SO LONG, FAREWELL, AUF WIEDERSEHEN, GOODNIGHT

Although my farewell talk was a little different with added inspiration when I stood up to give it, this is what I had originally prepared (rough draft, sorrrry):

I think back to the first day I stood up here and gave my first talk- a little over a year and a half or 21 months ago. The same day I got confirmed a member of the His true church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. Then, I had many friends come and support me but not much family, and today it’s the opposite. All of you have stepped up and become my family over the past year and I can’t express how thankful I am for that. To the Zobell’s who sacrificed front row bench seats to sit with me on folding chairs in the back for months. To the Decker’s who welcomed me into their home and trusted me to drive their kids in that fabulous red minivan. To all the parents who gave me the privilege of teaching their kids in primary. I feel so loved every time I walk into this building and I’m greeted with so many friendly smiles and sweet hugs.  I’ve become that person I always envied, the one who goes somewhere, anywhere and knows at least one person and feels comfortable giving a hug and hello to. I’ve never felt so at home. Which is why it makes it a tad difficult for me when I remember that I’ll be leaving in three days for eighteen months. But just like I shared from my very first talk “A missionary leaves their families for up to 2 years so others can be with their forever.” I still believe this and now I’m about to live it.

 “Sometimes we let our thoughts of tomorrow take up too much of today. Daydreaming of the past and longing for the future may provide comfort but will not take the place of living in the present. This is the day of our opportunity, and we must grasp it.”
( “In Search of Treasure,” Ensign, May 2003, 20.)

“Remember that all men have their fears, but those who face their fears with dignity have courage as well.”
( “The Call for Courage,” Ensign, May 2004, 55–56.)

The same person said both of these things. He is a very important person to me and many of you. His name is President Thomas S. Monson. This world is not an easy place to live but because God, our Father in Heaven, loves us so very much he has given us prophets to teach and to guide us throughout our lives. There have always been prophets since the beginning starting with Adam and Moses and Noah who all had the authority from God to preach to the people and perform sacred ordinances like baptism. And even today we still need that Priesthood authority to baptize and confirm therefore modern-day living prophets are here. “Proving to the world that the holy scriptures are true, and that God does inspire men and call them to his holy work in this age and generation, as well as in generations of old; Thereby showing that he is the same God yesterday, today, and forever” (D&C 20).

It is such a blessing to have a living prophet who is so in tune with Jesus Christ, Heavenly Father and the Holy Ghost. I know that President Monson has our best interest at heart and only shares with us things that will help us to be more like our savior, Jesus Christ. Living prophets are intelligent and wise men who love each and every one of us just like our Heavenly Father. And even better we have Conference every year so we can hear from them specifically helping us to remember the important things in life that will guide us to be virtuous, patient, charitable, kind and much more. He reminds us of the Law of Chastity and the Word of wisdom, of Obedience and of faith. He wants us to be better people, better neighbors, better children of God.

Sometimes we get caught up in our fast paced lives, in work, in silly games, and we forget what’s really important. We brush off keeping the Sabbath day holy and swim at the beach during spring break in Mexico, we convince ourselves that the hot coffee once a month is better than every day, we tell ourselves ‘next week’ when we skip family home evening again, and we start to say prayers in our head before we go to sleep because we are too tired to get on our knees.

President Monson, and other prophets, remind us that if we are obedient to our Lord’s commandments and through faith in his name that we will be saved at the last day and that we can live in God’s presence again in heaven.

“Come from your wandering way, weary traveler. Come to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Come to that heavenly haven called home. Here you will discover the truth. Here you will learn the reality of the Godhead, the comfort of the plan of salvation, the sanctity of the marriage covenant, the power of personal prayer. Come home.”
( “Dedication Day,” Ensign, Nov. 2000, 66.)

Come home. I mentioned earlier that this feels like home to me. Since elementary school when I became friends with Haley Brown I noticed something different about her house. Of course, different from mine because you would never see a giant picture of Jesus in my front room but it wasn’t the picture necessarily that caught my eye. Instead, it was in the kitchen above their sink. A quote that reads “A house is made of bricks and beams, but a home is made of hopes and dreams.” I saw it every time I went over there and it always made me smile. Made me realize that that’s what I wanted. I wanted that for my family and for my future family.

“It is in the home that we form our attitudes, our deeply held beliefs. It is in the home that hope is fostered or destroyed. Our homes are to be more than sanctuaries; they should also be places where God’s Spirit can dwell, where the storm stops at the door, where love reigns and peace dwells.”
( “Becoming Our Best Selves,” Ensign, Nov. 1999, 19.)

Why would someone not want that for their home? I feel like everyone does. Everyone wants their home to be inviting and comfortable and loving and peaceful.  And as members of the Church of Jesus Christ it’s part of our nature to yearn for this, not just for ourselves, but for everybody. I’ve heard more than once that Mormons are a strange, peculiar people with all our little rules and such but we are constantly reminded that no deed goes unseen by the Lord no matter how negligible.  And not only does the Lord see it but so do those around us. I mean, people watching is one of my favorite hobbies, and I’m sure it is for many for you as well. It’s normal to be curious. If my friends and their families hadn’t sparked my curiosity years ago I most likely wouldn’t be here in front of you today. As I was welcomed into many homes with open arms I came into contact with many new things.

“Unlike the book on the library shelf, the covers of which shield its contents, our lives cannot be closed. We truly are an open book in the library of learning of our homes.”
( “Dedication Day,” Ensign, Nov. 2000, 65.)

In high school I would stay the night over at my best friend Sarah’s house practically every day and for late starts if I brought out my puppy dog eyes. They would say a prayer before dinner and then read scriptures together and pray again before bed. They always included me and blessed me in their prayers and I thought, “Wow, that was so nice!” Compared to the “rubadubdub thanks for the grub, yay lord” prayers I said with my family growing up it was a whole lot more personal with the Stradlings. And that was something I liked.

With a few of my friends family’s I would be included in family scripture reading. They would go around in a circle taking turns and even I would read a few verses, although I stumbled on the ye’s and yea’s and the eight year old read better than me I still remember loving every second of it. I could see that it brought their family closer together and there was this harmony that was more or less lacking in my own home.

But from the great examples I have been able to grow up with I came to realize that it was something that was attainable, not only for me but for everyone. I was given my first Book of Mormon in seventh grade. It was actually slipped into my book bag and I realized it was there in the middle of a crowded noisy room on the last day of school, everyone anxiously waiting for the bell to ring for it to be one hour closer to summer vacation. As I grabbed the book from my bag I said “Hey who put their book in my--“ but I stopped midsentence when my eyes read the cover. The whole room went silent in my ears and I knew that this book was something special. I took it home and hid it in my closet, but I think my mom found it and tossed it in the trash although no conversation was ever brought up about it. But thankfully my friends were on top of things and I received another Book of Mormon in ninth grade. And this one, touched me even more. 

By going to seminary and Sunday school and church every week, with family home evenings and mutual we can learn so much of Christ and share the things we learn with others who are seeking for truth just like the Prophets.

 “The Lord’s Church is distinguished by having apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,” Elder William R Walker of the seventy taught. “Every President of the Church has testified that Jesus Christ is the head of this Church. There are no coincidences, there are no mistakes, and there are no campaigns. When it comes to succession in the Presidency of the Lord’s Church, the Lord is in charge, and surely His will is done.”

I know that President Thomas S Monson is an ordained prophet of God and that if we listen to him and his teachings we are also listening to Christ and his teachings. I know that we are all children of God and that he loves us very much. I also know that I love you guys very much and I am so thankful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Evergreen Ward. I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.