34.740 welcome, acknowledge, minister to love. May each 00:10:34.740 --> 00:10:36.700 friend, sister, brother not be a foreigner or 00:10:36.700 --> 00:10:38.820 a stranger, but a child at home." And so just 00:10:38.820 --> 00:10:40.299 to pair with those questions that you had us 00:10:40.299 --> 00:10:43.340 all think of, are we making room in the inn and 00:10:43.340 --> 00:10:45.779 is there room for us to improve? Self -searching 00:10:45.779 --> 00:10:47.600 questions, different phases of our life. Sometimes 00:10:47.600 --> 00:10:49.720 we just feel like I'm just going to show up here. 00:10:49.799 --> 00:10:51.539 That's all I can do. I can't really reach out. 00:10:52.440 --> 00:10:54.600 But hopefully it's in somebody else's heart that 00:10:54.600 --> 00:10:56.039 they're looking for somebody that needs that 00:10:56.039 --> 00:10:58.279 extra little push. And you're the recipient of 00:10:58.279 --> 00:11:00.700 that love and feeling welcomed at that inn. Even 00:11:00.700 --> 00:11:02.419 if it's a church you've been attending forever. 00:11:03.000 --> 00:11:04.919 To be recognized as somebody that needs a little 00:11:04.919 --> 00:11:08.059 bit more love and support is going to bless us 00:11:08.059 --> 00:11:11.120 all. If kind of all of us are thinking on that, 00:11:11.120 --> 00:11:15.860 thinking on that line to be looking around and 00:11:15.860 --> 00:11:20.350 it's a hard balance. five kids and a couple of 00:11:20.350 --> 00:11:22.210 them really need a lot of attention during sacrament 00:11:22.210 --> 00:11:23.870 to not like just disturb the whole place and 00:11:23.870 --> 00:11:26.230 so like I'm really mostly focused in on that 00:11:26.230 --> 00:11:28.330 but I've been at different phases it's like a 00:11:28.330 --> 00:11:31.370 new young like a young newlywed couple didn't 00:11:31.370 --> 00:11:33.629 have any kids on our bench not making any noises 00:11:33.629 --> 00:11:35.769 it was a lot easier for me to look around and 00:11:35.769 --> 00:11:39.409 see you know the the bishop's wife with multiple 00:11:39.409 --> 00:11:41.669 young children it was so easy for us to just 00:11:41.669 --> 00:11:44.429 sit up a row and be some extra adult hands it 00:11:44.429 --> 00:11:47.570 was fun to play with somebody else's kids or 00:11:48.759 --> 00:11:51.220 You know, I'm pretty good at recognizing when 00:11:51.220 --> 00:11:53.340 people come to the ward to visit we have we're 00:11:53.340 --> 00:11:55.240 living like a resort community So it's not uncommon 00:11:55.240 --> 00:11:58.379 for us to have a bunch of visitors right, especially 00:11:58.379 --> 00:12:00.779 on holidays Yeah, it's not hard to just say hi 00:12:00.779 --> 00:12:02.820 to everybody and sometimes strike up a conversation. 00:12:03.120 --> 00:12:05.440 Sometimes it's just a hi But like multiple people 00:12:05.440 --> 00:12:09.000 are noticing that and I do love that about well, 00:12:09.000 --> 00:12:11.450 we visited we've visited where like California 00:12:11.450 --> 00:12:13.330 people will be like, are you visiting? Are you 00:12:13.330 --> 00:12:15.029 new to the ward? You know, they're like optimistic 00:12:15.029 --> 00:12:16.629 that you're going to like double their numbers. 00:12:17.049 --> 00:12:18.629 And then you're like, we're just visiting. And 00:12:18.629 --> 00:12:20.490 they're like, dang, but welcome anyway. They're 00:12:20.490 --> 00:12:22.590 still so friendly, but obviously they're accustomed 00:12:22.590 --> 00:12:25.110 to people coming and going. So for sure. It's 00:12:25.110 --> 00:12:27.529 a good habit to be in. It's maybe uncomfortable 00:12:27.529 --> 00:12:30.269 the first time that you step out of your comfort 00:12:30.269 --> 00:12:32.350 zone and try to do this, but it gets more easy 00:12:32.350 --> 00:12:36.340 to. bought the visitors. And sometimes you think 00:12:36.340 --> 00:12:38.100 that they're a visitor and then you find, luckily, 00:12:38.220 --> 00:12:40.340 they are going to be in your ward forever. And 00:12:40.340 --> 00:12:42.179 then they already have that attachment like, 00:12:42.360 --> 00:12:45.639 oh, they recognized us and they said hi and we 00:12:45.639 --> 00:12:47.559 won't be just wallflowers here. Yeah, for sure, 00:12:47.559 --> 00:12:50.600 Abby. And we know that in today's world, we're 00:12:50.600 --> 00:12:52.519 more connected than ever, like, you know, through 00:12:52.519 --> 00:12:54.940 social media, we can know exactly what someone 00:12:54.940 --> 00:12:57.179 has had for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and 00:12:57.179 --> 00:12:59.120 the details of when their latest vacation is, 00:12:59.120 --> 00:13:01.940 if we follow them. What is it that today we feel 00:13:01.940 --> 00:13:04.299 more lonely and isolated? Even with all that 00:13:04.299 --> 00:13:06.139 information, right? Knowing everything if we 00:13:06.139 --> 00:13:08.200 want to know it, these artificial relationships 00:13:08.200 --> 00:13:10.799 and sharing of our lives digitally leaves us 00:13:10.799 --> 00:13:13.019 yearning for human closeness and human touch. 00:13:13.480 --> 00:13:15.879 We want to hear each other's voices. We want 00:13:15.879 --> 00:13:19.000 authentic belonging and kindness. I love that. 00:13:19.080 --> 00:13:21.960 He's so good at this, right? He's so genuine 00:13:21.960 --> 00:13:24.179 in this that you feel that these aren't just, 00:13:24.240 --> 00:13:26.779 and I'm not saying anyone's are, but these, these 00:13:26.779 --> 00:13:29.740 words he's sharing are directly from his heart. 00:13:29.799 --> 00:13:32.970 They are from his personal perspective and that 00:13:32.970 --> 00:13:35.210 he lives what he preaches. I just think a lot 00:13:35.210 --> 00:13:38.370 of statistics are coming out right now that really 00:13:38.370 --> 00:13:41.769 shine a light on the danger that comes from thinking 00:13:41.769 --> 00:13:45.029 that you're socializing or that you're connecting 00:13:45.029 --> 00:13:47.889 with humans in this digital world. Gotcha. Yeah. 00:13:48.110 --> 00:13:51.289 People aren't trying to be fake, but I certainly 00:13:51.289 --> 00:13:52.909 don't post all of the bad things that are going 00:13:52.909 --> 00:13:57.159 on in my life. I'm not trying to do it for any 00:13:57.159 --> 00:13:59.299 particular reason, but I want memories to pop 00:13:59.299 --> 00:14:01.740 up on my Facebook, and so I tend to put things 00:14:01.740 --> 00:14:04.039 that I'm pretty happy about, process the sad 00:14:04.039 --> 00:14:06.279 things. But I mean, if people saw the whole, 00:14:06.299 --> 00:14:08.279 like just put my life on record and put it on, 00:14:08.539 --> 00:14:11.639 it would not look like cupcakes and rainbows. 00:14:11.740 --> 00:14:15.289 For sure. And even putting in the hard things, 00:14:15.429 --> 00:14:16.669 you know, sometimes you put the hard things on 00:14:16.669 --> 00:14:18.549 and there might've been moments of light, but 00:14:18.549 --> 00:14:20.769 you didn't stop and record that too. So it's 00:14:20.769 --> 00:14:23.190 not always the same true story. The best thing 00:14:23.190 --> 00:14:25.830 to do is to have real human contact and the conversation 00:14:25.830 --> 00:14:28.169 in person. I know you can't do that with everybody 00:14:28.169 --> 00:14:30.470 everywhere. And I love my social media. Like 00:14:30.470 --> 00:14:32.629 I've left an area and I still get to keep tabs 00:14:32.629 --> 00:14:35.090 on people. We've lived in different areas. I've 00:14:35.090 --> 00:14:40.779 loved some people there. like FSY experiences 00:14:40.779 --> 00:14:42.500 to be able to kind of keep track of those youth 00:14:42.500 --> 00:14:43.940 and things that they move on with their life. 00:14:44.039 --> 00:14:45.159 They're going all over the place. But I know 00:14:45.159 --> 00:14:46.980 that it's a superficial relationship. And if 00:14:46.980 --> 00:14:48.539 I really want to connect with them, then I have 00:14:48.539 --> 00:14:50.720 to message them or text them or reach out in 00:14:50.720 --> 00:14:53.220 a different way. So it's a good start. Yes, exactly, 00:14:53.440 --> 00:14:54.740 Abby. I love that you say it's a good start. 00:14:54.919 --> 00:14:57.659 I love it for, like you said, just keeping kind 00:14:57.659 --> 00:15:00.750 of contact with certain people. Then I... can 00:15:00.750 --> 00:15:02.789 read up on, let's say their profile or whatever, 00:15:02.950 --> 00:15:04.769 just see what's going on. And then when I meet 00:15:04.769 --> 00:15:07.649 with them, I know questions to ask and what about 00:15:07.649 --> 00:15:09.169 this and what about that? So it is kind of nice 00:15:09.169 --> 00:15:11.529 to have just an introductory, you know, an introduction 00:15:11.529 --> 00:15:14.049 and deepen the relationship, make it, take it 00:15:14.049 --> 00:15:17.529 from the artificial social world to a real connection. 00:15:18.330 --> 00:15:21.669 Love that. At this point in his talk, he then 00:15:21.669 --> 00:15:25.990 shares He shifts gears and he starts inviting 00:15:25.990 --> 00:15:29.169 us to look outside and see who we could invite 00:15:29.169 --> 00:15:31.549 to sit with us and ask us to take a look at what 00:15:31.549 --> 00:15:33.649 things may be going on within ourselves internally 00:15:33.649 --> 00:15:36.750 that make us feel all alone in what's usually 00:15:36.750 --> 00:15:38.889 a crowded congregation. Yeah. He says we may 00:15:38.889 --> 00:15:41.070 worry about our accent, clothes, family situation, 00:15:41.309 --> 00:15:43.169 perhaps we feel inadequate, smell of smoke, yearn 00:15:43.169 --> 00:15:45.210 for moral cleanliness, have broken up with someone 00:15:45.210 --> 00:15:47.169 and feel hurt and embarrassed, are concerned 00:15:47.169 --> 00:15:50.879 about his... This or that church policy, we may 00:15:50.879 --> 00:15:52.799 be single, divorced, widowed, our children are 00:15:52.799 --> 00:15:54.879 noisy, we don't have children, we didn't serve 00:15:54.879 --> 00:15:56.659 a mission, we came home early, the list goes 00:15:56.659 --> 00:16:00.279 on and on. I think he hit so many things that 00:16:00.279 --> 00:16:02.720 have, you know, when people really get down to 00:16:02.720 --> 00:16:04.100 it, they're like, this is the thing that took 00:16:04.100 --> 00:16:06.240 me away. Well, none of those things would have 00:16:06.240 --> 00:16:08.559 to be the thing that turned you away if somebody 00:16:08.559 --> 00:16:11.639 came knocking to say there is room for the inn 00:16:11.639 --> 00:16:15.799 for all of these things. Absolutely. It seems 00:16:15.799 --> 00:16:17.820 like a great time as we wrap up another year, 00:16:17.919 --> 00:16:20.159 man, can you believe we're in December, and prepare 00:16:20.159 --> 00:16:22.600 to welcome even more of God's children into our 00:16:22.600 --> 00:16:25.320 congregation throughout the world to assess if 00:16:25.320 --> 00:16:27.419 there's something within ourselves that's holding 00:16:27.419 --> 00:16:30.440 us back from being completely invested in being 00:16:30.440 --> 00:16:33.480 in His. And secondly, if there are people within 00:16:33.480 --> 00:16:36.519 our sight, within our reach that we can go the 00:16:36.519 --> 00:16:39.080 extra mile to make feel more comfortable or welcome. 00:16:39.539 --> 00:16:42.700 It's interesting because I... I haven't thought 00:16:42.700 --> 00:16:44.899 of it this well, maybe I have before, but right 00:16:44.899 --> 00:16:48.500 now in my quest for attaining health and then 00:16:48.500 --> 00:16:52.279 maintaining it this year, I just have felt my 00:16:52.279 --> 00:16:56.460 capacity be more. I'm noticing more outside of 00:16:56.460 --> 00:16:59.360 myself because I put so much time and attention 00:16:59.360 --> 00:17:01.879 into healing myself and asking the Lord where 00:17:01.879 --> 00:17:05.200 I can heal. It truly has opened up more capacity. 00:17:05.700 --> 00:17:07.460 And I think it's amazing for the past couple 00:17:07.460 --> 00:17:10.339 of weeks. I've just been like, Thanking the Lord 00:17:10.339 --> 00:17:12.779 for that because I've noticed a difference and 00:17:12.779 --> 00:17:15.269 they're truly, you know, like when The word capacity 00:17:15.269 --> 00:17:18.089 just keeps coming to my mind. And today when 00:17:18.089 --> 00:17:20.329 we heard it in church talked about President 00:17:20.329 --> 00:17:23.829 Nelson saying, expand your capacity for spiritual 00:17:23.829 --> 00:17:26.309 revelation, I feel like I want to expand my capacity 00:17:26.309 --> 00:17:29.049 for looking outside. And it's so much like you 00:17:29.049 --> 00:17:31.410 said, there are seasons when it's we're kind 00:17:31.410 --> 00:17:33.470 of drowning inside or in our family for whatever 00:17:33.470 --> 00:17:36.289 reason. And it's hard to look outside. And I 00:17:36.289 --> 00:17:38.809 feel like part of the reason I have been working 00:17:38.809 --> 00:17:41.289 on my health so much is so that I have more capacity 00:17:41.289 --> 00:17:44.170 to look outside and I can. attest that that has 00:17:44.170 --> 00:17:46.529 been a huge blessing that the Lord has given 00:17:46.529 --> 00:17:49.150 me. I felt the difference. And don't you think 00:17:49.150 --> 00:17:51.089 we're all a little bit better looking outside 00:17:51.089 --> 00:17:53.809 of ourselves Christmas season? I mean, as parents, 00:17:54.029 --> 00:17:55.589 you're like thinking, what can we do to make 00:17:55.589 --> 00:17:58.650 this experience for our children better? Are 00:17:58.650 --> 00:18:00.589 our neighbors taken care of? What needs are there 00:18:00.589 --> 00:18:02.809 in the community? Like you kind of, you know, 00:18:02.930 --> 00:18:04.009 start in your little bubble and then you kind 00:18:04.009 --> 00:18:06.089 of work your way out. I think a lot more people 00:18:06.089 --> 00:18:10.289 in a lot more places around the world are Opening 00:18:10.289 --> 00:18:13.130 up their capacity to give at this time of year 00:18:13.130 --> 00:18:15.910 more than any other for sure And that's why we 00:18:15.910 --> 00:18:18.089 just all kind of love the feelings that we generate 00:18:18.089 --> 00:18:20.970 this time of year. It's true We are in the dispensation 00:18:20.970 --> 00:18:23.069 of the fullness of times when the saints of God 00:18:23.069 --> 00:18:25.809 will be gathered in One from every nation kindred 00:18:25.809 --> 00:18:27.990 and people there has never been a more exciting 00:18:27.990 --> 00:18:30.109 time than now to be a member of God's restored 00:18:30.109 --> 00:18:34.890 church on earth than today But I would say I 00:18:34.890 --> 00:18:36.329 just put that in because when I read that line 00:18:36.329 --> 00:18:38.170 I was like man, that's that talk from forever 00:18:38.170 --> 00:18:40.339 ago that I'm like There's never been a better 00:18:40.339 --> 00:18:43.759 time. Totally. But I followed up with a thought 00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:49.759 like, it's going to prove to be more responsibility 00:18:49.759 --> 00:18:52.359 on our part because it is such a great time to 00:18:52.359 --> 00:18:54.400 be around it because we do have the opportunity 00:18:54.400 --> 00:18:57.140 to be so connected because more people are coming 00:18:57.140 --> 00:19:00.039 into the church. Because they're having access 00:19:00.039 --> 00:19:02.579 to it because of this movement of people, we 00:19:02.579 --> 00:19:05.440 have to be ready and willing to open our mouths 00:19:05.440 --> 00:19:09.339 and share this good news. But like you see the 00:19:09.339 --> 00:19:12.460 age change for the sisters, it's just kind of 00:19:12.460 --> 00:19:14.140 like, oh, well, that's the biggest bell that 00:19:14.140 --> 00:19:15.619 we'll ever see. That's the most missionaries 00:19:15.619 --> 00:19:18.980 that we'll ever have as they reduce the age of 00:19:18.980 --> 00:19:20.640 sisters entering the mission field. And then 00:19:20.640 --> 00:19:22.339 they just changed it to 18, and we'll see like 00:19:22.339 --> 00:19:25.240 a bubble. But we're still seeing numbers that 00:19:25.240 --> 00:19:27.279 they weren't even expecting. For one reason or 00:19:27.279 --> 00:19:28.779 another, right? Their hearts are being drawn. 00:19:29.519 --> 00:19:32.240 They want to go have access to these saints that 00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:34.519 are in movement and looking for something and 00:19:34.519 --> 00:19:37.140 provide the gospel of Jesus Christ to them. Yes. 00:19:37.500 --> 00:19:39.740 And make sure that they know that there is more 00:19:39.740 --> 00:19:42.039 than enough room in the inn for everybody. For 00:19:42.039 --> 00:19:51.960 sure. I love that, Abby. Conversion to Jesus 00:19:51.960 --> 00:19:54.359 Christ requires us to put off the natural man 00:19:54.359 --> 00:19:57.799 and worldly culture. That was kind of an interesting 00:19:57.799 --> 00:20:01.160 twitch. It's just like, when I read that line, 00:20:01.240 --> 00:20:07.670 I was like, come as you are. Leave as he is. 00:20:07.750 --> 00:20:09.910 That's it. That's my follow -up. It's like, you 00:20:09.910 --> 00:20:12.450 know, what what if in my culture we do such -and 00:20:12.450 --> 00:20:16.250 -such if it's if it's If it's going to grow you'd 00:20:16.250 --> 00:20:18.230 be like Jesus Christ, then it's like keep it 00:20:18.230 --> 00:20:20.470 bring it with you teach us about it Let us learn 00:20:20.470 --> 00:20:23.910 from you in that way but if you know, it's contrary 00:20:23.910 --> 00:20:27.630 to Covenants that we're making then it's something 00:20:27.630 --> 00:20:29.269 that you're gonna have to assess How important 00:20:29.269 --> 00:20:31.809 is this to me is it more important to put that 00:20:31.809 --> 00:20:35.039 off and become part of? The gospel culture, God's 00:20:35.039 --> 00:20:38.059 culture. Yeah, not church culture. Right. Like 00:20:38.059 --> 00:20:39.900 bring your culture with you, the things that 00:20:39.900 --> 00:20:42.980 make you you. For sure. But in God's economy, 00:20:43.119 --> 00:20:44.680 like there are certain responsibilities that 00:20:44.680 --> 00:20:47.759 we have. to be covenant makers. Yes. And I do 00:20:47.759 --> 00:20:50.160 love that, that each, like I served a mission 00:20:50.160 --> 00:20:53.039 in Italy and there would not be any gathering 00:20:53.039 --> 00:20:54.720 that we had at the church that did not have, 00:20:54.859 --> 00:20:57.259 it's called pasta al forno, meaning any type 00:20:57.259 --> 00:20:59.880 of pasta you put in the oven. That's just part 00:20:59.880 --> 00:21:01.579 of it, right? Well, anyways, I was talking with 00:21:01.579 --> 00:21:02.799 my husband about it and he's like, well, how 00:21:02.799 --> 00:21:04.940 could you have a Christmas party without having 00:21:04.940 --> 00:21:07.299 turkey in my mind? Because that's not part of 00:21:07.299 --> 00:21:09.160 the culture. You know what I mean? So I love 00:21:09.160 --> 00:21:14.130 that every nation brings their culture and Of 00:21:14.130 --> 00:21:16.190 course, what you eat has nothing to do with. 00:21:16.190 --> 00:21:20.250 I wonder how unique the members look to other 00:21:20.250 --> 00:21:22.869 people in Italy. Like for instance, wouldn't 00:21:22.869 --> 00:21:25.170 you think a lot of pastas would be like laden 00:21:25.170 --> 00:21:27.430 with alcohol or like whatever dessert you have, 00:21:27.529 --> 00:21:29.730 espresso. For sure, that they just know not to, 00:21:29.730 --> 00:21:32.329 yeah. I know. And so it's like, that's what I'm 00:21:32.329 --> 00:21:34.049 saying. Like you're in this culture and I'm sure, 00:21:34.210 --> 00:21:36.170 I mean, I know Italy is like prized for all of 00:21:36.170 --> 00:21:38.309 these great things that they do. But once that 00:21:38.309 --> 00:21:40.789 you've said, once you've welcomed yourself into 00:21:40.789 --> 00:21:42.190 the end, you become part of that culture, then 00:21:42.190 --> 00:21:44.920 you have to say, I can still love pasta. just 00:21:44.920 --> 00:21:46.559 doesn't have these ingredients in it. I love 00:21:46.559 --> 00:21:50.759 my dessert. That's true. One time I did go to 00:21:50.759 --> 00:21:54.420 a kid's birthday party and the cake was just 00:21:54.420 --> 00:21:57.299 soaked in alcohol. It was one of our friends, 00:21:57.440 --> 00:21:58.660 right? So I didn't know and they didn't know 00:21:58.660 --> 00:22:02.700 that yet about us. I took a bite and it stung 00:22:02.700 --> 00:22:04.599 my mouth and I'm like, oh, we can't have this. 00:22:04.680 --> 00:22:06.119 And just kind of told him that, you know, yeah, 00:22:06.240 --> 00:22:08.019 you're right. There is part of it that that part's 00:22:08.019 --> 00:22:10.839 not coming. But I just love how there are plenty 00:22:10.839 --> 00:22:13.259 of good things in every culture that you can 00:22:13.259 --> 00:22:14.910 absolutely bring. with you and it will still 00:22:14.910 --> 00:22:16.890 feel like home for every person around the world. 00:22:17.690 --> 00:22:19.329 That's what I that's what I think just tried 00:22:19.329 --> 00:22:21.710 to touch. Yes, I won't be surprised if he follows 00:22:21.710 --> 00:22:25.869 up with that. Like this is part one. Come in 00:22:25.869 --> 00:22:28.190 and feel welcomed. Don't feel ashamed by anything 00:22:28.190 --> 00:22:30.829 you've ever done to be all made right. But if 00:22:30.829 --> 00:22:33.009 it's something that we're asking you to change, 00:22:33.170 --> 00:22:35.200 it's because it is paired with the principle 00:22:35.200 --> 00:22:37.240 of the gospel that opens up the door to greater 00:22:37.240 --> 00:22:39.640 blessings if you have to give something aside. 00:22:40.420 --> 00:22:44.039 Absolutely, Abby. President Dallin H. Oaks teaches, 00:22:44.259 --> 00:22:45.880 we are to give up any tradition and cultural 00:22:45.880 --> 00:22:47.980 practice that is contrary to the commandments 00:22:47.980 --> 00:22:50.319 of God, and to become Latter -day Saints, first 00:22:50.319 --> 00:22:52.259 and foremost. He explains, there is a unique 00:22:52.259 --> 00:22:54.700 gospel culture, a set of values and expectations 00:22:54.700 --> 00:22:57.640 and practices. common to all the members of the 00:22:57.640 --> 00:22:58.980 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter -day Saints. 00:22:59.259 --> 00:23:01.920 And again, he is saying gospel culture rather 00:23:01.920 --> 00:23:04.880 than church culture. And that's what the culture 00:23:04.880 --> 00:23:08.380 is tied to, is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Gospel 00:23:08.380 --> 00:23:10.480 culture includes chastity, weekly attendance 00:23:10.480 --> 00:23:12.720 at church, abstaining from alcohol, tobacco, 00:23:12.779 --> 00:23:15.519 tea, and coffee. It includes honesty and integrity, 00:23:15.859 --> 00:23:18.559 understanding as we move forward, not upward 00:23:18.559 --> 00:23:21.059 or downward in church positions. Oh, I love that. 00:23:21.099 --> 00:23:22.779 Understanding that we move forward, not upward 00:23:22.779 --> 00:23:25.569 or downward. Yes. I love his perspective. here. 00:23:26.009 --> 00:23:28.490 Scripture studied in multiple languages and cultural 00:23:28.490 --> 00:23:32.130 perspectives deepen gospel understanding. Amen. 00:23:32.509 --> 00:23:34.589 Different expressions of Christ -like attributes 00:23:34.589 --> 00:23:36.910 deepen my love and understanding of my Savior. 00:23:37.410 --> 00:23:39.609 All are blessed when we define our cultural identity 00:23:39.609 --> 00:23:42.150 as President Russell M. Nelson taught us as a 00:23:42.150 --> 00:23:44.730 child of God, a child of the covenant, a disciple 00:23:44.730 --> 00:23:48.089 of Jesus Christ. He said it so perfectly. I know. 00:23:48.230 --> 00:23:50.970 I'm like all with love. Like there are some changes 00:23:50.970 --> 00:23:55.190 in all of us. we can take the chance to recognize 00:23:55.190 --> 00:23:57.150 and say, you know, am I holding on to something 00:23:57.150 --> 00:23:59.650 culturally that's like stopping me from being 00:23:59.650 --> 00:24:02.029 totally invested as a child of the covenant, 00:24:02.569 --> 00:24:04.630 disciple of Jesus Christ, a child of God? Think 00:24:04.630 --> 00:24:07.049 about things that are so commonplace to like 00:24:07.049 --> 00:24:09.490 a specific area culturally in the world, but 00:24:09.490 --> 00:24:11.890 as we're increasing number of membership, that 00:24:11.890 --> 00:24:13.690 collectively that group, they're gonna stand 00:24:13.690 --> 00:24:15.670 out. They're like, what is it about these people 00:24:15.670 --> 00:24:18.549 and the missionary opportunities and the opening 00:24:18.549 --> 00:24:21.170 of the inn and the widening of the doors that 00:24:21.170 --> 00:24:24.680 come from one member? You know bringing in another 00:24:24.680 --> 00:24:26.619 12 friends who bring in another 12 friends you 00:24:26.619 --> 00:24:29.660 see it like I'm not joking like these mass baptisms 00:24:29.660 --> 00:24:34.130 It gets me every time The spirit is running rampant, 00:24:34.130 --> 00:24:37.029 particularly through Africa right now. And I 00:24:37.029 --> 00:24:38.970 had a cousin whose son posted this picture and 00:24:38.970 --> 00:24:40.569 I made some comment. I think I maybe already 00:24:40.569 --> 00:24:42.069 shared this, but it touched me so much. I think 00:24:42.069 --> 00:24:44.289 of it often, but I was like, oh, did your zone 00:24:44.289 --> 00:24:47.029 do baptisms in the temple, you know, before you 00:24:47.029 --> 00:24:48.849 like left? And he's like, no, that's like a legitimate 00:24:48.849 --> 00:24:52.029 baptism. It was like steps and white baptism, 00:24:52.029 --> 00:24:55.309 you know, outfits. And it was just like a zigzag, 00:24:55.329 --> 00:24:59.009 like up the staircase, up to the top. I don't 00:24:59.009 --> 00:25:02.539 like 30, 40. baptism, you know? Wow. That's amazing. 00:25:03.200 --> 00:25:06.980 And Alma. It's an incredible opportunity to see 00:25:06.980 --> 00:25:12.779 these. Yeah, it's an amazing thing. And it makes 00:25:12.779 --> 00:25:17.549 me think like, we've seen like a bigger drive 00:25:17.549 --> 00:25:19.869 to invite senior couples to go out in the world. 00:25:20.029 --> 00:25:21.809 Like if you've lived in the same place your whole 00:25:21.809 --> 00:25:23.670 life and you've experienced the church in this 00:25:23.670 --> 00:25:26.710 way, in this box, how more expansive is your 00:25:26.710 --> 00:25:29.450 view on opening the door wider and inviting more 00:25:29.450 --> 00:25:31.210 people in when you go to another country and 00:25:31.210 --> 00:25:33.130 you get to experience the church through their 00:25:33.130 --> 00:25:36.849 eyes from their perspective? I think that there's 00:25:36.849 --> 00:25:39.470 just gobs of blessings that we're just tapping 00:25:39.470 --> 00:25:41.710 into, but so many more can be tapped into as 00:25:41.710 --> 00:25:44.930 we... as we take these opportunities. Very good 00:25:44.930 --> 00:25:46.690 perspective. That's kind of what I heard time 00:25:46.690 --> 00:25:50.289 after time in this talk. I just love this talk. 00:25:50.609 --> 00:25:54.369 I love that it definitely touched my heart and 00:25:54.369 --> 00:25:57.750 I am an introvert. And so I get to ask God, you 00:25:57.750 --> 00:26:00.809 know, how can I serve and how can I serve with 00:26:00.809 --> 00:26:03.150 the gifts you've given me? I don't want to try 00:26:03.150 --> 00:26:04.849 to be someone else, but I want to serve in the 00:26:04.849 --> 00:26:06.410 ways that I can with the people that are around 00:26:06.410 --> 00:26:09.269 me. And I've had some thoughts and ideas about 00:26:09.269 --> 00:26:11.009 that and I'm grateful for it. There's always 00:26:11.009 --> 00:26:12.990 room for improvement. Yeah. And as you listen 00:26:12.990 --> 00:26:14.769 to the impression that he gives you in that small 00:26:14.769 --> 00:26:17.069 way that you're able to do, like you talked earlier, 00:26:17.190 --> 00:26:19.069 the capacity will expand. He's like, oh, she 00:26:19.069 --> 00:26:21.450 was willing to reach out to that child of mine 00:26:21.450 --> 00:26:24.329 that feels lonely. You'll get an impression when 00:26:24.329 --> 00:26:28.250 you've shown a willingness and a desire to help 00:26:28.250 --> 00:26:30.880 reach out to other people in need. He's going 00:26:30.880 --> 00:26:33.059 to give you more opportunities. So I don't know. 00:26:33.059 --> 00:26:35.039 I love that this kind of lands in December. I 00:26:35.039 --> 00:26:37.180 always like opening fresh chapters of things. 00:26:37.240 --> 00:26:38.799 Like if it's not something you've been doing 00:26:38.799 --> 00:26:40.940 or something that you see that you need to improve 00:26:40.940 --> 00:26:44.000 on, it's like a New Year's resolution to just 00:26:44.000 --> 00:26:46.099 look outside of yourself. I think that's a really 00:26:46.099 --> 00:26:50.200 cool piece of your healing. Sometimes when you're 00:26:50.200 --> 00:26:52.240 just sicker than sick, all you can think about 00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:54.099 yourself and you're doing everything you can 00:26:54.099 --> 00:26:56.220 to feel better. But oftentimes the way that the 00:26:56.220 --> 00:26:59.559 Lord heals us is by having us reach out to others. 00:27:00.680 --> 00:27:02.839 And, you know, as we're more charitable, like 00:27:02.839 --> 00:27:06.380 all of a sudden, the problems typically don't 00:27:06.380 --> 00:27:08.900 just disappear, but they do feel lighter because 00:27:08.900 --> 00:27:12.019 everything we're doing is paired with him. His 00:27:12.019 --> 00:27:13.960 yoke is easy and his burden is light. It's true. 00:27:14.039 --> 00:27:15.759 Which is cool when we think if we're naturally 00:27:15.759 --> 00:27:18.180 not inclined to just like pop up and have a conversation 00:27:18.180 --> 00:27:21.119 with that new face, when we end up doing it, 00:27:21.220 --> 00:27:23.599 we're seeing that he's grown our capacity, we 00:27:23.599 --> 00:27:28.119 become better at it. And irritably, we get better 00:27:28.119 --> 00:27:32.079 at spotting that person that looks lonely. I 00:27:32.079 --> 00:27:34.539 love it. Should I wrap it up? Sure, Abby. Thank 00:27:34.539 --> 00:27:38.380 you. I'm personally excited to see what we can 00:27:38.380 --> 00:27:41.940 achieve as a collective kingdom of God with more 00:27:41.940 --> 00:27:43.819 diversity and more culture added to the church 00:27:43.819 --> 00:27:46.160 we are accustomed to. I really do think that 00:27:46.160 --> 00:27:49.259 it is our chance to get a taste of what heaven 00:27:49.259 --> 00:27:51.420 is going to look like, these heavenly relationships. 00:27:53.839 --> 00:27:56.880 And his testimony is beautiful. I'll share that. 00:27:57.000 --> 00:27:59.619 He said, covenant belonging deepens as we come 00:27:59.619 --> 00:28:01.900 to each other and to the Lord in his in. The 00:28:01.900 --> 00:28:04.900 Lord blesses us all when no one sits alone. Maybe 00:28:04.900 --> 00:28:08.599 find a place for him and each other as we supper 00:28:08.599 --> 00:28:10.819 at. At the supper of the Lamb, I humbly pray 00:28:10.819 --> 00:28:13.680 in the holy name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Amen. 00:28:14.000 --> 00:28:15.759 We'll continue the discussion on our Facebook 00:28:15.759 --> 00:28:17.799 page. I was thinking of some questions like, 00:28:17.920 --> 00:28:20.500 when have you reached out to somebody, that new 00:28:20.500 --> 00:28:23.019 face? Like, what was the, you know, like the 00:28:23.019 --> 00:28:25.519 fruit of reaching out to somebody in need? Or 00:28:25.519 --> 00:28:27.319 when have you been that new face in the crowd 00:28:27.319 --> 00:28:30.019 and somebody's particularly touched you, welcomed 00:28:30.019 --> 00:28:32.319 you in? I think that would be fun to hear more 00:28:32.319 --> 00:28:35.680 of those. those experiences. So we'll catch you 00:28:35.680 --> 00:28:38.079 next week or maybe we'll see you online. See 00:28:38.079 --> 00:28:38.799 you next time.