Notes might be my talent

Last nite I went to stake conference adult session (i.e.: no kids).  I did not have any expectations but know they are pretty good.  Well it was wonderful and I felt the spirit.  Jason and I sat in the very front row which was pretty funny.  Talk about having to listen!

Our friend was in a panel of 5 people that talked about keeping the Sabbath day holy.  Well actually friends with a few of them on there.  It was really good and I have a testimony of that as well but heard some new ideas and wow sure could improve on it.  Prepping on Saturday for more peaceful Sunday would be a good goal for us.  Or even just getting your clothes ready and laid out on Saturday.  But wow we have really gotten better the last year.  And enjoying the peace that keeping the Sabbath brings.

Things we have worked on are... not doing homework on Sunday, not opening the Sunday paper til Monday (cause wow that sometimes can have some crazy stuff and ads in there),  that one time we went to the visitors center at the temple on Sunday, going on walks together, trying to do family history but could improve on that.  (We still are watching the super bowl by the way cause we are not ready to levitate to heaven apparently!!! )

Okay....so the rest of the stake presidency spoke which were great, on family history specifically teaching the youth (made me think of Darby coming into young women's so soon!) and ministering (to yourself and others).

So I wasn't going to take notes but we have a visiting member of seventy (Mormon code for special speaker from Salt Lake) and he was amazing!

My friends all did a fantastic musical number that was so pretty it brought tears to my eyes.  They sang Nearer my God to Thee and it was so cool that I really like each one of those ladies including the pianist!  Wow wish I could sing like that!

Anyway, so Elder P (can't think of how to spell it) said that he has a friend who is super athletic.  Gifted even.  His friend practices and practices and is just really good.  But thats not him.

Then he said some people are musically gifted like the ladies we just heard and they probably practiced and practiced too.  But thats not him either.

But then he said, did you know if you were baptized and received the Gift of the Holy Ghost that means YOU ARE SPIRITUALLY GIFTED!!!  And now all of them are really great gifts, but if he had to pick one that being spiritually gifted is definitely the one he would pick.

So the rest of the talk he kept saying since we are spiritually gifted lets think of this story in the Bible a new way....

Luke 10

30 A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

 34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

 35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

So Elder P explained that he always thought DOWN TO FROM JERUSALEM TO JERICHO meant he went south.  But then he finally looked at a map.  And its not talking about direction because Jericho is actually North East....but that its elevation.  And Jericho is like .6 miles lower elevation...which is a lot of walking when you are going up! 

Now Elder P said lets become the Samaritan and change the pronouns and put an "I" in and read it again. 

30 A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

 33 But I  came where he was: and when I saw him, I had compassion on him,

 34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on my own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

 35 And on the morrow when I departed, I took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

Now lets find a deeper level....

This could also be about us coming to Earth...suffering imperfections, getting beat up a little...and Then the Savior comes and with his Atonement rescues us.  

30 I went down to earth, and fell among thieves, which stripped me of my raiment, and wounded me, and departed, leaving me half dead.

 33 But Jesus , as he journeyed, came where I was: and when he saw me, he had compassion on me,

 34 And went to me, and bound up my wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set me on my own beast, and brought me to an inn, and took care of me.

 35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him/her; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

Isn't this what the Savior does for us?

Now lets take it another deeper level. 

Who is another hero in this story?  

THE INNKEEPER!!!

Now in Luke 2 the innkeepers don't do too well.  I mean even if they didn't know it was the Son of God coming, they still saw a very pregnant woman who needed a room.  We think of those innkeepers with disdain.  

Until I read the innkeeper in Luke 10....they are much better.  

30 A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

 34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to my inn, and took care of him.

 35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the me, and said unto me, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

Now was the Innkeeper a Samaritan or  Jew?  It doesn't matter.  Because he admitted them both together.  Without prejudice.  

Do we believe Christ will come again? 

Do we believe Christ will keep his promises to us for watching out for those he has entrusted to our care? 

Everyone gets to decide if they are going to be a Luke 2 or a Luke 10 innkeeper.  

When missionaries bring someone new to the ward...will we be a Luke 2 or a Luke 10 innkeeper? 

Would anyone be offended if too many people came and said hi to them at church?

Don't rely on someone else to do it.  Not excused even if you are shy.  

A few years ago he went to a ward and nobody said hi to them.  He came sat down, had the sacrament and left to get on a plane and nobody said a word.  

However folks come to our door we should be Luke 10 keepers, they may be bruised and broken.  

A few years ago he spent the whole day with President Monson who was at the time an apostle under President Hinckley.  Well they went to a hotel and the receptionist was apathetic until she read something on the computer about who this guest was or what level and all of the sudden there were ten helpers and carrying bags and greetings and everything.  They were treated like royalty.  What happened that changed the reception they received? 

When someone comes in do we check on the computer to see what reception we give them?  Or do we treat everyone as royalty since they are children of God?  All are invited to join with us.  

Elder P challenged us to be Luke 10 innkeepers!  (mint canyon totally is already I think our ward rocks)

Then Elder P talked about something I have been thinking myself lately. 

He said he was going to teach us some miracle words to help share the gospel.  

What are the miracle words?  'My Church" 

He and his wife try and work them in all their conversations even on the airplane down here. 

The Lord has prepared people.  If they are prepared they will clue in if not it will go over there head which is fine.  Nobody mad or offended.  But if they are prepared they will clue in on those words and a conversation will be started. 

(This was very significant for me because I have felt like I should be inviting people to church because I hang out with some really amazing women during the week but inviting is very SCARY!  But that Elder P and I must be twins because I have been using those miracle words for a long time now and feel better that I am trying and doing something and the people who are interested will want to know more)

Last thing Elder P touched on is FASTING.  

Fasting with a purpose is so much better and easier.  His kids used to have a very hard time fasting because there tummy hurt and they whined and complained.  But then he explained to them the SACRIFICE FLY RULE in baseball.  If you have a guy on 3rd base, and you hit a pop fly for an out you are the hero because your guy gets to score.  But if you hit a pop fly for an out any other time you are not the hero and your coach will not like it.  So lets put a guy on third.  Who are we fasting for?  Lets not get an out for nothing, but put it towards a purpose.  

Okay, thats it folks.  Going again for the morning session in an hour.  Just wanted to get this down first.  Not direct quotes and just the best I got but wow what a great talk.  Thank you Elder P for coming to Santa Clarita!