Last week coming off a family reunion and having people here we totally spaced fast Sunday. So, I mentioned off-hand that we should fast the next week. And this morning I woke up and didn't even think about it. But Robbie and Hallie did. And they both fasted today on their own without anyone else in the family and no "pressing" reason (like a family or ward fast or it being fast Sunday) but because they both had not done it last week. I felt their strength and it made me feel stronger and more focused today. And it gave me a glimpse into their integrity of gospel living. I wanted to document it. Good good kids!
Hallie also gave her first talk in sacrament meeting and almost threw up she was so nervous last night. She prepared well and did a great job. Mask and all.
Here it is:
(Go slow!)
Go Forward With Faith
~Hallie~
Hi! For those of you that don’t know me, my name is Hallie Jensen. I became a young woman this past January, so this is my first talk, so-wish me luck. The topic that I was asked to speak on is: Going forward with faith. If you look in the for the strength of youth pamphlet-it actually is the last chapter in the pamphlet. Some ways that the book gives us to practice and be better at going forward with faith is: by making sure we are kneeling down each morning and night-and saying a sincere prayer to our Heavenly Father. Or studying the scriptures often, and pondering them as you read and even after. Striving each day to be obedient to teachers and parents. Also each week when you take the sacrament, think about the covenants you've made with your Heavenly Father, and thinking about that as you renew them each week, while taking the sacrament. And remember that even if and when you mess up-the Atonement of Jesus Christ is always available for us, and we can repent and make things right.
I was thinking about a good scripture story for this topic, and Nephi’s story popped into my head. When Nephi’s bow and arrow broke, and the whole family was very hangry, and they couldn’t catch or find any food, they spoke and acted very differently than when their life was going smoothly. Everyone was complaining and being rude to each other, even Lehi-the prophet was. But Nephi knew the Lord would always help if he or they could “go forward with faith.” Nephi started to build a new bow and arrow and asked the Lord to help him know how to do that the best way, and then he asked the Lord again to help him find food, and the Lord helped him AS HE WAS ACTING (Nephi had to be moving forward, and DOING in order for the Lord to bless him for his faith. That's a really good reminder to us. Even when we think there’s nothing we can do, and we lose faith, we need to remember that the Lord can help us do anything as long as we keep trying, making decisions, moving in a direction with faith.
In 2 Nephi 31:16-21 there was one verse that stood out to me, it’s verse 20 of the chapter and it says: “Wherefore, ye must press forward with steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: ye shall have eternal life.” That means we try to make good decisions, ask Heavenly Father for His help, and keep giving our all, and firmly trust Christ and His Atonement which is a lot easier to do when we are reading the scriptures and praying sincerely.
I just want to bear my testimony that I know this church is true and I know that having faith means acting and doing and also believing in Christ and his teachings. Each of us has a specific plan that Heavenly Father has designed for us and sometimes that plan can be really fun and sometimes it can be really hard and we need a lot of help. But it will always be the right plan if its Heavenly Father’s will and our job is to try to follow it with faith. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
