Josh's talks

Josh had to give two talks today - one in Sacrament Meeting and the other one in a ward young men fireside.

Sacrament Meeting Talk

Good morning brother and sisters.  I was asked to give a talk on my favorite scripture in the Book of Mormon.  My favorite scriptures in the Book of Mormon are the war chapters.  They teach us many principles.  Most scriptures tell us what would happen when we sin or when we are righteous.  The war chapters actually show us what will happen.  One of my favorite scriptures in the war chapters is when Captain Moroni makes the Title of Liberty.  He rented his coat and wrote on it, "In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children" then he fastened it to a pole.  Then he had the Title of Liberty put on every tower.  The Title of Liberty symbolizes our covenants and the towers symbolize what we look at or what we listen to.  Moroni did this to remind the people of their covenants.   Moroni did this to remind the people of their covenants   We should put reminders of our covenants everywhere, to remind us of our baptismal covenants, Temple ordinances, and our Savior.In Helaman 5:12, it says " And now, my sons, remember, remember that is is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation that when the devil shall send forth his might winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and might storms shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."  We must remember to build our foundation on the rock.  And in Helaman 5:9 it says " O remember, remember my sons, the words which king Benjamin spake unto his people; yea, remember that there is no other way nor means whereby men can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who call come; yea, remember that he cometh to redeem the world."  We must also remember the words of the prophet.  The prophets know what the spiritual threats are out there.  He can see what dangers are out there.  And he has devoted his life to help you and lead you back to Heavenly Father.  I know that President Monson is a Living Prophet and that this is the true church. I know that Heavenly Father loves each one of us and wants us to return to him and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Fireside Talk

I was asked to speak on the act portion of the Duty to God.  In the old Duty to God, the acts were simple tasks to complete, but in the newer one, it has you plan and work on it.  It helps teach the young men the skills they will need.  Doing the act is very important to help the young men remember the lessons they learn when doing the Duty to God.  If they didn't act, they would most likely forget of get nothing our of it.  It will also teach them HOW to use their skills.  And to finish, I am going to read D&C 58:26-17 " For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all thins' for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.  Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;"