Gave a talk in church today. Thought I'd post it on my blog. If you choose to read, hope you find something that inspires you!!!!! :)
I had no idea when I bore my testimony last week that I was going to be speaking this week. So….When brother Evans called me last Sunday, I proposed a plan that I thought maybe my testimony from last week could be in lieu of me giving a talk today. Instead, he insisted that it was merely a warm up for my talk today. Needless to say, his point of view ended up being the determining factor, and so here I am.
As some of you may know, I have been in school earning my RN degree for the last 1 ½ lifetimes. I am so excited that I am going to be finished now in just 6 short months. This has been on my mind a lot lately. As I have thought about where this journey has taken me, it has caused me to reflect on the ways in which I have hopefully grown through this journey. I hope that I have grown enough to be able to pass my NCLEX, and to become a nurse skillful and competent enough to care for patients in a clinical setting.
When I first began the actual nursing program, I was dumped right into intense amounts of information and learning. They believe in a baptism by fire approach by teaching you all of the core basics in a class known as Nursing Fundamentals, AKA: You may make it out of this semester alive.
One of the main objectives of this class is teaching Nursing students how to perform physical assessments on patients. I remember that in the very first class, our teacher drew a simple stick figure on the board. We began naming body systems, and talking about what we would observe during an assessment to ensure that each system of the body was functioning in the most ideal manner possible for the given diagnoses. This originally seemed like it would be relatively simple. How hard could an observation of the human body really be? I quickly learned that I was sadly mistaken!!! At the conclusion of our 2 hour discussion regarding the little stick man, our teacher had entirely filled up a 10 ft by 4 ft dry erase board with what I perceived as a foreign language, full of terms used to describe the well being or ill state of the human body. How was I ever going to learn how to perform a physical assessment on a real patient?
A week after our crash course discussion, we went out into the real world. At a care center, we were expected to take all of those things we had talked about just one week before, and assess real individuals. In doing so, we were to also know about and properly maneuver tools such as stethoscopes, blood pressure cuffs, penlights, and pulse oximeters. And……. we were expected to do it all in 10 minutes or less.
Initially this situation was overwhelming and distressing to me. Yet, as I became more comfortable with this process, I began to feel more and more confident in my abilities to perform such a task.
What I have just referred to is known as a physical assessment in a medical setting. Yet, there is a far more important assessment that all of us should be performing on ourselves daily. Let this be known as our own spiritual assessment. As I originally felt overwhelmed and incompetent to perform a physical assessment on a patient, we may also be feeling distress over spiritually assessing ourselves. However, as we become more familiar with the key elements of a spiritual assessment, we will be able to become comfortable in assessing whether or not we are truly on a path that will lead us to eternal life.
In a physical assessment, the most crucial thing to assess is known as ABC, which stands for Airway, Breathing, and Clearance. Obviously, nothing else regarding someone’s physical health will really matter if one does not have a viable airway, cannot effectively breathe to bring oxygen into their body, and is not able to clear out the byproduct of oxygen, Carbon Dioxide.
In a spiritual assessment, one will not be able to effectively accomplish any other spiritual goals in their life if they do not have a true testimony of the things that they are trying to accomplish. Today, I will focus on the importance of spiritually assessing one’s own testimony of the Savior thus ensuring that all other aspects of their life fall in line with this vitally important component of one’s own spiritual well being.
In the 5th chapter of Alma, Alma the younger recounts for his people the tribulations that they faced in the past. He then recounts to them how and why they were saved while also calling them to repentance, and warning of things that may occur now, and after death if they do not choose to adhere to his counsel that he delivers as a mouthpiece of the Savior. After doing so, he asks a simple question to the people. In Alma 5 verse 45 he asks, “Do ye not suppose that I know of these things myself”? He then goes on to tell them that “I do know these things whereof I have spoken are true”. And, then he presents another question, asking: “And how do ye suppose that I know of their surety?” Alma’s answer is a guide to us in HOW we can build a solid testimony of our own. In Alma 5:46, he says: “Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me”. This verse hits on some key elements including what was felt to know of a surety the truthfulness of the things that the spirit conveyed, as well as how Alma went about receiving this witness.
In a conference address from 1994, Elder Hales explains to us what a testimony is. He states: “A testimony is the spirit of prophecy. It is a personal revelation from God, revealing the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. A testimony comes through the Holy Ghost; it makes a deep and lasting impression on the soul.”
If our testimony is a personal revelation from God, then surely he has blessed us with ways in which we can prepare ourselves to receive revelation from him. As we become familiar with the process, and exercise faith as we diligently heed God’s counsel with exactness, we will be further blessed. As this occurs, Heavenly Father will use our spiritual blessings to help us influence and serve those around us.
A spiritual assessment begins with filling our MINDS with the things we know to be true. We are able to accomplish this by diligently studying the words of the scriptures. Surely the scriptures are packed full of the things that will help our minds grow in ways that will help us to know our Heavenly Father and our Savior on a deeper more personal level. The scriptures will also help our minds to obtain the knowledge needed to understand how we can serve and further the work of the gospel. Some may ask, “How is it done”? How can several pages in one book really answer every man and woman’s every concern through their lifetime? I appreciate the answer given by former YW general President, Ardeth G Kapp. In a past conference address she states: “The holy scriptures are like letters from home telling us how we can draw near to our Father in Heaven”. The reason that they have the power to be able to comfort any man who ever lived on the face of the Earth is that they are literal letters of instruction from our Father in Heaven, who cares so deeply for each one of us that it is difficult for us to grasp the perfectness of his love. Surely, as we commit ourselves to a serious and daily study of the scriptures, our minds will become spiritually educated.
The next step of our spiritual assessment is to ensure that we have our EYES single to the glory of God. As we ensure that the goal of a growing testimony is to return to our Father even stronger and more able, he will continue to bless us so that we can, in turn, serve him by serving those in our circle of life. In section 4 of the doctrine and covenants, we are reminded in verse 5 that faith, hope, charity, and love, with an eye single to the glory of God are the attributes that qualify one to act as a missionary to bring others into the fold of the gospel. As we all have an obligation to be member missionaries, performing everything with an eye single to the glory of God will ensure that we will be able to serve our Heavenly Father in a manner pleasing to him.
Our MOUTH can be used as a tool for righteous speech and for the deliverance of righteous prayer to our Father every day. As I was reflecting on prayer, I became impressed with something that stuck out in my mind about 2 scripture stories regarding prayer. In the 24th chapter of Mosiah, Amulon commanded the Nephites to stop praying or they would be put to death. Likewise, in the 6th chapter of the book of Daniel, the presidents and the priests persuaded King Darius to set up a law that would punish Daniel if he were to pray. Although these 2 stories differ slightly in the motive behind the prohibition of prayer, there is an interesting point to both of them. Throughout the details of each of these scenarios, no one could ever deny the power of prayer. All they could do to attempt to halt the power given when prayers are offered is to simply find a way to stop those prayers from being offered. In the end of both of these stories, we know that despite the efforts to have the prayers halted, it ended up being prayers that were offered anyway that led the Nephites out of bondage, and Daniel out of a den full of lions. Prayer gives us the power to communicate with our Father. How hard it must be for him not to hear from us. How happy it must make him to hear about our lives, the things that we are thankful for, the things that we struggle with, and the things that we really need him to help us with. I appreciate the elaboration given on prayer in the bible dictionary. It reads: “As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God (Namely, God is our Father, and we are his children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part. Many of the so called difficulties about prayer arise from forgetting this relationship. Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other. The object of prayer is not to change the will of God, but to secure for ourselves and for others, blessings that God is already willing to grant, but are made conditional on our asking for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work, and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings”. May each of us understand the power that can come to us, as we use our mouths to offer frequent and sincere prayers to our Father in Heaven.
The demands of daily life can cause each of us to carry a tremendous burden on our SHOULDERS. Occasionally, extra trials in our lives can cause those burdens to become so great that they almost seem unbearable. The good news of the gospel is that we were never expected to carry the weight of these burdens alone. A peaceful assurance comes to us in Mosiah 24:14. It reads: “And I will ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs”. Our Savior is the only one who has the power to literally take all of the heavy burdens placed upon our shoulders and lighten the load for us. This is one of the many sacred gifts given to mankind because of the great Atonement performed for each of us by our brother who had nothing but the will of his Father and the well being of each of us in mind when he suffered so greatly.
Our HEARTS must be in a state changed from the ways of the world to be able to feel the power and the influence the Holy Ghost in our lives. As we allow our hearts to take on a spiritual change, this is when we will feel the power of the Holy Ghost, which will in turn help us to continue to transform our hearts from a hardened state to an even more refined spiritual state. Surely, our hearts must be in this state for our testimonies to grow. Ina description of why this is so, President Harold B Lee offers the following description, “An individual testimony is a moving force that cannot be seen, but can truly be felt. It is a burning within us that tells us what is right. It is when your heart tells you things that your mind doesn’t know”. In order for our hearts to be in a spiritually fit state we must assess our hearts often, to be sure that they remain in a state worthy and soft enough to feel the things that our minds cannot comprehend.
May we also periodically seize the opportunity to assess OUR HANDS. Heavenly Father has put a lot of trust in each of us, sending us all down here together but without him. Because he is a Father who knows each of us perfectly, he knows of our needs. Although Heavenly Father is capable of meeting all of our needs, he allows us the opportunity to help others meet their needs that we may be blessed in return. There are countless ways that we can serve each other in the church. Sometimes the service may not seem like a big sacrifice, and may come at a time when it is easy for us to find the time to serve. Sometimes, it may seem like a very inconvenient time, and may seem time consuming and distressing to us. I appreciate a quote given in the September 2009 Ensign by Erich W Kopischke of the seventy. In an article about service, he writes: “If we are too busy to reach out to someone in need, then we are TOO BUSY”. I appreciate the following story about service. It reads: “When I make it to Heaven, I do not want to arrive there in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully tailored clothes with my hair expertly styled, and long perfectly manicured nails. Rather, I would want to arrive in a mini van that has boy scout equipment in the back seat. I want there to be grass stains on my shoes from mowing Brother Smith’s lawn. I want there to be a peanut butter smudge on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbor’s children. I want there to be dirt under my fingernails from helping the young women plant flowers at the church. I want there to be my children’s sticky kisses on my cheeks, and the tears of a friend on my shoulder. I want Heavenly Father to know that I was really there, and that I really lived”.
Finally, we must be willing to use our LEGS to walk that strait and narrow path, never deviating from the course that Heavenly Father would have us travel. To me, among other things, it means to faithfully hold to the rod of iron regardless of what may be going on around us. This may not always be easy. Sister Elaine Jack spoke of this in a conference address. She stated: “Indeed, the path is not soft, green grass; it is not without hardship and heartache. It is often an uphill climb strewn with rocks, many of them in the shape of mighty boulders. We can’t predict what our challenges will be because our lives are all different. Though the path is narrow, our moves are not scripted. There are diversions which attempt to lure us from the straight and narrow path. It is our covenants that are the road signs to eternal life. Just as it is more difficult to read the signs on the main road from a side street, so too it is more difficult to hear the still, small voice of warnings, rough road ahead, when we have distanced ourselves from our covenants”
May we all take this advice, and constantly remember all of the covenants that we have made, and renewed here today that are designed to keep us on the strait and narrow path.
In closing, I would just like to express my gratitude for the opportunity I have had to spiritually study this past week to prepare this talk. I feel that this opportunity has strengthened me and motivated me to try a little harder to be a little better. I have a prayer in my heart that something I have shared today will help you grow closer to your Savior. As we each spiritually assess ourselves, may we remember that everything we have is made possible because of a loving Father and a selfless brother. May we take the love that they have for us, and diligently try to lift others, that all who desire may make it back into the presence of our Father is my fervent and humble prayer.
My cute little Kandace won the school relfections contest a couple of weeks ago. Now, tonight there is an assembly for the next level. She won that as well, and now moves on to the next level. But.....ssshhhhh, don't tell her!!!! She doesn't have a clue!!! We are just going to take her to the assembly tonight as a surprise!!!
