I recently came across my Stake Conference talk from 2004. I don’t think I’d read it since the day I gave it. It’s hard to believe it’s been over five years, since I wrote this talk.
Since I read it a few days ago, I’ve been debating with myself about whether I should post it on my blog or not. As you can see, I’ve decided to go ahead and post it. Even though, most people reading this blog, actually saw me give this talk in person 5 ½ years ago. I enjoyed rereading it. Hopefully you will also.
Tammy’s Stake Conference Talk
September 12, 2004
“Draw upon the merciful grace of God”
The world we live in is ever-changing. The influences for evil are abundant. Elder M. Russell Ballard states in the July 2004 Ensign that one of the ways we can combat Satan’s evil influence is by drawing upon the merciful grace of God. The prophet Moroni declared in Ether 12:27, “If men come unto me, I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.”
One of the interesting things about this scripture is that the Lord gives us weaknesses, so that we can learn humility. Humility means being teachable, free from pride and arrogance, being submissive and childlike. King Benjamin in his address proclaimed:
“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.” Mosiah 3:19
We need to be humble in order to receive God’s merciful grace. The Bible dictionary defines grace as: “Divine means of help or strength, given through the bounteous mercy and love of Jesus Christ.” It also defines it as an enabling power. Through our humility and God’s grace our weaknesses can become strengths.
The Lord gives us weaknesses to help us learn lessons that will strengthen us. Elder Ballard states : “If we are perfect in every respect, it would be hard to be humble. Even in specific things, humility comes harder to those who are very strong in one area or another. The woman or man who is remarkably beautiful or handsome can easily become proud of her or his appearance. A brilliant scholar may look down in condescension on those less intellectually blessed .” People who are wealthy and have many earthly possessions can also become proud and puffed up because of their riches.
In the August 2004 Ensign, Elder Richard D. May relates the following story: “One principle the learned sometimes struggle with is the Word of Wisdom. A former Bishop recently shared with me part of a conversation he had years ago with a successful physician. This man had been moderately active in the church but attended his meetings only rarely after he began his medical practice. When the Bishop invited him for an interview, the doctor told him, ‘Bishop, I can never be successful in my career and live the Word of Wisdom. I need to drink socially in order to climb the ladder of success.’ As a consequence, none of his family is now active in the gospel. Is this success?”
I have a similar experience I would like to share. A couple years ago, I was working as a resident in a hospital. My residency was structured such that, there were four first year residents, three second year residents, and two third year residents, so each year, one resident would not continue in the program. It was set up to be highly competitive. When I started my residency, we were told that we needed to attend all of the social events that we were invited to, in order to be successful in our careers. One day we were invited to attend a party on one of the attending physicians’ boats, where there would be alcohol and activities not conducive to the Spirit. We all felt pressure to attend. One of my co-residents, who is a Christian, but not of our faith, confided in me that he did not want to attend this party, but felt he needed to in order to further his career. He told me he didn’t want to expose his two young children to that type of environment. I told him not to feel pressured to attend the party because I wasn’t going to attend. As it turned out, only one out of the four first year residents attended the party. The next Monday when we went back to work, the senior residents were surprised at our absence and chided us about not attending. In the end, our careers were not adversely affected by not attending this party, and we didn’t compromise our standards. When we make righteous choices we are blessed.
Life is full of uncertainties. Our plans don’t always work out the way we anticipate. I had my life planned out, so I thought. I had goals set and I had reached most of them. I had gone to college, served a mission, graduated from medical school, had just started my residency as a podiatrist and had recently become engaged to be married. Life couldn’t have been better. Then one day, as my fiancé and I were returning from a day of shopping for our upcoming wedding, my life literally turned upside down. We were involved in a multiple roll-over accident. I was life flighted to the hospital, put on life support, and not expected to live. The doctors told my family that it was medically impossible for me to survive the severe injuries I sustained. After 10 days in the ICU, my fiancé died. I continued to struggle in the ICU for two months and spent 4 months in the hospital. While I was still in a coma my family was told I had broken my neck and would be quadriplegic for the rest of my life, if I lived. Although this isn’t a condition I would choose, I know there is a reason and a purpose for it, that I don’t fully understand. I know there are things that Heavenly Father wants me to learn, for He is omniscient. He knows what trials we need to go through in order to strengthen ourselves in the areas in which we are weak. If we allow ourselves to be humbled and learn from these experiences we will be strengthened.
In the May 1995 Ensign, Elder Richard G. Scott related this story:
“Recently, while traveling on an unfamiliar road, I encountered a large temporary sign declaring Rough Road Ahead, and indeed it was. Had I not been warned, that experience would have been disastrous. Life is like that. It’s full of rough spots. Some are tests to make us stronger. Others result from our own disobedience. Each one of us encounters unique challenges meant for growth. Also, our own bad choices can put more barriers in the path. Yet we have the capacity to smooth out the way, to fill in the depressions, and to beautify our course. You can start over again and change your course from a downward, twisting, disappointing path to a superhighway to peace and happiness.”
Whatever challenges we face, if we do not turn to the Lord and draw upon His merciful grace, we will remain weak and not benefit from the experience. If we are constantly asking “why?” and complaining, we will not be fortified and will suffer in vain.
There are many references in the scriptures of people who start out being humble and as they are blessed, and prosper they become proud and turn away from the Lord. Then through their disobedience they suffer unpleasant consequences, which compels them to humility and to rely on the Lord once again. We can learn from the scriptures and not fall into this vicious cycle.
There are many weaknesses that we must face. Some people struggle financially. Others with events, such as the death of a loved one, unemployment, or divorce. Some of us must struggle with physical handicaps or disabilities, including diseases such as cancer, heart disease and Parkinson’s. Some others struggle with mental and emotional disabilities, including depression, anxiety disorders and schizophrenia. Still others struggle with spiritual weaknesses such as reading scriptures, attending church meetings, paying tithing, keeping the Sabbath day holy, fasting, praying and temple attendance. Or something more controlling such as alcoholism, drug abuse, pornography, same-sex attraction, fornication, adultery or other sexual sins.
Many people who suffer physical and mental trials often look to God for miracles. But in time, all will be resurrected, and receive perfected bodies, suffering no more. So these trials are temporary. However, the spiritual weaknesses or sins that we commit are not overcome without effort on our part to repent. The sins we commit carry with them eternal consequences. Elder Ballard said, “One of the most devastating effects of sin is that it weakens you, binds you, brings you down to slavery. The grace of God and of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, is the answer to that predicament. If you will but humble yourselves and turn to Them, then Their grace, Their enabling power, can not only help you throw off the chains of sin but actually turn your weaknesses into strengths.”
Just as a parent must let their child stumble and fall when they are learning how to walk, Heavenly Father must let us stumble so we can learn and grow. If a parent never lets a child fall, they will never learn to walk.
The Savior stands with open arms ready for us to make the required changes that will bring peace and success- there will be a glorious end and the miracle of a new beginning, with peace for all who lay their burdens at His feet and trust in Him.
No matter how difficult we feel our obstacles are, or whether we feel there is no hope for us because we have not the will power to turn from sin, if we humble ourselves the grace of God, or His enabling power, is ample enough to change our hearts and turn our lives in the right direction.
Elder Neal A. Maxwell reminds us, “Among the perfect attributes of our living God, one that is and will be a great blessing to us, is His generosity. Important though it is, this quality is one that tends to be less noted. God’s generosity is associated with divine gladness, such as is evoked when His children keep His commandments. He is quick to bless and is delighted to honor the faithful. God’s generosity is expressed also in His long-suffering, His being always ready to respond when His children are inclined to seek Him.”
Brothers and Sisters, our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, love us very much. We can trust in Them. I know if we rely upon the merciful grace of God, our lives will be happier, and we will be blessed beyond comprehension. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
