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Alright, so the traditional missionary “farewell talk” for myself has been scheduled mid October. I’ve been contemplating what I’m going to say but I’m still having a tough time organizing my thoughts. I’ve been asked to speak about Priestood blessings, but I was hoping to narrow things down to the topic of Grace. I feel like Grace is a fundimental piece of the Atonement puzzle, and yet the LDS Church as a whole rarely discusses it much. Most of the time, when it is discussed, it’s about how by grace we are saved AFTER all we can do.Well, last year in my institute class, we spent the whole week on Grace, and I started to realize how fundamental it really is… I could go on, but let’s leave it at that. Also, another concern I have is bearing my testimony after I finish speaking. There will be friends and family in the audience that know where my head has been lately, and I don’t feel comfortable conforming to the typical jargon like “I know the Church is True” etc. I’ve read over previous posts that have discussed this topic, but I wanted to know if anyone had any suggestions for me? I feel strongly about the Gospel of Christ, and know that there is a special peace that it can bring into your life… I just don’t know how to express myself over the pulpit without sounding like a cop out or doubtful “sinner.”
Steer clear of any maxim you’ve heard. Focus on Christ, on character, on the importance of Grace, the HOly Ghost if you’ve been touched by it — I am realizing there is so much we can talk about and testify about that rests within basic Christian principles that are taught by other Churches, not just our own. I bear testimony of those things about which I feel comfortable saying, “I know . . .” – and I use, “I believe . . .” or “I love . . .” (or something similar) whenever I move away from those things. Grace is the ultimate blessing of the Priesthood, if we define grace as God’s loving condescension and the heart of the Atonement – and if we define the Priesthood as God’s power. When I read JSH 1:19, for example, I see the capstone condemnation as being the denial of God’s power to take us (flawed mortals) and truly save and redeem and transform us into Beings who can become like him. That’s grace, in a nutshell – and it’s bedrock, fundamental Mormon doctrine. It’s just that we use “atonement” instead of “grace” generally. (although that has been changing lately, as the apostles use grace more often)
CandleLight25 wrote:I’ve been asked to speak about Priesthood blessings
I based my talk around the maxim, “It takes a village to raise a child” and talked about how the whole ward had helped bring me to this point in my life. I figured that my farewell was about the ward more than it was about me (just like a wedding reception is not about the happy couple). This gave me an opportunity to talk about meaningful and pivotal moments such as heart to heart campfire moments with young men’s leaders, a ward member neighbor and nurse that ran over post haste when my niece fell off a swing, a home teacher that came over after midnight to perform a priesthood blessing when my sister had a particularly terrible migraine, the dedication of early morning seminary teachers etc. (All the little instances where ward members became as the Savior’s hands in helping me forward.)
Does this just make your farewell talk a well disguised “thankimony”? Perhaps, but then should there really be a stigma against saying thank you?
Priesthood is more than just power and authority; it is a call to action, a call to help a family load their u-haul or bring over meals to a sick friend, to be a listening ear or a welcoming smile, a be a babysitter or give a hug. In short, to follow Elder BRM’s Missionary Commission, “to stand in His place, to say and do what He Himself would say and do if He personally were ministering to the very people to whom He has sent me.”
Good luck my friend!
:thumbup: Regarding priesthood blessings, I focus on these parts: 1. The fact that haveing someone come to your home, listen to your problem, lay hands on your head has value in and of itself.
2. Blessings provide another teaching and training moment unlike any other, and often with greater power.
3. Blessings are one way we can DO SOMETHING to comfort people when they have no other options.
None of these things force you to declare that almighty God has blessed only a small group of men with his authority to heal others, or even that the priesthood is effective. But they do affirm the value of blessings and uplift the people who ask for them and give them.
My statements of testimony are always very specific: “I am grateful for _________” or “__________ brings peace to my life.” I have never liked the obligatory testifying thing. It feels forced. I’d like to use precise language. Thanks. You’ve given me some excellent advice. Ray, I really like how you defined Grace. That’s how we discussed it in my institute class, and that’s sort of the approach I want to take with the Priesthood. I also appreciate what you said Roy, about how you built your talk around the maxim “It takes a village to raise a child.” Looking back through the years, it’s clear to see where the many lines of Priesthood have networked together to help make me who I am today. No doubt, there is a lot of good and beneficial aspects to the Priesthood, regardless of it’s authenticity. The Priesthood has as much power as we are willing to grant it.
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