Farewell Talk

Sunday, May 10, 2015- Farewell Talk

“The role of womanhood in Heavenly Father’s plan of happiness in the last days.”

I am so lucky I get to speak on Mother’s Day because I’ve been able to list out some of the things that make my mom so great and my talk wrote itself!

 Attributes of Mothers-

The number one attribute I think of when I think of mothers is nurturing.

Nurturing: As women it is in our nature to care and love those around us. As a missionary, I am called to search out strangers who are ready to hear the gospel and until they know that I genuinely care about them and love them, they will not care what I have to say about the gospel. I have to love and see these people through the eyes of Heavenly Father...

 Hospital Advertisement-

On my way home from Reno this past week I saw an advertisement for a hospital. There was a picture of a mother and her 2 sons and on it read, “Moms are the best medicine.” I thought that was really cool and I totally agreed with it because your mom is the one who is always there. Growing up, my mom was the one who wanted to know everything that was going on in my life. She cared about ALL the details. Moms are there to support and defend their kids, teach manners and responsibility, invite the spirit into the home, and maintain order and cleanliness.

 Neal A. Maxwell-

“So often our sisters comfort others when their own needs are greater than those being comforted. That quality is like the generosity of Jesus on the cross. Empathy during agony is a portion of divinity.” -I have grown up watching my mom serve which, looking back has prepared me for a mission. A mission is full of service and I am grateful that I have had a wonderful example of that in my life. She has always been diligent in her church callings, in her visiting teaching, and most importantly to being a mom. One of my favorite memories about my mom is that she made and packed my lunch for me every day all the way up until I graduated high school and let me tell you, it was good lunch! My friends and teachers out there know it!

 “When the real history of mankind is fully disclosed, will it feature the echoes of gunfire---or the shaping sound of lullabies? Will what happened in cradles and kitchens prove to be more controlling than what happened in congress?” -Recently my mom has gotten really good at journaling and I admire her for that because I know that someday my siblings and I will want to look back at it and show our kids things we did growing up! Last summer I picked it up again while I was on my CHT and I already refer back to it all the time! I enjoy journaling and I know I will do a lot of it on my mission and I know those books will be priceless to me.

“No wonder the men of God support and sustain our sisters in their unique roles, for the act of deserting home in order to shape society is like thoughtlessly removing crucial fingers from an imperiled dike in order to teach people to swim.” -This quote is powerful because in today’s world, education and careers for women are a lot more desirable and encouraged than they were even 50 years ago. I admit that I want to have a stable job someday and be able to support a family, but President Maxwell reminds me and all of us that to be a mother is a blessing and gift from Heavenly Father. He trusts us to raise up the next generation so that should be a priority.

2000 Stripling Warriors-

Alma 27:28 explains the foundation of these women's faith. It explains why they could watch thousands of their brothers and sisters be ruthlessly slaughtered, why they were able to leave their homeland, why they were willing to die rather than break their covenants, and why they were willing to send their young sons into battle. It says:

"And they did look upon shedding the blood of their brethren with greatest abhorrence; and they never could be prevailed upon to take up arms against their brethren; and they never did look upon death with an degree of terror, for their hope and views of Christ and the resurrection; therefore, death was swallowed up to them by the victory of Christ over it."

 This is what these mothers knew, and this is what they taught their sons. They knew that because of the atonement of Jesus Christ death had no power. They had no fear of physical death because Jesus would conquer it, and therefore it had "no sting". They knew that the only thing to fear, and what would bring death, was sin and the breaking of covenants. They knew that if they honored their covenants and followed the Lord Jesus Christ, man could do nothing to them. They understood that mortal life was just a short part of their eternal existence. They had their eyes on an eternal, not an earthly, reward.

Elder Jeffery R. Holland said…

-"Yours is the grand tradition of Eve, the mother of all the human family, the one who understood that she and Adam had to fall in order that "men [and women] might be" and that there would be joy.

-“Yours is the grand tradition of Sarah and Rebekah and Rachel, without whom there could not have been those magnificent patriarchal promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob which bless us all.”

-“Yours in the grand tradition of Lois and Eunice and the mothers of the 2,000 stripling warriors.”

-“Yours is the grand tradition of Mary, chosen and foreordained from before this world was, to conceive, carry, and bear the Son of God Himself. We thank all of you, including our own mothers, and tell you there is nothing more important in the world that participating so directly in the work of God, in bringing to pass the morality and earthly life of His daughters and sons, so that immortality and eternal life can come in those celestial realms on high."

Another attribute I thought of was protective. Even though protection is usually associated with fathers, Mary shows us that mothers take on that responsibility as well. In the scriptures it talks about how Mary was called and chosen by God above all other women to bring the Savior into the world. Mary left the city right away because she knew how society would view her if she stayed. In the Middle East, women are stoned in the streets for adultery. She knew she had to get away in order to deliver this child safely

Garth Brooks - "Mom"

A little baby told God, "Hey, I'm kinda scared
Don't really know if I want to go down there
From here it looks like a little blue ball
That's a great big place and I'm so small"

"Why can't I just stay here with you
Did I make you mad, don't you want me to?"
God said, "Oh, child, of course I do
But there's somebody special waiting for you"
So, hush now baby don't you cry
'Cause there's someone down there waiting
Whose only goal in life
Is makin' sure you're always gonna be alright
A loving angel, tender, tough and strong
It's almost time to go and meet your mom

You'll never have a better friend
Or a warmer touch to tuck you in
She'll kiss your bruises, your bumps and scrapes
And anytime you hurt, her heart's gonna break
Now, when she's talking to you
Make sure you listen close
'Cause she's gonna teach you everything
You'll ever need to know
Like how to mind your manners
To love and laugh and dream
And she'll put you on the path
That'll bring you back to Me

So, hush now little baby don't you cry
'Cause there's someone down there waiting

Whose only goal in life
Is making sure you're always gonna be alright
A loving angel, tender, tough and strong
Come on child
It's time to meet your mom

 I’m grateful for the opportunity I had to speak with all of you today and even more grateful that it landed on Mother’s Day. I’m overwhelmed by all the love and support that I can see here today and I can’t thank my family and friends and this ward enough for raising me and preparing me to serve this mission. I’m really excited to find out what’s in store for me in New Mexico. I know the Lord has a plan for me and my life. I know this is what I’m supposed to be doing right now but I hope when the time comes that I can be half the mom that my mom has been for me.

 I know this church is true. I know that My Savior Jesus Christ lived and died for us, and rose again and that we will all live again too. I know the atonement is REAL. We can have peace in our lives knowing that there is a way to return to live with our Father in Heaven and He wants nothing more than for us to do so. I know that the temple is The House of The Lord and that the covenants we make there will protect us and lead us back to Him. I know Joseph Smith was a true prophet and that he translated the Book of Mormon. I know that book is true and that it will be my greatest tool in bringing people to Christ. I love this gospel with all my heart. wsIn the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.