Talks...

I had to speak in church today! Here is my talk:

A lighthouse does not go out searching for ships to save. It simply stands there, shining for all to see, guiding lost ships safely into the harbor.  We should all strive to be a lighthouse.We should stand firm, wherever we are, living our lives true to the gospel, so that Christ's light can shine through us for all to see.

In the Young Womens theme it states, “ We are daughters of our Heavenly Father who loves us and we love him. We will stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things and in all places.” But what does it mean to stand as a true witness of God?

Elder D Todd Christofferson said, “We are witnesses of Christ when we receive a sure, personal testimony that He lives.” End quote

I think having a personal testimony for ourselves is really important.I like to think of a testimony like a toothbrush and how you want to have one of your own and don’t want to have to rely on using someone else's toothbrush.

In Mosiah 18:9 it says, “ Stand as a witness of God at all times and in all things and in all places.” Just like in the Young Womens theme!

I think something that is important is the word “all.” It doesn’t say to stand as a witness sometimes, or whenever you feel like it. It says “at all times.”  To be a true witness of God, we need to stand strong all the time.

I believe someone who was a really good example of being a witness of Christ was Joseph Smith. He was true to the gospel. He stayed strong at all times and in all things and in all places. If he didn’t stand as a witness at all times, we probably wouldn’t be here. He inspires me, because I don’t think he realized at that time how many lives he would change! It makes me challenge myself to try and stand as a witness at all times, because you never know whose lives you might change.

When we stand as a witness, it not only brings us closer to others, but it brings us closer to our Heavenly Father. I think most of our goals are to be like Christ, and I think that is something we as Latter Day Saints strive for.  I know that no one is perfect and we will never be perfect without our Savior, Jesus Christ, but as we try to emulate Him, we will become more like him.

In first Timothy chapter 4 verse 12 we read, “ Let no man adespise thy youth; but be thou an bexample of the believers, in word, in cconversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, indpurity.” End quote.

So let us all be an example of the believers. Let us each be a lighthouse, standing firm, and letting Christ's light shine through us for all to see.