Good morning brothers and sisters. I stand before you today with a grateful heart. I was asked to talk about who I am. So along with a talk on Charity by President Monson, I will introduce myself.
Who Am I? I am sure at this point most of you already have your “mental report card” out, ready and waiting to hear my story and then place judgment on me. Am I someone worthy to be included in your circle? Am I someone that you would like to get to know better? Am I just another face in the crowd? The new girl?
President Monson says “Rather than being judgmental and critical of each other may we have the pure love of Christ for our fellow travelers in this journey through life”.
So, as I stand here before you, I ask you to refrain for just a few moments from passing judgment, open your hearts and minds as I share parts of me and my journey as your fellow traveler.
I would like to start off by sharing two of my favorite quotes that I try and live by.
The first one is labeled as a quote from God. It says “DO NOT JUDGE, YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT STROM I HAVE ASKED HER TO WALK THROUGH”.
The second one is “WHY DO WE AS WOMEN, BRING DOWN OTHER WOMEN, KNOWING HOW HARD IT IS TO BE A WOMAN”
President Monson tells a story about a young couple, Lisa and John, who move into a new neighborhood. One morning while they were eating breakfast, Lisa looked out the window and watched her next-door neighbor hanging out her wash.
“That laundry’s not clean!” Lisa exclaimed. “Our neighbor doesn’t know how to get clothes clean!”
John looked on but remained silent.
Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, Lisa would make the same comments.
A few weeks later Lisa was surprised to glance out her window and see a nice, clean wash hanging in her neighbor’s yard. She said to her husband, “Look, John she’s finally learned how to wash correctly! I wonder how she did it.”
John replied, “Well, dear, I have the answer for you. You’ll be interested to know that I got up early this morning and washed our windows!”
Ask yourself, Am I looking through a window that needs cleaning? Am I making judgments when I don’t have all the facts? What do I see when I look at others? What judgments do I make about them?
So I stand before you today a daughter of God. I have truly been blessed in my journey. I have been given a strong mind and body and blessed with many talents. I have been given four beautiful healthy children. I am blessed to be married to my best friend and eternal companion. I have a family who loves me and supports me in all I do.
I have been blessed to have a great career in Law Enforcement, serving and protecting my community. I have coached some great kids that have gone on to be successful student athletes. I have been an EMT and Firefighter, saving lives and property, and I have worked with many victims of domestic violence trying to get them and their children to a safe environment.
Well hopefully now you are thinking WOW, she is someone I might want to get to know.
I am not saying these things to be prideful or boastful, I am just trying to give you a glimpse of who I am, my story.
Well now here comes the judgment time.
Hi, I am Kristi, Addict. I suffer from PTSD. I have been assaulted, kicked, hit, spit on and urinated on in my quest to serve and protect my community. I have seen things in my life that a person should not have to see. I have been suicidal, suffered from depression and have had to fight to keep Satan out of my life.
I can be stubborn, hard headed and prideful. My house is not always clean and I suffer from self-esteem issues. I have not always made good decisions and I have hurt people along the way.
So now what? Still someone you may want to get to know?
From the words of President Monson, “None of us is perfect. I know no one who would profess to be so. And yet, for some reason, despite our own imperfections, we have a tendency to point out those of others. We make judgments concerning their actions.”
Though I have many flaws, I would consider myself to be a loyal compassionate friend, a woman of intelligence who loves the lord and loves serving his children. I have a big heart and love serving others. These are traits someone would miss out on should they judge me by my appearance alone or the mistakes I have made.
President Monson says “Not only are we inclined to judge the actions or words of others, but many of us judge appearances: clothing, hairstyles, size. The list could go on and on”. He also goes on to say “There is really no way we can know the heart, the intentions, or the circumstances of someone who might say or do something we find reason to criticize. Thus the commandment “Judge Not”.
Just another reminder of that old saying “Before you judge my life, walk in my shoes”.
President Monson tells a story about a member of a woman’s organization once complained when a certain woman was selected to represent the organization. She had never met the woman, but she had seen a photograph of her and didn’t like what she saw, considering her to be overweight. She commented, “Of the thousands of women in this organization, surely a better representative could have been chosen”.
True, the woman who was chosen was not “model slim”, but those who knew her and knew her qualities saw in her far more than was reflected in the photograph. The photograph did show that she had a friendly smile and look of confidence. What the photograph didn’t show was that she was a loyal and compassionate friend, a woman who was highly educated and loved the lord and the people she served. It didn’t show that she volunteered in the community and was a considerate and concerned neighbor. In short, the photograph did not reflect who she really was.
I ask: If attitudes, deeds and spiritual inclinations were reflected in physical features, would the countenance of the woman who complained be as lovely as that of the woman she criticized?
My dear sisters, each of you is unique. You are different from each other in many ways. There are those of you who are married. Some of you stay at home with your children, while others of you work outside your homes. Some of you are empty nesters. There are those of you who are married but do not have children. There are those who are divorced, those who are widowed. Many of you are single women. Some of you have college degrees: some of you do not. There are those who can afford the latest fashions and those who are lucky to have one appropriate Sunday outfit. Such differences are almost endless. Do these differences tempt us to judge one another?
I have always loved your Relief Society motto: “Charity never faileth”. What is Charity? The prophet Mormon teaches us that “charity is the pure love of Christ.”
I have in mind that charity that manifests itself when we are tolerant of others and lenient toward their actions, the kind of charity that forgives, the kind of charity that is patient. I have in mind the charity that impels us to be sympathetic, compassionate, and merciful, not only in times of sickness and affliction and distress but also in times of weakness or error on the part of others.
There is a serious need for the charity that gives attention to those who are unnoticed, hope to those who are discouraged, aid to those who are afflicted. True charity is love in action. The need for charity is everywhere.
Charity is having patience with someone who has let us down. It is resisting the impulse to become offended easily. It is accepting weaknesses and shortcomings. It is accepting people as they truly are. It is looking beyond physical appearances to attributes that will not dim through time. It is resisting the impulse to categorize others. It is felt when the sister sitting alone in Relief Society receives the invitation , “Come, sit by us”.
In a hundred small ways, all of you wear the mantle of Charity. Life is perfect for none of us. Rather than being judgmental and critical of each other, may we have the pure love of Christ for our fellow travelers in this journey through life. May we recognize that each one is doing her best to deal with the challenges which come her way, and may we strive to do our best to help out.
Charity has been defined as “the highest, noblest, strongest kind of love” the “pure love of Christ; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with her”.
“Charity Never Faileth”. May this long-enduring Relief Society motto, this timeless truth, guide you in everything you do. May it permeate your very soul and find expression in all your thoughts and actions.
I express my love to you, my sisters, and pray that heaven’s blessings may ever be yours. In the name of Jesus Christ, AMEN
Brothers and Sisters, I thank you for the opportunity to introduce myself. I am thankful to be here and our family is excited to get to know you. May we strive each day to have the pure love of Christ and seek for those that need our help. Often just a small smile or hello can mean the world.
I would like to finish with a short story. There was a dark time in my life when I felt like I was not good enough or worthy to attend church. I was visiting a ward that I did not know anyone and although I did feel the spirit when I was there I kept questioning myself if I should be there. After Sacrament a woman walked up to me and handed me a picture on a folded piece of paper that her 10 year old daughter had drawn of me. She had written on it “The pretty lady across the aisle”. I knew at that moment that I truly was a daughter of my heavenly father and that he did know me. I pray we can have the minds of a child and recognize beauty in everyone we come in contact with.
I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, AMEN
Who Am I? I am sure at this point most of you already have your “mental report card” out, ready and waiting to hear my story and then place judgment on me. Am I someone worthy to be included in your circle? Am I someone that you would like to get to know better? Am I just another face in the crowd? The new girl?
President Monson says “Rather than being judgmental and critical of each other may we have the pure love of Christ for our fellow travelers in this journey through life”.
So, as I stand here before you, I ask you to refrain for just a few moments from passing judgment, open your hearts and minds as I share parts of me and my journey as your fellow traveler.
I would like to start off by sharing two of my favorite quotes that I try and live by.
The first one is labeled as a quote from God. It says “DO NOT JUDGE, YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT STROM I HAVE ASKED HER TO WALK THROUGH”.
The second one is “WHY DO WE AS WOMEN, BRING DOWN OTHER WOMEN, KNOWING HOW HARD IT IS TO BE A WOMAN”
President Monson tells a story about a young couple, Lisa and John, who move into a new neighborhood. One morning while they were eating breakfast, Lisa looked out the window and watched her next-door neighbor hanging out her wash.
“That laundry’s not clean!” Lisa exclaimed. “Our neighbor doesn’t know how to get clothes clean!”
John looked on but remained silent.
Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, Lisa would make the same comments.
A few weeks later Lisa was surprised to glance out her window and see a nice, clean wash hanging in her neighbor’s yard. She said to her husband, “Look, John she’s finally learned how to wash correctly! I wonder how she did it.”
John replied, “Well, dear, I have the answer for you. You’ll be interested to know that I got up early this morning and washed our windows!”
Ask yourself, Am I looking through a window that needs cleaning? Am I making judgments when I don’t have all the facts? What do I see when I look at others? What judgments do I make about them?
So I stand before you today a daughter of God. I have truly been blessed in my journey. I have been given a strong mind and body and blessed with many talents. I have been given four beautiful healthy children. I am blessed to be married to my best friend and eternal companion. I have a family who loves me and supports me in all I do.
I have been blessed to have a great career in Law Enforcement, serving and protecting my community. I have coached some great kids that have gone on to be successful student athletes. I have been an EMT and Firefighter, saving lives and property, and I have worked with many victims of domestic violence trying to get them and their children to a safe environment.
Well hopefully now you are thinking WOW, she is someone I might want to get to know.
I am not saying these things to be prideful or boastful, I am just trying to give you a glimpse of who I am, my story.
Well now here comes the judgment time.
Hi, I am Kristi, Addict. I suffer from PTSD. I have been assaulted, kicked, hit, spit on and urinated on in my quest to serve and protect my community. I have seen things in my life that a person should not have to see. I have been suicidal, suffered from depression and have had to fight to keep Satan out of my life.
I can be stubborn, hard headed and prideful. My house is not always clean and I suffer from self-esteem issues. I have not always made good decisions and I have hurt people along the way.
So now what? Still someone you may want to get to know?
From the words of President Monson, “None of us is perfect. I know no one who would profess to be so. And yet, for some reason, despite our own imperfections, we have a tendency to point out those of others. We make judgments concerning their actions.”
Though I have many flaws, I would consider myself to be a loyal compassionate friend, a woman of intelligence who loves the lord and loves serving his children. I have a big heart and love serving others. These are traits someone would miss out on should they judge me by my appearance alone or the mistakes I have made.
President Monson says “Not only are we inclined to judge the actions or words of others, but many of us judge appearances: clothing, hairstyles, size. The list could go on and on”. He also goes on to say “There is really no way we can know the heart, the intentions, or the circumstances of someone who might say or do something we find reason to criticize. Thus the commandment “Judge Not”.
Just another reminder of that old saying “Before you judge my life, walk in my shoes”.
President Monson tells a story about a member of a woman’s organization once complained when a certain woman was selected to represent the organization. She had never met the woman, but she had seen a photograph of her and didn’t like what she saw, considering her to be overweight. She commented, “Of the thousands of women in this organization, surely a better representative could have been chosen”.
True, the woman who was chosen was not “model slim”, but those who knew her and knew her qualities saw in her far more than was reflected in the photograph. The photograph did show that she had a friendly smile and look of confidence. What the photograph didn’t show was that she was a loyal and compassionate friend, a woman who was highly educated and loved the lord and the people she served. It didn’t show that she volunteered in the community and was a considerate and concerned neighbor. In short, the photograph did not reflect who she really was.
I ask: If attitudes, deeds and spiritual inclinations were reflected in physical features, would the countenance of the woman who complained be as lovely as that of the woman she criticized?
My dear sisters, each of you is unique. You are different from each other in many ways. There are those of you who are married. Some of you stay at home with your children, while others of you work outside your homes. Some of you are empty nesters. There are those of you who are married but do not have children. There are those who are divorced, those who are widowed. Many of you are single women. Some of you have college degrees: some of you do not. There are those who can afford the latest fashions and those who are lucky to have one appropriate Sunday outfit. Such differences are almost endless. Do these differences tempt us to judge one another?
I have always loved your Relief Society motto: “Charity never faileth”. What is Charity? The prophet Mormon teaches us that “charity is the pure love of Christ.”
I have in mind that charity that manifests itself when we are tolerant of others and lenient toward their actions, the kind of charity that forgives, the kind of charity that is patient. I have in mind the charity that impels us to be sympathetic, compassionate, and merciful, not only in times of sickness and affliction and distress but also in times of weakness or error on the part of others.
There is a serious need for the charity that gives attention to those who are unnoticed, hope to those who are discouraged, aid to those who are afflicted. True charity is love in action. The need for charity is everywhere.
Charity is having patience with someone who has let us down. It is resisting the impulse to become offended easily. It is accepting weaknesses and shortcomings. It is accepting people as they truly are. It is looking beyond physical appearances to attributes that will not dim through time. It is resisting the impulse to categorize others. It is felt when the sister sitting alone in Relief Society receives the invitation , “Come, sit by us”.
In a hundred small ways, all of you wear the mantle of Charity. Life is perfect for none of us. Rather than being judgmental and critical of each other, may we have the pure love of Christ for our fellow travelers in this journey through life. May we recognize that each one is doing her best to deal with the challenges which come her way, and may we strive to do our best to help out.
Charity has been defined as “the highest, noblest, strongest kind of love” the “pure love of Christ; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with her”.
“Charity Never Faileth”. May this long-enduring Relief Society motto, this timeless truth, guide you in everything you do. May it permeate your very soul and find expression in all your thoughts and actions.
I express my love to you, my sisters, and pray that heaven’s blessings may ever be yours. In the name of Jesus Christ, AMEN
Brothers and Sisters, I thank you for the opportunity to introduce myself. I am thankful to be here and our family is excited to get to know you. May we strive each day to have the pure love of Christ and seek for those that need our help. Often just a small smile or hello can mean the world.
I would like to finish with a short story. There was a dark time in my life when I felt like I was not good enough or worthy to attend church. I was visiting a ward that I did not know anyone and although I did feel the spirit when I was there I kept questioning myself if I should be there. After Sacrament a woman walked up to me and handed me a picture on a folded piece of paper that her 10 year old daughter had drawn of me. She had written on it “The pretty lady across the aisle”. I knew at that moment that I truly was a daughter of my heavenly father and that he did know me. I pray we can have the minds of a child and recognize beauty in everyone we come in contact with.
I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, AMEN
