Linda's Talk in Sequim Bay Ward, Sunday, Feb 15, 2015

I lived in Heaven a long time ago, It is true.
Lived there and loved there with people I know, So did you.
Then Heavn'ly Father presented a beautiful plan,
All about earth and Eternal Salvation for man.

I know I am a beloved child of Heavenly Father--and so are you...I know that we are brothers and sisters. We chose in the Great Council in Heaven to come to earth for we understood what the Lord showed Moses, as recorded in Moses 1:33, 39

"And worlds without number have I created; and I also created them for my own purpose; and by the Son I created them, which is mine only Begotten.

For behold, this is my work and my glory, to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man."

Father said He needed someone who had enough love

To give His life so we all could return there above.

There was another who sought for the honor divine.

Jesus said, Father, send me, and the glory be thine.

I know that we loved and trusted our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and that we had been taught the Gospel--the great Plan of Happiness and Exaltation.

In D&C 138:55-56 we read of the vision of the Spirit World given to President Joseph Smith:

"I observed that they were also among the noble and great ones who were chosen in the beginning to be rulers in the Church of God. 

Even before they were born, they, with many others, received their first lessons in the world of spirits and were prepared to come forth in the due time of the Lord to labor in His vineyard for the salvation of the souls of men."

Tho' we knew mortality would be challenging and full of tests and trials, even pain and suffering, when we understood that Jesus Christ would come too, to teach us and lead us by example, and with His great Atoning Sacrifice, would open the way for us to return to the presence of our Father, we shouted for joy! Job 38:7

Jesus was chosen and as the Messiah He came, 
Conquering evil and death through his glorious name,
Giving us hope of a wonderful life yet to be,
Home in that Heaven where Father is waiting for me.

And so we came to earth life, to receive a body, to learn how to care for it, how to master it--to use it as a sacred gift that would help us become like our Father in Heaven.

The very senses of our wonderful bodies can help us to recognize the love of our Heavenly Father!

Whenever I hear the song of a bird, or look at the blue, blue sky,
Whenever I feel the rain on my face or the wind as it rushes by,
Whenever I touch a velvet rose or walk by our lilac tree,
I'm glad that I live in this beautiful world, Heavenly Father created for me.

He gave me my eyes that I might see the color of butterfly wings. He gave me my ears that I might hear the magical sound of things. He gave me my life, my mind, my heart, 
I thank him reverently,
For all His creations of which I'm a part,
Yes, I know Heavenly Father loves me.

I was 15 years old. My good LDS friends were doing something my parents felt was unwise and could lead to trouble in their lives. I wanted to do it too, but my parents counseled me against it and I was feeling rebellious toward them for "everyone else was doing it and their parents were ok with it!" I could not understand why my parents had to view things so differently!

I confided my frustration to my best friend saying, "I feel like my mom is just jealous of my opportunities!"

Mother felt that it was time for my sister and me to have a Patriarchal Blessing. The Stake Patriarch's name was Scott B. Brown. I had never met him before, nor had my mother. Though I did not feel really worthy of a blessing because I was upset with my mother, when we got there he said a prayer and then invited me to sit upon the chair and placed his hands upon my head. He pronounced a blessing upon me of teachings, promises and counsel.

My blessing started by reminding me that I was here in this earth life to build upon a foundation which was laid in the Spirit world before we came to earth, that in the councils of Heaven I had chosen to follow the Savior of the world and to keep His commandments. Then he said,

"You selected to come and certain parents were chosen for you, that you might be born of goodly parents and be instructed by them in the ways of the Lord. Now, Sister Higginson, you parents are very desirous that your life be clean and pure and upright, not because they are jealous of you, but because they know what the future holds for you--and there is a great future for you."

I wondered if he could tell that figuratively, I had crawled under my chair!

And then, I received the very counsel from the Lord that I had been receiving from my mother!

What did I learn from that experience?

        That I have a Heavenly Father who loves me and knows me intimately!!
        That Priesthood power and authority is real!
        That the choices I make in this life are very important to my success and happiness.
        And I learned that I would be wise to follow the counsel of my parents!

My life is a gift, My life has a plan, 
My life has a purpose, in Heav'n it began.
My choice was to come to this lovely home on earth 
And seek for God's light to direct me from birth.

I will follow God's plan for me,
Holding fast to His word and His love.
I will work, and I will pray; I will always walk in His way.
Then I will be happy on earth, and in my home above.

I know that I have a Father in Heaven who loves me and has a perfect plan for my happiness and eternal glory. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer, and through Him I can be healed and cleansed and empowered to accomplish all that is required of me. I know that through the Prophet Joseph Smith the priesthood of God has been restored to the earth and with it all the ordinances of salvation, and that living prophets and apostles walk the earth today. I know that President Thomas S. Monson is a prophet. I know that things I have taught are true and I testify of them in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen

After my talk, I sang with a women's group, the Primary Song, "I Know That My Savior Loves Me." We had arranged the chorus in three parts and the women were willing to work together for 2 hours to make it beautiful! It was really fun. Now the Bishop of Sequim Ward wants me to put together musical numbers and coach the people on them so that we can have musical numbers in Sacrament meeting and bless the lives of the people who sing and listen. I said I would love to! 

Dad gave a wonderful talk but didn't think that putting talks on the blog was a good idea because no one would want to read that much. I said they didn't have to if they didn't want to but I will put it on as soon as he gives it to me. (After looking at this I think he is probably right, but I will still do it.)

Our first talks, given in the Dungeness Ward were on Reverence and the Book of Mormon. These, in the Sequim Bay Ward, were on the Plan of Salvation, and next Sunday we will speak in the Happy Valley Ward on the Four Gospels. It will be fun to see how that turns out!

We have had such wonderful experiences visiting members, some very active--even temple workers--who the Bishops see need encouragement! And we have had inspiring experiences visiting non-members and helping the young Sisters and Elders teach them as a second witness and someone who can share experiences and understanding. We are teaching one part-member family the Ward Mission Leader in Port Angeles asked us to teach because the wife did not like the Elders. A widow and her grandson that we helped teach came to Church this Sunday and J----, who we taught with the Sisters on Saturday, came to Church to hear us speak. He explained to Dad afterward that he felt he had done pretty well putting together the puzzle of life and suddenly, a whole lot of new pieces had been dumped in his lap! He was emotional about it and seemed very willing to learn more. On the way out of the church building he saw a picture of the Savior visiting the Nephites. He stopped and said, "So, this looks like you believe that Jesus came to the Indians!" When Dad explained to him that indeed we did, and that he could read about it in the Book of Mormon, he was thrilled! Now he said, he understood why the natives knelt before Cortez and other Spanish conquerers thinking that they were the White God! (Most people don't connect the dots that quickly!)

Today we had a wonderful visit with J____ and H____. I was determined that we would sit down so I took our family newsletter and Dad took some pictures of the log house to show H___ and the census record of his family that Dad had found. We did indeed sit and they both seemed to enjoy what we brought. Then at the table both during and after lunch they started asking more questions! We were delighted and I started sharing the first part of my talk. They were carefully listening and then their Catholic neighbor came to visit. I thought, "Oh dear, we are going to lose our opportunity again!" I started praying about what to do and that the lady would leave, but the strangest thing happened...suddenly H___ and J___ started telling her the wonderful things about the Mormon Church! How it is so family oriented that they even have the littlest children with them in their Sacrament, which they said would be like her Mass. The Lord was softening their hearts by letting them defend and explain our church to their friend! 

After she left, they wanted to talk more, but we needed to leave, so we asked if we could bring the Bible and the Book of Mormon next week and start at the very beginning to teach them what we believe!!! They said, "Yes." We are so excited!

Tomorrow we will take our car full of Elder's luggage to Tacoma for transfers. We will lose 6 of the 8 missionaries in our District! 
We will miss them!

Love you!

I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know who I am. I know God's plan. I'll follow Him in faith.

I believe in the Savior, Jesus Christ. 
I'll honor His name. I'll do what is right; I'll follow His light. His truth I will proclaim!