This is the text of the “farewell” talk I gave in the Spanish Branch on February 9.
In October 1856, the Church was holding general conference. On the first day of the Conference, some pioneers who had just crossed the plains arrived in Salt Lake. They had made the journey relatively quickly because they were a small group, they had strong oxen, and they had light wagons. During their journey, they passed hundreds of other pioneers who were struggling to get to Salt Lake, and who were in desperate trouble. Winter had come early, they were out of food, their wagons had broken down and their oxen were dying. All these people would die unless someone went and rescued them.
The next morning, Brigham Young spoke. He said:
“Many of our brethren and sisters are on the plains with handcarts, and probably many are now seven hundred miles from this place, and they must be brought here, we must send assistance to them.
“That is my religion . . . . It is to save the people. …
“I will tell you all that your faith, religion, and profession of religion, will never save one soul of you in the Celestial Kingdom of our God, unless you carry out just such principles as I am now teaching you. Go and bring in those people now on the plains.”
When we made the decision to serve a mission, I was forced to contemplate the nature and depth of my faith. What did I truly believe, and how committed was I to the gospel? What was my religion?
Jesus Christ taught us that the two great commandments are to love God and to love our neighbor. The apostle Paul summarized it like this:
“For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”
People’s two greatest needs are to love, and to be loved. Think about how you feel when you help others during a time of financial, physical or emotional need. President David O. McKay said that “Man’s greatest happiness comes from losing himself for the good of others.” I know this to be true.
Loving your neighbor doesn’t just mean helping members of the church, it means that we reach out and help everyone around us. It doesn’t require a discussion about whose religious beliefs are correct. It doesn’t even require a shared belief that we are all children of a loving Heavenly Father. All it requires is that you understand that our shared Earthly journey is a little easier and much more satisfying when we experience it together. That is why one of the covenants we make at baptism is to bear one another’s burdens.
Christ knew this. That is why he taught:
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yolk upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For my yolk is easy and my burden is light.”
In 1856, Brigham Young instructed the members of the church to go help the Saints that were literally dying on the plains, and to “bring them in.” There are people around you who are figuratively “out on the plains” and who need your help. They may be struggling with loss, with depression, with economic hardship, with living in a new country and perhaps with learning a new language.
As President Monson once said, “Often we live side by side but do not communicate heart to heart. There are those within the sphere of our own influence who, with outstretched hands, cry out, ‘Is there no balm in Gilead?’”
During our mission here, I have found my religion. I have loved our time serving the people here in Québec. Hopefully we have made a difference in the lives of some of the members and friends of the church. Brothers and sisters, what is your religion? I would invite you to please go, find those people around you who need your help, and bring them in.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.