Sister Anderson's Farewell Talk and Testimony

Family Song Practice. These beauties decided to practice lying down.

The Altos

 

The Tenors

 

Bethany was amazing on the piano

How I gained a testimony of Joseph Smith and the restoration.

The song, I Know that my Redeemer Lives, is one that Wayne’s mother remembers her father singing with full voice as he rode his horse through the fields and orchards when she was a girl. It seemed fitting to sing as a testimony and farewell to each of our parents so it evokes strong emotions when we sing it. It represents our shared testimony and family goal to return “safely there.”

Soon after I graduated from high school my mother put me on a bus to California to certify as a Red Cross swimming instructor. She told me to sit at the front of the bus near the driver and I was on my own. There were no cell phones in those days.

It was a long ride to Fresno from Salt Lake and my seat mate was from somewhere in the Midwest. When I told him that I was from Utah, the conversation turned to Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. This was one of the first non-Mormons I had ever met so I tried to share my own testimony with him and was surprised that he didn’t believe me. He didn’t believe in God so his only interest was in the fruits of Joseph’s life.

Since that night, I have pondered the many fruits of the life of Joseph Smith and his role in the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Kingdom of God,to the earth. One of the first things Joseph learned was that he had a loving Heavenly Father who knew him by name. Of all the billions of people who have lived on this earth, it’s amazing to me to know that I matter to my Heavenly Father. I am his daughter and he knows my strengths, my struggles and how to provide just the right support to help me succeed. Sometimes he seems far away as he allows me to walk in faith; other
times he is so close that the Spirit wraps me in light, in peace, in joy.

Joseph learned that when he asked in faith, God answered his prayer. He learned that his questions mattered to the Lord. Before my senior year in high school my family made the trip to Palmyra, New York. I made this entry in my journal that day:

While in Palmyra, we went to visit the former home of the Prophet Joseph Smith in that area. We then took the same walk he did on the day of his first vision and journeyed into the grove of trees where it is thought that he knelt in prayer and God and Jesus Christ appeared to him. The peace and calm
along with the sacred spirit which is in the grove make it easy to believe that there was a Heavenly visitation there. (July 1963)

Many times as I have taken my questions to my Heavenly Father, he has given me answers through the Holy Ghost. One prayer at a time, I have come to know and appreciate the vision of Joseph Smith in that grove of trees. Joseph learned there were two opposing forces in the world and that when
God appeared, Satan could not stay. I, too, know that Satan is real. I’ve always done my best to stay clear of him. When the light of the Holy Ghost dims and the darkness begins to creep in, I know I’m headed for trouble and turn quickly around.

I’m not always a fan of opposition or even choice for children. I like an easy trail and am terrified of the consequences that will follow choices my little ones can make.

Dallin Oaks reminds us that “opposition permits us to grow toward what our Heavenly Father would have us become.” I can witness that it has been in my hardest trials when there was no help but the Lord that I have come to know that he will never leave me alone. All I need to do is look up, hold on, and do my best to be faithful to my covenants.

The plan of opposition works even if it is terrifying for a mother and grandmother some days. President Hinkley reminds us: “It will all work out.” Joseph learned that the Lord has his own timing. He waited for three years with pretty abusive persecution before Moroni appeared to him giving him
further instructions. I have been accused of being patient. I assure you that waiting is one of my least favorite things to do so the Lord has given me trials that require “waiting on the Lord” and his timing.

It seems to be part of the plan to learn to walk by faith not knowing beforehand the exact outcome. Going on this mission has been one of those trials for us. Leaving home and family for even 18 months throws up a whole list of concerns and reasons why it shouldn’t be done. One day at a time, Wayne and I have filled out a form, met with a professional, or completed one more task on the list.

Next Monday will come and we will enter the MTC and we will trust that the Lord will watch over our little ones and our home. I believe in angels and it may take a whole host to do the job, but angels will be there when they are needed. We will return and find joy in the spiritual grown each of us will make.

While translating the Book of Mormon, Joseph was visited by John the Baptist and later, Peter, James, and John, who bestowed priesthood power on Joseph giving authority for man to once again act for God on earth.

Recently, I reviewed my journal entries for the month following our daughter’s diagnosis with meningitis. It gave me pause to compare my journal entry with one from my grandfather whose son was diagnosed with polio. I had doctors, even a helicopter for transport to a medical facility, and
medicine to target a particular strain of bacteria. My husband and several of the staff in the emergency room where we initially sought help used consecrated oil to evoke the power of the priesthood on behalf of my daughter.

Later, that day as I flew beside her in the helicopter to a hospital, I knew that even though the blessing had promised her a full recovery, I needed to be willing to accept the will of my Heavenly Father and if that were to take her home, I was given to know that that outcome would be okay, too. She and her husband and five children are here with us today.

When my uncle spiked a fever with polio, the only resource available to my grandparents was ice water to bring the fever down. They did everything in their power and then Grandpa invited the men from the ward who met weekly, dressed in their priesthood robes to pray for the sick, to encircle his son and offer prayer on his behalf. So many died or were left crippled with polio, but my uncle
grew up to serve a mission, to serve in the Pacific during WWII and to marry and have a family.

While I was thankful for the doctors, medicine and medical care for my daughter, I knew that her life rested in the palm of her Heavenly Father’s hand and that, as it was with my uncle, it was not the medicine, but the Lord who restored strength and health to her body through priesthood power.

The ordinance of baptism was restored and Joseph learned that he could have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost.When I was a young girl, I thought that the parable of the workers in the vineyard was pretty unfair. I saw myself as one who was called to labor in the vineyard at the first hour and it seemed unfair that those called to labor only one hour were given the same pay. Then, as a young mother, I met a woman who came to labor in the vineyard near the end of the day. As she told me her story of her life outside of the vineyard, I wanted to add my coin to her purse. Being safely inside the vineyard seemed more than reward enough for me.

Because I, like Nephi, was born of goodly parents and baptized at the age of eight, the gift of the Holy Ghost has been mine from my very youth. He is the one friend I try never to offend so he will always be with me.

The content of the Book of Mormon testifies of Jesus Christ and illuminates his character, his mission, and his love for each of us, his children through his atonement. I love the Book of Mormon and the other scriptures.

In John 17:3, we read: “And this is life eternal that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast send.” To know God is to be like him. In Moroni 7: 47-48 we are urged to seek and pray “...with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with (charity) (48)” which “…is the pure love of Christ (47).” “…That when he shall appear we shall be like him.” (Moroni 7:48)

I know that it is through the grace of Jesus Christ that any of us will obtain eternal life. We cannot earn it, but we can seek the change of heart by striving to do the things Christ would do; view others as he sees them; seek to be his hands.

Later, the keys of the sealing power, the gathering of Israel, and all the keys held in previous dispensations were conferred upon Joseph. He was given the temple ordinances and instructions on doing work for our dead.

I was raised on stories of my forbearers. I came to love them even though many of them were already beyond the veil. Many of them were among the early members of this church and knew Joseph Smith well. In hearing the stories of their devotion to the Prophet Joseph Smith and the restored gospel of JesusChrist, it instilled in me a desire to bring fruits worthy of their many sacrifices.They sacrificed home, comfort, security, family, literally all that today’s world holds in high value for the sealing blessings of the temple; to be worthy to hold the holy priesthood of God. I love the stories of those who came before. I am thankful for temples that dot the earth and allow us to be proxy for the covenant ordinances for those who are dead, one by one.

I am thankful for the tools now available to us to search out our dead. When I first started gathering family history information, I visited the great-aunts and copied their work page by page on my typewriter. I waited two to four weeks for an ordinance to be cleared for temple work. Later, I spent hours reading the films of faded old church records, searching for clues to our family. Now I can
access thousands of documents sorted and indexed from my home computer and reserve ordinances for temple work with the stroke of a key. I know that the Spirit of Elijah is real. It keeps calling me back into the records of my family. The peace and joy of the work is real as I feel angels close around me. These are my family, as beloved as those I can now see and touch. As I do what I can for them, I know that they watch over me and my little ones and do what they can for me.

I know that Joseph Smith saw God, the Father, and his son, Jesus Christ in a grove of trees when he was a young boy. I know they knew Joseph by name and that he knows my name; that he knows your name; our questions and concerns matter to him. I know God answers my prayers. I know the Plan of Happiness includes opposition, testing, and choice. I, also, know that through the atonement of Jesus Christ it will all work out in the end. I testify of the reality of the Holy Ghost; his power to provide personal revelation, direction, peace and comfort. I know that the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price and Joseph Smith translation of the Bible are the word of God to teach us of Jesus Christ and guide us home. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ was restored to the earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith with priesthood power and keys to seal on earth and in
heaven.

I know that families can be together forever. In the end, that will be all that matters.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen