S. Gifford Nielsen

(black text is the original talk; all yellow highlights are things I am commenting on;All blue text are my thoughts and are my opinions only and do not represent the official position of the speaker or the church.) 

Hastening the Lord's Game Plan!

By Elder S. Gifford Nielsen
Of the Seventy

We each must develop and carry out our own personal game plan to serve with enthusiasm alongside the full-time missionaries.

Several years ago I needed to speak to the wife of one of the bishops in our stake, so I called their home. A young son answered the phone. I said, “Hello. Is your mother there?”

His reply: “Yes, she is. I’ll get her. Who is this?”

My response: “Tell her it’s President Nielsen.”

There was a short pause, and then, in a very animated voice, I heard, “Hey, Mom, President Hinckley’s on the phone!”

I can’t imagine what she must have been thinking. It had to be the longest walk to the phone she ever had. The thought did cross my mind: “Should I?” I didn’t, but we had quite a laugh. Now that I think about it, she must have been so disappointed just talking to me.

What would you do if the prophet of the Lord really called you? Well, he has! This is how we are to hear the words of living prophets and apostles...as if the Lord had called you and asked/told you himself. President Thomas S. Monson, as he did once again  We have been asked to do this for years...what is different about "this time"? this morning, has called each one of us to a very important work. It's always been important...what makes "this time" even more important? He said, “Now is the time Kind of like...yes, we've been saying it for years; yes, many of you responded; keep it up-step it up. And for those of you who have not heeded the call before...now is the time for you to stop putting it off or feeling exempt. No one is getting a pass this time. "...it becometh every man who hath been warned to ^bwarn his neighbor." (ref) for members and missionaries to come together, to work together, to labor in the Lord’s vineyard meet; coordinate; complement; see yourselves as part of the same "mission" to bring souls unto Him” (“Faith in the Work of Salvation” [worldwide leadership training broadcast, June 2013]; lds.org/broadcasts).

Have we been listening? Have we? Probably not...but even if we have...this time is significant. why?

All over the world, This is significant...all over the world ...stakes, districts, and missions are experiencing a new level of energy, as the Savior’s declaration to Joseph Smith in 1832 is being fulfilled: “Behold, I will hasten my work in its time” (D&C 88:73). when will it be "its time"?

Brothers and sisters, that time is now! It was said in 1832, but "its time" wasn't then...it is now. I feel it, and I’m sure you do also.

I wanted to put my excitement and my faith in Jesus Christ into action. connect your excitement with a testimony that the Spirit is prompting you to act. Summon your faith and do it! The Bible Dictionary on faith says:

"Faith is a principle of action and of power, and by it one can command the elements, heal the sick, and influence any number of circumstances when occasion warrants"

  

Don't you think that this occasion warrants it? Believe that your faith can influence the circumstances need to bring souls in for the final harvest! 

 

When I played football, I thought in terms of game plans. There was no question going into a contest that if our team was prepared with the right plays, we were going to be successful. that is "faith-talk".  Its sounds like this: "With a game plan, we are prepared to go into this contest and there is no question we will win!" However, I recently spoke with BYU’s legendary coach LaVell Edwards about our game plans, and he said, “I didn’t care what play you called just as long as we scored a touchdown!” As one of his quarterbacks, I thought it was much more complex than that, but maybe his simple philosophy  Don't get hung up on waiting to act while you come up with the perfect game plan. Just summon your faith; 'call the play'; run it...and score! is the reason he has a stadium named after him.

Since we are all on the Lord’s team, never forget it is His work. Get your ego out of the game.  do we each have our own winning game plan?Don't get hung up on comparing or judging others plans.  Are we ready to play?This is the only question that matters. Are you ready?  If we, as members, really loved our family, friends, and associates, wouldn’t we want to share our testimony of the restored gospel with them? I love this question. It makes me look deep inside and question what I call "love".  I can use the phrase so loosely. But the Lord cautions against doing so...at least when it come to using it with Him; for he said, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."

At the seminar for new mission presidents held in June, a record 173 new presidents and their wives received final instructions before beginning their service. All 15 members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles addressed this special group. This day was super significant. I read a blog by a missionary serving in Santa Rosa California. They are the first mission to all get ipad mini. (I think they are piloting them as a mission) He said Bro. Donaldson, from the Missionary department told them:

"In Matthew 24:14 it says this,

 "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."...He said that that day marked the Beginning of the end, just likethe scripture says. Because that meeting was when the whole world was opened for missionary work!! Then the end will come..."

  It's a pretty fun blog to read to see what kind of crazy success they are having preaching the gospel "to all the world" via facebook, blog, chat, etc. This is serious stuff!

Elder L. Tom Perry added the concluding comments: “This is the most remarkable era in the history of the Church. This is something that ranks with the great events that have happened in past history, like the First Vision, like the gift of the Book of Mormon, like the Restoration of the gospel, like all of the things that build that foundation for us to go forward and teach in our Father in Heaven’s kingdom” (“Concluding Remarks” [address given at the seminar for new mission presidents, June 26, 2013], 1, Church History Library, Salt Lake City). Doesn't that comment make more sense if you see that day as the day when the scripture was fulfilled that the gospel would be preached in all the world? No more waiting for China to open its doors. The doors are open! With the internet we can teach anyone anywhere!

We need to be engaged as never before the missionaries are...are you? to match the excitement of our leaders and the commitment of our full-time missionaries. what will you do differently? This work is not going to move forward in the Lord’s intended way without us! or look at it this way...it's going to move forward...will you be a part of it or not? As President Henry B. Eyring has said, “Whatever our age, capacity, Church calling, or location, we are as one called to the work to help Him in His harvest of souls” (“We Are One,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2013, 62). Again...no one is exempt here...

May I share with you a game plan I’ve felt impressed to implement after praying, reading chapter 13 of Preach My Gospel, and pondering past experiences? I invite you to consider these three points as you think about your own plan. No matter what your personal "plan" is - it should come about after praying, reading, and pondering.

First, specifically pray to bring someone closer to the Savior and His gospel every day. You could do this by seeing all people as sons and daughters of God helping each other on their journey home. Think of the new friends you would make. Keeping this "big picture" in mind is way less intimidating than "I will hand out a Book of Mormon every day." Big picture with specific application.

Second, pray for the missionaries serving in your area and their investigators by name every day. again...be specific...The only way to do this is to greet them, look at their badge, call them by name, and ask them who they are teaching. Elder Russell M. Nelson wisely contributed, “Until you know a person’s name and face, the Lord cannot help you know his or her heart.”

I attended the baptism of a wonderful sister, who shared her testimony. I will forever remember her saying, “I’ve never had so many people praying for me and feeling so much love! I know this work is true!” Believe in the power of prayer; that its power is magnified by the number of people united in a specific cause/purpose.

Third, invite a friend to an activity in or out of your home. Wherever you go or whatever you do, ponder who would enjoy the occasion and then listen to the Spirit as He directs you. Just let people know you want to spend time with them. Don't make it about baptizing them...

The Savior has taught me a subtle lesson remember Elder Bednar's talk...he was all over this idea of learning subtle lessons and recognizing subtle blessings...in my personal gospel learning which, I believe, applies beautifully to “the hastening.” Will history look at this day officially as "The Hastening" like we say "The Restoration"? When I’m emotionally charged about something, it shows in my writing and often ends in an exclamation point that by definition conveys a “strong feeling [or an] indication of major significance” (Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th ed. [2003], “exclamation point”). haha...Elder Nielson looks up the dictionary definition of words too!

I became intrigued as scriptures about “the gathering” which ended with this punctuation mark started popping up, like Alma’s heartfelt plea: “O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people!” (Alma 29:1).

Research suggests there are 65 passages showing this kind of strong missionary emotion, including these:

“How great is his joy in the soul that repenteth! …

“And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father! (personal side note here: I'm joyfully and willingly writing this blog and my Book of Mormon Study Blog but I'm not gonna lie...it's a "labor"...of love, but still... a labor. If you are someone out there in "internet-land" that was led to the gospel by reading either of these blogs, I would love to hear from you and "have joy with you" in this gospel. Please send me a comment below:)

“And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!” (D&C 18:13, 15–16).

My awakening this "awakening" can happen all the time as you study the gospel...to these unique verses played an important role in my first assignment as an Area Seventy. I was a bit nervous being the companion of an Apostle, Elder Quentin L. Cook, at a stake conference. As I walked into the stake president’s office for the initial meeting that weekend, I noticed a pair of tattered-looking, bronzed shoes on the credenza behind his desk, accompanied by a scripture ending in an exclamation point. As I read it, I felt the Lord was aware of my study, had answered my prayers, and that He knew exactly what I needed to soothe my anxious heart.God knows you, hears you, and answers your prayers

I asked the stake president to tell me the story of the shoes.

He said:

“These are shoes of a young convert to the Church whose family situation was strained, At first I thought he meant financially, but now I think he meant relationally...yet he was determined to serve a successful mission and did so in Guatemala. Upon his return I met with him to extend an honorable release and saw his shoes were worn out. This young man had given his all to the Lord without much, if any, family support. again...I think he's talking emotionally, not financially..

“He noticed I was staring at his shoes and asked me, ‘President, is anything wrong?’

“I responded, ‘No, Elder, everything is right! Can I have those shoes?’”

The stake president continued: “My respect and love for this returning missionary was overwhelming! I wanted to memorialize the experience, so I had his shoes bronzed. It is a reminder to me when I walk into this office of the effort we all must give regardless of our circumstances. we must never let our circumstances determine our obedience or love for God The verse was from Isaiah: ‘How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!’ (Isaiah 52:7).”

My dear brothers and sisters, the good bishop’s wife may have been wondering why the prophet was calling her. I testify she and we need wonder no more—EXCLAMATION POINT! This is OUR time!

I know we each must develop and carry out our own personal game plan to serve with enthusiasm alongside the full-time missionaries—EXCLAMATION POINT!

If you are feeling the enthusiasm, take it as a sign that the Spirit is with you and your time to act is now. If you have not "caught the wave" as Elder Nelson spoke about...review his talk and figure out how to get on board emotionally. 
I add my testimony to that of the Prophet Joseph Smith: “And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!” and He's coming back!  soon.  (D&C 76:22). In the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.

IMPERATIVES

• The prophet has called you to a very important work: “Now is the time for members and missionaries to come together, to work together, to labor in the Lord’s vineyard to bring souls unto Him"
• Listen and heed this call; the time is NOW
• Whatever your age, capacity, Church calling, or location, you are as one called to the work to help Him in His harvest of souls
• Put your excitement and faith in Jesus Christ into action
• We need to be engaged as never before to match the excitement of our leaders and the commitment of our full-time missionaries
• Develop and carry out your own winning game plan; pray, study, ponder
• Be ready to play
• Really love your family, friends, and associates and share your testimony of the restored gospel with them
• Game plan ideas:
• specifically pray to bring someone closer to the Savior and His gospel every day. 
• see all people as sons and daughters of God
• help each other on your journey home. 
• Think of the new friends you can make.
•  Pray for the missionaries serving in your area and their investigators by name every day. 
•  greet them, 
• look at their badge, 
• call them by name
• know their face then the Lord can help you to know their heart
• Invite a friend to an activity in or out of your home. 
• Wherever you go or whatever you do, ponder who would enjoy the occasion 
• listen to the Spirit as He directs you.

• Give your all regardless of your circumstance

DOCTRINAL INSIGHT

• The Savior’s declaration to Joseph Smith in 1832 is being fulfilled: “Behold, I will hasten my work in its time”
•  All 15 members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles were present at the Worldwide Leadership Training: Special Broadcast: The Work of Salvation
• “This is the most remarkable era in the history of the Church. This is something that ranks with the great events that have happened in past history, like the First Vision, like the gift of the Book of Mormon, like the Restoration of the gospel, like all of the things that build that foundation for us to go forward and teach in our Father in Heaven’s kingdom”
• There are 65 passages of scriptures related to missionary work that end in exclamation points, that by definition convey a “strong feeling [or an] indication of major significance”

PROMISES

• The Lord was is aware of your study, will answer your prayers, and knows exactly what you need  to soothe your anxious heart.

WARNINGS

• This work is not going to move forward in the Lord’s intended way without us!