Sacrement Talk - Recognizing the Spirit - Nov 22, 2015

Update: I actually did not give all of this talk. I timed it out and it took a little less than 15 minutes. But when it was my turn to speak I only have 10 minutes. The great thing about writing your talk out and practicing it a few times is that you know what the important stuff is and you can cut the parts you don't need. Anyway, I wrote this as more of an article anyway so it works here. There are still some rough transitions but I still like it.

I love to look at the sky. Growing up my father taught me about different types of clouds and weather patterns. To this day I love watching lightning storms and listening to the rain. At night he would point out constellations, satellites, and the phases of the moon. I've stood with him and watched the northern lights and have lain with him in our sleeping bags underneath a sky so full of stars we couldn't speak. I know there is a God and the Heavens is where He dwells.

When Christ was born there were signs in the heavens. In the Americas the sun set but it was still light. All over the world a new star was seen. That star guided those wise men who studied the heavens to the Christ child where they fell and worshiped him. At His death, there were storms and tempest and the sun was blotted out for three days. Certainly in ancient times the sky was God's Facebook.

The sky does not have as much meaning today. We have maps, compasses, and GPS units to navigate by. We have satellites and radar to track storms and hurricanes. We even have telescopes and space probes that bring those far distant stars, planets, and even galaxies, into our labs and onto our personal devices. It's funny that if you want to see the sky now you usually look on a screen. But the sky and heavens are still there and they can guide us, warn us, and inspire us.

One of the songs that the choir is preparing for Christmas asks, "If a star were shining bright, would we notice in the night?" That line hit me hard. Would I notice a new star if it appeared? If my Heavenly Father was trying to tell me something and was using a star to do it, would I get the message? Would I be one of the wise men that, upon seeing the star would follow it. That got me thinking, am I noticing all the messages that my Heavenly Father is trying to send me? Has he reached out to me with his spirit and have I failed to notice? Has he hung a new star before me and have I noticed it?

Allow me to liken the Spirit to the sky, particularly the stars above. First, like the stars the Spirit requires us to look up in order to see them. Remember Pres. Monson's advice to Elder Carl B. Cook in of October of 2011, "It is better to look up" towards Christ and Heavenly Father. Second, the stars can only be seen if we are in a place where their light can shine. We will not be able to feel the Spirit if we "dwell in unholy temples" (Helaman 4:24). Third, If we are to attempt to make meaning of what we see in the sky, we must learn how to understand what we see. An understanding of how the Spirit speaks will not come just because we ask for it, but we "must study it out in your mind" (D&C 9:7-8). And fourth, even though we cannot always see them, the stars are always there, vigilant, constant, and unchanging. Can we not describe the Spirit in the same terms that Pres. Hinckley described the North Star as related in the April Conference of 2004, "...A constant in the midst of change. ...Something that could always be counted on, something that was dependable, an anchor in what otherwise appeared to be a moving and unstable firmament."

While I'm sure you could write an entire talk based on this analogy, this talk is not that. I tried to, but the topic I was given was recognizing the Spirit and it trying to make the entire simile fit that singular point was unnecessarily convoluted. So, without further reference to a rather nice analogy, if I say so myself, let us look at what is necessary to recognize the Spirit.

All of us must learn how to recognize the Spirit. A great example of this is the prophet Samuel. The history is recorded in 1st Samuel 3:1-10. As he's lying down to sleep Samuel, the young assistant to the priest Eli is called by the Lord. As the scripture says in verse 7, "Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him." Thinking his master had called him, Samuel ran to Eli who had just crawled into bed. Eli tells Samuel that he didn't call him and to go back to bed. This happens again, Samuel is called, goes to Eli, and is sent back to bed. The third time it happens Eli realizes what is going on and instructs Samuel, "Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth." Samuel went on to become a great prophet of God but we must remember that he, like all of us, had to learn.

An important step in recognizing the Spirit is to invite the Spirit. Elder David A Bednar said in Oct conference of 2010, "We more readily receive and recognize the Spirit of the Lord as we appropriately invite Him into our lives. We cannot compel, coerce, or command the Holy Ghost. Rather, we should invite Him into our lives with the same gentleness and tenderness by which He entreats us." We will never recognize the spirit if we do not make a place for Him in our hearts through prayer, fasting, and fulfilling our covenants. It is as we strive to live the gospel and be worthy of His presence that we may receive and then recognize the spirit. We must be careful though. At my fingertips I have all of the church magazines and general conference talks back to the 1970s. I have access to the church website anywhere my phone can get a signal. I can read, watch, or listen to almost anything I want just by pulling my phone out of my pocket. The Lord has helped this come to pass because it will enable His gospel to be spread faster and to more people than ever before. However, it is not hard for Satan to use this wonderful opportunity to hinder us with the other things we can do with technology.. With it he can distract us from better things. He can inundate us with media or other, more mundane thoughts until we become distracted from the spirit. It is possible to become addicted to entertainment and like any addiction, it can deaden our senses to more important things. While as a missionary I read an Ensign article by Pres. Hinckely entitled "Life's Obligations." In it he quoted Pres. McKay, speaking to the Twelve, "Brethren, we do not spend enough time meditating." Pres. Hinckley went on to say, "I believe [men's] lives would be enriched if, instead of sitting on the sofa (or anywhere else) and watching (or playing) a game that will be forgotten tomorrow, they would read and think and ponder. They would be blessed if they were to go out into the dark of the night, look at the stars, and ponder their place in the eternal plan of the Almighty." (emphasis added).  We have but to set our technology aside for a time and focus our thoughts on the things of God. We should not be afraid of quiet or silence, or of not being connected to the busy world around us. The world will continue even if we are not keeping an eye on it. Meditation, reflection, pondering, introspection, and even simple wondering are things we can do almost anywhere. I've found my morning bus ride to be an excellent place for meditation and reflecting. I can watch the sun rise on God's green earth and read His scriptures or the words of His prophets. I do not have a powerful spiritual experience every morning, but I am in a state of mind where I can.

I read an article on LDS.org recently that mentioned that many people, especially children think that we can only feel the Spirit at monumental events or special occasions such as a baptism, temple open house, or when asking in the Book of Mormon is true. I tried this with my own children, and while young, they both remembered feeling the Spirit at the Brigham and Ogden temple open houses. In these moments it is hard not to feel the Spirit and it is easy to recognize his influence in those moments, but he is not limited to only manifesting at those times. The article pointed point that we can, and should, learn to recognize the Spirit throughout our day. In this way we can be guided and have peace and comfort regardless of when our baptism or last temple trip was. Bishop Perkins commonly asks in Priesthood opening excises for people to share any spiritual experiences they had during the week. Such sharing enables all of us to come to know how the Spirit works in others lives and helps us learn how to see it in our lives. While we should be mindful not to share anything too personal or too sacred we should share how the Spirit touches us, especially with children, so that others may also come to see it in their lives. This is because the Spirit may manifest in many different ways. Pres. Howard W. Hunter explained, " I get concerned when it appears that strong emotion or free-flowing tears are equated with the presence of the Spirit. Certainly the Spirit of the Lord can bring strong emotional feelings, including tears, but that outward manifestation ought not to be confused with the presence of the Spirit itself. I have watched a great many of my brethren over the years and we have shared some rare and unspeakable spiritual experiences together. Those experiences have all been different, each special in its own way, and such sacred moments may or may not be accompanied by tears. Very often they are, but sometimes they are accompanied by total silence. Other times they are accompanied by joy. Always they are accompanied by a great manifestation of the truth, of revelation to the heart. … Listen for the truth, hearken to the doctrine, and let the manifestation of the spirit come as it may in all of its many and varied forms." (from Teaching: No Greater Call [Link])

Often the Spirit may come to us as a persistent or powerful thought. While preparing this talk I experienced this. As I arrived at work I was suddenly hit with that thought that I needed to see my sister. At first I thought that I had this feeling because I hadn't seen here for a while, but I soon realized that it was more than that. All I could think about was how I could see her. It was not hard to arrange it and within a relatively short time I was able to bring her some hot chocolate and sit and chat with her for five minutes. It turned out that she had been needing some comfort and I was able to give it. Elder Lawrence in this last conference mentioned spiritual promptings to "stop complaining," "clean your room," "increasing your temple attendance," and "keep the Sabbath day holy." Hardly the typical "Thou shalts" we read in the scriptures, but none the less they are promptings from the Spirit. These kinds of manifestations of the Spirit can feel like our own thoughts and we sometimes question if it really is the Spirit talking to us. However, there is a simple way we can resolve that questions. Moroni 7:13 says, "But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God." Regardless of what you may feel prompted to do and regardless of if that prompting comes as direction from the Spirit or from your own thoughts, if it directs you to do good it is from God. As we learn to recognize and act on these feelings as being from God, then He in turn can send us more promptings knowing that we will fulfill them. And thus we will grow as the Lord has said, "I will give unto the children of men line upon line, preceptupon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have." (2nd Nephi 28:30).

Brothers and Sister, may we never have enough of the Spirit in our lives. May we always look up to Him who knows all things and recognize his Spirit when it comes. It can sometimes be frightening to think about what the Lord may prompt us to do, but I know that He will not ask us to do anything that we are incapable of. Such is His way. I bear my testimony that I know that Jesus is the Christ and that as we strive to do His work that He will guide us through the Spirit. As seek to invite and recognize the Spirit we will see him and as we act on those promptings we will be blessed with success. We may not always see that success, but we will continue to have more experiences with the Spirit that will bless us. This is know and say in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Daniel M. Allred

Nov 22 / 2015

Baby Blessings

This weekend my family blessed Roo. In the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints parents have the opportunity to bless their children, either as infants or even young children. When I mentioned that we would be blessing Roo to a coworker who is Catholic we ended up having a comparing the Catholic Sacraments against LDS ordinances. Blessing a child is not considered a vital ordinance but it is an opportunity to officially introduce the child to the church and bless it for life ahead.

We've blessed both of our other children, but we didn't actually do it in the congregation we were living in at the time. Kanga was born right after I started a new job in Price, UT. During Angel's pregnancy we lived with her parents, so when we blessed her we did it in their ward. I remember asking my father what wording I should use five minutes before the meeting started. Not long before her blessing I had read 2nd Nephi 2 which talks about man's agency and how we are free to choose and are enticed by those things that are good and those things that are bad. I remember being struck by verses 14, 15, and 16

14. And now, my sons, I speak unto you these things for your profit and learning; for there is a God, and he hath created all things, both the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are, both things to act and things to be acted upon. 

15. And to bring about his eternal purposes in the end of man, after he had created our first parents, and the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, an din fine, all things which are created, it must needs be that there was an opposition; even the forbidden fruit in opposition to the tree of life; the one being sweet and the other bitter.

16. Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. Where fore, man could not act for himself save be that he was enticed by the one or the other.

 The idea of being a "thing to be acted upon" was very unappealing to me. To be something that things happened to, something not in control, something without a choice or the power to act on choice. I wanted my daughter to be someone who would be proactive, who wouldn't just "let things happen" to her. When the time came I blessed her that she would "act for herself and not be acted upon." At this point I have some mixed feelings about this decision, but only because I'm her father. She is indeed someone who acts for herself and doesn't like to be acted upon. This makes parenting rough as she is headstrong, stubborn, and doesn't like to do what she's told. As my mother said about my sister EA, "I figured if I could just point her in the right direction she would never go wrong."

Tigger we blessed in a family setting with just friends and family. It was fun as we learned that the member of the bishopric that came to preside grew up with one of Angel's great aunts. They hadn't seen each other in several years and had a fun reunion. It was through them that I learned that you can actually stuff a dead duck through the drive in teller station at a Zion's bank. It is hard to remember much of the blessing itself. It was a tender moment because he had been out of the hospital for a couple of months but he was still on oxygen and we had no idea when he would be off it. I remember having to accommodate the tube as we held him in our hands. I felt impressed that his life would be filled with service opportunities and that he would be a force for good works in the world. I've been reminded in some of the latest talks in General Conference that I need to do my part in fostering that spirit as he gets older.

Roo, in no way to disparage his siblings, is the easiest infant we've ever had. He sleeps well, he hasn't been plagued by eating problems like the others were, and he doesn't fuss much. As the time for his blessing came close I wondered what he would need in life. In the end, as I held him in my arms this last Sunday with a lot of family and some friends standing around him I felt impressed to bless him with love. Love of family, love of the God, and love of work, as well as a desire to share those loves with others. I get the feeling that when he marries he will dote on his wife and children. It's easy to imagine him maintaining his easy going, calm attitude and being a soft spoken gentle giant. We'll see how right my musings are as he grows up, but I don't think I'm far off.

All of our children are very special to us. Kanga is a ball of energy that loves learning and doing. She easily takes charge of situations and loves to play with other. Tigger is sensitive and passionate, full of emotion and a desire to please. He's quick to throw a fit, or burst into tears, but also is constantly looking to snuggle and is free in giving hugs and kisses. Roo. We'll just have to see a bit more.

My talk outline

Yesterday I gave a talk in Church and thought that I would post my outline below. I don't believe any talk is fully written until it's given. I researched this talk over the last two weeks - although I must confess to getting sucked in to the Overland Travel Database a couple of times.

A funny thing I learned while researching. I have a copy of David Osborn's (1807-1893) journal, but I did not know his connection to my family. As I was going through the journal I found reference to my 4 times great grandfather William Moore Allred. Come to find out, David's daughter Mary married William Moore after his first wife died. I thought, "Well, there's the connection. Strange, but a connection none the less." As I was talking to my mother we were discussing the other lines of my family and the people of those lines that crossed the plains. Mom mentioned that my grandmother's grandmother Lydia Osborn, crossed with her father David. Come to find out Lydia and Mary were sisters. So, Barbra Hall, granddaughter to Lydia Osborn married Elwood Malcom Allred, great-grandson of Bryon Harvey Allred Sr. whose step-mother was Mary Osborn, sister of Lydia. There you go.

Historians look backwards

• The basis of history is in the word itself - story.
• Who, what, where, when, how, and why
• We take historical events in context with the whole: what came before and what resulted afterwards.
• We look for patterns and cause and effect
• Historical analysis shows that the pioneers were not the first to migrate in the name of following God’s commands.
• Moses 5:1 tells of Adam and Eve
• “And it came to pass that after I, the Lord God, had driven them out, that Adam began to till the earth, and to have dominion over all the beasts of the field, and to eat his bread by the sweat of his brow, as I the Lord had commanded him. And Eve, also, his wife, did labor with him.”
• Israel takes his family to Egypt and Moses brings them out again.
• Genesis 46:3-6 “ 3 And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation: I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes. 5 And Jacob rose up from Beer-sheba: and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him. 6 And they took their cattle, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed with him:”
• Exodus 3:8 “And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites”
• The Jews return from Persia
• Ezra 1:2 &3 “Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3 Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him,and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.
• The Jaredites
• Ether 2:7 “7  And the Lord would not suffer that they should stop beyond the sea in the wilderness, but he would that they should come forth even unto the land of promise, which was choice above all other lands, which the Lord God had preserved for a righteous people.”
• The Nephites
• 1st Nephi 2:2-4 "2  And it came to pass that the Lord commanded my father, even in a dream, that he should take his family and depart into the wilderness. 3  And it came to pass that he was obedient unto the word of the Lord, wherefore he did as the Lord commanded him. 4  And it came to pass that he departed into the wilderness. And he left his house, and the land of his inheritance, and his gold, and his silver, and his precious things, and took nothing with him, save it were his family, and provisions, and tents, and departed into the wilderness."
• Our very existence on Earth
• Abraham 3: 24-26:  24 And there stood one among them that was like unto God, and he said unto those who were with him: We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell; 25 And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them; 26 And they who keep their first estate shall be added upon; and they who keep not their first estate shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first estate; and they who keep their second estate shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever.
• Others - Abraham, Lot, Joseph and Mary
• Of all the questions the most important is why. Why has the Lord has called his people to travel?
• Adam and Eve - As a result of transgression, but also to learn and grow
• Joseph of Egypt - to prepare and save others to follow
• Moses - to escape persecution and bondage
• Ezra - to build a temple
• Jaredites and Nephites - to rise up a righteous people
• Our own Journey on Earth - to learn, grow, and ultimately return to God.
• Our church’s own pioneer heritage mirrors so many of these previous journeys.
• Prepare the way for others
• To escape persecution and bondage
• To build a temple of the Lord
• To rise up a righteous people
• To prove the merit of their faith
• Pioneer roots
• Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley, “Whether you are among the posterity of the pioneers or whether you were baptized only yesterday, each is the beneficiary of their great undertaking... We stand today as the recipients of their great effort. I hope we are thankful. I hope we carry in our hearts a deep sense of Gratitude for all that they have done for us. “(“True to the Faith,” April conference, 1997)
• For those who have ancestors who made the trip - Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel Database.
• Find your ancestors
• Read journal entries about the trail
• What heritage have we receive?
• William Moore Allred (4 greats), 31, Byron Harvey (3 greats), 4
  In the spring of 1851 we started and crossed the plains arriving in Salt Lake City on the 7th day of Oct. after a toilsome journey. On the 30th of July my wife had a little girl, Second Daughter, stillborn on the Loup Fork. Elder Pratt told us to name it so we called her Amelia Lorinda. My wife was quite poorly the rest of the way.
  
  I had a very hard time on the road, although I had a gentle team and I did not have to work more than ten minutes on my wagon all the way. I did not even break a bow key, but someone that unyoked my cattle lost one.t I had some extra ones in a little side box so that did not hinder. Many times I would have to drop my whip when we drove into camp and go to work on a wagon or something else, and let someone else unyoke my team. I had charge of all of Elder Pratt’s teams and they were mostly wild cattle that never was yoked till he started. He had only enough of broke cattle for leaders, and the teamsters were about as bad. When I would get across a bad place, I would give my whip to Lansing, (he was not quite nine years old) and he would drive my team, and I would help all the others across and then run till I over took my team again. When we got into the City I heard Br. James W. Cummings (one of the captain of hundred) tell Br. P. H. Wells that he would not go through what I did crossing the plains for five hundred dollars. For fear some might think that Elder Pratt put too much on me, I will say he has always done well by me.
  
• Spirit of Elijiah - Turn the hearts of the Children to the fathers
• A legacy of service, preparedness, and meekness.
• Patience Loader Archer, 28, Edward Martin Company (1956)
• We had nothing to eat that night. The last we had to eat that day was at twelve o’clock in the day as near as we could tell the time; however we were all very tired and soon fell asleep as it was past two o’clock when we found the camp. We did not have very long to sleep. We were awakened very early and had to travel on before we had breakfast then we camped and got something to eat. This was quite hard on us as we had no supper after we got in camp. At the same time it seemed we did not suffer with hunger. It seemed the Lord’s fitted the back for the burden. Every day we realized that the hand of God was over us and that he made good his promises unto us day by day. As we know, God our Father has promised us these blessings if we will call on him in faith. We know that His promises never fail and this we proved day by day. We knew that we had not strength of our own to perform such hardships if our Heavenly Father had not helped us, and we prayed unto God continually for his help and we always acknowledged his goodness unto us day by day. Sometimes in the morning I would feel so tired and feel that I could not pull the cart the day through. Then the still small voice would whisper in my ear, “as thy day, thy strength shall be.” This would give me new strength and energy and thus we traveled on day after day, week after week, and for four months before we reached the valley; we would travel all day and when we got into camp we would get some little to eat then we would sit around the campfire and sing the Songs of Zion. Oh yes and our favorite handcart song: some must push and some must pull as we go Marching up the hill until we reach the valley. . .
• Examples of faith.
• Many historians stop there. Few ask the question that President Packer is famed for asking, “Therefore, what?”
• Dallin H. Oaks, October 1997, “Following the Pioneers”
• “For many months we have studied the lives and accomplishments of our pioneers,early and modern. We have thrilled to some modern reenactments, in which many have been blessed to participate. I was humbled to walk in the footsteps and wagon trails of my 31 pioneer ancestors for 13 miles over the Wyoming heights called Rocky Ridge, and for 5 miles on the trail 3 of them later followed down El Cajon Pass to settle what is now San Bernardino, California.
  
  Now after all these studies and activities, it is appropriate to ask ourselves,“Therefore, what?” Are these pioneer celebrations academic, merely increasing our fund of experiences and knowledge? Or will they have a profound impact on how we live our lives?
  
  It is not enough to study or reenact the accomplishments of our pioneers. We need to identify the great, eternal principles they applied to achieve all they achieved for our benefit and then apply those principles to the challenges of our day. In that way we honor their pioneering efforts, and we also reaffirm our heritage and strengthen its capacity to bless our own posterity and “those millions of our Heavenly Father’s children who have yet to hear and accept the gospel of Jesus Christ.” 2  We are all pioneers in doing so.”

Pioneers Look forwards

• What are the “great, eternal principles” the pioneers applied?
• Faith
• Faith is looking forward
• Pioneers planted crops they would never harvest
• Missionaries teach investigators they will not baptize
• We invite friends who may turn us down
• We follow promptings not knowing the results
• Every journey started with Faith.
• Nephi had not seen the promised land.
• They left a land they called “Bountiful” to build a ship and sail the ocean.
• The analogy of the dark path.
• Harold B. Lee to Elder Boyd K. Packer, “You must learn to walk to the edge of the light, and then a few steps into the darkness; then the light will appear and show the way before you.” - Dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith - Ether 12:6
• We have no Exodus before us. What is our journey and how do we show our faith?
• Jeffery R Holland (Devotional Broadcast)
• “We no longer think of Zion as where we are going to live; we think of it as how we are going to live”
• We must do. (Alma 32:37-43)
• 37 And behold, as the tree beginneth to grow, ye will say: Let us nourish it with great care, that it may get root, that it may grow up, and bring forth fruit unto us. And now behold, if ye nourish it with much care it will get root, and grow up, and bring forth fruit.
  38 But if ye neglect the tree, and take no thought for its nourishment, behold it will not get any root; and when the heat of the sun cometh and scorcheth it, because it hath no root it withers away, and ye pluck it up and cast it out.
  39 Now, this is not because the seed was not good, neither is it because the fruit thereof would not be desirable; but it is because your ground is barren, and ye will not nourish the tree,therefore ye cannot have the fruit thereof.
  40 And thus, if ye will not nourish the word, looking forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof, ye can never pluck of the fruit of the tree of life.
  41 But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root;and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life.
  42 And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea,and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.
  43 Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you.
• The fruit of faith is conviction
• Conviction: Conviction refers to the state of being convinced and confident that something is true [I would say converted]; it means a strong persuasion or belief. In other words, conviction stands opposed to doubt and skepticism [It is faith perfected]. When we think of a man of conviction, we also think in terms of action and direction. We think of a person whose convictions have a definite impact on how he lives, on what he does, says, and where he goes. (source - https://bible.org/seriespage/mark-6-biblical-conviction)
• Which would we rather do: Cross the plains or be a faithful member of the church every day?
• J. Golden Kimball - rather die than pay their tithing
• Our task is not to cross the plains, despite some of us who may wish to.
• Our modern world may seem more dangerous than that of the early saints. They just had to deal with the elements and the mobs.
• Social Media, additions of drugs and pornography, wars, natural disasters, international conflicts, large scale acts of terror, identity theft.
• Regardless of what challenges we have, the answer is the same.
• Matthew 11:28-30
• 28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
  29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
  30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
• Just as the pioneers yoked their oxen together to be able to pull their wagons, we can yoke ourselves to Christ and with faith in him pull our burdens to that promised land that awaits us. Christ promises not just a place to rest at the end of the journey, but we can receive rest along the way. When we are yoked to Christ the decisions are easy.

Faith in Every Footstep, by K. Newal Dayley

1. A marvelous work has begun to come forth among all the children of men.

O ye that embark in the service of God, give heart, mind, and strength unto him;

For prophets have spoken and angels have come to lift the world from sin,

That Christ may reign over all the earth and bless his gathered kin.

2. Those marvelous Saints who embraced this great work and shared it in lands far and near;

Who gave all their heart, mind, and strength to the Lord with wisdom and vision so clear;

Now stand as examples of virtue and faith, of souls prepared to hear,

Of knowledge sure, born of humble heart, and love that banished fear.

3. If we now desire to assist in this work and thrust in our sickle with might;

If we will embark in the service of God and harvest in fields that are white;

Our souls may receive the salvation of God—the fullness of his light,

That we may stand, free of sin and blame, God’s glory in our sight.

Chorus

With faith in every footstep, we follow Christ, the Lord;

And filled with hope through his pure love, we sing with one accord.