Hello Brothers and Sisters. Good afternoon. My name is Garrett Harrington for those who
don't know me and I have been called to serve in the Denver Colorado North
Mission, English speaking. I want to thank you all for coming and being my
friend throughout these years. I wouldn’t be a lot without you guys and this
amazing ward. Thank you for all of your support. It’s really going to be
awesome to go to Colorado! I’m really looking forward to it! I'm not going to lie;
I did a little jump and fist pump in the air when I read that from my call.
Deep down I was really hoping for a stateside and English speaking mission.
Although I did put down in my papers I'll go anywhere and learn a new language
at the highest setting. Receiving a call to Colorado out of anywhere AND
English speaking! A language I already know was a dream come true! It would
have been hard going somewhere foreign and learning to speak a different
language but I would have done it. After a person asks me what language I will
be using. I say English, that’s the best part. Not trying to put down other
languages! Just that I already know English; it’s going to help so much! Either
way would have been so awesome. I use to want to go foreign from like age 14 to
18 but then I started preparing for a mission in the language of my homeland
and I remember driving home from church basketball and I was like. I want to go
stateside. Called to Colorado! I've never been that far, Utah being my farthest
trip from California. So Colorado will definitely be an adventure! Excited to
be a Bronco fan! Just kidding! But more excited to share the gospel of Jesus
Christ and to invite other to come unto Christ by having them receive the
restored Gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and his atonement, repentance, baptism,
receiving the gift of the holy ghost and enduring to the end! So I enter the
Provo Missionary Training Center on September 18th and begin my journey for two
years sharing the gospel, and that is the topic I am here to talk about to you
today, “Sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ”. I am going to refer to some of my
friends in this talk. I will address these three questions in my talk. What is
it? What does it mean? Why do we share the gospel?
Well first, what is the gospel? I remember my seminary teacher
Brother Hynek telling us what the gospel is in the most simplest of terms and
it has never left me. The word gospel means the ‘good news’. What a more perfect
way to describe this word! The gospel is the good news for us brothers and
sisters. It can help with so many things in life and for preparation of the
life to come. So what does this good news consist off? God is a loving Heavenly
Father. We are all his spiritual sons and daughters. We all should love one
another. Additional scripture: the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus
Christ. There is a living prophet today who guides and leads over us. Eternal
marriage; families can be together forever. The Priesthood (the power to act in
God's name) is back on the earth. Service to one another. Keeping the Ten
Commandments. The gospel also answers questions like: Where did we come from?
Why are we here? Where do we go after we die? Salvation for the dead, (those
who passed on without ever hearing the good news of the gospel) Living a
Christlike life. Prayer. There's a whole bunch of things related to the gospel
of Jesus Christ! But in the Bible dictionary it says, "…the good news is
that Jesus Christ has made a perfect atonement for mankind that will redeem all
mankind from the grave and reward each individual according to his or her
works."
So what is the perfect Atonement? My institute teacher Brother
Andre would always ask what does atonement mean or stand for? It means "at
one with" so what does that mean? At one with? Well, there came a moment
where He knew us all. He was at one with us; in the garden of Gethsemane
(Alma
7:11-13).
11 And he
shall go forth, suffering pains and aafflictions andbtemptations of
every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will ctake upon him
the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
12 And he will take upon him adeath, that he
may bloose the
bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their
infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh,
that he may know according to the flesh how to csuccorhis
people according to their infirmities.
13 Now the Spirit aknoweth all
things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the bflesh that
he might ctake upon him
the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according
to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is
in me.
Now I did not suffer everything, but I do know some of the pain
He went through because I suffered for a while and it was not fun. And when I
see Him I hope I am able to give Him the biggest hug and walk with Him and talk
with Him face to face, because I know what He went through for me. Brother
Bruce R. McConkie said it best, “I shall feel the nail marks in His hands and
in His feet and shall wet his feet with my tears” I know He wants to help us.
He suffered for everything possible. He suffered for our sins, sickness, emotional
pain, physical pain, temptations and even physical death. He died for us. If it
weren't for him dying for us we wouldn't be able to progress after this earthly
life. We would just be stuck in our grave. But since he overcame the bonds of
physical death, we do have a life after death. It tells us he came back after
he died in the New Testament; in the Books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. And
even He said we will rise as well.
(John 11:25).
25 Jesus said unto her, I am the a resurrection, and the b life: he that c believeth in me,
though he were d dead, yet shall he e live:
This is a part of the atonement. Why would someone suffer so
much?
(John 15:13)
Because he loves us. He wants to help us when we need help. And
I do love Him. He loves every one of us; He knows us. I know Him. We have a
relationship with Him and I have a relationship with Him. I encourage you to
really get to know Him. He doesn't want us going through this life alone. Our Heavenly
Father doesn't want us to either. Jesus Christ is our best friend. He has gone
through it all. How great is it that someone has gone through it all and is
there for us whenever we need him? Someone who will walk with us, and puts his
hand over our shoulder, and look us in the eyes, and say gently,” I have been
there Brother or Sister, I want to help you. Will you let me?” Not only did He
do this because He loves us but because that through Him and only Him, all of
us might be saved.
(John 3:16-17)
16 ¶For aGod so bloved the cworld, that he dgave his eonlybegotten fSon, that
whosoever gbelieveth in
him should not perish, but have heverlasting ilife.
17 For God asent not
his Son into the world to bcondemn the
world; but that the world through him might be csaved.
If we believe in Him and repent of our sins and do them no more,
are baptized and receive the Holy Ghost. His atonement will cleanse us of our
sins. It is a perfect atonement because it applies to everyone in any period of
time and in everything. It's an infinite atonement. It’s not just one time when
we repent. We all mess up sometimes. It's like a new chance or a clean slate at
life after you repent, you can always repent. God forgets and forgives all your
sins when you repent and do the sins no more. You become clean again as you
were after your baptism. Why only through him? Why is there no other way?
Because He went through it all for us. No one else suffered as much as He did. He
was the only one that wanted to do it and could do it. And I do believe that
there is love after death because Christ came back after he died. Why would
someone do that? Because He loves us even beyond death. Families can be
together forever. We are part of God’s family, and He wants us to have our own
eternal family.
And I can personally say that I know, I know by using the
atonement, people change. I have used the atonement in my life, and I have
changed. I think a better word than changed is transformed. I have transformed
into someone that I never thought I would have become. I started memorizing
scriptures. Something I struggled with in the past. I started to get good
grades in school. I was able to focus more and study better. I was more
motivated. I got along with people better. I was more confident than ever. I
received more knowledge and knowledge is power. For six years I walked with my
head down and then I started walking with my head up high, I noticed a burden
was lifted off of my shoulders. I walked with my head down for 6 years because
I felt like I didn’t expect forgiveness from Heavenly Father and I can tell you
from the depths of my soul that I felt like I didn't deserve it at all. Elder
Holland says it best “But surely the thing God enjoys the most about being God
is the thrill of being merciful, especially to those who don’t expect it and
often feel they don’t deserve it.” The next thing God would want me to do is to
forgive others because He has forgiven me, everyone deserves a second chance
and to experience His joy. But One of the best parts of the atonement is I felt
good about myself. I was genuinely happy most of the time. It made me want to
help others. It made me want to be a better person. Nicer, friendlier, loving,
caring, I had that. I have it now. I just wasn't living up to my potential of
those traits. Another part of the atonement is the enabling power. You will
feel strong after you repent and be happy.
Okay, so now you know what the gospel of Jesus Christ mainly is
about. Why are we sharing this message? Not just the atonement. Also, Families
can be together forever! Knowing where we came from, why we are here, and where
we go after we die. The Holy Ghost can be a constant companion. God has not
left us alone, but has given us a living Prophet today on the earth to help
guide us. The priesthood of God has been restored. And, the Book of Mormon;
Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Why are we sharing this? Why am I
going on a two year mission to share this?
We share this because it brings comfort to the soul; it brings
happiness, peace and hope. It fills you up with love. You start glowing with
the light of Christ. How does it bring that? Because it’s true. I have seen
this in other people’s lives. I am going on a mission because I want to serve
my Father in Heaven and do my fathers will, not my will. I want to please my
Father in Heaven, I hope that when I get to Heaven and see Heavenly Father and
he will say, “my son, in whom I am well pleased”. I know He said it to Christ
but I want to live a life that makes it possible for that to happen. I know
what the gospel can do for someone because it has done something for me. I will
be their brother and friend. I want to give the people of Colorado that
happiness and love that a soul can give, I want to become friends with them and
get to know them. It’s an honor to know someone. I am in love with people I’ve
never met and a place I never been too. When you live the gospel of Jesus
Christ and try to become like Him. You will be happy. This is a beautiful
message of truth for what it has done and where it has come from.
The Standard of Truth
“The Standard of Truth
has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing;
persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may
defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till
it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country,
and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and
the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.”
Now how will the truth of God go fourth Boldly,
Nobly, and Independent by me? I am Garrett Steven Harrington.
Missionary Commission:
I am called of God. My authority is above that of the kings of
the earth. By revelation I have been selected as a personal representative of
the Lord, Jesus Christ. He is my Master and He has chosen me to represent Him.
To stand in His Place, to say and do what He himself would say and do if He
personally were ministering to the very people to whom He has sent me. My voice
is His voice, and my acts are His acts, my words are His words and my doctrine
is His doctrine. My commission is to do what He wants done, to say what He
wants said, to be a living modern witness in word and deed - of the divinity of
His great and marvelous latter day work. How GREAT is my CALLING.
Now I didn't make that up. Bruce R. McConkie, an apostle of our
church has made that for our missionaries. Every missionary should remember
that. The truth of God will go fourth boldly and nobly because we are called by
God. He has given us His authority. He trusts us with it. He has chosen me.
With Him I am everything. Without Him, I am nothing. I am going to go to do
what he wants done and say what he wants said and preach the gospel by His Holy
Spirit.
This gospel is amazing. It transforms you. I was never smart. I
got smarter from where I was though, I know because of this gospel. I never
would have saw me transforming into a guy that would be preparing so hard for a
mission. I never would have saw me with such amazing friends. I never thought I
would become this guy from repenting. I never knew that this gospel would bring
so much joy and happiness till you lived it. I wish I could go back and do it
all over again but because I have this knowledge, I know I am so much more
stronger.
I’d like to thank my Dad and Mom for making the choice to be a
member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and raising me up
till now. I love my family and them making me who I am today. If it weren’t for
them I would not be here giving this talk.
I’d like to thank my friends for being examples and helping me
be who I am today. I’d like to thank my leaders for all the free dinners and
rides to places, but most importantly for the good times. These memories that I
will take with me wherever I go.
Especially my Bishop, Thank you for all your care and helping me
get to where I am today.
I’d like to thank the Mission Viejo Institute. That was my
second home. I encourage all the youth to go to the classes if they can. They
are amazing and have amazing teachers and people there.
You guys are all my friends and another reason I am going on a
mission.
Brothers and Sisters
This is my testimony.
I know that God lives and that Christ lives. I know that they
love us all very much. I know that the atonement is real. At times I don’t like
myself; but because of the atonement I love myself even more at more times. I
feel strong. I am the happiest when I am doing what the Lord wants me to do.
This is the happiest point of my life; preparing for a mission. I know a
mission will be hard, and that some say that a mission is the best two years of
your life. I do believe that. I also believe that it is the best two years for
my life. I am going to need some things in life later on that I will learn on
my mission. I know that the scriptures are true. I know that the book of Mormon
is true such beautiful words for the imagery when you go in detail. It is an
amazing book that testifies of Christ on average of once every 1.7 verses. I
know that the prophet, Joseph Smith translated the book of Mormon and restored
this church. The restoration couldn’t come at a more perfect time; I know that.
I know that Thomas S. Monson is a true prophet of God. I know that this Church
is true. I say this in the name of thy son and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
