Farewell Talk

Good morning! My heart is so full as I look out on this room full of the people I love who mean so much to me. Four long months ago I received a mission call to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I will be spending the next 18 months of my life inviting others to come unto Christ and standing as a representative of him, serving in the Santiago Dominican Republic Mission. The time has finally come but surprisingly quicker than I ever thought and I am so so excited and thrilled to get on with this next adventure in my life. 

Ask me maybe two years ago and I don't think I would have ever imagined myself standing up here giving a farewell talk today. In 2018 my oldest brother Gunner left to serve a mission and then before Gunner came home Boomer left to serve a mission as well. I will never forget dropping Boomer off at the MTC. As we got back in the car to drive home, we were all crying and I looked over to my mom in tears and said “I am NEVER going on a mission.” Talon chimed in from the back seat and agreed with me. But apparently my Heavenly Father had different plans for me.  Well Talon I'd like to say to you now that if I can do it you can do it too.

The summer after I graduated I went on a two week church history tour. We drove from Utah to New York and stopped and visited many church history sites on the way. Both my older brothers had gone on this trip before and they both had great experiences. While I was on the trip Boomer sent me a text that said

 “Hey Abby sorry to bug you, but I just wanted to say I love you! I was thinking about your trip and I think when you go to the Sacred Grove where Joseph Smith had the first vision you should pray to know if you should go on a mission. It's a super special and sacred place and you will be able to feel the spirit so strongly. Love you, enjoy your trip!”

The last stop we had before we headed back to Utah was the Sacred Grove. I decided to pray whether or not I should serve a mission. We left the sacred grove that night and I was devastated because I didn't get an answer. A few months later I had a dream. All I remember was I was wearing a missionary tag, in a foreign country teaching. (read journal story)

 It scared me and I didn’t want to believe I was being told I needed to serve a mission, so I ignored this dream, but I continued to have similar dreams over the next few months where I was wearing a missionary tag and serving others. It became clear to me that after 6 months of fighting I knew that I couldn't ignore this prompting any longer. In March I met with Bishop Merrill and we started my mission papers. 

I'd like to share with you two sentences that have changed my life forever, they go like this. “Dear Sister Miller, you are hereby called to serve as missionary for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Santiago, Dominican Republic Mission. I hope to never forget the overwhelming feelings of happiness, peace and love I felt from my Heavenly Father as I read those words aloud on a hot night in June. I start at home MTC on October 31 for two weeks and then travel to the Mexico MTC for one month where I will learn everything about becoming a missionary. 

My message this morning is simple and it is one of the happiest messages in the world. It is a message that we have a Heavenly Father who loves each and every one of us. And that he loves us NO MATTER what. He loves us because we are his children. To me there is no doubt there is a God. Everything around us testifies of him; the rushing rivers and towering mountains, the change of season from green to white, the stars in the night sky, the glowing moon, the vibrant sunrises and sunsets, and being surrounded in the world by millions of people, none of which are the same as you, and yet, He is mindful of you because He loves you. Isn't that the coolest thing ever? There is a quote that says, “How cool is it that the same God who created mountains and oceans and galaxies, knew that the world needed one of you too?” You are important to Him. 

Part of Heavenly Fathers plan was for Jesus Christ to become our Savior. In order for this to happen, Jesus Christ needed to perform the atonement which allowed for each of us to repent and have the chance to return to live with our loving Heavenly Father again, in eternal happiness and joy. 

Jesus Christ is known by many names - The Light of the World, our Savior and Redeemer, the Lamb of God, Prince of peace, and many others. But one of my favorites is the Good Shepherd. The job description of a shepherd is someone who cares for and looks after each one of his sheep. And because we are all His children, we are all under the watchful and loving care of the Good Shepherd because we are His sheep. And we are all a part of His fold. 

When Jesus Christ was alive on the earth, the religious leaders of his day condemned Him for spending time with sinners. Jesus Christ then taught the parable of the lost sheep which can be found in the 15th chapter of Luke. It reads; “What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he finds it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing”.

President Dieter F Uchtdorf said of this parable, quote “Over the centuries, this parable has traditionally been interpreted as a call to action for us to bring back the lost sheep and to reach out to those who are lost. While this is certainly appropriate and good, I wonder if there is more to it. Is it possible that Jesus's purpose, first and foremost, was to teach about the work of the Good Shepherd? Is it possible that the Savior's message was that God is fully aware of those who are lost - and that He will find them, that we will reach out to them, and that He will rescue them? If that is so, what must the sheep do to qualify for this divine help? Does the sheep need to be able to use a GPS to define its position? Does it have to have the expertise to create an app that will call for help? No. Certainly not! The sheep is worthy of divine rescue simply because it is loved by the Good Shepherd”. End quote. 

So having the knowledge that I am under the loving watch of the Good Shepherd even when life gets tough means the world to me. It gives me comfort when I am feeling lost or afraid. I know that I am a child of God and I have a Heavenly Father who loves me and has a plan for me. Jesus Christ, the good shepherd, knows and loves each one of us. He weeps with us when we suffer and rejoices with us when we do what is right. He knows where we are and what we need. We are His children and He loves us. And because He loves us, He will come to the rescue. Since the Savior has experienced everything we will go through, He can help the weak become strong. He experienced all mortal challenges “according to the flesh” so he could know “according to the flesh” how to help us according to our infirmities. He knows our struggles, our heartaches, our temptations, our suffering, because He willingly experienced them all through the atonement. 

I want to share with all of you one of my favorite quotes by President M Russell Ballard that says, “I assure each one of you that the Lord knows you, that He is aware of your concerns and your anguish, and that He loves you - intimately, personally, deeply forever” end quote. 

Something I will never forget is on the church history tour when we visited Adam-ondi-Ahman. This place holds a very special place in my heart. I have never felt the spirit so strongly. I knew for certain that my Heavenly Father loved me personally and that He knows me. 

I know my mission will not be easy, it will in fact be the hardest thing I have ever done. I will have to approach strangers every day, and a lot of them will not want to hear my message. I will have a lot of rejection. It will be exhausting. Mentally, physically, and spiritually strenuous. I will miss my family, my home, my dog, the mountains and so much more. However, this isn't about me. It's about the people I am about to go out and serve. The line “where much is given; much is required” comes to mind. The Lord has blessed my life in so many ways, that the least I feel I can do is to dedicate these next 18 months to serving Him and His children.

I love the simplicity of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for my knowledge of the plan of salvation and that we can be with our families forever. I know that we have a Heavenly Father who loves us and that He has a plan for each of us. I am grateful for our Savior Jesus Christ who atoned for our sins so we are able to repent and become a better version of ourselves each day. I am grateful for the influence and companionship of the holy ghost to help us know right from wrong. I know the temple is a place where we can feel peace and God's love so strongly for us. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and that Joseph Smith restored the gospel of Jesus Christ and that he is a true prophet who was called of God. I know that President Russell M. Nielsen is a true prophet called by God to lead and direct this church in these latter days. And I would just like to emphasize one last time that I know God loves each of us no matter what. 

Lastly, I would just like to thank everyone who has helped me get to this point in my life.  To my grandma and grandpa, thank you for always being there to support me and my family and making sure I feel your love. I look up to you and your examples of service and unconditional love. I love you guys.

Gunner and Boomer, thank you for being incredible role models for me. I look up to you both more than you'll ever know. You guys are always there to comfort and protect me. I'm so blessed to have you guys as my older brothers, and I couldn't be more grateful for you both. I love you guys.

Talon, thank you for showing me unconditional love. You’re always making me laugh at your stupid jokes and I don’t know what I’d do without you. Please don't grow too much while I'm gone, alright? I love you so much bud.

 

And lastly mom, you are the best mom in the whole world. You are the greatest example of Christlike love. Thank you for being so strong for our family, always supporting me, and being my best friend. I love you. 

In Greek the word “gospel” literally means good news. I can't wait to share this good news with the people of the Dominican Republic. 

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.