Today, I stand before you not merely as a voice behind a pulpit, but as what each of us truly is — a child of God, a witness of His divine gift of agency, and a keeper of His light in a world that desperately needs it.
We are here because we made a choice long before this life. We chose to follow God the Eternal Father. We accepted His Son, Jesus Christ, as our Redeemer. We trusted in the Holy Ghost to guide us.
We believed then, and we believe now.
But belief is not enough — choice must be met with action.
The Book of Mormon teaches this:
“Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh… and they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men.”
(2 Nephi 2:27)
Agency is sacred. It is not a license to sit and watch the world drift into darkness — it is a commission to act, to stand, to lift, and to love.
I have watched many people simply watch — watch harm unfold, watch cruelty happen, watch need go unmet.
But that is not what Christ does.
Christ does not watch — He acts.
When He saw the sick, He healed.
When He saw the hungry, He fed.
When He saw sin and sorrow, He forgave and lifted.
He never turned away.
He never stood still.
And if we are His disciples, neither can we.
We must be good neighbors. We must be good friends.
We must love one another — not only with words but with deeds.
The Savior commanded:
“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you.”
(John 13:34)
The Book of Mormon echoes:
“Charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever.”
(Moroni 7:47)
Charity is not passive — it moves.
Love is not silent — it serves.
To love is to act — to lift — to heal.
We are also a people who declare ourselves one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
But liberty and justice are not safeguarded by governments alone — they are secured by righteous people who live the gospel of Jesus Christ every day.
We believe in the thirteen Articles of Faith.
But I say to you — it is not enough to recite them. We must live them.
“We believe in God the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.”
(Article of Faith 1)
“We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men.”
(Article of Faith 13)
Let us live our belief.
Let us be the ones who stand tall when others bow to convenience.
Let us shine brightly when others dim their light.
Let us love deeply when the world loves conditionally.
Let us follow our feet and make our own path — leaving behind footprints of kindness, handprints of service, and a trail of light leading to Christ.
Brothers and Sisters, if you ever doubt yourself, look again.
You are not alone.
You are a child of God.
You are powerful beyond your imagining.
You are whole, strong, loving, harmonious, grateful — and happy.
Yes — happy.
I am whole, perfect, strong, powerful, loving, harmonious, grateful, and happy to be a child of God the Eternal Father — He who lives, and because He lives, I live.
And so do my children.
And so do you.
I will not allow the poor examples of others — those who have forgotten how to act with decency, kindness, and civility — to dim my joy.
This is a civil world — or it should be.
We must start behaving as such — living as true disciples, shining as true lights, standing as true friends, lifting as true neighbors.
Have faith in yourself.
Stop saying you have no faith — because when you doubt yourself, you are doubting the very reflection of His divine image in you.
The Book of Mormon is precious to me because it teaches all of this and more.
It proves that my family’s legacy is not just 400 years on this continent — it is eternal.
It proves that through prophets and holy men, God has always been preparing a people, preparing a way, preparing us.
It teaches that I — and you — are beloved children of God.
I know the Book of Mormon is true.
I know it was prepared for our day — for us.
I testify that God the Eternal Father lives.
I testify that His Son, Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer.
I testify that the Holy Ghost bears witness of these truths.
And I testify that we are not called to watch — we are called to act.
May we act.
May we love.
May we live as true children of God.
I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Scripture List for the Program
- 2 Nephi 2:27 — Agency: Choose Liberty and Eternal Life.
- Moroni 7:47 — Charity, the Pure Love of Christ.
- John 13:34 — Love One Another.
- 3 Nephi 18:24 — Hold Up Your Light.
- Matthew 22:39 — Love Thy Neighbor.
- Matthew 5:14 — Light of the World.
- 4 Nephi 1:3 — Unity and Equality in Christ.
- James 1:22 — Be Doers of the Word, and Not Hearers Only.
- Articles of Faith 1 and 13 — Faith in the Godhead and Living Virtuously.
Mother, Father, Brothers, Sisters, Cousins, etc… what do you think of this? …
14th Article of Faith
We believe that Zion is not confined to one place, people, or time, but is the dwelling of God among the pure in heart; that wherever truth, peace, and righteousness reign, there is Zion; and that all who seek the divine with real intent—regardless of tongue, nation, or tradition—may be gathered in unity, for God is the Father of all, and His house is a house of order, of love, and of one accord.
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