Sacrament Talk
New Beginnings and Change
Intro:
Hello, I am Elder Hall. I have been serving in your ward for THREE weeks and I have been out in the mission field for THREE weeks. I am from Draper Utah - a town south of Salt Lake City. I was born EXACTLY nineteen years ago today. I’m serious. Today is my birthday so I want to thank you for the opportunity to feel a nervous and stressed on a day that should be fun and pleasant. (ha ha).
I am actually grateful for this opportunity to speak today. I am grateful to introduce myself, to share some thoughts and a few personal experiences, and most importantly - to bear testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ. I have a strong testimony of God’s love. I have never felt it more that I have these past six weeks as I have begun my service as a missionary.
I have been asked to speak to you today about changes and new beginnings. Obviously this topic is perfect for me. I feel the last two months have been filled with nothing but change and new beginnings.
I. What Am I?
I would like to begin my talk today with a question or a riddle.
I am unused, unspotted, without blemish.
I will present each day for you to place upon it your imprint.
It remains for you to make of me what you will;
Each hour of the 365 days, I will give you 60 minutes
But it is up to you to fill those minutes.
What am I? If you haven’t guessed it by now - It is the New Year.
II. Reflections on the New Year
In Roman mythology Janus is the god of beginnings. He is responsible for the new year. He holds sacred the first hour of the day, the first day of the month, and the first month of the year - January - which bears his name. He’s represented with two heads set back to back - one looking at the past and the other looking ahead to the future. Janus is a model of reflection and renewing.
Many people set aside sometime every January to reflect and make written lists. RESOLUTIONS. They ask themselves questions like: “What have I learned?” and “What will I do differently?”
When making these list, we tend to pause a minute look to the past and learn. We learn from our mistakes and recognize the blessings. We also take time to realize how far we have come. Then we don’t linger looking back. We look to the future, excited, energized, and ready to live.
III. Words of Wisdom
Words of encouragement are everywhere now days. Maybe you will recognize some of these simple words of wisdom.
“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift... that's why they call it present” said Master Oogway
Gusteau in Ratatouille said: “If you focus on what you left behind, you will never be able to see what lies ahead.”
Quasimodo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame told us: “Today is a good day to try.”
And Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets said: “It is not our abilities that show what we truly are … it is our choices.”
A personal favorites came from Shuri in Black Panther when she said; “How many times do I have to teach you: just because something works doesn’t mean it can’t be improved.”
And finally - “Do or do not. There is no try.” Yoda
I love that we have a prophets offering us guidance and encouragement as well.
President Gordon B Hinckley said :
“Simply do what you can do, in the best way you know how, and the Lord will accept your effort.”
President Thomas S. Monson gave us some ABC’s as we begin our journey in to the new year when he said:
“May we … cultivate a positive ATTITUDE, a BELIEF that we can achieve our goals and resolutions, and the COURAGE to face whatever challenges my come our way. Then the abundant life will be ours.”
IV. Personal Story
I would like to tell you about this last year of my life and the changes and new beginnings that occurred.
Growing up I KNEW I was supposed to serve a mission. My family has talked about me going on a mission since I was little. So I assumed when I turned 18 (EXACTLY ONE YEAR AGO ha ha) the decision to serve would be easy. But that was not the case. The year has been a roller coaster of “yes I’m going” to “no I’m not going” and back and forth.
In the spring, I was focusing on all the negatives in my life. Such as losing our high school state championship in football for the second year in a row. I wasn’t doing well in school and my friends were starting to move away. I had settled on “no I’m not going on a mission. I’m going to work and go to school”. I got a job and started getting registered for school.
However I noticed I was significantly less happy. It felt like I wasn’t completely whole - like something was missing. I felt lonely and empty. This lead to me distancing myself from the spirit.
In March, I met with my Bishop. We discussed receiving the Melchizedek priesthood, getting my patriarchal blessing, and he advised me to read Doctrine and Covenants section 84.
I started attending the temple with my friends, I made an appointment to get my blessing. And finally, after shrugging it off for several weeks, I finally decided to read this chapter in the Doctrine and Covenants. As I read there was one verse that stood out to me. Verse 46. It says,
“And the spirit giveth light to every man that cometh into world; and the spirit enlighteneth every man through the world that hearkeneth to the voice of the spirit”.
This scripture hit me hard because of how much I related with it. I had started attended the temple more, and I knew I was “receiving the light”. As I listened to the talks given in sacrament meeting, I knew I was “listening to the voice”. I knew the “spirit enlighteneth” me because of the peace I was feeling. I immediately knew this was no coincidence but rather Heavenly Father showing me his love and the compassion he has for me right when I needed it most. After this I knew my decision needed to change.
V. Change Requires Action
When we have a desire to CHANGE - change requires ACTION. If we look at our past New Years Resolutions, I don’t think anyone writes, “sit back and wait for change to happen.” Or “do nothing”. Our lists are filled with things we want to DO!! And Doing requires effort.
President Nelson, when asked if being a prophet is hard, answered:
“Of course it’s hard. Everything to do with becoming more like the Savior is difficult. The Lord loves effort, because effort brings rewards that can’t come without it.”
My cousin is serving her mission in New England and in her farewell talk she said:
When you do good, you feel good.
When you do bad, you feel bad.
When you do Nothing, you feel nothing.
Last year, I truly tested the “do nothing” part.
VI. Patriarchal Blessing
As I said, back in March, I got my recommend to receive my patriarchal blessing. When I called our Patriarch, his first opening wasn’t until June 4th. These months of waiting were long and miserable for me.
Finally the day in June arrived. I was excited to see what my blessing would say about possibly a wife or any “future telling” things. But I was most interested to see what it had to say about serving a mission. At this time I had decided I was not going on a mission. I figured that if my blessing didn’t say anything about a mission that it was God letting me know He accepted my decision. I received my blessing and to my surprise (& relief) it had nothing to say about me serving a mission. However something felt off.
The following Saturday the patriarch called and asked if he could hand deliver the transcript of my blessing. Something he said he had only done once before. When he came to my house he told me that all week he felt as if he had left a very important part out of my blessing. He also encouraged me to pray to know that this “new part” was from the Lord.
Once he left, I opened my blessing and on first glance I saw the line saying “you will be called as a missionary”.
On July 25th, I met my bishop at his home and told him I was ready to serve. My papers went in a few weeks later. While waiting for my call, I received my endowment, started reading the Book of Mormon, I focused on gospel principles and engaged in church conversations.
I received my call on September 5, 2023. My life has changed. I have never felt better or been happier. And I can honestly say, I have also tested and proved the “do good” part. When you do good, you feel good.
I know many of you are not in a place where you are deciding whether or not to serve a mission. Maybe you aren’t even needing a big spiritual change or new beginning. But I want to testify that God is in the details of your life.
I KNOW our Heavenly Father is aware of each one of us. He knows our questions and is waiting to answer them. He wants to be a part of your life. I have learned that sometimes our will and the Lords will don’t align. But that the Lords way is the best way. He won’t change to what WE want. But He will love us and send little spiritual hints to help us and He will patiently wait until we align our will with His. I encourage you to include him in your choices and decisions - even your New Years Resolutions.
Conclusion:
I would like to close with three suggestions offered from our living prophet, President Russell M. Nelson.
First, resolve to strengthen your spiritual foundation. This may involve setting a specific time and place to study the scriptures, praying more often, making temple worship a bigger priority, and letting God prevail in all aspects of your life.
Second, resolve to be kind to others. When the Savior Jesus Christ visited the Americas, as recorded in the Book of Mormon, one of the first things He taught was the need to eliminate contention in our lives. So, please be compassionate, be understanding, be slow to judge, and be quick to forgive.
Third, resolve to be resolute. The Lord loves effort. The Lord loves consistency. The Lord loves steadfastness. While we surely will come up short from time to time, our persistent efforts to hear Him and follow the inspiration He gives us will help us to “wax strong in the Spirit” (Mosiah 18:26).
I testify that God lives. He sent his son to atone for our sins. Together they created the perfect plan for us to come to earth, learn from our past and look, with hope, to the future when we can all gather together in their presence again.
May God bless you and may this be a wonderful year of purpose and possibilities for all of us. I leave these thoughts with you - in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
