Jake's Ward Conference Talk

Behold the Field is White

I shared one of my favorite Book of Mormon stories at Cece’s baptism the other day.  It is the story of Ammon and King Lamoni.  See Ammon went on a mission to share the gospel with King Lamoni and his people.  Just like what happens on missions, Ammon grew to love King Lamoni even though he had only served for a short time.   The king grew to trust Ammon, and Ammon was able to share the gospel with him, which the king was overjoyed to receive.  Then, acting on a prompting from the spirit, Ammon asked to travel to another part of the land to help out some other missionaries that came out with him.  King Lamoni joined him, and on their journey they happened to come across King Lamoni’s father, the king over all the land.  The King was angered to see Lamoni traveling with Ammon as he was from a people whom they considered enemies.  In what seemed like a pretty quick escalation, swords were drawn.  In short order, Ammon had made the king yield.  This is what is recorded of that moment, “Now the king, fearing for his life, said: If thou wilt spare me I will grant unto thee whatsoever thou wilt ask, even to half of the kingdom.”  Ammon did not want his kingdom, but simply sought for freedom for his fellow missionaries and freedom for King Lamoni to worship God and lead his people.  King Lamoni’s father was touched by this act of love and asked to be taught by Ammon after he freed his missionary companions.  Ammon would not see the king again but sent his missionary companion, Aaron, to teach the king.  Aaron shared the wonderful truths of the atonement of Jesus Christ.  This is what is recorded of the king’s reaction, “And it came to pass that after Aaron had expounded these things unto him, the king said: What shall I do that I may be born of God, having this wicked spirit rooted out of my breast, and receive his Spirit, that I may not be cast off at the last day?  Behold, said he, I will give up all that I possess, yea, I will forsake my kingdom, that I may receive this great joy.”  For his life, the king offered half of his kingdom.  For the joy of the gospel, he offered to give everything.

These stories are recorded not as a history of a people from millennia ago, but as testaments to the joy that is available to each one of us.  There is great joy in living the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Story after story in the scriptures testify of the joy that come from accepting Jesus into our life and covenanting with God to live the gospel of Jesus Christ.  

What do you love most about the gospel?  Is it the friends you see each week?  Is it the strength you receive as you read the Book of Mormon?  Is it the love you feel from our Savior as you partake of the sacrament?  Is it the peace you have found in the temple?  Is it the joy you feel knowing that you can be with your family forever?   Is it the comfort of having the holy ghost as a constant companion to help you through life?  What is it that keeps you coming back each and every week?

I am reminded of the scripture in Alma 5.  

Alma 5:14, 26

And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God?  Have you received his image in your countenances?  Have ye experienced this mighty change of hearts?

And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can you feel so now?

I want to share an experience of redeeming love I recently had.  The stake invited everyone to take part in a 40 day fast.  Families could sign up to fast one of the 40 days of lent specifically to help increase the love in our homes, neighborhoods, and communities.  The bishopric decided to add an additional invitation for the youth of our ward to participate in a lent fast in which we would give up something for the 40 days with the intent to be deliberate about drawing closer to God.  Being young myself, I joined the youth in this fast.  I decided to give up TV for the 40 days.  In place of TV I decided to read the Book of Mormon in Spanish.  I will be the first to tell you that I did not believe that simply giving up TV would have a significant impact on my soul.  Now I knew the Book of Mormon is a book of miracles, but I felt that my study was sufficient already.  In short, I thought my little sacrifice would have little impact.  I could not have been more wrong.  My life was changed.  My whole soul seemed to fill with the words of God’s love as I read the Book of Mormon in Spanish.    I was overwhelmed by His Spirit.  I had evil rooted out of my breast.  I felt my Savior’s redeeming love.   And I am not the only one.  

Now what do I do with the love I have felt?  There is only one answer and that is to share it.  I cannot keep the love I have felt from the Savior to myself no more than the healed lepers could keep to themselves that they had been cleansed by the Savior.  

When I was in high school, I ran cross country for one year.  My first meet was in Seminole, Texas.  I grew up in perhaps the flattest place on the entire Earth.  There is not a single hill within 40 miles of my hometown, not even an incline.  Except in Seminole.  As the team was warming up the coach walked up to me and pointed to the hill.  He said something along the lines of, “Jake you are tall and have long legs.  You see that hill?  I want you to lengthen your stride when you get to that hill.”  As I surveyed the course there were plenty of places I thought I could lengthen my stride, and none of them included the hill.  The race started and I was quickly out of breath.  As I reached the hill, my heart was racing, and my legs were burning.  But I lengthened my stride.  Man, I started passing other runners left and right.  I started running so fast that hair was just flying off my head.  My first race was a success in large part because on the most difficult part I lengthened my stride.

What can we do if we lengthen our stride?  As I have pondered on the message I should share with you today, this is the scripture that keeps coming to my mind over and over again.  

D&C 4:4  For behold, the field is white already to harvest: and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul.

I want to extend an invitation to each of you, my friends.  You are the most amazing congregation, and I have been blessed to be your bishop.  I love you dearly.  My invitation is for you to find what brings you the most joy in this beautiful gospel, and to share that joy with someone else.  Invite people to do what has brought you joy.  Invite your friend to the temple, invite them to read the scriptures, invite them to pray, invite them to come to church.  Jump in with both feet in being part of this great work.  The field is ready to harvest.

I leave with you a promise and a blessing as your bishop.  My promise is that your joy will increase and your love will grow as you invite others to walk the covenant path with you.  Your soul will expand and your life will be changed.  I bless you as your bishop that as you invite others to walk with you that you will have an added measure of the Spirit in your life to help you through your challenges, to bring peace into your homes, and to bind you closer to our Savior.

D&C 18: 15-16

And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!

And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!

I love you.  As poor as I may be at showing that love, I do love you.  God loves you.  In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Church is hard

 Going to church is hard for me. Some Sundays I come home and do not want to go back. There are days when I do not think before I speak and after I leave, I feel immediate regret for saying it or expressing an opinion/feeling. At times I leave feeling less and that I do not make positive contributions. I would never want to make anyone feel uncomfortable at church nor they don’t belong. 

Yet, I know I must keep going. I must go because church is where I need to be and I can do hard things. 

Today, I mentioned to a couple of the homeschool moms I was offended or hurt by the recent play because my boy wasn’t invited to participate. Additionally, the handbook says the church is to not be used for any homeschool activities and it was clearly homeschool, not a community event as they stated. A couple hours after church, it dawned on me that I shouldn’t bring up homeschool and church because I don’t want to be a factor or contributing factor for someone to quit coming to church. And if I was hurt about my child, then they be hurt about their child because homeschool is their life. 

After church, the boys and I went to the singles branch to hear Ginny’s talk. She did a great job on how Mary Magdeline and Barabbus must have felt but that the Savior met them and loved them where they were. She also said the same Savior that walked the Earth during their time is the same one that is here for us today and He loves us. 

It was ward conference for our ward today and Jake likewise gave a great talk. I felt edified then after church made stupid comments. 

A good boy

So often I speak of how challenging my boy can be, and he is, but there is so much goodness about him too and I can tell he is really trying right now.  Yesterday we had a family over for dinner and their daughter (about 10-11 years old, I am guessing) had a melt down and would not come in the house.  Her parents allowed her to sit in the car, Will, my sweet Will, made her a plate of food and took it out to the car to her and sat with her a minute to check on her. In that moment, I knew at the end of the day and the struggles we have now, everything will be okay because his heart is in the right place and that is what matters. 

This past weekend was stake conference and the prior was general conference. I very much enjoyed general conference, there were several really good messages, a phrase form one in particular I have used a few times these past couple weeks when I feel misunderstood or down. I simply say "Not today, Satan" and it feels a touch better. The question I had on my hear this general conference was about parenting, specifically the best course of action for Jake and I with Will.  There were talks that reminded me of the worth of him and not to give up, but now that I think about it, I think yesterday's act of love from him towards another was an answer as well.  

I have been a little more fiesty than usual this past week and fear I make things more difficult for my Jake.  I do not want to hold him back nor make his life (and calling) more challenging.  I want to do better as well, so maybe I will talk to Will and we can work together to do better. 

On a different note, Aubree was able to see Charity over the weekend unexpectedly. I was happy to get pictures of that.  Aubree also visited Idaho and saw my brothers over General Conference weekend.  I always enjoy getting pictures from those and of my Aubree. 

Easter Card Message

We did not manage to get Christmas cards out, so why not Easter cards? This past year, we have felt the Savior's love and guidance often in our lives as we have tried to recognize it more often and see His miracles. We know that He lives and offers His grace daily in our lives.

Jake- Jake is rounding out his 19th year teaching. He still serves as the Bishop of the Bartlett 2nd ward and leads with undaunting love and courage. More importantly, he is the unwavering strength in our family. He supports us in tough times, calms us when things feel overwhelming, and holds us all together. His greatest strength isn’t all that he has accomplished but the ways he loves us (and others) and ensure we are safe and cared for.

Ginny- Ginny is back in West Tennessee. She graduated in May 2024 from East Tennessee State University with her degree in dental hygiene and began working full-time in June as a hygienist. She proudly ran her first ½ marathon in December last year, swearing she would not do it again, yet she is training for another. She loves books and is an avid reader. Her favorite place to be is in her bed with low lighting, a candle lit, and a book in her hand with Diet Coke in the other. We enjoy seeing her on a regular basis again.

Aubree- Aubree is living her best life in Utah, so much so, we cannot seem to even get her to come home over breaks for long. She has completed 2 years at Utah State and begins the nursing program at Weber State this May. She went through the temple in January 2024 and is an example of living her covenants. We miss her fiercely and her musical talents, but we are happy that she seems happy. She finally quit Chick-fil-A, which surprised us all a touch.

Jake (Will)- Will is an official driver and the roads are a tad less safe. We ventured to try home-school with him this year (although most his classes are dual- enrollment) and he has successfully completed his Junior year. He began working at Chick-Fil-A this past fall and spends most of his paycheck there as well. He enjoys Chick-fil-A, You-tube, video games, and Vols football.

Christopher- Christopher’s first year of high school and early morning seminary is drawing to a close. He has adjusted well and has learned to balance his time wisely. He does not shy from inviting his friends to church and church activities. He enjoys playing family board games, shooting basketball, and watching shows.

Renee’- As for me, I stay busy trying to manage the boys. Home-school has not been my favorite, so I am glad it is almost over. I am coming upon my 2nd year at the University of Tennessee as a Program manager, but I still have days where I miss the classroom, well maybe not the classroom, but time with Jake. I still love tacos,  soft serve ice cream,  and enjoying time with my crew....they are my most favorite people.