Sacrament Meeting Talk

Hey everyone, my email got deleted just as I was about to add pictures and I don't have time to rewrite it so here's a talk I wrote for Sacrament as compensation. Sorry!

Good morning Brothers and Sisters et Bonjour á mes fréres et sœurs qui parlent français. My name is Elder Murdoch and I serve the French speaking people of the Stake. I love being a French Elder, but the downside is I don't get to work with the English majority as much as I'd like to. I'll take this as my chance to prove that I do, in fact, speak English 

I was asked to speak on a scripture that I've been studying lately, "easy-peasy" I said "I read so many scriptures I've basically got every verse of the standard works to choose from." But after reviewing my recent studies I realized that  pretty much nothing I've read recently stood out as something I could give a 5 minute talk on. I realize that I could easily just  make something up and find a scripture easy to speak about but I just couldn't bring myself to do that. I was actually asked to do this yesterday so I spent the entire day writing several partially complete talks but nothing felt right. It wasn't until last night that it came to me exactly what I should speak about today. There are actually 2 scriptures that I would like to share  

The first being 1 Corinthians 13:2 

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 

Here Paul tells us that despite everything else if he doesn't have charity he's worthless. 

The prophet Mormon also speaks on charity a bit blunter in Moroni 7:46

46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail

Here we have two great men of God speaking on charity both telling us we are nothing without it and strongly urging us to develop it so I think I'm right in saying it's a good attribute to develop. 

So how do we develop charity? Obviously we need to be kind and loving and all that wholesome stuff with one another but how are some ways we do that?

I'm going to pick on my companion Elder Shiday, for just  moment. Elder Shiday is an excellent example of charity anyone that has gotten to know him can testify of that. Whenever we go out knocking doors there are bound to be a few people that slam the door in our face or mock us or what have you. He always says the same thing to me after each and every one of those encounters 

"He's a cool guy, I like him." 

I think we all need an attitude like that. 

The greatest of all the examples of charity however is obviously the Savior. 

The Atonement was the greatest act of love that has or will ever take place. Jesus Christ went through so much pain it caused him, the very Son of God, to tremble in agony. 

Directly following this event The Savior is betrayed by a man who was once one of his closest friends and put under arrest to be crucified by the very men he had just suffered for. Peter, in an act of bravado cuts off the ear of one of the servants putting Christ under arrest. 

Now, if we were in the Saviors shoes what would we do? After feeling the most pain anyone could ever feel would we really care about something as insignificant as an ear? I certainly wouldnt.

But our Master, ever an example, in Luke 22:51 heals the very man who is taking him captive which will lead to moments of being spat upon, slapped, whipped, and being judged by the puppet rulers of an idolatrous nation all leading up to being killed in one of the most brutal ways known to man. And he didn't complain once, all because he loved him and he loves us.   

How many of us, in moments of frustration figuratively cut off the ear of one of our brethren? Perhaps you ruthlessly yelled at your child or your parents? Perhaps you said something behind the back of that new guy in accounting who doesnt seem to like you too much. Whatever the case may be I invite all of us including my self to repent, to make amends, to follow the example of Jesus Christ and show your love toward all man-kind regardless of how they treat you. 

I testify in doing so you will find greater happiness and joy in all aspects of your life and you will come to know our Savior Jesus Christ in a way you wouldn't think possible. 

And I say these things in his name, Jesus Christ.  Amen.