Justin spoke on Sunday in church, and in case you didn't have a chance to hear it, this is a copy of his talk.
Hello
and thank you all for coming today, I love you very much, and it is an honor to
be speaking in front of you, about to set off on my journey as a missionary
amongst the people of New Jersey. Growing up I have heard many people give me
this one piece of advice, learn by the spirit, live by the spirit, and teach by
the spirit. This simply means, keep the holy ghost as a constant companion in
your life. In the Book of Mormon in Moroni 10:5 it reads “And by the power of
the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.” and in the Bible In John
15:26 it says, “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from
the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father,
he shall testify of me.” The holy ghost testifies of truth being told by a warm
calm and peaceful feeling in your heart kind of like a warm fuzzy. I hope that
as I say these words you feel that warm feeling in your hearts.
I
was asked to speak today on Prophets. I think this is perfect because It is my
favorite piece of this church that makes us different from any other church.
(like brother patterson said) prophets have always been a part of gods church
and was restored in these later days. One of my favorite prophets in the
history of this world is found in the old testament. His name is Moses, you may
have heard of his act of amazing faith parting the Red Sea. After the lord lead
him to free the hebrew people from the Egyptians, the lord commanded Moses to
hike to the top of a mountain and it is here that he had an amazing experience.
We hear about it in Exodus 33:11, it reads, "And the Lord spake unto Moses
face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend.” What an amazing blessing to have that direct
communication with God to know what he wishes. Another amazing prophet in the
history of christ's church is Peter. As I am sure many of you know, Jesus
Christ called Peter to be a prophet in the church and also ordained apostles to
assist him in the work. This structure of the church was meant to continue on
as long as the people would accept it. This is evident in the first chapter of
Acts, when Mathias is called to replace Judas as an apostle in the church, so
that there would continue to be 12 apostles. Unfortunately the world began to
reject the lords church, the apostles and prophets were killed, and
consequently many truths were lost or altered, and the world fell into the dark
ages. Eventually, people who had the ability to read the bible like Martin
Luther, john knocks, John calvin, and Jan hus (yan hoos), realized that many
truths found in the bible had been lost, and did their best to reform it. many
of these people were burned for believing those things. One of the people
burned for his beliefs was John Tinsdale, the reason he received this harsh
punishment was because he translated the bible from latin to english. He was
quoted saying, “I just wanted to make it so that any plowboy could know as much
about gods word as a priest.”
Many
years later, just after America was formed for freedom of religion, a young plowboy,
by the name Joseph Smith was reading in John Tinsdale’s translation of the
bible, in James 1:5 and it says, if anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask of god,”
Joseph Smith wrote about reading this scripture, he said, “Never did any
passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at
this time to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my
heart. I reflected on it again and again, knowing that if any person needed
wisdom from God, I did.” This is a perfect example of how the spirit works, you
feel it, and then later what you heard or read will be brought to your
remembrance, again and again and it always inspires action, and the action that
it inspired for Joseph Smith, was to go into a grove of trees and pray to know
which of the many churches he should join and it was at that moment that
Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith, and heavenly father
introduced the mediator between God and man and said this is my beloved son,
hear ye him. and then Jesus Christ spoke face to face with Joseph smith, as he
did with Moses and Peter, and he said that the truth would later be revealed
through him, through this experience Joseph Smith was called to be a modern day Prophet, and the savior directed
Joseph Smith to choose 12 apostles and organize the church with the same
principles and ordinances found in Christ’s church of old. And since that time
there has been a living prophet on the earth, today the prophet’s name is
Thomas S. Monson. Prophets teach the word of God in clarity that all Heavenly
fathers children may benefit and be blessed through obedience to their
teachings. The modern day prophet that preceded Monson, named Gordan B.
Hinkley, said this, “A
prophet speaks straightforwardly and without equivocation. Such is the mission
of a prophet.” The need
for prophetic teachers who know the revealed word of God and who speak it
directly is as important in our day as it has ever been. In a confusing world
of conflicting ideas, shifting values, and selfish desire for power, we should
study carefully the conversation between Philip and the man from Ethiopia. As
this man was reading the scriptures, Philip ran to him and asked, “Understandest thou what thou
readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me?”
The
teachings of a living prophet are often contrary to the trends of the world. So
much of our modern world is based on self-indulgence, immediate gain and
satisfaction. The gospel and kingdom of God are so much more than this. A few of
the characteristics God prizes are patience, long-suffering, endurance,
kindness, and brotherly love, none of which is short term or developed in a
moment. I have done what I can to develop those traits throughout my life.
About a month ago I received a call to
serve, from the living prophet on the earth today, to serve a 2 year mission in
New Jersey. When I read the words contained in that letter I felt that warm
calm and peaceful feeling, and I knew that it was the right place for me. Those
of you who know me well, know this decision to serve a two year mission was not
a spur-the-moment decision. I have felt the desire for a very long time. The
spark first came listening to my fathers mission stories when I was young but
grew much stronger when I actually visited the place he served his mission. It
was there that I met the people he taught and I saw the kind of relationship he
had with them. I could see the love they had for him as well as his love for
them and I knew that there was no other way this could have come to be. But I
gained a full testimony of a mormon mission when I visited the people my
brother served and taught. It was there that I realized just how much of a
difference the church made in their lives. You see not only did they have such
a good relationship with my brother Christian, but I could see that the church
gave them a very real sense of purpose and a cause for laughter and excitement.
It was that moment, that I knew that I not only want to go on a mission, but I
need to. I know that there is someone out there in New Jersey, right now, who
is wondering what is the purpose of life, and I will have the opportunity to
find him or her, like my brother did, and my father before him, and help that
person find that purpose and be able to give that nudge in the right direction.
In
closing I would like to thank all of you for playing the role that you did in
my growing to be the person you see today, and I bare you my testimony, that I
know this is the true church and that Thomas S. Monson is a living prophet on
the earth today. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
