I gave a talk in Sacrament Meeting last Sunday. I was asked to speak on Elder Adrian Ochoa's talk called "Look Up". Here it is, folks! Well, the best I can do with what I said because I don't actually write my talks. I just read and study for them, make bullet points, and then let the Spirit guide wherever my talk wants to go.
ENJOY!
Elder Ochoa's started his talk off by telling a story of his cousins and he being sent on an errand for their grandmother. They stopped along the way to play marbles and got distracted. They were unaware of what was going on around them, and pretty soon, it was raining and thundering. They had forgotten to Look Up and be aware of what was happening around them. All of the kids had to take shelter at a home of a family kind enough to help them out. Little did the kids know that their family and community was searching frantically for them. In the morning, when they were reunited with their families, they found out how frantic everyone was and just how much of a problem they had caused.
“My experience with my cousins taught me to pay attention to the signs of our times. We live in the stormy, perilous days that Paul described: “Men shall be lovers of their own selves, … disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, … false accusers, incontinent, … lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God” .
Speaking of these times, Elder Dallin H. Oaks said: “We need to make both temporal and spiritual preparation. … And the preparation most likely to be neglected is the one less visible and more difficult—the spiritual” In other words, don’t neglect to look up.
In high school, I had a phenomenal seminary teacher. His name is Brother Abercrombie, and he is just about the funniest guy you will ever meet. I learned so much in his classes, and I will be forever grateful for the influence of his classes on my life.
About 2.5 years ago, I remember sitting in his class learning of Noah's Ark. Brother Abercrombie then told us the following story: It took Noah approximately 300 years to build the ark. In the first 200 or so years, 20% of the ark was constructed, but in the last 50 or so years, the final 80% was completed. The rapid speed at which the final 80% of the construction was completed was an indication at how quickly the flood was approaching. It was a sign of the times.
In modern day, our equivalent of the ark is temples. They, too, protect us from the storms all around us. In 1995, when President Hinckley was sustained as prophet, there were 46 temples in total, either announced, under construction, or in operation. Now, just 18 short years later, we have 141 temples operating, 13 under construction, and another 16 temples announced.
This means that it took 118 years for the first 46 temples, and 18 years for the other 124 temples, totaling 170 temples today. That is 73% of all the temples have come in the past 18 years. Just as the ark, rapid temple construction is another sign of the times. The second coming is approaching, and the time to prepare is now.
I loved the message that President Uchtdorf shared with us that said, "the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time is now".
Dean M. Davies-2nd Counselor in Presiding Bishopric said, “In the development of modern-day temples, careful attention is given to the design, engineering, and use of building materials. Thorough testing of the soils and geology takes place on the site where a temple will be built. Studies of wind, rain, and changes in the weather for the area are considered so that the completed temple can withstand not only storms and climate common to an area, but the temple is designed and positioned to withstand the unexpected earthquakes, typhoons, floods, and other natural calamities that may occur. In many temples, concrete or steel piles are driven deep into the earth to anchor the temple foundation."
According to 1 Corinthians 3:16, our bodies are also temples. We, too, must be sure that our lives are built upon a sure foundation.
The Nephite prophet Helaman gave unmistakable clarity to the importance of building our lives on a sure foundation, even the foundation of Jesus Christ: Helaman 5:12--- “And now, my sons, remember, remember that it 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 mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm 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 will each have both literal storms in our life, as well as storms that come as trials or burdens to us. The storms will beat us, the winds will whip us, and the hail will hurt us. Satan wants to beat us down, so that we will give him the power to drag us to the gulf of misery and endless wo. There is no doubting that these times in our life will come, however, it is dependent upon our sure foundation whether we will triumph.
Now, shifting gears just a little bit.
As found in John 4, Jesus went to Jacob’s well, and inquired that a woman at the well give him water to drink. Christ proceeds to tell her, “Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”
As Elder Bednar said, “The living water referred to in this episode is a representation of the Lord Jesus Christ and His gospel. And as water is necessary to sustain physical life, so the Savior and His doctrines, principles, and ordinances are essential for eternal life. You and I need His living water daily and in ample supply to sustain our ongoing spiritual growth and development.”
I believe the symbolism from this passage of scripture does not end here.
This particular well, built thousands of years ago, is not just any well. The labor and effort put into creating this well was nothing short of difficult.The well was hewn out of solid rock and reaches about 135 feet. I can not imagine digging a hole that large in solid rock. In fact, I can’t even make a small hole in a small rock.
This well was created so that people would be able to draw water from it in order to sustain their life. Now, because of the sacrifice, hardship, and endurance until the completion of this well, even thousands of years later, that well can still be visited and water can be retrieved.
We, too, have a well within us from which we draw the living water in order to sustain our spiritual life when times of trials, storms, and burdens find us.
Joseph B. Wirthlin said, “By living the gospel of Jesus Christ, we develop within ourselves a living spring that will quench eternally our thirst for happiness, peace, and everlasting life. The Lord explains clearly in the Doctrine and Covenants that only faithful obedience can tap the well of living water that refreshes and enlivens our souls: “But unto him that keepeth my commandments I will give the mysteries of my kingdom, and the same shall be in him a well of living water, springing up unto everlasting life.”
Also like Jacob’s well, our wells can be built out of sand or complete stone. Are we doing the necessary things in our life right now to ensure that our wells are hewn out of stone?
There have been many times in my life where I have needed to partake of this water from my well, and I am ever so grateful that I was doing the things in my life that I needed to in order to have the water readily available for me. It made all the difference. I gained the strength that I needed to endure.
David A. Bednar said, “Holding fast to the rod of Iron will lead us to His living water.As His servant, I invoke this blessing upon you: that your desire and capacity to hold fast to the rod of iron will be enlarged, that your faith in the Savior will increase and replace your fears.”
Now, more than ever, we must be sure that our foundation is built upon Christ, and our wells are hewn from stone. We are surrounded with challenges, both big and small, all around us. It is a sign of the times. Yes, there are signs of storms forming all around us. Let us look up and prepare ourselves. There is safety in a strong testimony. Let us cherish and strengthen our testimonies every day.
I know without a doubt that we were all saved to come to earth at this time. It is no coincidence that you are in the situation you are in right now. May we do all that is necessary to prepare ourselves, “for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh”, but it is coming quickly.
Bear testimony.
Amen.
{Yes, those really are the last two bullet points of my talk.}
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