Blessings...

I know its been a while since I have posted and I will try to be better.... Well this last Sunday I gave a talk, the subject.... The Blessings we get while following Jesus Christ. What a blessing this was to me! Even though I was so nervous standing in front of everyone(only to find out that it was 162 people) I felt the spirit so much while I was preparing, pondering and while giving my talk.So I thought I would share it with you. May it touch you as it has touched me. 

  

Sunday Talk      -04/22/2012

Good afternoon Brothers and sisters. For those that don’t know me, my name is Jennifer Hoyt. Just a little about myself, I am the middle of 5 kids and live with my2 older sisters and my nephew.

Well today Brother Gates asked me to talk about the Blessing we get from following Jesus Christ.
Some thoughts that come to mind are: Peace, Love, Forgiveness, Strength, Faith, Temples, Living Prophets, the Priesthood and Knowledge of his true Church. With following Christ in these latter days we can draw from these blessing to help us remember what this life is about. We have all been told since we were young that this life is a test and we all want to pass with flying colors. Well Christ is not only the teacher but the answer too!

As I was preparing my talk and trying to think of blessings we receive when we follow Christ, it hit me at the later that Living Prophets are a huge blessing from our Father above. With living Prophets we are able to hear the words of our Lord and receive guidance. How amazing that we are able to access so much via the internet or our mobile phones when we need that extra pick me up or just another way to feel our Saviors love. I would like to share a quote I found by Thomas S Monson in October 2011 General Conference  stated “My beloved brother and sisters, communication with our Father in Heaven-including our prayers to Him and His inspiration to us- is necessary in order for us to weather the storms and trials of life. The Lord invites us, “Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me.” As we do so, we will feel His Spirit in our lives, providing us the desire and courage to stand strong and firm in righteousness- to “stand… in holy places, and be not moved.” Close quote.

That brother and sisters is outstanding! To be given the guidance to go to our Father in Heaven and he will answer us! That he will give us strength. I know this to be true. It’s just like the song “Did you think to Pray” states.

Ere you left your room this morning, did you think to Pray? In the name of Christ our Savoir, Did you sue for loving favor as a shield today? When your heart was filled with anger, did you think to pray? Did you plead for grace my brother, that you might forgive another who had crossed your way? When sore trials came upon you, did you think to pray? When your soul was full of sorrow, balm of Gilead did you borrow at the gates of day? Oh how praying rests the weary! Prayer will change the night to day. So when life gets dark and dreary, don’t forget to pray!

What a better way to come closer to our Father in Heaven than the personal prayer we offer. I know that I have felt his guidance and spirit when I get down on my knees to pray many times in my life. He is our Father and loves us dearly, he wants us to return to him and gives us living Prophets to help us on our journey in this mortal life.

He has given us a way to return to him. The Temples that we are able to go to feel his love and do his work is amazing. I know that by just looking at the Temples I can feel my Saviors loves towards me. What a blessing to able to come closer to our Heavenly Father by going to his house. One of my favorite Temples is the Bountiful Temple. I remember when I was young and went through the open house and marveling at the beauty all around it. The mountains looked like a perfect back drop to the Temple. I know that as I work to do the Lords work that I will be able to come closer to him.
In the 2010 Liahona President Thomas S Monson stated: “In the temples, the precious plan of God is taught. It is the temple that eternal covenants are made. The temple lifts us, exalts us, stands as a beacon for all to see, and points us towards celestial glory. It is the house of God. All that occurs within the walls  of the temple is uplifting and ennobling.” Close quote. In the same talk he paraphrase a pome:

How far is heaven?
It’s not very far.
In temples of God,
It’s right where we are.
Close quote. The Temples are a very special blessing. A blessing that stands as a witness to our Heavenly Father, the plan of Salivation, and the promises we make daily to do his work and to love one another.

One of my favorite blessings we receive by following Christ is the Priesthood. I have so much respect for the brethren that are worthy to hold such an amazing gift. As I far back as I can remember sitting under my daddy’s hands as he gave me a fathers blessing at the start of every school year to when I was feeling ill or just because I needed one for that extra strength. As I was preparing for this talk I searched Priesthood on the church’s website and found this quote that I would like to share with you. President Wilford Woodruff stated “The Holy Priesthood is the channel through which God communicates and deals with man upon the earth; and the heavely messengers that have visited the earth to communicate with man are men who held and honored the priesthood while in the flesh; and everything that God has caused to be done for the salvation of man, from the coming of man upon the earth to the redemption of the world, has been and will be by virtue of the everlasting priesthood.” Close quote.  I know that the power of the Priesthood has been used many times in my family and I have no doubt at times even saved lives.
       One instance I would like to share with you. It involved my youngest brother Bandon being 10 at the time. The Hoyt family had gotten together for a family reunion in Beaver UT. While down there Brandon along with some cousins went out four wheeling. The road being narrow, Brandon moved to the side to let a car pass by. While moving over to the side, the four- wheeler went off the road and he fell with it going down a 35ft steep cliff. Separating from the four-wheeler he was able to grab a on with his broken arm to a branch on a bush right before a 9ft drop. My uncle was able to give Brandon a priesthood Blessing.  A blessing that would go with him all the way to the emergency room and touch those that worked on him. The outcome, 2 cast’s, both on his left side, a scratched up face and bruising. But had it not been for the blessing I fear it could have been much worse.  I have no doubt that the power of the Priesthood protected my brother from further harm and helped so much more in his recovery process. Once again what an amazing blessing that our Father allows us to have while here in this mortal state.

Another Great Blessing in following Christ is the Atonement. Christ’s sacrifice allows us to become whole and have the greatest blessing, in being with our Heavenly Father for Eternity! In the book Believing Christ Stephen Robinson wrote

 “Each of us operates at a different level of performance within the covenant boundaries. The percentages vary both from person to person and, even for the same person, over a period of time. In my case, my efforts might take me 20% of the way to perfection. The Savior covers the other 80%. In your case, your efforts might take you 50%, or 2% of the way. The Savior still covers the difference. But in every case the sum of the joint effort is the same- anyone’s best effort, however great or small, plus the atonement of Christ will equal 100% of what is needed to enter Gods kingdom.” Close quote.

With living in today’s world having so much pain and suffering, it is a great blessing to be able to have peace knowing the plan of Salvation. We are able to lean on our Savior and able to come closer to our Heavenly Father. We need to have Faith and trust in our lord.
As Brad Wilcox wrote in the Continuous Atonement “Christ’s requirements are not so that we can make the best of the Atonement, but so that- on His generous terms- The atonement can make the best of us.” Close quote.

One example that comes to mind after that quote is Alma the Younger. We all know how he was wicked and sought to destroy the church of God. Through the Faith and prayers of God’s people they asked that Alma would come to know him. In Mosiah 27: we read the account of what happens to Alma. In verse 24 it reads: “For, said he, I have repented of my sins, and have been redeemed of the Lord; behold I am born of the Spirit.” Alma went from being a tormenter to one of Gods advocates.
What an amazing Blessing that is to have, to know that you have been forgiven our all your sins. That us brother and sisters have been given that very gift every week as we partake in the Sacrament, to have been redeemed of our sins. To have the peace knowing that we are forgiven! 

Brad Wilcox states “Christ doesn’t just make up the difference, He makes all the different."

When I read this statement I was taken back. It is put into simple words but has an effect that you cannot deny. Christ does make all the difference. Without him we would be in a completely different scenario. Christ was our voice for free agency back in Heaven when Satan wanted to have all the Glory for himself. He is not just our Savior but our big brother, our Friend and supporter. He has always had our best interest at heart and always will. The love that he has for us is something that you cannot measure. The Atonement, what does that mean to you? Growing up I have always thought that in the garden of gethsemane Christ took all the sins of the world all at once. But in the last couple of years I have heard something that has stuck with me and made the atonement so much more to me personally. It was pointed out… At one moment. That while Christ was in the garden of gethsemane I picture it somewhat like a line. And my turn came and Christ knowing me so well said “Jennifer these are you sins, I will bear them for you and take them upon me so that you won’t suffer” and so he did. He took my sins and everyone’s one by one. Individually.  So that we may be able to repent and be so ever faithful. 

In the book Believing Christ is states “Thus when we are tempted to think that our sins have put us beyond the understanding or reach of God, we are simply mistaken, and we grossly underestimate the scope of the Atonement. However low we may fall, our Redeemer has already been there, and he went there for the sole purpose of finding and bringing us lost sheep back. I have occasionally heard people say things like, “How can I come back to Church, or pray, or approach God after what I’ve done. I’ve sunk too low; I’ve put myself beyond his reach. I’m too vile to save.” To this the Savior responds essentially, “I know where you are; I’ve been where you are- and worse than that. I know what you’re feeling, for I have felt it. I remember my own pain when I went through it, and my heart aches for you. But I want you back. I’ll even carry you back, if you’ll let me.” No matter how lost we get, Jesus Christ, the way back, the door home, is always at our elbow.” Close quote. 

That brother and sisters is the biggest Blessing of all, knowing our Savior died for us and loves us that much that he will carry us if we just let him.

 I want to bear you my Testimony that I know this Church is True! That our Father in Heaven loves us. I know that Thomas S. Monson is the living Prophet. That Joseph Smith saw God and the Son.  That the Book of Mormon is true. The Power of prayer is amazing and will work if we just go to our Father in Heaven. I know my Savoir lives. I love my family with all my heart. I am so grateful that my Father in Heaven gave me my sisters. I am grateful for the knowledge of the plan of Salvation and for the amazing blessings of the Priesthood.  And I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.