Gordon’s Homecoming Talk
Addressed to the Mount Juliet Branch, October 31, 2004


What lack I yet…
One day, off the coasts of Judea Jesus taught His disciples. At one point a rich young ruler approached him, and asked him in sincerity, “What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” It is evident that this man knew the commandments, was ‘versed in the law’ and had been strictly obedient ‘from his youth up’.

Still there must have been a yearning— a desire to truly be a disciple of Christ. What was missing in his life? He was an honest and upright citizen, a ‘good person’. Christ’s rejoinder came out of pure love: “One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come take up the cross and follow me.”


As the wealthy young ruler sorrowfully retreated, Christ taught his disciples an important truth:
“Verily, I say unto you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of Heaven.” This young man had not consecrated his performance unto the Lord as Nephi taught us we must do. He had not given up everything. When I began my mission I was in some ways like this young man. I had been blessed greatly in my life with a strong testimony and a wonderful family. I was dutifully obedient. Yet when idealism confronted reality discipline did not produce sufficient faith to overcome. The daily difficulties of rejection and a meager harvest seemed to weigh me down with discouragement.


Though my testimony was strong, I felt that yearning to be a true disciple of Christ, and to develop that pure love of Christ, which seeketh not her own, and which never faileth, but rather endureth forever.

I remembered the words of Joseph Smith:
a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation; … it is through the medium of the sacrifice of all earthly things that men do actually know that they are doing the things that are well pleasing in the sight of God. When a man has offered in sacrifice all that he has for the truth’s sake, not even withholding his life, he does know, most assuredly, that God does and will accept his sacrifice and offering.” (Lectures on Faith [1985], 69).

What did I need to sacrifice though? All I have are white shirts and ties. What sacrifice lack I yet. Well during my mission I would learn of many ways that I could sacrifice my will. The sacrifices I had to make were not of material possessions as in this young man’s case. Rather,


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they were of a spiritual nature. Sacrifice is the antidote for selfishness. I wanted the satisfaction of teaching the gospel. I wanted the joy of seeing others join the church, and feeling successful in my labors. These seemed like worthy desires, yet in reality they were selfish motivators. I would learn that to be a true disciple of Christ I must dedicate my life to him. He that findeth his life shall lose it; he that loseth his life for Christ’s sake shall find it. And so I stopped trying to find my life and decided that I must lose it.

This meant giving up those selfish motivators and serving the Lord with all my heart, might, mind and strength because of my love for him. This meant true consecration. As my mission president often reminded us, The Harvest is the Lord’s. I later learned from the Lord’s words to an early latter day saint, that ‘when I fall I shall rise again, for my sacrifice shall be more sacred unto me than my increase. In other words what was important was how I served, not what I got out of my service.

Now that I knew what I had to do, how would I gain the strength to do it?

The answer to this
question would come through experience… Amidst the disappointment I faced after a few months of service, I wondered why I hadn’t felt the spirit confirm my testimony more often. One day, knocking on doors, a man spoke hard words, but he promised he would pray if we would pray and ask if Joseph Smith was truly a prophet. We accepted, yet I was hesitant to do this.

Why? I’ve already had that prayer answered, why should I ask again? Would the Lord be upset for asking about something I already know? Do I lack the faith that the Lord would answer me? The evil spirit teacheth a man not to pray, so I determined to ask in faith. I prayed with all my heart to have that witness again. As we taught one of our investigators, and I shared my testimony of Joseph Smith, I was overcome with peace. I could not hold back the tears. With gentle power the Holy Spirit bore witness of the words I spoke.

My prayer was answered.
From this experience I learned that if I pray in faith, with all energy of heart, the spirit will bare witness of the things I teach. Not only to those I teach but to me. Now how does this answer my question? Without the Lord’s help I was not strong enough to give up everything. But with the Lord nothing is impossible. As I prayed for strength and was blessed with endowments of the spirit, I gained the faith to sacrifice. Furthermore, anytime I felt my desire to serve lessen, I could pray for a re-confirmation of the divinity of this great work. Whenever I was weak, I could pray for that strength.


On another occasion, we taught a lady named Robin Kirby, who was friendly but let us know that she didnot want to join any church, and definitely would not be re-baptized. She was however willing to read the Book of Mormon. Before we returned to teach her again, my


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companion and I brain-stormed on all the scriptures and examples we could share that would help her realize why it was important to be re-baptized. Before we could begin she interrupted us: ‘Elders, before you begin, I just want to let you know that I have read the chapters in the Book of Mormon that you asked me to read, and I was wondering if it would be okay for me to be re-baptized. We told her it would be okay.


I learned a great lesson that day. No wisdom of mine could convert a person. The Book of Mormon converts people to the gospel of Jesus Christ. I knew this before but I hadnot experienced it firsthand. It testifies of Christ; Nephi explained that if you believe in Christ then you will believe in the Book of Mormon, because it testifies of Him. The spirit bears witness of its words. I had not shown enough gratitude for our scriptures. When I learned to express my sincere love the Book of Mormon and for our modern prophets, my desire to spread the gospel grew.


One of my favorite scriptures and one we used every day was Moroni’s promise at the end of the Book. We often overlook the first part of that promise… remember how merciful the Lord has been unto you. Often the penalty for the sin of ingratitude is not finding answers to prayer. When I felt and expressed gratitude for the blessings in my life, especially the blessings of the gospel of Christ, my desire and aptitude for sacrifice increased.


Some of the best experiences on my mission came after I had fasted. I learned much about the power of fasting. Many fast Sundays, I would fast that the spirit would testify boldly through my companion and I as we taught out dinner appointment that evening and helped them share the gospel. Each time I did, wonderful results were seen. The last family we fasted for now has a soon to be son-in-law taking the discussions.


Another family we worked with was the Morgans. Chad had met his wife, Sara at an LDS baptism for a mutual friend, shortly after returning from his mission. She had been raised ‘strong Methodist’. They had been married 11 years, and had two children. He had been active all those years. Now she had been coming to church for a year, yet was reluctant to hear the discussions. Finally she accepted. She mentioned that ‘it was probably true, but she wanted to be totally sure’. So after teaching her 5 of the 6 discussions and sharing the law of the fast, we asked her to fast to know if she should be baptized. We fasted with her. Before we began the sixth discussion she let us know that she had decided to be baptized. Fasting teaches us how to sacrifice. What blessings have filled my life from obedience to such simple commandments! Sara explained that the fasting was important to her decision, but that the 11 years of seeing the examples faithful members of the church had softened her heart. Though she was not a member,
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she was assigned a visiting-teacher, and later acted as a companion to visit-teach others. She did not want to upset her family, but in the end, her family saw how happy she had become and was very supportive of her decision. What power we can have when we let our light shine. Because of the nature of missionary work, local members must carry the long term missionary goals. Yet I learned that I could encourage members as they saw our unrelenting dedication to serve. My desire to set an example led me to be more committed. Conversely, nothing motivated me to serve with greater zeal than to see other members of the church make such great sacrifices. For instance, when I saw our ward mission leader working 80-100 hrs a week, as a first year resident at the LA county hospital, and still show up for exchange after a 30 hr shift, and bring his family to church on Sunday after getting home at 8 am, I wondered if I had been focused enough that week. Had I truly sacrificed everything? Be motivated by other stalwarts ward members! There were many more lessons I would learn on my mission and attributes I would develop which would lead me to true discipleship.


For instance I have learned to be malleable. How can we learn when we are stubborn? Before we can learn from the Lord through personal revelation, we must be obedient to that revelation that comes to us through priesthood leaders. Obedience isn’t just doing what our leaders ask, but includes having full faith, that they have been called of God and entrusted with the authority to lead you on the path to eternal life. As I have practiced true obedience, my ability to serve and consecrate myself to the Lord has been magnified. As I have developed complete submissiveness, I have learned to accept life’s challenges with faith and a positive attitude. Such faith is prerequisite for consecration.


True companionship is more than being within sight and sound. As I practiced true companionship, I felt a strong desire to help my companions achieve their full potential. I would never want to hold back on what I gave the Lord because that would be hurting my companion’s progression as much as my own. Pride is truly Satan’s ultimate weapon. We may, for instance, have skills which we mistakenly come to think we somehow own. God has given us our lives, our agency, our talents, and our opportunities; He has given us our possessions; He has given us our appointed mortal spans complete with the needed breaths. What have we to boast in? Only in our God, for in His strength we can do all things (Alma 26:12). With this perspective of gratitude, we may more whole-heartedly give the Lord the only thing that is ours to give— our will.


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The Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance. If we are to become like him, we must equally abhor the very appearance of evil. On my mission I have been dynamically determined to undermine Satan’s diabolical devices. First we tolerate sin. Then we accept it. Soon we will embrace it. When the Lord sees our active effort to eradicate such evils from the world around us, he will strengthen us.


The word sacrifice means to make holy. Only when we dedicate something to the Lord does it become Holy. And so it is with our lives. We become holy, without spot as we dedicate our lives to the Lord. Moroni pleads, Come unto Christ and be perfected in Him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness…love God with all your might, mind, and strength… and then by the Grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, ye become holy, without spot. Many ignore consecration because it seems too daunting. Elder Maxwell taught that spiritual submissiveness is not accomplished in an instant, but by the incremental improvements and by the successive use of stepping-stones. Stepping-stones are meant to be taken one at a time. Granted, the stepping-stones take us into new territory which we may be very reluctant to explore. Hence, the successful users of the stepping-stones are powerful motivators for the rest of us. Many stepping-stones remain unused because, like the rich, righteous young man, we are not yet willing to confront what we yet lack (see Mark 10:21). A residue of selfishness is thereby exposed.


Eventually our wills can be “swallowed up in the will of the Father” as we are “willing to submit. In pursuing consecration, we tremble inwardly at what may be required. Yet the Lord has said consolingly, “My grace is sufficient for you” (D&C 17:8). Do we really believe Him? He has also promised to make weak things strong (see Ether 12:27). Are we really willing to submit to that process? Yet if we desire fullness, we cannot hold back part. Those who are fully faithful will receive “all that [He] hath” (D&C 84:38).


Let us not shrink before the bitter cup. Ask yourselves, what lack I yet. What have I not given the Lord. What is holding me back? I know that each of us can find ways to improve- to consecrate our lives more fully.


I know that Christ leads this church, and that our apostles and prophets do receive revelation from him. The Book of Mormon is the word of God, Joseph Smith was a true prophet, and Christ’s church has been restored. May we do all in our power to build His kingdom on the earth. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.