Andrew's talk in Church

I knew Andrew would do a great job in his talk in church on Sunday, but it was better than great (even if I do say so myself...it was outstanding). Anyway, he spoke with the high councilman (Brother Austin) and his Uncle Alan (who is in the Stake Presidency and one of the Presidency always speaks when a missionary is going out).

His assigned topic was charity and service. To end his talk, he read a story form Richard G. Moore's book called 12 Keys to Developing Spiritual Maturity. I will now paraphrase:

Brother Moore wrote that when he was first married they had little money. His parents lived about 30 minutes away and they would go to visit and eat at his parents house. During one of these visits, his dad asked Bro. Moore to do him a favor. His father had recently bought an extra case of soup by accident and they didn't have room for it. Could Bro. Moore take it? Yes, he was happy to help.

This went on for 6-8 months, where the dad would over-shop and ask Bro. Moore to help him out by taking home the surplus. He started to worry about his father and wondered if his mother should do the shopping instead.

Finally around Easter his dad had "accidentally" bought too many hams. The light bulb finally went on in Bro. Moore's head and he took the ham, but then he tried to reimburse his dad for it. The dad wouldn't accept any payment. Then his dad taught him something very important.

He told his son that he could never be paid back. The father explained that it wasn't just the money for the food, but it wast he sacrifice, time, energy, and worries as well as the money that was involved.

His father said that one reason why he helps out his children is because he loves them and wants to help; however, it was also meant to be a payback to his dad's own parents for everything they had done for him.

He then told Bro. Moore that there actually was a way for payback to occur. That way was for Bro. Moore to do the exact same thing for his own children (when he had them). That's the way it works.

Bro. Moore then related that lesson to our situation with our Heavenly Father. We can never pay Him back for all He has done for us. If we can't do that, what do we do? We serve Him by serving His children. Matthew 25:40 Inasmuch as ye do it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye do it unto me.

We serve God by serving our family, friends, neighbors, and strangers. Mosiah 2:17 ...when ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God.

Anyway, it was a wonderful talk and Andrew is a wonderful young man. Eight days and counting.