Our Talks, His Message

Today I was blessed to give a talk in Sacrament meeting . I have not spoken since two stake conferences ago after Elder Kikuchi had asked me to speak, and then my great Branch President had asked if I would share the same message with those of our congregation, so need less to say it was my honor to be able to address the fine members of the Wauseon Branch.

I spoke on the import of Family history work, and how the work of building a family tree goes hand in hand with the work of the Temple. Those who are members of the great Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, know that you cannot do one without the other if you are trying at all to full fill our promises to the commandments of God. I felt my talk was bold today, perhaps a little demanding as I admonished the members to not only start their work, but also not to procrastinate. I also admonished them to be temple worthy and if they were not, then they needed to get there and to speak with President Allen and get things straightened out.

I pined over that talk after I wrote it, I read it again and again and thought I hope this sound right when I deliver it. You know, it takes a molecule of faith to say a simple prayer, it takes a bucket full to understand that it is not your message but His that you are about to share with the beloved members. I sat on that stand and listened to the first speaker and thought to myself..."I hope my talk is long enough...I hope I am not to nerveous.....I pray that the Spirit will guide me", and bam like a ton of brick being lifted from me I felt relief that He was in control.

You see He inspired it from the beginning, helped me write it, told me where to look , and there I sat worried about me. When I asked for His guidance, when I said I needed His help, He was right there and with the love only He can give, I heard that small still voice say "It's okay, I'm right here, I never left you, but thanks for asking " With a peace in mind that He was going to lead I had no worries, and the message was shared the way He intended for it to spoken. I had several people after say how much they enjoyed it and one woman said "You made me cry" I responded "that's because it must have been for you".

I have always felt that each talk , whether given in general conference in Salt Lake...or in the smallest Branches across the plains, they are inspired to inspire , they are talks from God himself for someone who has their listening ears on that day, personal messages if you will , directed towards those in need or with a struggle. Whether mine was or not, I can't say 100%, I feel it was, but we shall see.

My dear friend said to me at baptism yesterday, " I haven't seen any blogs lately?" the only thing I could say was " do you miss them " her answer was yes. Thanks Jenny for the nudge I needed it.