Farewell Talk:
On January 9, 2011, our new Stake Center was dedicated by Brother Wynn R. Dewsnup. Not only was I ordained a Priest on this day but the dedication of the building is one that I personally will not forget. Half way through the dedication program, President Thurgood got up and said that we should all be excited because it was his turn to speak, but not to get too excited because there had been a change of plans. He then called Me and Maree Richardson out of the audience to come up and bare our testimonies. I was in absolute shock. I remember looking at my parents and getting angry with them because I thought they had something to do with it. With my heart pounding and feeling like I was going to be sick, I made my way up to the stand. President Thurgood whispered reassuringly in my ear, and then I proceeded to bare my testimony. I have absolutely no idea what I said, it was short, simple, and put to the point…but I did it. After Maree completed her testimony, the choir sang and then Brother Dewsnup got up and spoke. Brother Dewsnup started his talk by thanking those who had built the stake center and then he preceded to explain why he had specifically called me and Maree to speak. He told the congregation that of all the people there that day, Maree and I would remember this day the most…he wasn’t kidding. He turned and spoke to me specifically. He told me that in a few short years, I would meet across the hall in the bishop’s office and I would be found worthy to serve a mission. He also told me that I would be speaking at this very pulpit at my farewell. Once the meeting ended, I met Bishop Zundel in the hall. The bishop explained to me that Brother Dewsnup came to him just minutes before the meeting and said, “I want your Teacher’s president to speak in this meeting today.” The bishop told him that the teacher’s president had just been released today because he had been ordained a priest earlier. Brother Dewsnup looked at him and said, “I want him to speak”. This small experience was life changing for me. I left the stake center that night with a very strong feeling in my heart. I knew without a doubt that I would serve a mission in a few short years. I just didn’t realize how short those few years were really going to be.
Bishop Jensen has asked me speak today about how the
power of the Holy Ghost has helped strengthen my life. Since putting in my mission papers and
receiving my call, my thoughts have been wandering everywhere. I have been balancing getting ready
physically, mentally, and spiritually and some days it has felt a bit
overwhelming. I hope to share with you
today my testimony and experiences that I have had that have helped strengthen
me.
The Holy Ghost is a spirit personage who will speak to
you in your mind and in your heart. In
D&C Section 8 Verse 2 it says that when we keep the commandments, he will
tell us in our minds and hearts what we should do so that we can know the
direction we need to go in our lives.
Moroni Chapter 10 Verse 5 says by the power of the Holy Ghost, we “may
know the truth of all things”.
My Mom is constantly saying or texting me,
“Kyle….Remember who you are and what you stand for”. Honestly….my response is usually rolling my
eyes, giving a heavy sigh, and saying, “I know Mom!” But….this quote says a lot, and over the
years I have remembered and acted upon it.
A time I remember happened in Gym class when I was in 6th
grade. Every day in Gym, everyone was
required to run around the gym 5 laps before we could move on to the fun activity
of the day. In my class was a mentally
challenged student who absolutely hated to run.
It was a task every day to just get him to run. Usually we would all
just complain and wait for him to get his laps done, but one particular day
stands out in my mind. On this
particular day, I was the first to finish running my laps. I sat on the side of the gym waiting for
everyone else to finish. Everyone soon
finished but this one particular boy who hated to run. I was irritated and annoyed along with the
rest of the class. We wanted to play
dodgeball, or baseball, or whatever we were going to do. As I started getting more and more annoyed,
the thought came into my mind. “Remember
who you are and what you stand for”.
Within minutes I found myself cheering him on. Next thing I knew, I found myself getting up,
and running laps again with this kid.
Before too long, everyone in the class was also running and cheering him
forward. What I learned that day was the
importance of acting instead of reacting to an event. We can determine the kind of experience we
are going to have by how we respond. I
am grateful that I chose to act in a friendly way rather than react to the
kid’s unwillingness to run and preventing us from doing our fun activity. By acting friendly, I decided to be like
Christ. All that really matters is that
we work hard and strive to live like the Savior would have us live, showing
gentleness, understanding, and helpfulness toward those we associate with. I am
thankful that day that I listened to the spirit and that I remembered who I am
and what I stand for.
The Holy Ghost will help you keep your baptismal
covenants and guide you to choose the right.
He bears witness of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. The Holy Ghost can give you comfort and guide
you away from danger. When you are
baptized and when you take the sacrament, you promise to take the name of Jesus
Christ upon you, to always remember him, and to keep his commandments. Then…Heavenly Father promises you that the
Holy Ghost may always be with you. You
will know the Holy Ghost is with you by the way you feel. President Ezra Taft Bensen taught, “When you
do good, you feel good, and that is the Holy Ghost speaking to you.”
If we keep the commandments the Holy Ghost will be our
constant companion. It will teach us,
lead us, comfort us, and sustain us.
Heavenly Father gives the Holy Ghost to those who obey him. You obey him when you obey your parents. You obey him when you are kind, honest,
patient, and loving towards others. You
obey him when you keep his commandments.
You obey him by remembering his Son, Jesus Christ, and trying to do what
he would have you do. As you do these
things, you will be worthy to have the constant companionship of the Holy
Ghost.
The Holy Ghost will guide you and help you to choose the
right. You must learn to choose the
right in order to be worthy to live again with Heavenly Father and Jesus
Christ. We all face many trials,
struggles, and temptations regardless of what stage of life we are in. In D&C section 11 verse 12 it tells us
that we have been counseled to put our trust in the Spirit, which leadeth to do
good – yea, to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously”.
A year or so ago, I attended youth conference but I
really didn’t want to go. I left for
youth conference with a grumpy attitude and I was really only going because my
parents thought it would be good for me.
I am thankful today that I didn’t fight my parents and that I went. While at conference, we were surprised when
the leaders acted out the second coming.
At the time, I remember feeling how real everything seemed around
me. One thing that strongly came into my
mind was my family and my desire to want to be with them forever. At that time I knew that I was headed down a
wrong path and I knew that I needed to make some changes in my life. I remember having a strong feeling that I
needed to talk to someone and that I needed to start doing those things that I
knew were right. I am thankful that I
acted on that feeling and I am thankful for a loving bishop who helped me
return to the right path.
2nd Nephi Chapter 32 Verse 5 says, “For
behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way, and receive
the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do.” A couple of days ago, I was really struggling
and having feelings of doubt. I was
wondering if I could really serve a mission, if I could really mentally do
it. I had texted my Mom this and she
immediately responded with “Kyle…get on your knees”. I replied back with, “I Have”. She then texted me back and said “You have to
be patient, quiet, and want the help.”
That night my mom took me to dinner just me and her. When I got into the car, the first thing I
said to my Mom was “no talking about life, I am not in the mood”. To my surprise, my Mom didn’t speak. As we were driving over to Logan, a
motorcyclist passed our car and
about four other cars and he passed
while in the double yellow lines. I
turned to my Mom and said, “Isn’t that illegal”. My mom responded with, “Yes…it’s illegal but
sometimes people just choose to do the wrong thing and generally there are
consequences”. Five minutes later…at the
side of the road was a police car with it’s lights on and the motorcyclist
being ticketed. My mom turned to me and
said, “See…there are always consequences for the choices you make and you
should always try your hardest to choose the right.” After dinner, we found
ourselves at Seagull Book. On the wall was a picture of Christ walking along
the beach. I have never seen this
picture before. When I saw the picture
the thought came to my mind that it was Christ walking along a beach in
California. It was a small moment, but
for a brief moment it was confirmed to me yet again that there is a reason that
I was called to serve in California and I was making the right choice by going
and I would be okay.
The Holy Ghost is called the comforter. He can give you peace and comfort when you
are sad or lonely or worried. Five years
ago when my grandma passed away, I honestly thought my world had come to an
end. She was my best friend, my security
blanket, and my confidant. She always
had a listening ear and she always knew just what to say or do for me. At that time, I came to a realization of
knowing how much I needed the gospel in my life. I was thankful for the power of prayer and
for the comfort and peace that I received.
I gained a greater understanding of the Atonement. I learned to have faith in Jesus, rely on
Him, know that he has suffered, and know that he helps me if I allow Him
to. I would like to close today by baring my Testimony…….
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