Nathan and I had talks last Sunday so I thought we would share. But, Nathan does not write his talks word for word like I do so here are the links to the talks he pulled his ideas from.
The Purifying Power of Gethsemane by Bruce R. McConkie
The Atonement of Jesus Christ by Jeffrey R. Holland
Here is mine.
Good morning. For those of you who don’t know me I am Korina Moon. Nathan and I moved into the ward in September 2013. We have a little one and her name is Princess. Sometimes she can be a pain but great at guarding the house from squirrels. Today I was asked to speak on Christ which is very coincidental. I was talking to my husband after conference that I wanted to get to know Christ better and that I would start reading the New Testament.
I once heard a story of a man who asked someone “Who is Christ,” and the person answered He was born of a virgin mother in a manger. The man went to someone else with the same question and they answered, He was crucified and rose the third day. The man went to another and asked “Who is Christ?” The person fell to his knees and cried out “Messiah”
I come to understand that there is a difference between knowing of Christ and knowing Christ. So how do I go from knowing of Christ to knowing Christ? Of course we should do the basics that are asked of us. Read our scriptures daily, pray daily and attend your meetings. But in my early years I felt I have done all these things and still didn't know Christ. Then there came a point in my life when I was in despair. I didn't know how I was going to get past it and how I could make this wrong right?
I came across a book at a great time. It is called Believing Christ by Stephen E. Robinson. In this book a former bishop tells of a man who came to him feeling the same way and his response.
Man: “Look bishop, I am just not celestial material.”
Bishop: “So what’s your point? Of course you’re not celestial material. Neither am I, Neither is any of us. That’s why we need the atonement of Christ, which can make us celestial. Why don't you admit your real problem-that you don't have faith in Christ?”
Man: “How dare you say that to me? I know that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.”
Bishop: “Yes, you believe in Christ, you just don’t believe Christ. He says he can make you celestial material, and you have the audacity to sit there and say, ‘No, he can’t.’ You believe all right-you believe Christ makes promises he can’t keep.
He goes on to say, “There are those who want the Church in their lives but are afraid of a full embrace. The bottom line for all such is the same-even though they may believe in him, they do not trust him. They do not yet have genuine faith in Christ.”
When I was younger I thought that I needed to know everything about Christ, so I did my best to learn the scripture stories and the details of his life. Of course knowing who Christ was and what he did is important but it was not until I implemented the atonement in my life that I came to understand the meaning of these stories at a deeper level.
Bishop Robinson also tells us of his wife who had been weighed down by all the demands of this world. “She became very passive in her attitude toward the Church. When her Relief Society counselors called her, she told them that they could do whatever they wanted, that she has asked to be released from her calling.” She said, “I can’t do it anymore. I can’t lift it. My load is just too heavy. I can’t do all the things I’m supposed to. I’m just not perfect-I’m never going to be perfect, and I just can’t pretend anymore that I am. I’ve finally admitted to myself I can’t make it to the celestial kingdom, so why should I break my back trying?”
As Christians we might also feel as she did. In order to have a calling in the church we should be the best at it. When that is simply not the case. We come to church and serve because we are sinners and imperfect. We just need to come and do our best for that is all that is asked of us.
Bishop responds to his wife’s concern, “Who would have thought that after all the meeting and lessons, after all the talks and testimonies and family home evening, somehow the heart of the gospel had escaped her? She knew and believed everything except the most important part. You see, Janet was trying to save herself. She was trying to do all with Jesus Christ as merely an adviser. Janet knew why Jesus can be called a coach, a cheerleader, an advisor, a teacher, the elder brother, the head of the Church, and even God. She understood all of that, but she didn't understand why he is called the Savior.
Every year my family and I would celebrate Easter and the resurrection of Christ but it wasn't till I got older that I really understood my Savior's sacrifice. At times I find that I am guilty of trying to save myself but I have to continually be reminded that I can not do this on my own. I need to rely on my Savior and trust in him. I believe the parable of the bicycle by Brother Robinson explains how it works.
“One afternoon after work as I sat reading the newspaper, our oldest daughter, Sarah, who was then seven years old, came up to me and said, ‘Daddy, can I get a bike? I’m the only kid in our neighborhood who doesn't have a bike...How, and when?’ she asked. Now it would not have been easy for us financially to buy a bicycle at that particular time, so I tried to stall her “I’ll tell you what, You save all your pennies, and pretty soon you’ll have enough for a bike.” A little bit of time past and I was aware of Sarah doing some chores for her mother and being paid for it. Then one day she went into her bedroom, and I heard a sound like “clink, clink,” “Sarah what are you doing?” She came out of her bedroom with a little jar in her hand. She said, ‘you promised that if I saved all my pennies, pretty soon I’d have enough to get a bike. And Daddy, I've saved every single one!’ ‘OK, Sarah, lets go downtown and look at bikes.’ We walked in and she said ‘Dad this is it. This is just the one I want.’ She was trilled. Then she noticed the price tag hanging down between the handlebars, and with a smile, she reached down and turned it over. At first she just stared at it, the the smile disappeared. Her face clouded up, and she started to cry ‘Oh, daddy, I’ll never have enough for the bicycle.’ It was her first bitter dose of adult reality. ‘Sarah, how much do you have?’ ‘Sixty-one cents,’ she answered. ‘Then I’ll tell you what. Let’s try a different arrangement. You give me everything you've got, and this bike is yours.”
“We all want something desperately, but it’s not a bicycle. We want the kingdom of God. We want to go home to our heavenly parents worthy and clean. But the horrible price-perfect performance-is hopelessly beyond our means. At this point, the Savior steps in and says, ‘so you've done all you can do, but it’s not enough. Well, don't’ despair. I’ll tell you what, let’s try a different arrangement. How much do you have? How much can fairly be expected of you? You give me exactly that much and do all you can do, and I will provide the rest for now.”
I would like to bare my testimony that I know Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ live and have provided a way for us to return to Them. I am so grateful for my parent converting to the church that I may be raised in the gospel. I am so grateful for my Savior and His sacrifice. Brother Holland, said, “Just believing, just having a molecule of faith, when focused on the Lord Jesus Christ, has ever been and always will be the first principle of His eternal gospel, the first step out of despair.” I know this to be true. I say this things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.
