Given August 16, 2020 in the Surprise YSA branch
I was asked to base my remarks on the talk “That They May See” by Bonnie H. Cordon given in last April’s General Conference. I invite you to reread this talk and ponder the things she has taught. By studying and preparing for my talk, I have learned how to be a better disciple of Christ, how to be a better member missionary, and how to shine the light of Christ so that others can see. I hope and pray that we can all feel the Spirit and learn today.
Sister Cordon starts by talking about the light of Christ. She says, “Jesus Christ has called upon us to “let your light so shine before this people, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (3 Nephi 12:16) I have come to love the phrase “that they may see.” It is an earnest invitation from the Lord to be more intentional about helping others see the path and thereby come unto Christ.”
She continues:“The Lord’s invitation to let our light so shine is not just about randomly waving a beam of light and making the world generally brighter. It is about focusing our light so others may see the way to Christ. It is gathering Israel on this side of the veil—helping others see the next step forward in making and keeping sacred covenants with God.”
I often asked myself while on my mission “Am I being a missionary 100% of the time?” and “How can I be a missionary 100% of the time?” I am no longer serving a full-time mission, but I still ask myself these questions. I testify that we can all be missionaries one hundred percent of the time by shining our light so that others can see the way to Christ.
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, in his talk Waiting on the Road to Damascus, said that “the most effective way to preach the gospel is through example.” He continues, “If we live according to our beliefs, people will notice. If the countenance of Jesus Christ shines in our lives, if we are joyful and at peace with the world, people will want to know why. One of the greatest sermons ever pronounced on missionary work is this simple thought attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi: “Preach the gospel at all times and if necessary, use words.” Opportunities to do so are all around us. Do not miss them by waiting too long on the road to Damascus.”
Actions speak louder than words.
Here is an example from my life. At the beginning of the year I had the amazing opportunity to work at Walt Disney World with my sister, Lauryn, as part of the Disney College program. It was an amazing learning experience and we had a lot of fun.
One of the first things that I learned was that I wasn’t in Provo anymore. I love BYU so much but it is definitely a bubble that I had gotten comfortable in. Now I was in a completely different world with people from all over the world who had never even heard of the Church and everyone had their own--different--way of living. I also learned while I was there that I could do better at living what I believe and being a good example of the Church, especially if I was the only member they would meet there.
I wore my costume and my name tag every day for work, and underneath my name on my name tag, it said Brigham Young University, so even in that small way I was representing the Church and my Savior.
I worked at Aloha Isle, home of the famous pineapple dole whips. They are still my favorite Disney treat. Customers are not always easy to deal with though, even at Disney World, maybe even especially at Disney World because the expectations are so high. So, naturally, I would get frustrated daily at customers. I would try to keep a smile on my face, but some days were more difficult than others.
One day at work I remember another young cast member came up to me and told me about some “crazy” thing that a customer was complaining about, and I agreed and said other things that I am not proud of. I joined in complaining and being rude about the endless customers. Almost immediately I regretted what I had said, wishing I could take it back, but I could not.
Such a seemingly small thing, but now I think of something Elder Uchtdorf once said: “Sometimes a single phrase of testimony can set events in motion that affect someone’s life for eternity.” I could have been a more Christ-like example and been more positive that day. I know I am not perfect, and never will be on this earth, but I can try a little harder to be a little better.
In contrast, there was one cast member that I worked with that I will probably remember forever because he was the most respectful and honest guy I met while at Disney World. He was also in the Disney College Program, from Louisiana and had exactly what I imagine southern hospitality looks like. Everyone noticed something different about him, something good. I didn’t get to know him very well, as our time there was cut short due to Covid, so I don’t even know if he was religious at all. All I know is that I wished that I had acted more like him. I never once heard him complain about customers or do anything that made me question his integrity. All I know is I wanted to know what made him act the way that he did. I wanted to know how I could be more like him.
That is what can happen to us when we live the gospel 100% of the time. I want people to look at me and the way I live and ask me what makes me different so that I can tell them about Jesus Christ. He is the reason. Some days are better than others, and I still have a long way to go and so much to learn.
We can start by sharing the gospel with those around us, those closest to us.
My mission changed me in a lot of ways. My siblings will tell you that before my mission I was bossy, controlling, rude, and unkind most of the time. They told me after I had gotten home that the worst insult they would throw at each other when I was gone had been “You’re acting just like Kenzie!” Ouch. I had so much to learn before my mission.
One day not too long after my return, my younger brother and I were driving to our grandma’s house. Before my mission, we had had a bumpy relationship, filled with a lot of hate and resentment. We were both trying to figure out where the other one stood, now that I was back after being away for so long. I asked him about a mission, when he was going to go and if he even wanted to. He told me that I was different now, that I had changed. That I was nicer, and that he wanted to go on a mission and change too. That was pretty much all he said, and I knew that he meant it. And now he is faithfully serving a mission in Washington, DC North.
What caused my drastic change? My mission allowed me to study the words of the ancient and modern prophets like never before. I talked of Christ, I rejoiced in Christ, and I preached of Christ every single day to anyone and everyone that would listen. I strove to devote my whole life to God for those 18 months. I believe that the main cause for my mighty change was my personal scripture study. Because of those words, spoken by the Lord through His prophets, I was changed. I had experienced a mighty change of heart as the Book of Mormon prophet Alma testified (Alma 5:14, 26). When I came home, I was a different person. I didn’t really recognize the change at first, but my family did.
It’s been almost 5 years since I returned from my mission, and Alma is still asking me and all of us: “if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?” (Alma 5:26)
The mighty change I experienced was not automatically permanent. Just because I studied and taught the gospel daily five years ago doesn’t mean that I can still feel that change today if I don’t do anything about it. Now I am a different person than I was when I returned from my mission. My life is different now, and I am trying to share the gospel in a different way than I did as a full-time missionary. I am not perfect, but I try to incorporate the scriptures into my daily life. I am trying to maintain my mighty change of heart by living the gospel daily.
It is not easy being a missionary 100% of the time, but I testify that as we study the scriptures and the words of the modern prophets and strive to come closer to Christ daily, we will have more of His light in our lives and others will notice.
Sister Cordon spoke directly to me after sharing a few great examples of other people when she said “Now, in case you are thinking, “These are great 1,000-watt examples, but I’m a 20-watt bulb,” remember that the Savior testified, “I am the light which ye shall hold up.” He reminds us that He will bring the light if we will just point others to Him.”
In order for our light to shine, we need to turn on the light. We need to bring the “Light of the World” into our lives, every single day. We do that by acting as the Savior did. Jesus Christ testified, “Behold I am the light; I have set an example for you.” (3 Nephi 18:16)
So even though I falter, I can rely on my Savior and follow His example. Day by day I will be better, and I will be more like Jesus Christ.
Going back to what Sister Cordon said about the phrase “that they may see.” She says “it is an earnest invitation from the Lord to be more intentional about helping others see the path and thereby come unto Christ.” I love the phrase “earnest invitation.” Just as Christ asks us to come, follow Him, He also asks us to feed His sheep, to proclaim good tidings of peace, and to let our light SHINE.
Sister Cordon pleads, “You and I have enough light to share right now. We can light the next step to help someone draw nearer to Jesus Christ, and then the next step, and the next.”
Thankfully, we all have someone who we can look up to and learn from, who is perfect. The only perfect and sinless person on earth. We can be perfected in Him. I am so grateful for a Savior, a Redeemer, an Advocate and Mediator. I know Jesus Christ is the Savior of the World and His Atonement allows us to repent daily, to come closer to Him and our Father, and to bring Light into our lives. I testify that we can be missionaries 100% of the time as we study the scriptures and the words of all of the Lord’s prophets and strive to apply them to our lives. I testify that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, it is true. I testify that there is a Prophet on the earth today that leads us and shows us the way. I believe these things, and I strive to live what I believe, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
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