My Talk

I spoke in church today on families. And now I'm putting my talk on here. Sorry you didn't get the real thing in person, but this is good too!

Good morning brothers and sisters…So Brother Paul asked me to call him Tuesday night. Not knowing what I was getting myself into, I called him and well, here I am today. He also asked me to introduce myself. Now you’ve probably seen me around on your floors since I’m an RA, but for those of you who don’t know me, here goes: My name is Alyssa Simon, I was born in Walnut Creek, California and am very proud of those roots. However, I grew up in Bountiful, Utah for the majority of my life. I’m the oldest daughter of Ross and Teresa, I have an older brother Andrew, two younger brothers Austin and Avery, and two younger sisters Ainsley and Aimee, and yes, we all start with the letter A. I am currently a junior and studying human nutrition. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being an RA this year and meeting those of you that I have. Just a quick random fact about me, I’m awful at speaking in front of people, especially in church. The last talk I gave was a couple years ago and I didn’t even write it. Writing a talk is a lot like writing a paper for school and I’m just not good at it. So bear with me please.

Last week in Sunday School, Whitney talked about relationships with our Savior. And she was saying how He can be so funny. And I’m pretty positive that it’s true now. Why do I think that? Well, I’ve been having some issues with my family lately, and what do I get to speak on? That’s right, the family. It’s okay though, because I probably needed this and the Lord is great like that. He knows what we need and when we need it. Anyways, the purpose of my talk…

So the first thing that came to my mind when I thought about speaking in church is what do I know about the family? Well, I know that families are ordained of God and are fundamental for our return to our Heavenly Father. I also know that families can be together forever, just like the song in primary taught me. The lyrics of that song go like this: I have a family here on earth, they are so good to me, I want to share my life with them through all eternity, Families can be together forever, through Heavenly father’s plan, I always want to be with my own family And the lord has shown me how I can, the Lord, has shown me how I can.

Most all of us know that though. I was wondering, what new idea I could bring to the table. And I really couldn't think of anything. So I went online and was researching talks on the family. I read through a few and I picked out a couple quotes from them that I liked. The first one is about family relationships and is taken from Elder Robert D. Hales’ talk. He said:

"The family relationships we have here on this earth are important, but they are much more important for their effect on our families for generations in mortality and throughout all eternity...While our individual salvation is based on our individual obedience, it is equally important that we understand that we are each an important and integral part of a family and the highest blessings can be received only within an eternal family. When families are functioning as designed by God, the relationships found therein are the most valued of mortality. The plan of the Father is that family love and companionship will continue into the eternities. Being one in a family carries a great responsibility of caring, loving, lifting, and strengthening each member of the family so that all can righteously endure to the end in mortality and dwell together throughout eternity. It is not enough just to save ourselves. It is equally important that parents, brothers, and sisters are saved in our families. If we return home alone to our Heavenly Father, we will be asked, “Where is the rest of the family?” This is why we teach that families are forever. The eternal nature of an individual becomes the eternal nature of the family."

The relationships that we have with our families are so important. My family hasn't always been the closest, but we have little bonds. All growing up I was never close with my older brother. We went to the same high school but never talked to each other. He left on his mission my junior year of high school and I remember him telling each of my other siblings something like “good luck with lacrosse,” or something like that. When he hugged me goodbye it was just that, a hug. While he was still in the MTC I received a letter from him. It said, “I see other missionaries with sisters your age and how close they are and I wish that we had had that. I hope it’s not too late. I want you to know that I love you and you can tell me anything.” He went on and told me some things about his girlfriend and how he loved her; things that we never talked about ever before. From then on we emailed every week and his homecoming was amazing. We don’t get to talk as much anymore since we’re both busy with school and work, but I know he’s there for me and that’s something that I’m grateful for.

Another quote is from Elder L. Tom Perry, "President Brigham Young explained that our families are not yet ours. The Lord has committed them to us to see how we will treat them. Only if we are faithful will they be given to us forever. What we do on earth determines whether or not we will be worthy to become heavenly parents."

I’ve never thought of my family as not yet mine. I’ve always just figured that they have to love me no matter what so if we fight then it’s fine. But then I read that and I was like “hmmm, interesting.” So just keep that in mind, only if we are faithful will they be given to us forever.

President Henry B. Eyring said, “A key for us is in the proclamation: “Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Having family scripture study, morning and evening prayer, Family Home Evenings, attending church meetings, doing temple work, family history, or simply spending time together are ways that families can be founded on the Lord. D&C 88:119-126 says what I want to say in a much better way than I could ever put it. Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God; That your incomings may be in the name of the Lord; that your outgoings may be in the name of the Lord; that all your salutations may be in the name of the Lord, with uplifted hands unto the Most High. Therefore, cease from all your light speeches, from all laughter, from all your lustful desires, from all your pride and light-mindedness, and from all your wicked doings. Appoint among yourselves a teacher, and let not all be spokesmen at once; but let one speak at a time and let all listen unto his sayings, that when all have spoken that all may be edified of all, and that every man may have an equal privilege. See that ye love one another; cease to be covetous; learn to impart one to another as the gospel requires. Cease to be idle; cease to be unclean; cease to find fault one with another; cease to sleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated. And above all things, clothe yourselves with the bond of charity, as with a mantle, which is the bond of perfectness and peace. Pray always, that ye may not faint, until I come. Behold, and lo, I will come quickly, and receive you unto myself. Amen.

Now as college students we aren’t exactly surrounded by our immediate family. We have ways to talk to them and have weekends that we can visit, but for the most part, we are on our own. Thank goodness that we are not only blessed with a biological family here on earth, but that we are also blessed with a ward family and friends as family.

I hope that each and every one of you has come to find out what an amazing bishopric we have. I’m grateful for them and for each of you. Whether you have simply smiled at me or said hi or something like that, I’m so thankful. Those little acts of kindness make all the difference. Our ward is the family we turn to when we don’t have anywhere else to go. We’re spending our Sundays and Monday nights with them now. Often times, we might talk to them more than our parents or siblings.

My friends down here and up north are seriously an extended part of my body. They quite possibly know me better than my family. All of us are attending school and are anywhere from less than an hour to many hours away from loved ones. That can be hard when that’s all we’ve ever known most of our lives. That’s also why the people we choose to surround ourselves with are so important. We’re making our own decisions and living our lives, but the influence of friends is so immense. Lots of times you’re living with your best friends, so you’re spending 24/7 with them. They rub off on you just like you’re rubbing off on them. You can vent, cry, laugh, whatever you want with your friends. Friends are the family we choose for ourselves and I’m lucky to have the friends that I do because I know that mine have gotten me through a lot in the past couple years and who knows where I would be without them. I only hope that I am as good a friend to them as they have been to me.

Now, the second verse of Families can be together forever goes like this: While I am in my early years I’ll prepare most carefully so I can marry in God’s temple for eternity, Families can be together forever, through Heavenly Father’s plan, I always want to be with my own family and the lord has shown me how I can.

I can’t wait til I meet the love of my life and can start a family with him. I have so many good examples of families around me and I’m the sappy romantic who wants more than anything to be a mom. I’m incredibly grateful for the family I have; I have loving parents who only want the best for me and siblings who drive me crazy a lot of the time, but are all so funny in their own way. I’ve been so blessed to be raised in the church and I love my parents for it. This gospel is such an amazing thing. I know that it’s true and that Jesus Christ died for me. He wants us to return to Him one day and through the Atonement we can do that.....

So the ending I kinda just stopped writing so it sounds all funny.. But I bore my testimony and hopefully I didn't talk too fast..  But I'm glad I got the opportunity to talk in church, because  I really do love my family and all that they have done for me even though they drive me crazy a lot of the time.