MMM Sermons: "Finding Joy in the Journey"

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by Saint Mark (bio)

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints call them "talks," but most non-Christians call them sermons. This is a series of sermons that many Latter-day Saints love and believe. I hope these sermons promote and perfect your faith as they do mine.

Read the sermon here.

President Thomas S. Monson, the Prophet, Seer and Revelator of our time, gave key counsel in the October 2008 General Conference.

Many years ago, Arthur Gordon wrote in a national magazine, and I quote:

“When I was around thirteen and my brother ten, Father had promised to take us to the circus. But at lunchtime there was a phone call; some urgent business required his attention downtown. We braced ourselves for disappointment. Then we heard him say [into the phone], ‘No, I won’t be down. It’ll have to wait.’

“When he came back to the table, Mother smiled. ‘The circus keeps coming back, you know,’ [she said.]

“‘I know,’ said Father. ‘But childhood doesn’t.’”

As a father, I appreciate the reminder by the prophet to be a deliberate parent and to make the most of the moment I have with my children because childhood doesn't keep coming back.

President Monson's additional counsel in this sermon--that we must love and be grateful for what we have and not regret and lament what we don't--is inspired, especially during the Great Recession that has affected us all. Having been unemployed and looking at an ever shrinking savings account, I know that worrying and being anxious are not the answer to my family's trials. Gratitude and serving others is.

I thank thee O God for a prophet.