A Farewell Talk

Given on Sunday, May 27th @ 11:22AM to 11:51AM Elder Fernandez-Rosa's Missionary Farewell Talk Brothers and Sisters, I am not going to start this talk with a joke, because I’m going to talk about some really important and serious things, so you should probably listen. The topic for this talk came to me quite easily, I got onto Facebook and the first status I saw was someone talking about how happy they were to have someone help them. One simple word I had never given severe thought to popped into my head, Charity. What a moment to be struck by one word, I got off of the computer and began to read about it. Therefore, a heads up now, this talk will be full of quotes and experiences as I found a lot of amazing thoughts on this one word: Charity. In Mosiah 7:47 it says charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him. If it is the Pure Love of Christ, then we too must have Pure Hearts filled with love as we must all strive to be like Christ. Love is selflessness repaid with selflessness, to all of our brothers, without any fear for There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. John 4:18. Love one another. Now Charity isn’t exactly donating your money, or doing your home teaching assignments. Charity can be as subtle as saying Hi to someone who seems to be having an off day. It can be as big as helping someone clean up the front yard. but Charity as the Pure Love of Christ, is to find ways to help. Behold I do not give lectures or a little charity, When I give I give myself. Therefore it is safe to say that more than an act, charity is an attitude, a state of heart and mind that accompanies one's works and is given unconditionally. This may have been what Jesus was trying to teach Peter in John 21:15-17 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. As a mindset Charity becomes Love, and a person full of love finds something a lot deeper than a simple Thank you. The moment you decide to secure the happiness of others you have secured your own. Whether it be through a good feeling or a total stranger giving service to you, or maybe the person you helped feeling the same love you gave them and desires to return it to you as well as others. You will find Happiness through this eternal emotion. Although there are others that do not do likewise, although there are some that look down on selflessness, although you might be going through afflictions do as Dieter F. Uchtdorf hopes we would do. To welcome and love all of God’s children, including those who might dress, look, speak, or just do things differently. It is not good to make others feel as though they are deficient. Let us lift those around us. Let us extend a welcoming hand. Let us bestow upon our brothers and sisters in the Church a special measure of humanity, compassion, and charity so that they feel, at long last, they have finally found home. There is beauty all around, When there’s love at home. Now there are times when we are going through afflictions and we think we are unable to give charity and service. Often the phrases “I’m too busy”“I have no time”“I don’t have the money”“How could I possibly help”“other people will do it”are said in our minds, this is a quick way to lose the Charitable emotion. Going through tough times is the best time to give charity, it’s a moment to get in tune with the spirit. Enos once had a wrestle before God to receive a remission of his sins. In the end he not only found forgiveness but did the charitable act to continue to pray after a whole day of prayer into the night to ask for the salvation of his brothers the Nephites, and after having received a promise for them he continued to pray for his brothers the Lamanites, who were also his enemies. He gave his time and his voice to help those that loved and hated him and through his faith, it was granted. I would now like you to picture yourself as a plant, any kind will do. Perhaps a fine old oak tree, a beautiful rose, a blade of grass, or a sunflower. The Pure love of Christ is the sun, we must receive it to feed ourselves. This is his charity to us, and it comes in the form of Leaders, scriptures, the spirit, blessings and prayer. Although we sit in the sun all our days and simply study our scriptures this is not enough. No matter which plant you are after only receiving the sun you will begin to dry without water. So the Lord will allow clouds of affliction to pass from time to time, the sun is still there, it will never abandon us. Yet from these clouds comes rain, trials and tribulations meant to remind us that even though we can’t see him he is there, they strengthen us. When the floods of water begin to overwhelm us, allow others to give us Charity by drinking from the same water we can no longer take. Give Charity to others and drink from their bitter cup, as Christ did for all of us. Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven. Doctrine and Covenants 121:45. Drinking from another person’s water to aid them feeds you, strengthens you, blesses you. So fill your bowels with Charity, and fill your mind with confidence that you can help, that you can help, the you love others and most importantly yourself. James E. Faust said “The commandment given by the Savior was to love others and yourself. Am I secure enough in my love of myself to laugh at myself, to admit mistakes, to graciously accept a compliment? Am I secure in my love of others to smile and say hello to a perfect stranger?”Even the strongest Oak cannot survive on its own, it relies on the biosphere around it, you and your Charity. What a difference one can make. The tossing of a single stone —just one—into the sea of life forms endless ripples on the surface. Ripples reaching far and wide which manifest the power of one. Charity is something that can help you achieve all your goals and dreams, I can say that from experience. The small amounts of Service I’ve given has found me friends that help me in so many ways, they have supported me in my decisions. Helped me achieve all that i’ve wanted to do, and for these acts of Charity from you i’d like to say thank you. My friends, and my family. I know that I’ve helped many of you as well, and I am sad to leave, yet I am honored to be called to serve for the lord and bring his Pure Love to the people of El Salvador. To all those thinking about going on a mission, I exhort you to go, attempt to find a way of life that will help you achieve one of the greatest acts of Charity you can give directly to the Lord and to the souls of all those that need guidance. To all those that have gone or cannot go due to circumstance, give your time and reverence and go to the temple to do works for those deceased. To those unable to go to the temple still, sustain your leaders as you have promised you would. Help the elderly, help the youth, help the missionaries who have no means to go. Help each other for Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 I know these things to be true. So true that I have reached the decision to go on a mission, not just for myself, but for others. I have learned of Charity through examples, through the martydom of Joseph Smith, the blood and sacrifice of our Saviour Jesus Christ. From adam who fell that man may be that we might have joy. the efforts given by the leaders of the church, the First Presidency and the apostles. From our Stake President who cares about all the members. From each of you who have helped me to leave and to preach. I leave because these are the best two years for my life. I have felt the spirit nourish my testimony I bear today, the same that has allowed me to understand why I must go, Because this church is true, it centers around our redeemer, the only begotten of the father who gave his life willingly for all of us to return to our creator. He who loves us as his children. I know Joseph Smith translated the golden plates to bring forth a great work. The holy ghost has shown this to me as well as more marvelous things and more to come. All of this for his work and his glory, to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. Now i must do my part, For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul. DYC 4.4 He has blessed me with legs to walk, so I will travel to those who need me, he has given me health so i will give my energy to do his work. he has given me an active mind and spirit, so i will learn his word. He has given me a voice so I will speak his word and preach it. I hope that all of you will take care of one another, that you will do your parts as well and be charitable.Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not. Dr. Seuss. I leave you with my love, and with my knowledge, that this church is true. That Jesus is the Christ, that the Book of Mormon is the truest of books on the face of this earth, that our Heavenly Father loves us, that The spirit will guide those that will listen. I say these words in the holy name of the redeemer, Jesus Christ. Amen.