I was assigned as 1st counselor in the Stake RS to give a talk in my Ward today. I had already given two talks in two other wards. Those talks were on visiting teaching, I made some minor changes. It was amazing how I felt I needed to change them, the Lord knows the people and I could feel how I needed to make those changes. I was going to give the talk on visiting teaching in my ward but one day I woke up and had the thought in my head that I was not supposed to give that talk, that I needed to talk on something else. I started thinking about what I should speak on and then one of the purposes of Relief Society came to my mind. I had already written about this in my blog not too long ago, about Elder Bednar's talk on conversion. I write all my talks because I am not one of those people who can get up there and give a talk with just notes. I am glad though that I write them because this talk is on my parents conversion story and it is perfect for my family history. I can honestly say that I loved giving this talk, writing it and giving it has truly strengthened me! The Lord knows us and he knew I needed to give this talk and probably it was more for me than for my ward, to remind me of the example of my parents and how strong they were in the gospel. I hope my children understand how strong their grandparents were, how hard it must have been to change their lives and yet they did it and never looked back. I hope that my grandchildren and our posterity understand the sacrifices that were made so that we can be an eternal family.
Not too long ago I had a dream. I have been working on doing the temple work on many of my family members, most of them on my dad's side. I was dreaming that I was walking on some sort of porch in front of some building and there were steps down from the porch, leading to a path. I was standing in front of the steps looking out to the path and there were people gathered there, in front of the building. I looked down and saw my dad in the middle of the crowd smiling at me. I went down the steps and gave him a hug. It was so real!! He then left. No words were said just a big hug. I know he is watching over me and that he is happy with the work I am doing and that he is helping me along with my mom. I still have not seen my mom, but I felt her presence in the temple and I knew she was there standing next to me!!! I could not see her but I could feel her!!
Good morning
brothers and sisters. I am happy to be
here and for the opportunity that I have to speak to you this day, in my home ward.
As I was pondering
about what I should say today, I had the feeling that I should speak on one of the purposes of Relief Society. So, today I am speaking about: Strengthening
families and homes.
I have been concerned with this for quite some time
now. I have been thinking a lot about “How I can do better than I am doing now
to strengthen myself and my family.” I
have been taking a personal inventory of what I have been doing and how I can
improve. I have been thinking about how
I can teach my children to be better
prepared for when they face the temptations of the world we are living in, and
how they can be better prepared to go on their mission. Lately our family home evenings have been
centered on gospel principles and strengthening their testimonies of Christ,
because I want them to be strong and ready for the temptations and trials they
will have to face. As most of you know,
I have 5 kids. My 3 oldest are
girls. When the girls were younger, we
did not have to deal with the internet.
Most people did not have cell phones, like we do now. They had their struggles, but without the
additional influence of the internet and cell phones. My two youngest are boys, and the world is different
now than it was, when their sisters were younger.
Because I have been so concerned with this,
when I heard Elder Bednar’s talk during General Conference, I felt as though he
was speaking to me. He said “Testimony
alone is not and will not be enough to protect us in the latter day storm of
darkness and evil in which we are living.” To me those were powerful words. He said “Testimony is important and necessary
but not sufficient to provide the spiritual strength and protection we
need. Some members of the church with
testimonies have wavered and fallen away.
Their spiritual knowledge and commitment did not measure up to the
challenges they faced. The powerful
combination of testimony and conversion unto the Lord produces firmness and
steadfastness and provides spiritual protection.”
Being steadfast means to
be immovable, constant, dedicated, devoted, loyal, faithful, good, steady and
true. I want my family to be converted,
to be firm and steadfast.
In a talk given by Sister
Julie B. Beck she said that “In order to do our part as women under the Lord’s
plan we must stand strong and immovable in faith, strong and immovable in
family and strong and immovable in relief.” We do this as we, make and keep
covenants with Him; are worthy and worship in His temples; Study the doctrines
in His scriptures and the words of the prophets; Qualify for, recognize, and
follow the Holy Ghost; Share and defend His gospel; Participate in sincere
personal and family prayer; Have family home evening; Live principles of
self-reliance and provident living.
Now more than
ever we need to stand strong and immovable, we need to teach our families to be
strong and defend the gospel of Jesus Christ.
In the Book
of Alma chapters 17 to 26 we read about the missionary work of the sons of
Mosiah and their companions and how the Lamanites are converted to the Lord. We read of the conversion of Lamoni and his household,
the conversion of his father, the king of the Lamanites and many other
Lamanites. Ammon and his brethren went from city to city to preach the word of God
and thousands were converted. Thousands of Lamanites came to believe in the
traditions of the Nephites, and their prophecies, and had an awareness of their
own sins. Upon hearing the truth and
feeling of the Spirit, they repented and were converted. Those that were converted never did fall
away. They became so righteous that they
laid down their weapons of war never to pick them up again.
When I read this
story in the Book of Mormon, I think of the story of my parent’s conversion. My parents, my brother and I, were baptized
when I was 8 years old. Before they were
baptized, my parents did not belong to any church. They enjoyed entertaining and often had
gatherings and parties at our home. My
parents were good people but did not have the gospel in their lives. My uncle and aunt had been members of the
church for a couple of years. They
invited my parents to go to church a number of times, but they refused. They
allowed my brother to go with them. They
took me once but I was too little and they never took me again. My dad had an alcohol and tobacco
problem. My dad developed emphysema and
his doctor told him that he needed to quit smoking, or he would not live to see
his children grow up. At this point he
became depressed about his life and felt he needed to change but did not know
how. My mom seeing him like this told him to read from the Bible. He read it and prayed. I am not sure how long it was after he prayed,
that the missionaries came to our home. When
my dad opened the door he told the missionaries “Come in, I have been waiting
for you.” That evening we started the
discussions. I remember vividly on the
night the missionaries taught the lesson on the word of wisdom, they were
probably a bit hesitant on this subject, the Elders taught my dad truth, they
taught him that he needed to obey the word of wisdom. They took his alcohol with his consent out to
the gutter and dumped it. They then took
a match and lit it on fire and said “This is what you are putting in your
body.” My father never drank again. It took him a little longer to quit smoking,
but the night before his baptism he quit, and he lived for 31 more years.
In Elder
Bednar’s talk he said “Conviction, humility, repentance and submissiveness
precede the abandonment of our weapons of rebellion.” When my mom and dad
decided to get baptized, they buried those weapons of rebellion; much like the
Lamanites did, and never did pick them up again. My parents were converted and knew that the
Lord would help them, so they humbled themselves, repented and had faith
knowing that it would not be easy, but they were blessed. My parents became strong members of the
church because they were converted.
Conversion
is an ongoing process. Elder Neil
Andersen said “Our spiritual journey is the process of a lifetime. We do not
know everything in the beginning or even along the way. Our conversion comes step-by-step, line upon
line. We first build a foundation of
faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We
treasure the principles and ordinances of repentance, baptism, and receiving
the gift of the Holy Ghost. We include a
continuing commitment to prayer, a willingness to be obedient, and ongoing
witness of the Book of Mormon.”
With our
testimony comes an increase in personal accountability. After my parents were converted they began an
intense study of the scriptures and other church books. At that time, which was 1974, we did not have
much church literature translated into Spanish like we do now. My dad who was retired from the US air force and
had plenty of time, would spend hours sitting at his desk reading church
materials in English and translating them into Spanish, to be used in talks and
lessons. He knew it was his responsibility to learn and to strengthen his
testimony. In Doctrine and Covenants chapter 60 verse 13 it
says, “Wherefore I give unto them a commandment, thus: Thou shalt not idle away
thy time, neither shalt thou bury that talent that it may not be known.” My dad used his talent and time wisely.
My parents
were a great example to me of what it means to be converted to the Lord and I
hope that I can also be a good example to my children.
President Uchtdorf has said, “I hope that my dear sisters throughout the
world-grandmothers, mothers, aunts, and friends-never underestimate the power
of their influence for good, especially in the lives of our precious children
and youth!
We are living in a great
season for all women in the Church.
Sisters, you are an essential part of our Heavenly Father’s plan for
eternal happiness; you are endowed with a divine birthright. You are the real
builders of nations wherever you live, because strong homes of love and peace will
bring security to any nation. I hope you
understand that, and I hope the men of the Church understand it too. What you
sisters do today will determine how the principles of the restored gospel can
influence the nations of the world tomorrow.
It will determine how these heavenly rays of the gospel will light every
land in the future. Though we often
speak of the influence of women on future generations, please do not
underestimate the influence you can have today.”
After we were
baptized my parents wanted to take our family to the temple. The nearest temple to Puerto Rico at that
time was the Washington D.C. Temple. My
parents were not sure how they would pay for it. In the summer of 1975, just a little over a
year after we were baptized, my dad received a check that was owed to him by
the United States Veterans administration, for $5,000. My dad had no idea this was owed to him, so
this was a surprise and an answer to his prayers. This was more than enough for
us to travel to the temple. On June 6,
1975 my family was sealed in the temple.
My parent’s
conversion meant that my life was changed forever. They gave me a better life; a life of faith,
hope and happiness, that only comes from having the knowledge of the
gospel. They did not only change my life
and my brother’s life but the lives of their 8 grandchildren and 4
great-grandchildren and those that are yet to come.
Brothers and
Sisters we need to stand strong and immovable for that which is correct under
the plan of the Lord. Heber J. Grant
said “without the devotion and absolute testimony of the living God in the
hearts of our mothers, [and I will add fathers] this church would die”.
I want my children
and all of you to know that I have a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ and
that I know this is the only true church on the earth. I know that as we are converted we will then
have the ability to strengthen our families and homes.
I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen
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