Farewell Talk

        A bunch of you might not know me, My name is Jessica Kendrick- This is my home ward- but I went to college this last year at the USU Eastern Campus in Price, Utah- so you most likely haven’t seen me around unless it was a weekend where I was home. You will probably know at least one of my parents though- and to give myself a better view in your head I’ll introduce you to them too. My Dad is a retired Battalion Chief Paramedic. Now you can find him either working on his fence, attending to his children.. Oops I mean cows, or doing concrete or construction work for people. My mother is a second grade teacher at Canyon elementary. I am convinced that she can make any child love her and become her best friend. Her students are lucky to call her their teacher. Since they are only two out of my now 9ish member family I’ll give you a quick introduction to the other 5ish. I have my oldest sister Kelcee- she is the most creative, thoughtful person I know, My sister Skylar- she is very motherly and easy to talk to, growing up I imagined she was my second mom. I have her husband, Kort- and although I am still learning more about him- he is one of the smartest and most athletic people I know. There is Saylor, my niece. She is the cutest little bug ever. My sister Katie- she was my not-really-twin… but twin throughout my life. If I ever needed advice I know she would have an amazing answer for me, and her husband Parker, he is one of the most willing and patient people I know. These people are what have made me into who I am today, and that is how I thought it was best to introduce myself to you. 

I have a habit of speaking kinda fast when I am either a little nervous or I am excited, so if I see a look of confusion I will take that as a sign that I need to slow down.

My talk today is on how increasing our faith in the Savior can make all things possible. My first thought when hearing this topic was the question: How can we not have faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and his god-given power to make all things possible? The Lord has done many things that people of the world would consider impossible: walking on the water of a stormy sea, changing water into wine, healing the blind,sick and lame, and so much more. During Christ’s earthly ministry he performed many miracles- those seemingly impossible miracles can still happen for us in these latter days through the divine power of our Savior. 

In chapter eight of the book of Luke, it describes a woman who was sick. She had enough faith to know that just by touching Christ’s clothes she would be healed. Verses forty-three and forty-four say “and a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, came behind him and touched the border of his garment: and immediately after her issue of blood stanched.” President Nelson said “Through your faith, Jesus Christ will increase your ability to move the mountains in your life, even though your personal challenges may loom as large as Mount Everest.” For this young woman, her illness seemed insurmountable. She had gone to physicians until her money was all spent. After trying her best, she turned to her faith in Christ to help her rise above her illness and challenge. After touching his Garment, Christ noticed that a small bit of virtue had left him and told her “Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.” These days, we cannot touch his garments to move our personal mountains. We can, however, utilize our faith like the woman and receive the same blessings and miracles. Although each of our trials will vary, president Nelson states that “the answer to each of [our] trials is to increase [our] faith.” As we put effort into our challenges and work to overcome them, I know that through our faith, the Lord will give us the needed power to rise above them.

In a general conference talk given last year by our beloved Prophet titled “Christ is Risen: Faith in him will move mountains, he gave us five suggestions to increase our faith. The first suggestion is to study. To immerse ourselves in the scriptures to better understand Christ's mission and ministry. Christ came to earth as an example for us, to die for us, to suffer our sins, pains, and afflictions. We need to understand the doctrine of Christ so that we know the truth and power and its applications for us. The miracle of the woman is one of many that we could learn of the power Christ has and begin to trust in it and the salvation it can bring us. This salvation could come through a miracle-and miracles come according to your faith and trust in the Lord and his timing. 

My plan has always been to gain my education, to take college classes whenever I could- to be in the education fast lane pretty much. I planned to maybe serve a mission in the far future with my future husband. However, I had not been able to shake the feeling that I needed to serve a mission after the spring semester. I’m not going to lie, I fought those feelings and thoughts since my college education  was just starting. One night, a friend of mine was opening her mission call, and after listening to her excitement after where she was going I was in tears. I felt lost, I knew in my heart that I wanted to serve a mission, but my mind kept telling me that I needed to finish my education. I went for a drive and called my parents and my uncle- hoping that one of them would just tell me what I should do. But each of them just told me that they would love and support me no matter what I chose. It was nice to hear, but I was hoping that my parents would do what parents do best and tell me what I should do. 

That sunday it was a fast and testimony meeting- and I couldn’t shake the impression that I needed to visit the temple and it would help me decide whether I should go on a mission or not. Right after the sacrament meeting ended I got in my car and drove to the Manti Temple. Once I was there I walked to the closest spot to the temple grounds since it was closed due to renovations and opened to a random spot in my scriptures. I opened up to Helaman chapter five. The chapter summary starts off by saying “Nephi and Lehi devote themselves to preaching.” When I read those words I felt as if the Spirit was yelling at me to listen. I listened. It was at that point that I had decided I was serving a mission. Shortly after, a man came up to me who was also visiting the temple and asked me to take a picture of him in front of it. We started talking and I learned that he had also felt that he wanted to visit the Manti temple that day and drove from Salt Lake. He told me that he had served a mission and that it was the greatest experience he had ever had. He then asked if I had served and I replied saying that I hadn’t but was thinking about it. He told me that he was so grateful that he served a mission and that if I went, I would never regret it. I felt like that was another message from above telling me that I needed to go. I guess it serves me right to have to get two things that told me that I needed to go-since I hadn’t been listening to the spirit’s promptings. I don’t know what miracles are going to befall me while I'm in Dallas Texas, but I know that I am meant to be there and I need to better trust in the Lord’s power and his timing. 

The man’s name was Hilaro and we ended up following each other on Instagram. When I announced my mission farewell and posted about it- he messaged me and was super excited. He asked what made me decide to go- and in a much shorter version than what I told you and he said “That makes me really happy, really now I understand more that coincidences do not exist and for something I had to go there that day! Congratulations again for your decision. The Lord will bless you and your family.”

The second suggestion is to choose to believe in Jesus Christ. When Joseph Smith was translating the Book of Mormon, Restoring the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and organizing this church, he went to God with his questions. Our prophet asks that we go to faithful sources to get our questions answered and not to places where doubt will be spoken to us and into our hearts. He says “allow the Lord to lead you on your Journey of Spiritual Discovery.” When in the face of doubt consistently choose to believe and choose to stay faithful. 

The third is to act in Faith. To ask yourself the question: What would you do if you had more faith? I asked my family that question- and it proved itself a rather difficult one to answer. The decided answer was to share our faith with all those around us. Russel M. Nelson then suggests that we “then receive more faith by doing something that requires more faith.” Sometimes sharing the gospel requires more faith and courage than we have at that time. Whether it is with a close friend or a recent acquaintance. But I know that if we take a leap of faith in our Savior Jesus Christ, we will be rewarded with that extra faith needed to accomplish what is being asked or what is needed to be done. 

When I was a senior in high school, I was doing what most seniors do… choosing where to go for college. I had never been away from my family for more than a day or two. Even during girls camp my mom or sisters were always there with me. When I made my decision to move to Price, Utah for my education, it was a bit of a stretch for me. But after my leap of faith I was rewarded with a family away from home. My Price, Utah family made my living away from home an experience full of joy, love, and fun. I know that they were there to help me transition from being away from home. It also prepared me for my mission. I learned new recipes, gained a stronger testimony, helped teach a friend the gospel, lived with a roommate, and convinced people to attend college at USU. 

The fourth suggestion was to partake of sacred ordinances worthily because ordinances unlock the power of God for your life. Those who get baptized are given the gift of the Holy Ghost to help them be closer to God and to live a life more similar to Jesus Christ. I recently had the opportunity to go through the temple and receive my endowment. I very much feel closer to God because of it and can feel the desire to return there as often as I can. 

The last suggestion from our prophet to increase our faith and trust in Jesus Chirst is to ask our Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ. In Matthew chapter seven verse eight it says “for everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” If you ask God in faith with a true desire to know how to increase your own faith- he will show you. 

Inside this talk by our prophet Russel M. Nelson, there is one more point that I feel is extremely important for us to remember. He said “Do not minimize the faith you already have. It takes faith to join the Church and remain faithful. It takes faith to follow prophets rather than pundits and popular opinion. It takes faith to serve a mission during a pandemic. It takes faith to live a chaste life when the world shouts that God’s law of chastity is now outmoded. It takes faith to teach the gospel to children in a secular world. It takes faith to plead for the life of a loved one and even more faith to accept a disappointing answer.”

“Truly, faith is the power that enables the unlikely to accomplish the impossible.” 

Yo tengo un testimonio ese fe en Jesucristo hace todo cosas posible. Él tiene el poder de Dios y lo usa para nosotros. Él sufrió por nosotros y nos ama. Él tiene el poder de levantar nuestras cargas y está siempre con nosotros. Yo se que a través de nuestra fe en nuestro Salvador Jesucristo nosotros podemos todo. En estos días últimos hay muchos milagros. Estos milagros pueden pasar todos los días. Yo creo que el espíritu santo me dirá que decirles a los investigadores. Especialmente porque todavía estoy aprendiendo español. Nuestro Padre Celestial tiene un plan para nosotros. Nosotros necesitamos respetar su tiempo. 

        I have a testimony that faith in Jesus Christ makes all things possible. He has the power of God and uses it for us. He suffered for us and loves us. He has the power to lift our burdens and is always with us. I know that through our faith in our Savior Jesus Christ we can do anything. In these last days, there are many miracles. These miracles can happen every day. I believe the Holy Spirit will tell me what to tell the investigators. Especially since I am still learning spanish. Our Heavenly Father has a plan for us. We need to respect his timing. 

In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.