Talk Prepared for Stake Conference

Our Stake Presidency asked every member of the Stake to prepare a 3-5 minute talk on Mosiah 3:19.  We were told that we might get called up to give our talk during Stake Conference, which was today.

So, like a good obedient disciple of Christ, I listened to my leaders and I prepared my talk last week in preparation of Stake Conference today.

Of the thousand or two thousand people that were there, only two youth (teenagers) were called up to speak and only one adult. I knew the odds were extremely low that I would be asked to speak, but I wanted to be prepared nonetheless. Not only because of the slim chance that I might be called upon, but mostly because I wanted to be obedient to my local church leaders and show the Lord that I'm willing to do what He asks.

 Here is the Scripture we were assigned to study and write our talk on:

Mosiah 3:19

For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.

Here is the talk I prepared:

Tammy’s talk on Mosiah 3:19

For Stake Conference December 2, 2018

We all lived with our Heavenly Father, as spirit children, before we were born here on earth.  Our spirits are made of matter, but much more pure and refined than our physical bodies. While living with our Heavenly Father in our pre-mortal life, we learned much and progressed as far as we could to become like Him.

Our Heavenly Father’s plan includes the opportunity to come to earth to receive a mortal physical body and to be tested.  In doing so, we have the chance to progress further to become more like our Heavenly Father.

When we are born, our spirit joins with our physical body.  A veil is placed over our minds so we won’t remember our pre-mortal existence and provides the opportunity to learn and grow by walking by faith.

Our physical bodies have appetites that we must learn to control.  Our spirit can control the appetites of our physical body.  This requires effort on our part.  The Scripture says “the natural man is an enemy to God… and will be forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit and putteth off the natural man.”(Mosiah 3:19)

In order to “put off the natural man” we must “yield to the enticings of the Holy Spirit”.  In other words, to control the appetites of our physical bodies we must listen to the promptings of the Holy Ghost.  We must be worthy and in tune with the Holy Ghost to receive his promptings.

To be worthy and in tune with the Holy Ghost we must constantly work at  staying on the covenant path by - praying, reading our scriptures, attending church, attending the temple, paying tithing, partaking of the sacrament, receiving a patriarchal blessing, etc.

By doing those things we keep the natural man at bay by becoming saints through the atonement of Jesus Christ.  As we learn to control our physical appetites, desires, and passions we develop qualities that help us progress towards becoming more like our Heavenly Father.  We “becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.”  (Mosiah 3:19)

Satan’s objective is to stop our progression.  He wants all of us to be miserable like he is. "And because he had fallen from heaven, and had become miserable forever, he sought also the misery of all mankind..." (2 Nephi 2:18).  Satan’s greatest tool to destroy us and make us miserable like himself is to tempt us to misuse our bodies.

The Scriptures tell us that in the last days even the very elect will be deceived (Matthew 24:24). I have seen this happen to many people including family members.

President Nelson recently told us that "in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost."  ¹

I’m grateful for the opportunity a loving Heavenly Father has given me to come to earth and receive a physical body.  I’m grateful for this mortal journey where we can prove ourselves and develop divine qualities.  I’m thankful for my Savior, Jesus Christ, and for His atonement which makes eternal progression possible.

May we all put off the natural man by keeping ourselves worthy to receive the guiding and comforting constant influence of the Holy Ghost.  May we all stay on the covenant path so we may develop the qualities necessary for eternal progression.

In the name of Jesus Christ amen.

1 - Russell M. Nelson, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives” April 2018 General Conference