Sunday is the best day of the week!!! Why? Because we get to take the sacrament! Isn't that fantastic? I sure think so!!!
We also get to hear many wonderful talks. Today I got to give one about missionary work. Oh- how I LOVE missionary work. If you would like to read my talk, here it is. :)
Good morning brothers and sisters. My name is Casey Watts, I was baptized two weeks ago and confirmed last week. I stand here before you today because someone had the courage to open his mouth 3 years ago and I loved what was said.
A few months ago, my seminary teacher Sister Clark was
thrilled about these delicious peaches she had gotten. They were so wonderful
that everyone had to taste them! So she brought them to seminary with her the
next day. I thought it tasted so good that I should take one home to my dad and
share with him. This, my beloved brothers and sisters, is how we should be with
the gospel.
In 1 Nephi 8, Lehi has the vision of the tree of life, whose
fruit is desirable to make one happy. He tastes the fruit and is filled with
pure joy, and of course, wants to share it with the people he loves.
A few years ago, we had the first Book of Mormon read a thon.
I was still investigating the church and hadn’t read the Book of Mormon yet, so
when I was invited I jumped at the chance. I remember being one of the last
ones awake while a bunch of my peers had passed out on the floor and couches
around me. Even though I was exhausted, I hung onto every word of what was
being read. When we finished we all got in a circle and prayed together. I
cried tears of joy and peace from the moment that prayer started until
sacrament meeting the next day. I absolutely knew that book was true and I
still know it is today. I know that the Book of Mormon can and will make people
happy, I have experienced this myself and I have seen its teachings reach out
and touch another person in my life.
I have a friend who has been struggling through life because
of some mistakes he’s made in his past. Every single day I got a text from him that
expressed the deep sadness and regret he felt. I testified to him about the
church and told him that this church is what makes me happy and I knew that it
would make him happy, too. So he agreed to come to a missionary discussion.
Now, there have been a few bumps in the road with him, but he told Elder
Christensen, Elder Saenger and I at our last discussion that he opened the Book
of Mormon for the first time. The joy I felt was unexplainable, and slowly but
surely I can see a change in him. His first text isn’t about how horrible his
day was, anymore. I can see hope in his eyes, something that wasn’t there
before.
Much like Sister Clark and her peaches, this gospel has
brought me so much joy that I just have to share it. I want others to find the
joy that I have found in this wonderful church. At stake conference, President
Durrant challenged us all to use the “magic question” once a week for 6 weeks.
I decided to accept that challenge and so far I’ve asked it 8 times. A few people have said no, but some have said
yes and so far 2 of my friends have met with the missionaries and one of my
other friends wants to meet with them next week.
Missionary work is worth it. And the best part about it is
you don’t have to have a name tag pinned to your coat like Elder Christensen
and Elder Saenger do. We have the opportunity to paint one on our hearts,
something Neil L. Andersen encouraged us to do in his talk back in April.
I challenge all of you to talk to someone about the gospel
this next week. Success in missionary work is not just getting someone to take
the missionary discussions and get baptized. Success is sharing your testimony
and the love you have for this gospel. That makes a difference in other’s
lives.
Brothers and sisters, I know that if you take the challenge
to share the gospel, you will see a change in both your life and your friend’s
lives.
I got to bare my testimony over this wonderful part of the gospel and I think it went well. I was talking to the 6th ward missionaries near the door at the end and EVERYONE who walked by said it was a good talk. I loved it. Even if I thought my heart was going to beat out of my chest. Sister Lowry talked after me. She is a convert, too. She talked about her conversion story and some challenges she had as a convert. That talk was for me, Heavenly Father knew I needed that.
I slipped in to the missionary class again this week and we talked about exhalation. I haven't ever learned too much about it. It was really nice to learn about something I didn't know a lot about. AND my missionaries taught it, which was a little different. I'm so used to Brother White teaching! :)
I didn't really want to go to third hour today. I stayed back and chatted with the Elders for a bit and set up some appointments. (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday I meet with them. Twice for friends and once for me. I think they're starting to get sick of me. :) haha) I told Elder Saenger how I didn't really want to go to third hour and that I was thinking about just going home. He told me he thought I should go, but it was my choice. Then they started walking to class with someone else and while they passed the door, Elder Saenger opened the door for me to go in. So I went.
I'm so glad I did. We talked about the new theme for this year - Come unto Christ. I love that theme so very much. When I walked in, Bishop was playing this video. I invite you to watch it.
Then Bishop asked "What are YOU going to do to 'Come unto Christ?'"
As I was sitting there watching this video, I decided that I was going to take it seriously. This year I'm going to focus on these four things.
- Have a better relationship with my family
- Come to know my Savior, Jesus Christ
- Serve my fellow youth - each week I will pick a different youth and do what I can to serve them and make their week fantastic
- Be a missionary, ask the "magic question" every single week this year and give out a Book of Mormon once a month, at the very least.
In doing these things I believe I will be able to truly say I have taken the time and put in the effort to Come unto Christ.
And later, when I found the missionaries, Elder Saenger asked me how class went and then gave me candy. I like candy. :)
This Sunday was a great day. I still have more great things to come. My week is full of wonderful plans of missionary work and other fun church things.
Tonight I get to have my first meeting with my home teachers! :) I wonder whats gonna happen. I've never had a home teacher lesson before.
Monday I get to have lunch with one of my dear friends who is going to college and soon going on her mission.
Tuesday I meet with my investigator and the missionaries. :)
Wednesday I meet with the missionaries for my new member discussions.
Thursday I'm going to the zoo with some dear friends, after which I should be feeding the missionaries and then having a discussion with one of my other friends.
Friday I work then I go to the temple to do baptisms for the dead.
I'm thrilled. This is going to be a fantastic week full of the Spirit. I'm so grateful for all of the wonderful things I learned during church today. I hope that I can keep them all in my mind as I go throughout my week.
"Come unto Christ, and be perfected in him,
and deny yourselves of all ungodliness"
(Moroni 10:32)
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