Sacrament meeting given by Karol Stokes on August 13, 2023

 WHOLEHEARTED - by Michelle D. Craig

Given in the Lamont Ward Sacrament Meeting 

I was thrilled when Brother Payne told us the subject because I feel like it is something that can grasp onto and understand.

Wouldn’t we all love to have these qualities?

Inner strength

Grit

Perseverance

Conviction

Diligence

Real intent

Sincerity - Austin came up with this one at a family discussion 

Determination

Devotion

Loyalty

Discipline

Deliberateness

Steadfast and immovable --

Solid, firmly fixed, resolute,

INCAPABLE OF BEING DIVERTED FROM A PRIMARY PURPOSE OR MISSION

OUR HEARTFELT ALL  ( President Uchtdorf )

I was born of goodly parents, and I suppose it was there, more than anywhere that I learned the concept of wholeheartedness.

Try does everything

Don’t be a one-at-a-timer

There is no traffic jam on the second mile….

Wherever you go, go with all your heart…..

First example Scott with his piano - he taught himself, so amazing....

Me – my heart was not in it…..

Also his career – gave it is all and rose to the TOP  (Director of the Idaho Transportation Department)    Scott is so diligent that he doesn't even have any cavities in his teeth!

Favorite stories of wholeheartedness told by a mission president who happened to notice the shoes of one of the missionaries that had completed his mission and was headed home.    They were completely worn through and had been patched on the bottom with cardboard.  

The missionary saw no value in them and was going to throw them away.  The president asked “Elder, will you give me your shoes?”  He agreed that I could have the sholes that had been worn through in the sacred labor of saving souls.  He asked me what I was going to do with them.    I replied.   I’m going to keep them, and in twenty years or so, if I am still around, I am going to present them to your son or daughter, and say to him or her “Walk in the ways of your noble father.      When my daughter came back from Guatemala, her shoes were in the same shape……I still have them as a sweet reminder of her wholehearted service….  She has always been a remarkable example to me. 

 

WHEN BYU FOOTBALL STAR SEAN COVEY WAS REPLACED AS STARTER AT THE BEGINNING OF HIS SENIOR YEAR, THE COACH LAVELLE EDWARDS SAID HE WOULD NEVER FORGET HIS RESPONSE.  “ I DON’T THINK ITS FAIR, COVEY SAID  - BUT I WILL BE AT EVERY PRACTICE.  I WILL BE AT EVERY MEETING AND I WILL PREPARE MYSELF EVERY WEEK AS IF I AM GOING TO START.  IF YOU EVER NEED ME, I WILL BE READY.” 

Where there is discipline, Christ has a true disciple. 

Trials do not mean that the plan is failing; they are part of the plan meant to help us seek God.

 

Within a month after my father passed away, our son who was 24 years old died. Our hearts were truly broken,  I prayerfully sought the promised blessings of turning to the only one who could understand.  I begged in behalf of myself, by husband, and our children for courage and strength.   I was eventually able to place every fear, doubt and question that I had concerning this tragic event and place it at the Saviors feet.   The glorious blessings of peace, comfort and the ability to go forward in faith have been made manifest in my life.   It is through this experience and other similar triumphs, that I can testify that our Savior lives, and that he will heal us.

 President Dallin Oaks said” sometimes we are “healed” by being given strength or understanding or patience to bear the burdens placed upon us.    

Two years ago, our daughter died suddenly at the age of 30.    Once again, we were devastated, and once again, we turned to the Savior, and once again, we were able feel that familiar peace and comfort that only heaven can provide.

 The assurance that God is there, and that he loves me has been my anchor through these trials.   Partaking of his divine love has allowed me to find peace and to be consoled.    How to I know that God loves me?   I know because he sent to our home, family, friends and neighbors who wholeheartedly sustained us through of the most difficult things we have ever faced.   Meals and food were provided for weeks.   Funeral arrangements went smoothly, and a loving Bishop provided blessings and counsel to us.    Flowers, calls, cards and encouraging words poured into our home –   It was as if we were literally lifted out of our sorrowful realm and into a place where we could be surrounded by God’s love, and feel it completely.

Jeffrey R. Holland put it this way: “Heaven never seems closer than when we see the love of God manifested in the kindness and devotion of people so good, and so pure that angelic is the only word that comes to mind. ‘You are those angels.  Thank you for your love and for doing what God would have you do.  

Elder Uchtdorf’s promise to us is this:   Open your hearts to our Savior and Redeemer, no matter your circumstances, trials, sufferings, or mistakes; you can know that He lives, that He loves you, and that because of Him, you will never be alone.

Come unto your Savior. Come completely and wholeheartedly. Take up your cross, however heavy it may be, and follow Him.”⁴ Elder Holland said it this way

 This principle is echoed in the plea of the Book of Mormon prophet Amaleki: “Come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him.”²

“Come unto me, all that labour and are  heavy laden, and I will give ye  rest”   to Peter and Andrew he said Come, and I will make you …fishers of men.”   “Come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I shall heal them……

 Why is the Lord so insistent about this invitation? 

Because he knows that if we come to him in pain, we will leave in joy.   If we come in confusion, we will leave in clarity,  and if we come in darkness, we will leave in light.

           It may not be on the mountain height

Or over the stormy sea,

It may not be at the battle’s front

My Lord will have need of me.

But if, by a still, small voice he calls

To paths that I do not know,

I’ll answer, dear Lord, with my hand in thine:

I’ll go where you want me to go.

 

. Perhaps today there are loving words

Which Jesus would have me speak;

There may be now in the paths of sin

Some wand’rer whom I should seek.

O Savior, if thou wilt be my guide,

Tho dark and rugged the way,

My voice shall echo the message sweet:

I’ll say what you want me to say.

 

       . There’s surely somewhere a lowly place

In earth’s harvest fields so wide

Where I may labor through life’s short day

For Jesus, the Crucified.

So trusting my all to thy tender care,

And knowing thou lovest me,

I’ll do thy will with a heart sincere:

I’ll be what you want me to be.

 

I’ll go where you want me to go, dear Lord,

Over mountain or plain or sea;

I’ll say what you want me to say, dear Lord;

I’ll be what you want me to be.

 

How might your efforts in your family, at school, at work, and in the Church be different if you always sought with all your heart to please God and do His will  motivated by your love for Him?

 

It is my testimony that Great purpose comes into your life when you make it your quest to follow the will of the Lord and to do so wholeheartedly.  I know that our best efforts are purifying our hearts and preparing us for a glorious future.