Talk Given by Gary Schoenfeldt on the Blessings of the Gospel, October 2013
Blessings That Come From Living The Gospel
Brothers & Sisters I am grateful for the chance to speak to you today.
I pray that the Lord will be with me, that the things I say will be pleasing unto him.
I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As members of the Church we are a blessed people. It has been such a blessing to me and my family. I cannot adequately express the love I have for neighbors who shared the Gospel with us 44 years ago. After having the direction of the Gospel in my life, I can’t imagine not having that great feeling of comfort that it gives. The great blessings and sweet peace it brings that can calm all fears.
Each of us who are converts who joined the Church somewhere during our lifetime have a story to tell about how we can look back and see how we were uniquely guided to accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ and have a testimony of its truth. For those who were born into families who were members of the Church, I’m sure you also have a story about when you were converted to the Gospel and gained a testimony of its truth.
To explain a little about how the gospel has blessed my life and given me the true perspective of what is important in life, I probably need to share a little information on how the Lord prepared me to accept the true gospel of Jesus Christ.
I was raised in the Methodist church and my wife was Episcopalian. I never felt any strong understanding of the Methodist Doctrine. In fact it seemed to change as the lay leadership would decide how changes would be made to become more compatible to the philosophy’s of men.
I had that question that the Missionaries love to have an investigator express. “Why am I here, where did I come and where am I going after this life.” My wife and I visited several churches of different denominations trying to find someone with an answer to this question. The ministers I talked to always expressed that this is a great mystery. Each said I really don’t have an answer to your question but we will know someday. I never understood the concept that God, Jesus and the Holy Ghost were one presence. According to the Methodist doctrine, which was from the Nicene Creed, God was everywhere, this mysterious presence, but yet he was so small he could fit in your heart. I had trouble with this, it made no sense.
I can look back on my life and see how the Lord was preparing me to accept the gospel. I remember seeing the movie made in the 1940’s about the Mormon migration to the Salt Lake Valley. The actor, Dean Jager, played Brigham Young. I loved western movies when I was growing up, in fact I still do, and this was one of my favorites. The struggles of the pioneers and their success in reaching the Salt Lake Valley was inspiring. It gave me a favorable impression of the Mormon people.
My parents sang in the choir at the Methodist Church and on Sunday morning they would have the Tabernacle Choir Broadcast on the radio as we prepared to attend church. I can remember thinking the Tabernacle Choir’s music was beautiful and inspiring.
I can remember riding my bike to the beach in Southern California on Sunday afternoon, passing the LDS Church on Ximeno Ave in Long Beach seeing boys my age in white shirts and ties and thinking to myself, “I’m sure glad I’m headed for the beach and not having to sit in some meeting.” As I look back on that time with adult eyes and from the perspective of being a member of the Church and knowing what these boys were learning, I can see the errors of my immature thinking. These boys were learning important information and skills that I should have been learning also.
My first friendship with a member of the Church, that I am aware of, was when I was studying Architecture at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, CA. I had two classmates who were members of the Church. Both set good examples. In college there were those who were involved in activities that were not the most uplifting. These two brethren lived clean lives and were always happy and upbeat. It was a pleasure to be in their presence. It was not uncommon when we had a design problem that we had to finish by a certain deadline that several of us in the class would spend many all night sessions in our cubicles at school working on our solutions to the problems. These two LDS classmates were married and always went home at night to be with there wives and take care of their Church responsibilities and yet they were able to meet the design deadline date. As I look back on that time I’m sure the Lord had a hand in blessing them because of their Church service so that they were able to complete their design problems as well. Although they never asked me if I was interested in hearing about their Church, they were planting seeds.
My wife and I were married in my second year in college. It wasn’t until after graduation and our move to the little town of Elk Grove, California that we were to eventually join the Church. We were to find out that Elk Grove was a strong LDS Community. In 1969 a young couple moved in next to us. We became good friends and they asked us to come to their home and see some slides on ancient America. That sounded interesting to me. We didn’t know that the Missionaries were going to be there to make the presentation. We enjoyed our visit with them, but we turned down their offer to learn more about the Church, but the question had been presented. The young couple continued to be our friends and for the next four years they very casually shared doctrines of the LDS Church when we would get together that would enlighten us to doctrines that made perfect sense. They would ask us what our church doctrines were on a certain subject such as baptism of babies and then explain what the LDS Church doctrine was. The doctrine that they shared made so much more sense than what we had been taught. They actually had answers to the unanswered questions that I had asked ministers in years past.
My wife and I felt the Spirit of Christ let us know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was true 4 years after the question of learning more about the Church had been first posed to us. In 1973 my wife Priscilla and I and our two children were baptized members of the Church.
One of the reasons it took me so long to accept the Gospel after first being introduced to it was that I was jaded by those who used religion to fleece their members. I watched my grandmother send money to the TV evangelists that to me were con men. I was searching for the truth but I wanted to make sure the religion I settled on was the true Church.
Because of what this young couple shared with us, our lives have been blessed beyond measure.
We have been blessed with what I believe is the greatest piece of knowledge ever given to man. Thanks to Joseph Smith’s vision, we have been blessed with the knowledge that God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost are three separate personages. That God and Jesus Christ have glorified perfected bodies. That we are actually spirit children of God created in God’s image in temporal bodies to house our spirits. That we can become as he is and return to live in his presence.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is taught in its fullness in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. This Church is lead by a living prophet, authorized by the Lord Jesus Christ to provide direction and guidance to help us face the challenges of our day, as serious as they may be. We are blessed to have a Prophet who directs the Church as a spokesman for the Lord and to also have our own personal revelation.
The gospel is the good news of Christ. It is the revelation that the Son of God came to earth, lived a perfect life, atoned for our sins, conquered death and gave us a path to follow. It is the path of salvation, the way of hope and joy, and the assurance that God has a plan of redemption and happiness for his children.
The Savior gave us His gospel, a pearl of great price, the grand key of knowledge that, once understood and applied, unlocks a life of happiness, peace and fulfillment.
The covenants we make with our Heavenly Father bring promised blessings.
A. Joseph Fielding Smith taught, “Nothing will prepare mankind for glory in the kingdom of God as readily as faithfulness to the marriage covenant.”
I am grateful for the blessing of the covenant of marriage in a Temple of the Lord to a wonderful eternal companion. Our marriage has been blessed with five children who now have families of their own. When we joined the Church we had two children and thought that would be all. The philosophies of men had fooled us. As we learned the reasons that Heavenly Fathers spirit children need to come to earth we felt the inspiration to add to our family and how grateful I am for each of our children and their families. They are a great blessing in our lives and the fact that we have been sealed as an eternal family is a joy beyond measure. As members of the Church we are blessed to have the covenant of eternal marriage. After 51 years of marriage this covenant makes so much sense to me. I can’t imagine being separated from the one I cleave to when death comes to one of us never to be joined in marriage again. It makes reason stare. How blessed we are to have the covenant of eternal marriage and the blessing we have of knowing that our families can be an eternal unit for time and all eternity.
The blessings of the Lords plan also comforts those who may not be able to marry in this life or have children during their time on earth. These opportunities will take place in a time to come. There will be a time when children who have died before they could be raised to maturity will be reunited with their parents to complete the parent to child relationship that was lost during their earthly experience.
B. When we pay an honest tithing, blessings are poured out upon us. In Malachi 3, v10 & 11 we read:
10. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
11. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.
I have a testimony of paying tithing and the other donations we give to help the Lord’s work go forth. I know that the Lord will bless us in many ways when we do our part in keeping this covenant. The blessings we receive such as good health, a good employment situation, a happy family life & safety in dangerous situations can be the result of our obedience to this covenant. When we pay an honest tithe, there are many blessings we receive that may not be evident as we are kept in the Lord’s care from Satan and those that would do us harm. This is not to say that we may not face trials, but when we do the Lord will be at our side.
C. We are blessed when we keep the Sabbath day holy. In D&C 59, v9 & 10 we read:
9. And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day;
10. For verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High;
We are blessed to have Sunday as a day we dedicate to the Lord by refraining from being involved in secular activities that are part of our lives during the other 6 days of the week. It’s nice the Lord has given us a day to rest from our normal labors and have time to spend with family as we learn about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and spend our day in His service. Sunday is a day to dedicate to learning the things of the kingdom. To build family relationships and increase our knowledge of the covenants we make with our Heavenly Father and receive the blessings that come from being a follower of Christ.
D. We are blessed in our fasting as expressed in Isaiah 58:v6-11.
6. Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
7. Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry?, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? When thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? (thy brother, or own relative)
8. Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall by thy rereward. (or thy rearguard)
9. Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger (pointing, in a gesture of scorn), and speaking vanity;
10. And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: (shine in darkness)
11. And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones (strengthen thee): and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not (have an abundant life).
By fasting we are blessed by our spirit drawing closer to the Lord and given the ability to better understand the things of the Lord that he would have us do or know.
I have barely touched on the ways we are blessed by living the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When you consider all the people who have lived on the earth, how blessed we are to be members of the Lords Church. We have an obligation to do our part to bring the blessings of the Gospel to those who still have not joined us. The Lord is relying on us to find those people He has prepared to hear His word that there lives can be blessed as ours have been.
I have a testimony that our Savior, Jesus Christ, lives. That through His atonement each of us can be saved through our repentance. I know that Heavenly Father loves each one of us, His spirit children. His greatest desire is that each one of us will return safely to Him. May the Lord continue to bless each of us as we work to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to our brothers and sisters, Heavenly Fathers children.
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Brothers & Sisters I am grateful for the chance to speak to you today.
I pray that the Lord will be with me, that the things I say will be pleasing unto him.
I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As members of the Church we are a blessed people. It has been such a blessing to me and my family. I cannot adequately express the love I have for neighbors who shared the Gospel with us 44 years ago. After having the direction of the Gospel in my life, I can’t imagine not having that great feeling of comfort that it gives. The great blessings and sweet peace it brings that can calm all fears.
Each of us who are converts who joined the Church somewhere during our lifetime have a story to tell about how we can look back and see how we were uniquely guided to accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ and have a testimony of its truth. For those who were born into families who were members of the Church, I’m sure you also have a story about when you were converted to the Gospel and gained a testimony of its truth.
To explain a little about how the gospel has blessed my life and given me the true perspective of what is important in life, I probably need to share a little information on how the Lord prepared me to accept the true gospel of Jesus Christ.
I was raised in the Methodist church and my wife was Episcopalian. I never felt any strong understanding of the Methodist Doctrine. In fact it seemed to change as the lay leadership would decide how changes would be made to become more compatible to the philosophy’s of men.
I had that question that the Missionaries love to have an investigator express. “Why am I here, where did I come and where am I going after this life.” My wife and I visited several churches of different denominations trying to find someone with an answer to this question. The ministers I talked to always expressed that this is a great mystery. Each said I really don’t have an answer to your question but we will know someday. I never understood the concept that God, Jesus and the Holy Ghost were one presence. According to the Methodist doctrine, which was from the Nicene Creed, God was everywhere, this mysterious presence, but yet he was so small he could fit in your heart. I had trouble with this, it made no sense.
I can look back on my life and see how the Lord was preparing me to accept the gospel. I remember seeing the movie made in the 1940’s about the Mormon migration to the Salt Lake Valley. The actor, Dean Jager, played Brigham Young. I loved western movies when I was growing up, in fact I still do, and this was one of my favorites. The struggles of the pioneers and their success in reaching the Salt Lake Valley was inspiring. It gave me a favorable impression of the Mormon people.
My parents sang in the choir at the Methodist Church and on Sunday morning they would have the Tabernacle Choir Broadcast on the radio as we prepared to attend church. I can remember thinking the Tabernacle Choir’s music was beautiful and inspiring.
I can remember riding my bike to the beach in Southern California on Sunday afternoon, passing the LDS Church on Ximeno Ave in Long Beach seeing boys my age in white shirts and ties and thinking to myself, “I’m sure glad I’m headed for the beach and not having to sit in some meeting.” As I look back on that time with adult eyes and from the perspective of being a member of the Church and knowing what these boys were learning, I can see the errors of my immature thinking. These boys were learning important information and skills that I should have been learning also.
My first friendship with a member of the Church, that I am aware of, was when I was studying Architecture at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, CA. I had two classmates who were members of the Church. Both set good examples. In college there were those who were involved in activities that were not the most uplifting. These two brethren lived clean lives and were always happy and upbeat. It was a pleasure to be in their presence. It was not uncommon when we had a design problem that we had to finish by a certain deadline that several of us in the class would spend many all night sessions in our cubicles at school working on our solutions to the problems. These two LDS classmates were married and always went home at night to be with there wives and take care of their Church responsibilities and yet they were able to meet the design deadline date. As I look back on that time I’m sure the Lord had a hand in blessing them because of their Church service so that they were able to complete their design problems as well. Although they never asked me if I was interested in hearing about their Church, they were planting seeds.
My wife and I were married in my second year in college. It wasn’t until after graduation and our move to the little town of Elk Grove, California that we were to eventually join the Church. We were to find out that Elk Grove was a strong LDS Community. In 1969 a young couple moved in next to us. We became good friends and they asked us to come to their home and see some slides on ancient America. That sounded interesting to me. We didn’t know that the Missionaries were going to be there to make the presentation. We enjoyed our visit with them, but we turned down their offer to learn more about the Church, but the question had been presented. The young couple continued to be our friends and for the next four years they very casually shared doctrines of the LDS Church when we would get together that would enlighten us to doctrines that made perfect sense. They would ask us what our church doctrines were on a certain subject such as baptism of babies and then explain what the LDS Church doctrine was. The doctrine that they shared made so much more sense than what we had been taught. They actually had answers to the unanswered questions that I had asked ministers in years past.
My wife and I felt the Spirit of Christ let us know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints was true 4 years after the question of learning more about the Church had been first posed to us. In 1973 my wife Priscilla and I and our two children were baptized members of the Church.
One of the reasons it took me so long to accept the Gospel after first being introduced to it was that I was jaded by those who used religion to fleece their members. I watched my grandmother send money to the TV evangelists that to me were con men. I was searching for the truth but I wanted to make sure the religion I settled on was the true Church.
Because of what this young couple shared with us, our lives have been blessed beyond measure.
We have been blessed with what I believe is the greatest piece of knowledge ever given to man. Thanks to Joseph Smith’s vision, we have been blessed with the knowledge that God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost are three separate personages. That God and Jesus Christ have glorified perfected bodies. That we are actually spirit children of God created in God’s image in temporal bodies to house our spirits. That we can become as he is and return to live in his presence.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is taught in its fullness in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. This Church is lead by a living prophet, authorized by the Lord Jesus Christ to provide direction and guidance to help us face the challenges of our day, as serious as they may be. We are blessed to have a Prophet who directs the Church as a spokesman for the Lord and to also have our own personal revelation.
The gospel is the good news of Christ. It is the revelation that the Son of God came to earth, lived a perfect life, atoned for our sins, conquered death and gave us a path to follow. It is the path of salvation, the way of hope and joy, and the assurance that God has a plan of redemption and happiness for his children.
The Savior gave us His gospel, a pearl of great price, the grand key of knowledge that, once understood and applied, unlocks a life of happiness, peace and fulfillment.
The covenants we make with our Heavenly Father bring promised blessings.
A. Joseph Fielding Smith taught, “Nothing will prepare mankind for glory in the kingdom of God as readily as faithfulness to the marriage covenant.”
I am grateful for the blessing of the covenant of marriage in a Temple of the Lord to a wonderful eternal companion. Our marriage has been blessed with five children who now have families of their own. When we joined the Church we had two children and thought that would be all. The philosophies of men had fooled us. As we learned the reasons that Heavenly Fathers spirit children need to come to earth we felt the inspiration to add to our family and how grateful I am for each of our children and their families. They are a great blessing in our lives and the fact that we have been sealed as an eternal family is a joy beyond measure. As members of the Church we are blessed to have the covenant of eternal marriage. After 51 years of marriage this covenant makes so much sense to me. I can’t imagine being separated from the one I cleave to when death comes to one of us never to be joined in marriage again. It makes reason stare. How blessed we are to have the covenant of eternal marriage and the blessing we have of knowing that our families can be an eternal unit for time and all eternity.
The blessings of the Lords plan also comforts those who may not be able to marry in this life or have children during their time on earth. These opportunities will take place in a time to come. There will be a time when children who have died before they could be raised to maturity will be reunited with their parents to complete the parent to child relationship that was lost during their earthly experience.
B. When we pay an honest tithing, blessings are poured out upon us. In Malachi 3, v10 & 11 we read:
10. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
11. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.
I have a testimony of paying tithing and the other donations we give to help the Lord’s work go forth. I know that the Lord will bless us in many ways when we do our part in keeping this covenant. The blessings we receive such as good health, a good employment situation, a happy family life & safety in dangerous situations can be the result of our obedience to this covenant. When we pay an honest tithe, there are many blessings we receive that may not be evident as we are kept in the Lord’s care from Satan and those that would do us harm. This is not to say that we may not face trials, but when we do the Lord will be at our side.
C. We are blessed when we keep the Sabbath day holy. In D&C 59, v9 & 10 we read:
9. And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day;
10. For verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High;
We are blessed to have Sunday as a day we dedicate to the Lord by refraining from being involved in secular activities that are part of our lives during the other 6 days of the week. It’s nice the Lord has given us a day to rest from our normal labors and have time to spend with family as we learn about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and spend our day in His service. Sunday is a day to dedicate to learning the things of the kingdom. To build family relationships and increase our knowledge of the covenants we make with our Heavenly Father and receive the blessings that come from being a follower of Christ.
D. We are blessed in our fasting as expressed in Isaiah 58:v6-11.
6. Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
7. Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry?, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? When thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? (thy brother, or own relative)
8. Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall by thy rereward. (or thy rearguard)
9. Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger (pointing, in a gesture of scorn), and speaking vanity;
10. And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: (shine in darkness)
11. And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones (strengthen thee): and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not (have an abundant life).
By fasting we are blessed by our spirit drawing closer to the Lord and given the ability to better understand the things of the Lord that he would have us do or know.
I have barely touched on the ways we are blessed by living the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When you consider all the people who have lived on the earth, how blessed we are to be members of the Lords Church. We have an obligation to do our part to bring the blessings of the Gospel to those who still have not joined us. The Lord is relying on us to find those people He has prepared to hear His word that there lives can be blessed as ours have been.
I have a testimony that our Savior, Jesus Christ, lives. That through His atonement each of us can be saved through our repentance. I know that Heavenly Father loves each one of us, His spirit children. His greatest desire is that each one of us will return safely to Him. May the Lord continue to bless each of us as we work to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to our brothers and sisters, Heavenly Fathers children.
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.