I am Not Ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Note: this message is a talk that was given at the Hobble Creek West Stake Conference

In our Stake theme, the Stake Presidency has asked that individuals and families raise a Title of Liberty in their homes. It has been suggested that you might use the Utah Area Plan as a guide. This plan has four different areas and includes missionary work and temple & family history efforts. I want to emphasize that nobody should go away from this meeting tonight, or Stake Conference as a whole, feeling overwhelmed because you can’t do it all. Keep it simple, listen to the spirit to receive inspiration for you and your family, but then choose something. Act, try something, get out of your comfort zone, listen to the Spirit for more guidance, and evaluate as you go. This is repenting, or rather constantly striving to improve, but you can’t improve in all areas all at once. Let the Spirit be your guide and just keep moving forward, day by day.

A favorite book of mine that I use in my engineering management classes is The Four Disciplines of Execution. The books discusses the “whirlwind”, which is the sum of all the really important things you have to do that keeps you busy and makes it difficult to change and do something big. In life the whirlwind is our day job, feeding the kids, cleaning, yard work, laundry, etc. These are all things that have to be done, but we can let them get in our way of doing the really important things, or what the book calls a “wildly important goal,” or WIG. The things we need to change or repent of in our life are like WIGs, and we can’t choose too many at a time because the whirlwind things still have to be done. We do need to choose something and dedicate some time to it or we will be forever caught up in the whirlwind and not make important improvements.

We all know the story of Captain Moroni and how he raised a Title of Liberty. We use that story and metaphor, even as we are now in our stake, to represent making a spiritual stand in defense of our freedoms or values. Certainly there was a great secular battle amongst the people and governments at the time of Captain Moroni, as there is today, something that always happens as Christian values are attacked. Many were in open rebellion of God’s commandments and standards, but perhaps even more people were just idle and afraid, or simply unwilling to stand up and do something about it. Does this sound anything like our day, in our country, in our community? Those of a secular mind are not shy about standing up and declaring “philosophies of men”, that are often in contradiction to God’s standards, as absolute moral truths. While watching or reading the news, it may not seem like this opposition is the minority, but it still is. The problem, perhaps, is that too many are not engaging civically, are not part of the political process, or are often not even informed and participating in the election process. Our church leaders are encouraging us to stay and become more involved. John F. Kennedy, quoting another leader, once said, “All it takes for evil to triumph is for a few good men to do nothing.”

In Mosiah 29:25-26 we read, “Therefore, choose you by the voice of this people, judges, that ye may be judged according to the laws which have been given you by our fathers, which are correct, and which were given them by the hand of the Lord. Now it is not common that the voice of the people desireth anything contrary to that which is right; but it is common for the lesser part of the people to desire that which is not right;” When we do not engage we allow that lesser part to become the norm or the law.

Further our twelfth Article of Faith reads, “We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law”. If, indeed, we believe in being subject to our elected leaders, then we should do all we can to elect those that are honorable and will uphold important moral values. D&C 98:10 reads, “Wherefore, honest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold; otherwise whatsoever is less than these cometh of evil.” Years ago President Spencer W. Kimball stated - and I believe this has been echoed by many others from the First Presidency since that time - “We urge our members to do their civic duty and to assume their responsibilities as individual citizens in seeking solutions to the problems which beset our cities and communities”. The First Presidency has counseled, “Church members cannot ignore the many practical problems that require solution if our families are to live in an environment conducive to spirituality.”

In all of this we should remember not to use the church as means of political persuasion, we should remain neutral and allow each to vote his or her conscience.

In addition to being more involved in the election process and other civic duties, we might look towards finding greater opportunities for community service. I remember about 10 or so years ago, the church encouraged us to have a day of service. In our stake one of the big activities was to clean out the trees and sagebrush on the trail running along Hobble Creek in the area of the west fields of the high school. It was great to come together and serve our community, and it made a big difference along that area that has lasted to this day. I hope we might find ways to do similar projects in the coming months. Beyond the ability to influence government and the entire community, being engaged with our fellow neighbors in this way provides an opportunity for them to know who we are, what we believe, and what we stand for.

One of the things I love about being a civil engineer is that the profession is built around improving communities and the quality of life for everyone. My own particular area within civil engineering is water resources and how to deal with extremes - mostly flooding but also drought. Next to air, you might say that water is the most critical element for human life. I love working in a profession that deals with such an important issue. Currently, I am working on a project using NASA satellite data for water resources management, and the project has afforded me a chance to visit many parts of the world, particularly developing countries that have the greatest need and derive the greatest benefit from this kind of data. However, when I’m traveling or speaking at a technical conference with people who influence policy and practices of early warning and flood resilience and begin to think what we are talking about is important, I’m reminded by my experiences in the gospel that I have something 1000 times more valuable that I could share.

I often think of these two scriptures and look for ways that I can try to share my testimony and appreciation for God’s perfect plan of happiness:

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15).

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth” (Romans 1:16).

I already mentioned my research project with NASA. Each year all of the scientists from NASA as well as the regional hub scientists from Nepal, Nairobi, Bangkok, and Accra/Niger gather together. There are many technical presentations and discussions about how we can work together. However, during one of the evenings, as part of a social event, they invite us to prepare an “ignite” talk about a hobby or interest of our choosing. I chose to take the opportunity to express that true happiness comes from success in the home, something that can be foreign to a group of academicians.

See attached presentation.

As a side note, I highly recommend the book by Clayton Christensen, a prominent businessman and member of the church, titled The Power of Everyday Missionaries: The What and How of Sharing the Gospel. The book has inspired me to be more intentional about speaking out about the gospel.

In our last coordinating council, our area authority, Elder Dance, encouraged us to be willing to speak up regarding our beliefs and to look for opportunities to share our experiences and our faith. How can we bring these topics into our conversations naturally? If someone asks you what you did over the weekend, do you ever think to talk about the message from a speaker in Sacrament meeting or class lesson? What about the sacred opportunity to take the sacrament? Elder Dance gave an example of a response he has learned to give when someone at work or that he has met asks about his family. He will answer by saying, “God has blessed my wife and I with four beautiful children.” This is a subtle, but important way that we can share our faith and our belief in a God that delights to bless us and our families.

I have two personal examples that have happened to me recently.

The church has now released a couple of videos that seem very much in line with the kinds of examples Brother Christensen gives to encourage us to invite others to come and join with us in the gospel.

I hope that these examples inspire all of us to want to share that which is most precious to us, and I hope it also motivates us to prepare ourselves and our children for missionary service. If you haven’t yet, I encourage all of you, no matter that you are 2 years or 40 years away from retirement, to visit the church’s new website for senior missionaries at https://seniormissionary.lds.org/.

I have focused my talk tonight more on gathering Israel on this side of the veil, but am glad that President Stevenson and Brother Silvey have addressed gathering Israel on the other side because that is an important part of missionary service as well. Over the past 5+ years (with an initial push by Brother Silvey), Lauri and I have had the great privilege of doing research and then the temple work for hundreds of her ancestors from Puerto Rico. As we have researched and learned a little about them, at least from the places they have lived, we have developed hope that many have waited for their turn to become members and receive these sacred ordinances. I can testify that many of the blessings promised by Elder Renlund in his April 2018 conference address have been true for us, not the least of which has been an increased love and strength in our own marriage. Some of the other promised blessing include:

• Increased understanding of the Savior and His atoning sacrifice

• Increased influence of the Holy Ghost to feel strength and direction for our own lives

• Increased faith, so that conversion to the Savior becomes deep and abiding

• Increased ability and motivation to learn and repent because of an understanding of who we are, where we come from, and a clearer vision of where we are going

• Increased refining, sanctifying, and moderating influences in our hearts

• Increased joy through an increased ability to feel the love of the Lord

• Increased family blessings, no matter our current, past, or future family situation or how imperfect our family tree may be

• Increased love and appreciation for ancestors and living relatives, so we no longer feel alone

• Increased power to discern that which needs healing and thus, with the Lord’s help, serve others

• Increased protection from temptations and the intensifying influence of the adversary

• Increased assistance to mend troubled, broken, or anxious hearts and make the wounded whole.

I believe family history is also an important way for us to prepare for missionary service on this side of the veil. In fact, one thing that I wish to emphasize in this talk is the importance of temple service prior to and after returning from a full-time mission. The Provo City Center Temple leaders encourage me to have all newly called missionaries (and have the Melchizedek Priesthood if a young man) serve in the temple, even if it is only for a couple of weeks. The current temple workers will train the new volunteers, and necessary temple attire and even white jackets are available for use. What a great opportunity to learn of and experience the joy of the temple for missionaries about to go out. The temple also encourages returning missionaries to find time to serve in the temple and continue, in a small way, the dedicated life of service they enjoyed as fulltime missionaries. So please keep this in mind and encourage your own children and grandchildren to be proactive in serving in the temple, even if it is only for shorter time periods.

I’d like to end by mentioning this manual published by the church titled "Adjusting to Missionary Life”. It is now in the Gospel Library app under Missionary, and then Missionary Training. I know for some time the church has been presenting this manual to missionaries upon their arrival at the MTC. As I have considered all that goes into missionary training, however, I believe it is something we should give to our kids about the time they turn 16, if not before. Missionary training is not something we can do when we get to the MTC, or even in the months prior to leaving. It is something that starts at home, in Primary (who can remember singing “I Hope They Call Me on a Mission?”), and certainly in YM/YW. To be honest, I don’t distinguish being prepared for a mission much from being prepared for life, for marriage. Even if a young man or young woman is not serving a full-time mission, the manual discusses skills that are critical elements for becoming responsible, faith-filled adults, capable of contributing to the building of the Kingdom of God on Earth.

Elder Bednar said this about preparing for missionary service and the temple: “Let me summarize a few basic implications of gospel learning becoming increasingly home centered and Church supported. The ultimate missionary training center is in our homes; secondary missionary training centers are located in Provo, Manila, Mexico City, and in other locations. Our most instructive Sunday School classes should be our individual and family study in our places of residence; helpful but secondary Sunday School classes are held in our meetinghouses.

“Family history centers now are in our homes. Supplemental support for our family history research work also is available in our meetinghouses.

“Vital temple preparation classes occur in our homes; important but secondary temple preparation classes also may be conducted periodically in our meetinghouses.

“Making our homes sanctuaries wherein we can stand in holy places is essential in these latter days. And as important as home-centered and Church-supported learning is for our spiritual strength and protection today, it will be even more vital in the future” (“Prepared to Obtain Every Needful Thing,” Ensign, May 2019).

I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. I know He lives and loves us, and I know we are blessed beyond measure as we engage in gathering Israel on both sides of the veil. I hope you will consider making a WIG from one of the goals outlined in the Utah Area Plan, I know your life will improve as you. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.