Tylers Farewell Talk

Tylers Talk in Sacrament Meeting

Hello Brothers and Sisters. I am so happy to be here today.  I’m even more happy to see everyone who has come to support me today. I had so much fun this weekend with everyone that came down and I wouldn't trade my family and friends for anything.  It means so much to me that you’re here and always support me and I want to thank every single one of you.  I’ve truly been blessed with the best family and friends I could ever ask for.  I also want to thanks my awesome cousins and siblings who participated in that musical number.  I always have loved that song and it was beautiful.  We truly are as the Armies of Helaman.

I’d like to start off talking a little about my favorite sport, and more specifically, the NBA Draft.  Each year, the most talented, hard working, and dedicated college athletes are displayed and hope to get selected by a professional NBA team. During the NBA draft, the top players each year are extremely valuable, and have great worth in the eyes of the coaches and each team’s NBA organization.  The teams fight hard to climb up the draft ladder, and are willing to give up millions of dollars and even players of their own to select the new bigger, better, and younger college athletes. I always dreamed to have the athleticism and talent that some of these guys have and would love to be in their position, however, I feel just as blessed and filled with opportunity.  In the 2016 LDS church mission draft, I have been selected to play for the Lord’s team to serve in Mexico City, Mexico for the next two years of my life and I couldn’t be more excited.  It truly is something I have worked my whole life and have set goals and standards to seize this opportunity.

            In the eternal perspective, there is no better opportunity, or no greater work that needs to be done at this time.  In D&C 18:10-11 it reads, “Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.  For, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him.”  Even in the bright and early morning during seminary class, where I was often caught falling asleep, this scripture mastery always stuck with me, and is one of my favorites.  It describes perfectly the purpose of missionary work.  If we could only begin to understand the love that Heavenly Father has for each one of us, and the worth of our souls in his eyes, perhaps we would change our whole perspective.  If we treated everyone as the children of God that they are maybe we would speak kinder words, think more positive about others, and treat them with the worth our Heavenly Father has for them.  Mormon or not, we are all literal children of our Heavenly Father and I want to share this gospel with everyone and bring His children back to him.  The second verse of that scripture mastery talks about our Savior, Jesus Christ, and about his ultimate sacrifice.  Isn’t it wonderful to know the Jesus Christ loves us enough to come to this Earth, knowing the outcome where he would bleed and die for every one of us that we might be saved.  It’s always so comforting for me to know that my Savior knows everything I’m going through, every pain, struggle, or heartache, and has even suffered it for me, and that I can always turn to Him for comfort and guidance.  I could not think of a better way to thank Him for his sacrifice than to serve a mission and share the message of Jesus Christ with as many people as I can.  I want everyone to be able to feel his love he has for us and know they are not alone.

            I want to now share a story that Brother Uchtdorf shared in General Conference in April of 2010.  During some of the bombings in World War II a large statue of Jesus Christ was severely damaged. The people of this city were upset and discouraged because this statue served as a reminder of hope, love, faith, and a reminder of God in their lives.  The people worked hard along with experts to try and restore the statue, however, some of the damage was permanent and could not be restored.  One of the significant and noticeable differences was that the statue was without hands.  The people of this city debated whether they should hire a new sculptor to craft a new statue, or whether they should leave it as it is, as a reminder of the damages of war.  They decided to leave the statue as it was, and over time, it started serving a new message to them.  Eventually a plaque was placed on the base of the statue with the words written, “You are my hands.”  Brothers and Sisters, we are the Lord’s hands. Through God, we have the potential to work miracles, and through Him, we can share this gospel of Jesus Christ with the world. I know that the missionary work that I will be doing can only be done with and through the spirit and only with the Holy Ghost can I inspire others and bring to them the happiness this church has brought to my family.  I am prepared to work through Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father, and be his hands, as I work and serve in Mexico City.

            Next I would like the share one of my favorite missionary stories in the Book of Mormon, the story of Abinadi.  At this time King Noah was ruling over the land, and was very wicked.  In Mosiah 10:2 it describes Noah as, “He did not keep the commandments of God… He did walk in the desires of his own heart… He did cause people to commit sin, and do that which was abominable.”  King Noah was not only wicked, but was very powerful too and boasted of the many Lamanite armies he had defeated. A man by the name of Abinai, being a prophet and missionary of God, seeing King Noah and his people in his wickedness, decided to stand up to him, for he knew God was angry and would have them repent. So Abinadi went up to King Noah and preached to him the word of God, and it says, “Now it came to pass that when Abinadi had spoken these words unto them they were wroth with him, and sought to take his life away” (Mosiah 11: 26).  Like many great prophets and missionaries, Abinadi did not get discouraged, he did not give up, and knew the Lord had a plan for him.  So two years later, Abinadi returned to the city in disguise and began teaching of the commandments to the people and that they need to repent.  And pretty soon, King Noah received news of Abinadi’s return and ordered his priests to bring him to the court.  And King Noah was angry with him again, and decided to put him up on trial in front of his priests, and accuse him and put him to death.  As Abinadi was put up on trial, he began to preach even more unto the Priests and King Noah, and warned them to repent, for God was angry with them. This made the Priests more angry and when they tried to grab him and put him to death Abinadi said, “Touch me not, for God shall smite you if ye lay your hands upon me, for I have not delivered the message which the Lord sent me to deliver”  (Moasiah 13:3).  After Abinadi has said these words, he had the power of God with him, and no one could touch him, and he continued preaching and sharing the gospel and of Jesus Christ.  And not until he was finally done sharing his message which the Lord would have him share could they touch him.  And after his message was shared, the priests and King Noah discussed what should be done with him.  In Mosiah chapter 17:11 is even says, “And now King Noah was about to release him, for he feared his word; for he feared that the judgement of God would come upon him.” But even though King Noah’s heart was softened, his priests were still very angry and lifted up their voices, and stirred up the King in anger again. So in their wickedness, they cast Abinadi into the fire because he would not deny the truth of his words, and wouldn’t deny God and it says he “Sealed the truth of his words by his death” (Mosiah 17:20).

            However, one of King Noah’s priests, Alma, believed his words, and repented and wanted to obey the commandments of God!  And from Alma, he became a missionary of God and taught many people in the church and his sons became missionaries in the church and because of a single soul, many many generations to come would would be affected by Abinadi’s courage and willingness to stand up.  To me, that is what makes this story so amazing and inspiring.  Abinadi did not know, going into this, that he would be killed and that only a single priest would listen to him even after his own death.  However, God had a plan for him, and because Abinadi trusted in the Lord, and had faith he was able to save so many people through Alma even when Satan put discouragement and obstacles in the way.  This ties back into the scripture, “The worth of souls is great in the sight of God.” As just a single soul, Alma, was so valuable and brought so many more people into the church.  I am grateful for Abinadi’s example and his sacrifice and courage to show what missionary work is all about.

            This last conference, Brother Uchtdorf shared a more recent story of two missionaries serving in Europe.  The missionaries were full of faith and determination, as their mission was not particularly easy to find investigators.  These missionaries felt the impression that they needed to knock on doors of a certain apartment complex which was four stories high.  They started on the bottom floor, knocking on every single door, but had no luck.  Instead of giving up and getting discouraged, they moved to the second floor, knocking again, on every door, but again had the same outcome. No one would let them in.  They were persistent and kept knocking, no one would hear their message on the third floor or the fourth floor until they got to the very last door.  On the very last door on the top floor of the apartment complex, a young mother and daughter let them in, and grew a strong testimony of the book of mormon by reading it in just a few days.  These missionaries had faith in God, they were motivated and determined, but most importantly, they did not put off the promptings of the spirit, they had Heavenly Father’s perspective of the worth of souls, and they did not get discouraged or distracted by the temptations and attempts of Satan.  I know that Satan will attack our weaknesses and try to bring us down each and every day because he wants us to be miserable like him, but if we stick to Heavenly Father’s plan, relying on Him, the Atonement of Christ, and the Holy Ghost, we can stay on the right path.

            I also want to share one of my most favorite conference talks this last general conference that has brought me a lot of peace in my life, especially as I prepare to serve a mission.  President Russell M. Nelson talks about how we can have joy in our lives even when everything may seem to be going wrong.  He shares many examples.  Today is a time of war, and chaos throughout the land.  It is a time when Satan is getting even stronger and has more tools to tempt us than he ever has.  Yet we can still find joy and happiness in our lives! Some people may have harder situations than others and may feel like it is unfair at times, but if we remember, every trail and trouble we come across in our life was put there for a purpose, and if we continue to listen to the Lord, we will overcome those trials and we will see that it was there to make us stronger.  In Ether 12:27 God speaks to us and says, “And my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.”  I love this scripture and know it to be true.  When we try our best to obey the Lord’s commandments, and strive to live a Christ-centered life, Heavenly Father will make our weaknesses become strengths.  I always loved reading the story of Nephi in the beginning of the Book of Mormon.  Even when his family was commanded to leave everything behind, their homes, their riches and go to the wilderness, they obeyed.  And after all of that, they found joy in their lives. Lehi even declared, “Men are, that they might have joy.” (2 Nephi 2:25).  Brothers and Sisters, I know that when we give ourselves unto the Lord, putting all of our faith and trust into him, we will feel that joy.  Brother Nelson says, “When the focus of our lives is on Jesus Christ and His gospel, we can feel joy regardless of what is happening-- or not happening-- in our lives.”

            I know the Lord has a plan for me in Mexico City, and that I am needed there and that I will bring many souls unto Him.  In D&C 18:15-16 it says, “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 will 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!”  Brothers and Sisters, I cannot imagine how proud Heavenly Father must be of those of us who work and bring His children into the church.  I want to feel that joy, by bringing others into his church, and I want my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ to be proud of me.

            I want to bear my testimony.  I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for me, and that when I have faith and choose the right, I can know His will and follow that plan.  I never thought this time would come, at 18 years old, I’m serving a mission.  I still remember walking around in primary singing I hope they call me on a mission.  Now I have grown a foot or two, and my testimony has grown tremendously, and I am ready to accept this call of the Lord.  My mom often tells me when I was just a few years old, I was great at memorizing things.  I could even recite the entire Pokemon rap which included all 150 original pokemon in a randomized order.  However impressive that may be, the story I like even more was how I would always recite a particular scripture.  That scripture is Moses 1:39, “For behold, this is my work and my glory-- to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.”  This scripture has stuck with me my whole life and even from a young age, I knew I was going to serve a mission and I knew that it was My work and My glory to bring this gospel to the world.  I am so grateful and blessed to have this opportunity.  My whole life, I’ve tried to live by one of my favorite quotes, that I’ve found to be 100% true.  “You get out what you put into it.”  As I worked hard in school, I learned a lot and achieved the goals I was striving for.  When I worked hard in basketball, putting in numerous hours in the gym refining my skills, I was successful on the court and achieved a lot.  As I worked on church service projects or my Duty to God, I always felt the spirit more the harder I worked and learned most from what I was focused and diligent.  I want to now take this challenge and mindset into my mission.  I am prepared to work hard, I am ready to face both hard times and challenges, but also experience some of the greatest joy I’ve ever felt.  I am willing to fold to the Lord’s will and see what He has in store for me just as Abinadi, those missionaries in Europe, and so many more great examples throughout history.  I know that God lives, and that he loves each and everyone of us, and wants us to come back and live with him as we once did.  I have a testimony of my Savior, Jesus Christ, and know that he has been through everything we have.  I am so thankful for Him as he comforts me, and makes it possible so I can repent of my sins, and be clean again.  I have such a strong testimony of the Book of Mormon.  I love this book.  I know it has the power to change lives, break habits, and holds the true doctrine of God.  I encourage all to read this Book of Mormon and take Moroni’s challenge to pray to God to know if it is true.  I have read this book and what a huge blessing it has been to my life.  I am so so thankful for my mom and dad who have raised me to be a missionary in this church, I love you guys.  I’m grateful for my sisters who always make me smile even when they think it’s funny to tease me and stand in front of the TV during the most crucial moments of each football or Spurs basketball game.  I’m so grateful for such supporting aunts and uncles, cousins, and grandparents who have taught me so much and have always been there for me.  I love you all so much.  I’m very grateful for such awesome friends who always support me.  I’m thankful for every coach, teacher, and member of this church who has helped me become who I am today.  I love each and every one of you, and I know our Heavenly Father does too.  I will miss you all a lot and will keep you in my prayers.  I say these things, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.