A Master Teacher
In the 1st Ward today, an 11-year-old boy gave a talk that was one of he best sacrament meeting talks I have ever heard. He got up to speak and his head just barely cleared the podium. He is small and has a shock of dark hair topping a cute slightly freckled face. It will be several years yet before his voice deepens. He had his written talk, and he read most of it, but he was familiar enough with it that he looked up often and it seemed as if he was speaking from his heart.
He began with a quote from Nephi in 2 Nephi 25:29, where Nephi prophesies about the future and then tells us how to worship the Savior.
How? this boy asked us.
He went on to answer his own question. Nephi says "with all our might." The boy then asked how that is done.
He cited the story of the converts in the Congo who threw all of their idols into a massive waterfall where they were unrecoverable.
The boy said that when we worship the Savior with all our might, that means we give it our all.
Like the saints from the Congo, the boy's family decided to throw something into the waterfall (figuratively) that has been a hindrance to their worshipping properly. They threw their membership into the waterfall. HE said it has been difficult at times, (and more difficult for relatives who used their account) but it has been much better. (The congregation laughed at that.)
He closed with a brief testimony. Everyone in the congregation felt that we had heard a great sermon. There were professors and doctoral students attentively listening. I could have gone home at that point and been content.
But all of the other meetings were grand too.
We had four new members there, and four people who are looking into the church who attended with the young missionaries. I met them and spoke with them briefly. The ward members always wrap their arms around new people. It's a great place.
He began with a quote from Nephi in 2 Nephi 25:29, where Nephi prophesies about the future and then tells us how to worship the Savior.
How? this boy asked us.
He went on to answer his own question. Nephi says "with all our might." The boy then asked how that is done.
He cited the story of the converts in the Congo who threw all of their idols into a massive waterfall where they were unrecoverable.
The boy said that when we worship the Savior with all our might, that means we give it our all.
Like the saints from the Congo, the boy's family decided to throw something into the waterfall (figuratively) that has been a hindrance to their worshipping properly. They threw their membership into the waterfall. HE said it has been difficult at times, (and more difficult for relatives who used their account) but it has been much better. (The congregation laughed at that.)
He closed with a brief testimony. Everyone in the congregation felt that we had heard a great sermon. There were professors and doctoral students attentively listening. I could have gone home at that point and been content.
But all of the other meetings were grand too.
We had four new members there, and four people who are looking into the church who attended with the young missionaries. I met them and spoke with them briefly. The ward members always wrap their arms around new people. It's a great place.
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