Elder Ryan Brenchley: Missionary Farewell Talk

Note: Given in Sacrament Meeting on August 17, 2014

     I was asked to speak on Faith AND Testimony. If you remember last time I was asked to give a talk, I forgot about it until, the morning of, and put together, probably one of the most mediocre last-minute talks in Church History. I’m proud to say I have learned from my mistakes, and gave myself a little more time.
     So now to my talk, being asked to speak on Faith, and Testimony, I thought perhaps I could just talk about my faith, and bear my Testimony for the whole meeting. In some missionary opportunities for you or I, that is the best you can do. Showing your faith, and bearing testimony.
     Faith is essential in our everyday lives. Faith is hoping for things which are not seen, which are true. See Alma 32:21. Faith is not knowing without a doubt. One of the best ways Faith has been described to me is through the Primary song “Faith” it Goes.

1. Faith is knowing the sun will rise, lighting each new day.

Faith is knowing the Lord will hear my prayers each time I pray.

Faith is like a little seed. If planted, it will grow.

Faith is a swelling within my heart.

When I do right, I know.

That song has been one of my favorites, I relish its message.

Faith is knowing the sun will rise, lighting each new day. We all knew the sun would rise this morning, and we all know it will rise again tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day. Why do we know? Because we have seen it happen every day of our existence. So may I make a suggestion? Put your Faith in God, because every single day of our existence, he has been there for us, just like the rising sun. Maybe some days when it’s a rainy day, you can’t always see the sun or feel its warmth, but you know that the sun is there. Just like Heavenly Father on a bad day. It’s important to know that Heavenly Father gave you that rainy day for a reason, and gives us an opportunity exercise our faith, and stay steadfast in the gospel.
Faith is knowing the Lord will hear my prayers each time I pray. You can nurture the gift of faith by praying to Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ. As you express your gratitude to your Father and as you plead with Him for blessings that you and others need, you will draw near to Him. When you pray to God for help, you are exercising that faith in God.
Faith is like a little seed. If planted it will grow. In Alma 32, Alma teaches the poor Zoramites who were cast out of the Zoramiate synagogues, about faith. I highly encourage everyone, if you’re questioning your faith, or are wondering where your faith is at, I challenge you to read Alma Chapter 32. In chapter 32, Alma explaines that faith grows as a person wants to believe and listens to the word of God. The word is then planted in your heart, and like a seed it starts to grow. As we learn more about the gospel, the seed sprouts and keeps growing. We know that the seed is good, and our faith grows stronger.
Faith is swelling within my heart. With our faith growing inside us, that is the swelling we feel in our heart.
The final line: When I do right, I know. Faith is much more than passive belief. You express your faith through action—by the way you live. If you live the gospel, and act in faith, you will be blessed. Receiving blessings becomes another way your faith grows. It is important, to always look to increase your faith. The Lord will work mighty miracles in your life according to your faith. 2 Nephi 26:13 reads “And that he manifesteth himself unto all those who believe in him, by the power of the Holy Ghost; yea, unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, working mighty miracles, signs, and wonders, among the children of men according to their faith.”
There are countless stories of immense faith being exercised, and miracles being worked as a

result. I’d like to share my favorite Book of Mormon story as an example. And that is the story of the

2000 stripling Warriors. The story goes that these 2000 young men, who had never fought in a battle,

or shed blood. Went up to war, and not one of them was slain. Now I will share my all-time favorite

scripture, that’s Alma 57:26-27. “26. And now, their preservation was astonishing to our whole army,

yea, that they should be spared while there was a thousand of our brethren who were slain. And we do justly ascribe it to the miraculous power of God, because of their EXCEEDING faith in that which they had been taught to believe- that there was a just God, and whosoever Did Not Doubt, that they should be preserved by his marvelous power. 27. Now this was the faith of these of whom I have spoken; they are young, and their minds are firm, and they do put their trust in God continually.”

I know, and have a testimony that if I have Exceeding Faith, if I Do Not Doubt, and If I put my trust in God continually….. That I will be Invincible, and will not perish. I can also testify that if you have exceeding faith, do not doubt, and put your trust in God continually, that you will be Invincible also.

Now with a Testimony it requires you to have more than faith. Alma 32:26 says “Now, as I said concerning faith—that it was not a perfect knowledge—even so it is with my words. Ye cannot know of their surety at first, unto perfection, any more than faith is a perfect knowledge.” A Testimony is built up of things you have perfect knowledge of which extends past simple faith. A perfect knowledge of something is when you can say “I Know the Church is true.” Examples such as “I’m pretty sure the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ.” Or “I think we have a living prophet on this earth today.” Are not examples of a perfect knowledge. I will come back to this perfect knowledge.

A testimony to me is expressing or reassuring, what I know to be true. True to the Faith says “A testimony is a spiritual witness given by the Holy Ghost. The foundation of a testimony is the knowledge that Heavenly Father lives and loves us; that Jesus Christ lives, that He is the Son of God, and that He carried out the infinite Atonement; that Joseph Smith is the prophet of Atonement; that Joseph Smith is the prophet of God who was called to restore the gospel; that God who was called to restore the gospel; that we are led by a living prophet today; and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Savior’s true Church on the earth. With this foundation, a testimony grows to include all principles of the gospel.” END QUOTE

What a powerful true statement. To gain a Testimony, the most important thing is knowing that

Heavenly Father and Jesus Live and Loves you individually. From there, your testimony can grow

infinitely. However that all depends on how well you nurture your Testimony. It is our great opportunity and responsibility to nurture our testimonies throughout our lives. Like building a house, a garden, or the cool new LEGO set (for you younger Kids). Building a testimony requires steps too. “The quest for a testimony begins with a righteous, sincere desire.” END QUOTE. Our Heavenly Father knows the desires of our Hearts, and it is important, we always strive to do our best, and strengthen our testimonies. “Your testimony will grow gradually through your experiences.” If you put yourself in positions to learn the gospel, serve the Lord, keep the commandments, and look for moments of inspiration (such as praying, fasting, studying scriptures, listening to other testimonies, and most important Sharing Your Own Testimony). Your testimony will most definitely grow. To share your Testimony, your testimony itself, doesn’t have to be fully developed, long, and remarkable. Short and Sweet Testimonies, are just great. The most important thing you can say in your testimony is what you KNOW to be true. Every time, I hear someone say “I Know” I can feel a great amount of truth and power behind that statement. There is HUGE difference between thinking something is true and knowing something to be true.

Elder Paul K. Sybrowsky of the seventy, shares a story in the February 2008 Liahona. “I was a rather shy 15-year-old boy, so I was quite surprised when I found myself standing at a microphone in front of 300 seminary students at a large seminary gathering about to bear my testimony. But I was comfortable because of what I felt deep inside. Even today, I still remember the overwhelming prompting by the Spirit to stand and bear my testimony in that seminary meeting. I don’t remember the exact words I spoke, but I will never forget the burning in my heart, the sure witness I received that the Church is true. I remember well the feeling of the Spirit of the Holy Ghost that descended upon me as I bore witness to the truthfulness of this Church. Before that day I believed the Church was true. I liked the Church. I thought it was good, and I participated in it. But at that defining moment in my life, I knew the Church was true. I couldn’t deny it, and no one could take that testimony away from me.” END QUOTE

When you are able to say “I Know” you are declaring, you are sure of it, no denying it, You Know. That is having a perfect knowledge. No one can touch your testimony now. You know you have a perfect knowledge of this gospel.

The spirit felt when you or someone else bears testimony, is a quite assurance, but very powerful. Over the years, I have attended many testimony meetings, in sacrament meetings, Family AND Friend Home Evenings, EFY and Youth Conferences. Testimony meetings have personally been one of the greatest blessings in my life. The spirit I feel during an emotional and spiritual testimony meeting is indescribable. With spirit coming from everyone, it is a very powerful testimony builder, especially when someone says exactly what you needed to hear. So just remember, when you’re sitting there, and its testimony meeting. And you get that feeling you should go up, it’s probably because someone at that testimony meeting, needs to hear your testimony. And remember, that someone could be you. The results of Testimony can be miraculous and life changing. I know I will be called upon often to bear my testimony out in West Virginia, and hopefully as result of me bearing my testimony, and through the spirit of the Holy Ghost, I can be a part of life-changing experiences. I am so excited to be an instrument in the Hand of the Lord, to put on the full armor of God. Yes I will miss a few things while I’m gone such as Sports, Family, Friends, Home, Sports, Farmington, Cute Girls, Movies, Sports, T.V. Home-Cooked Meals, Sleeping-In, Music and did I mention Sports? But serving a two-year LDS Mission in West Virginia, I wouldn’t miss it for the world.

Close with Testimony!

******************