Talk Ideas

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Write talk on Diversions
- When you have an addiction, diversions will help you resist temptation
- When you are tempted, if you can get it out of mind before it takes root (5 secs) diversion can do that
- Can't work all the time - diversion can loosen the bow and preserve spirit
- We should become addicted to diversions

Write talk on Flirting
- What does it mean to flirt?
- What are the outcomes of flirting?
- What does it mean to flirt with danger?
- What are the outcomes of flirting with danger?

Talk on being DOERS of the WORD and not HEARERS ONLY
- The prophet wept when he found out that utah was at an all time high for debt and all time low for savings. Also he told BYU editors that he would be remembere as the prophet no one listened to.

- In ancient times, they cast out prophets. In modern times, we don't cast out prophets, we just ignore them. This idea of sending an accounting out to the people to see if they believe is similar to that of King Benjamin asking the people after his speech in Mosiah 5.

- We must do if we believe.

- Elder Kimball said that connection between those who believe and those who obey is very low. He used as an example the prisoners at Point of the mountain. Nearly 85% claim belief in a God - even LDS. But they don't live it.

- Pres Hinckley said "I'll be known as the prophet no one listened to" and yet is probably the most beloved prophet of all time. Why don't we do!

- It's like Elder Brough said that prayer is not the words we speak, but the lives we live. Our life is a prayer.

- Wake up and do something more than dream of your mansions above.

- Faith without works is dead.

- Work is often painful, but once we break the dead inertia and get ourselves moving things go well. It's like morning exercise. You almost have to lie to yourself to get yourself moving.

- I walk around in a circle which turns into something more.

- Joke of single adult who the bishop motivates to start exercising by sending over beautiful girl who says, 'Bishop said that if you catch me, you can marry me." He runs but to no avail. Next bishop sends over ugly girl. 'Bishop says if I catch you, I can marry you.' He runs.

Purpose of Vision
It's important to see what lies ahead of us. It may scare us a bit. It may motivate us a bit. It may keep us moving. It may cause us to seek more amour to protect us from pain. But also as hymn 223 says - 'wake up and do something more, than dream of your mansions above…'

Extra Mile
When I walk 1 mile - wendy runs 2
When I go 2 miles - Wendy goes 4
When I get to twin peak - Wendy hikes over to the second peak
When I get to the bottom of the Y - Wendy hikes up to the top of the Y
When I read 1 church magazine - Wendy reads all 3.
When I save a little money - Wendy saves all her money
When I watch a movie or some recreation - Wendy works.

In the extra mile we find joy and happiness.

It's what Savior spoke of when he talked about going the second mile. Turning the other cheek. Giving more than is asked. The beatitudes of suffering for his sake. Losing oneself in order to find oneself.

Events in church are a metaphor for our lives
Is it possible that all the events which play out on this world, are metaphors for our personal lives/ The events of building zion, apostacy, restoration, great and dreadful day of lord, going to the celestial kingdom are not just discussions of future events for the church, but are discussions of events which will occur in most of our personal lives?

Creation = Birth
Flood = Baptism
Abrahamic Covenant = Gain personal testimony (sacred grove experience)
Law of Moses = Aaronic Priesthood
Christ - new order = Melchizedec Priesthood
Apostacy = Challenges and sins
Restoration = Conversion and service
Great and Dreadful day = Death
Judgement = Final Judgement
Kingdom = Final rest

Power of Resurrection
- There are few things as devestating in truth as death.
- It is real.
- It doesn't give someone back after it has taken them.
- Only in fairy tales do people pop back to live and pick up where they left off.
- Which is what makes the resurrection such a powerful, incredible, wondrous, miracle. That even one could return is a miracle. That he will enable us to live again is the miracle of all miracles.
- The more we feel the sting of a friends death, or the injustice of a child's murder, the more we rejoice in the truth of the resurrection.

So it's true…so what? Or So I'm free…so what?
- Truth changes everything.