Sunday Talks

Some kind, concerned soul (I'm sure more concerned about my personal, already damned soul, then much else), brought up Jesus in some previous comments. I found it fitting, that Chris and I spoke in church on Sunday. We spoke about the Plan of Salvation. In the Ensign for this month, it talked about sharing the gospel using the internet...

So, using the internet, here is a rough draft of what my talk was on:

Plan of Salvation

Aloha brothers and sisters. For those of you who don’t my family, my name is ReBecca Taylor, my husband is Chris, and our little boy is J. Chris is originally from San Diego area, and I am from Provo, Utah. We have been married for over three years now.

We are technically in this ward, but appear to be inactive at this time. Chris got called to be in a bishopric of a singles ward at the start of Spring Semester, and we have been attending that ward together ever since. Every Sunday, I plan out this perfect plan, to some how make it to both wards, but by the end of Chris’ ward, J has made other plans, and since he thinks he is the boss, he usually ends up winning. Chris’ ward goes from 9-noon, so if you ever see J and I straggling in late, it’s because we came straight from the previous ward. Anyway, we are in this ward, and we do attend church, but sometimes not this particular ward.

We have been out in Hawaii for about 2 years now. All of which were spent in this ward. The last time we were asked to speak was before the ward was split, and at that time I was in and out of the hospital, and was not up to par to speak. So, Chris spoke alone. This time, they caught us at a great time, and I couldn’t find any excuse good enough to not speak. I only hope that what the spirit wants me to say, won’t get messed up by my wandering mind.

The topic we were asked to speak on is the Plan of Salvation. Chris never lets me know what exactly his talk is going to be on, and won’t let me rehearse my talk to him before hand either, because he thinks it’s more fun to be “surprised”, so as far as I know, we will both have the same talk today; however, I’m glad I am first to speak, because then, if indeed our talks are similar, he is copying me, not the other way around. We shall see.

In the premortal existence, Heavenly Father prepared a plan to enable us to become like Him and receive a fullness of joy. The scriptures refer to this plan as "the plan of salvation". We are participants in Heavenly Father's plan, and our eternal experience can be divided into three main parts: premortal life, mortal life, and life after death. Because of this plan, we can live forever in the presence of God. Our family relationships can last throughout the eternities.

Specifically, I want to speak on what this plan can personally mean for each of us. And what that is supposed to mean to us on a more personal level. I want to rewind, and start at the beginning.
Before we were born on the earth, we lived in the presence of our Heavenly Father as one of His spirit children. In this premortal existence, we attended a council with Heavenly Father's other spirit children. At that council, Heavenly Father presented His great plan of happiness (see Abraham 3:22–26).

In harmony with the plan of happiness, the premortal Jesus Christ, the Firstborn Son of the Father in the spirit, covenanted to be the Savior (see Moses 4:2; Abraham 3:27). Those who followed Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ were permitted to come to the earth to experience mortality and progress toward eternal life. Lucifer, another spirit son of God, rebelled against the plan and "sought to destroy the agency of man" (Moses 4:3). He became Satan, and he and his followers were cast out of heaven and denied the privileges of receiving a physical body and experiencing mortality (see Moses 4:4; Abraham 3:27–28).

Throughout our premortal lives, we developed our identity and increased our spiritual capabilities. Blessed with the gift of agency, we made important decisions, such as the decision to follow Heavenly Father's plan. These decisions affected our life then and now. We grew in intelligence and learned to love the truth, and we prepared to come to the earth, where we could continue to progress.

We are now experiencing mortal life. Our spirits are united with our bodies, giving us opportunities to grow and develop in ways that were not possible in premortal life. This part of our existence is a time of learning in which we can prove ourselves, choose to come unto Christ, and prepare to be worthy of eternal life.
Life turns out, however, to be just what one would expect of a deliberately constructed proving and tutoring experience which features opportunities, choices, and deprivations. The visit teaching message for June had a quote: " . . . You were taught and prepared for the circumstances you would personally encounter in mortality.” Furthermore, there is no way around—the only way to go is through!

And what a “through” it is!

Redemptive and refining provisions are made: For a brave Peter faltering and sinking on the churning waves—and yet knowing to whom to look to live, and crying out, “Lord, save me.” (Matt. 14:30.) For a meek Moses struggling with people, fatigued and with all the burdens of leadership. (See Num. 11:11, 14, 29.) For erring Oliver Cowdery, Martin Harris, and Thomas B. Marsh to recover their spiritual poise and vote with their feet by traveling westward to rejoin, in reconciliation, and to sustain the plan and its latter-day prophets.

Hence, brothers and sisters, for the faithful, our finest hours are sometimes during or just following our darkest hours.

It is an incredible irony, therefore, that some complainingly attempt to use the very tutoring process of the Lord against Him. Or resent the reality that we are to walk by faith during this mortal experience. Yet, as practical and spiritual President Brigham Young said, “There is no saving faith merely upon … acknowledging a fact.” (Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1941, p. 154.)

Hence, Christ’s doctrines pertaining to the plan of salvation stand like sentinel scriptures to mark and light the way. His gospel guardrails line the strait and narrow path to steady us, nudge us, and even jar us for the sake of our spiritual safety!

So much more than a matter of abstract theology, this great plan can focus daily life. Its truths are crucial to how we see ourselves, others, life, the Lord, and even the universe. Or how we view a baby. Or death. Or the praise and honors of the world. This plan constitutes the mother lode of meaning and can cradle us, conceptually, amid any concern.

With an understanding of God’s plan of salvation, we know that the rejoicing, the striving, the suffering, the tutoring, and the enduring experiences of life all play their part in a clear process of helping us, if we will, to become, as the Savior beckoningly invited, “even as I am.” (3 Ne. 27:27.)

The plan always points the way, but does not always smooth the way, since individual development requires an “opposition in all things.” (2 Ne. 2:11.)

Chris and I always knew we wanted to have a lot of children, and as quickly as possible. We were ecstatic when we got pregnant very soon after we were married. We thanked Heavenly Father daily for this blessing, and looked forward to this opportunity. It was quickly revealed to us that we were pregnant with twins, and of course our excitement doubled.

I specifically remember, to this day, the agony, both physically, emotionally, and spiritually we went through when we ended up loosing those babies in our second trimester. Our hearts ached, and I longed for understanding. I couldn’t think how or why Heavenly Father allowed this to happen.

It would be 2 more late miscarriages, and a couple years later that I had a distinct conversation with my Heavenly Father. I had decided he simply had forgotten about me, that I had gotten lost in the shuffle with all his other millions of children. I felt that my wants and desires were not known to him. And I had to let him know.As I sobbed, and sobbed, I cried out to him, begging him to just simply “let me have my children”. I let him know there was nothing more I wanted in this world, but to be a mom. I told him I wanted my children. Then, I asked, feeling very picked on, “Why won’t you allow me to simply have my children?”

That’s when the overwhelming feeling came over me. I gained my testimony that families really are forever. That we really did all live together in Heaven. More than that though, I learned that I, specifically, lived in Heaven. That my Father in Heaven specifically loved me. And not only did he love me, but he loved all his children. Simply put, I learned I was a child of god. What a simple statement, yet so profound to me at the time. Heavenly Father is not just the master of my life, but my actual father in heaven.

I very kindly was reminded that these children I was dreaming for, and aching to hold were actually his children. That in order for me to have these children I kept calling mine, that they would actually have to leave him; and he just wasn’t ready for that yet. I realized he knew the agony I was going through, simply wanting to hold my child. He was going to actually be giving me one of his children.

After that night, I have tried be a lot more patient. I never again asked to get pregnant. My prayers changed, and I started to pray for my children, that they would simply know their earthly parents loved them. I thanked my Heavenly Father for taking care of them, realizing that one day, they really would leave him, their father, and come into my home.

Last Sunday was my sons first birthday. I can’t quite describe what this really meant to our family. After all my prayers, and all my priesthood blessings, He has not healed me, but he has blessed me.

The day my son was born was a very emotional time for our family, and friends included. One of our good friends had passed away that week. The morning J was born, Chris actually left his new born son, to go to the funeral of a good friend. He was able to see the Plan of Salvation in the works. He left this brand new life, to view a life that had passed on. It was an overwhelming time for us, and we were grateful to have that impacted our life in that way. J did not come on time, but was three weeks late, and the timing was impeccable. There is no doubt the Lord placed our baby in our life, at the exact moment he needed to, we could learn a lesson of a life time.

Our baby boy was our miracle this last year. He taught us to have patience, and to always have faith in the Plan of Salvation. He taught me that my Heavenly Father always knows my heart, both aching and happy. He taught me to trust in him and this plan of salvation he set for me. He did not bless me with a body that likes to get pregnant, and stay pregnant, but he has blessed me with the knowledge that my family will be forever. In December we are looking forward to adding another miracle baby into our family. The Lord has blessed us, once again.

I have always known what the plan of Salvation is. Along with that, I have always known what faith is. I can give you the definition and get an A on a test, but I did not KNOW—I had to live through it. I learned the personal meaning of the Plan of Salvation, and the faith that we need to live each day. Heavenly Father truly is our Father. He loves each one of us individually, as each of us love our children. We existed with our Heavenly family before we came to earth, and we will continue to live for all eternity, with the family we have on earth. What a miracle that is!

I would like to end with a quote by President Spencer W. Kimball: "If we looked at mortality as the whole of existence, then pain, sorrow, failure, and short life would be calamity. But if we look upon life as an eternal thing stretching far into the premortal past and on into the eternal post-death future, then all happenings may be put in proper perspective"