Sunday, February 15, 2009

You will NEVER believe it!

Saturday at 1:27 pm in the afternoon I received a telephone call from my bishop and he asked me to give a talk on Sunday...

Can you EVEN believe it?

Neither can I!

In fact, I am still kind of freaking out that I have that sign tattooed to my forehead that says: Yes, I will do it....

I kept saying - you are joking - right? I just gave a talk in sacrament meeting just 3 months ago. Yes..... that is right only 3 months ago... (shaking head)..

I asked him if he was serious... He said, "As serious as a heart attack".. He was totally serious.
Of course, (reference to my tattooed forehead)
I said yes I would do it.

I had plans on Saturday for Valentine's day. Jason, Sharon, Brady and I went to lunch, a movie "He's just not that into you" and then went to dinner. I was freaking out a little that I still had to prepare a talk when I got home.
I wrote it out several times - but I didn't like it or feel it until I rewrote it at 11PM Saturday night. It went OK.... but when I don't have time to read over it a few times and get my thoughts straight, I tend to stumble over my words a bit. Oh well.... it's over and it was OK.

The bishopric sure had a great laugh at me all morning because I am the "go to girl" or maybe "go to family" when they are in a pinch. I kept telling them to laugh it up.... I just might say "no" next time. (yeah - right).
The subject was from an Oct 2007 talk given by Quentin L. Cook (One of the 12 current Apostles on the earth today)
The title of the talk is: "Live by Faith,

Not by Fear."

I don't think I'm going to post the whole talk I gave this time. However here is some of the talk to give you a general idea of what I prepared.

Timothy 1:7 says "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but power and of love and of a sound mind"

Generally I feel that I am a pretty optimistic person. Sometimes I get frustrated and scared when I listen to the news, which in my opinion cultivates fear in us on what is going on in the world. I think we tend to be more fearful and been more alarmed by international events, the word "terror", the war, the government and the economy.

So how do we overcome fear and replace it with faith?

First, we must never let fear and the father of fear (Satan himself) divert us from our faith and faithful living. Every person in every era has had to walk by faith into what has always been some uncertainty. This is the plan. Just be faithful. God is in charge. He knows your name and He knows your need.

Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ - that is the first principle of the gospel. We must go forward. God expects us to have enough faith, determination, and trust in Him to keep moving, keep living, keep rejoicing. He expects us not simply to face the future; He expects us to embrace and shape the future - to love it, rejoice in it, and delight in our opportunities.

Many of us are concerned about raising our children during these difficult times and increasing their faith.

President Harold B. Lee said that we could raise our families in righteousness if we would:
1. Follow the Prophet.
2. Create the true spirit of the gospel in our hearts and homes.
3. Be a light to those among whom we live.
4. Focus on the ordinance and principles taught in the temple.

As we follow this counsel, our faith increases and our fears decrease. We can raise righteous children anywhere in the world if they are taught religious principles in the home.

Heavenly Father is eagerly waiting for the chance to answer your prayers and fulfill your dreams, just as He always has. But He can't if you don't pray, and he can't if you don't dream. In short, He can't if you don't believe.

When the Savior was facing His Crucifixion, he spoke to His disciples as they faced fear, disarray and persecution. In His last counsel to them in mortality found in John 16:33, He said: "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

So, in a world of tribulation, let's remember our faith. Let's recall the other promises and prophecies that have been given, all the reassuring ones, and let's live life more fully, with more boldness and courage than at any other time.

Is there a happy future for us in these latter days? Absolutely! Will there be difficult times when those prophesied latter-day warnings are fulfilled? Of course there will. If we are built upon the rock of Christ we can withstand the winds, hail, and the mighty shafts in the whirlwind. That "Rock upon which ye are built is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon men and women build they cannot fall."

I know that Heavenly Father not only lives, but He love us. He loves you. Everything He does is for our good and our protection. There are evil and sorrow in the world, but there is no evil or harm in Him. He is our Father, a perfect Father, and He will help us find refuge from the storm.

I know that Jesus is the Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God. That He lives, that He love us, and through His atoning sacrifice, we too will live eternally.

This is the Church and kingdom of God on earth. The truth has been restored. We need to live with confidence, optimism, faith and devotion. Be serious about life's challenges but not frightened or discouraged by them.

8 comments:

Zoey said...

I am laughing really hard right now. Are you sure it says "ask me, i'll do it!"??? So, just an idea. What if you prepare a talk after conference and then tell them if they call you last minute that it has to be the talk that you pre-prepared!!! All joking aside, you are wonderful to always help out when help is needed.

Scrappy Girl said...

LOL! I would have freaked out...not much of a public speaker...you are fabulous!

TLC said...

my goodness...this would have sent me into a panic attack! Yikes! Yes my dear we need to send you some.."just say No" signs.

But, I'm sure the Lord was very pleased and loved you dearly for this. What a pure sunshine soul the Lord sees in your spirit to call on you in such seconds.


You gave a great talk. Yes we do often let fear from the world over come. And our Faith can waver. You put true faith in action to put together this talk on such short notice.

Did you like the movie? Me & Ann have both seen it and she asked me to call her when i did to dicuss what i liked. Very thought provoking thats forsure!

Ann Marie said...

Oh Sondra...
You get asked because you do such a good job! :)

I think I had one devotional each year in seminary that I was in charge of.. With all of the love and work you put into Brady's, I wouldn't be surprised if he wasn't asked to do one a week!

I hope you had a fun weekend with the kids.. I saw that movie..you are brave to admit it! :) LOL!

Robyn said...

I got assigned that SAME TALK months ago- and yours is way better than mine was!

CB said...

Sondra I cannot believe they asked you A) After you just spoke 3 months ago and B) The afternoon before.
Your talk was awesome - you are such a spiritual person with such great insight that I am sure it was so uplifting to your ward.
Now you should be good for AT LEAST a year!!!
Good Job:D

Tigersue said...

Good job on the talk. Thanks for visiting my site.

I started out blogging thinking it would be away for friends and family to keep in touch with me. You know what, very few of them visit. I found more blogging friends that visit. I found many through Calling All LDS women Bloggers when I had that up and running.

It was a sorrow to let it go.

I also started to try to do a bit more spiritual ideas, and started ...We Seek After These Things for that purpose, to have an uplifting place to put some extra stuff that I find or do, in contrast to some of the places that seem to want to demean the church and our leaders in the guise of being loyal active members of the church.

Anonymous said...

Sondra, Can't believe they asked you to speak the day before, and neither can Kelly. YOu really need to say NO!!!! People will still like you. Great Talk!! And you will receive many, many blessings. I also know that when we do what we are asked, especially if it is hard, we receive more blessings. Just as the song says, "Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven." And who doesn't need those blessings now? Love Cindy

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