He Was a Teenage Lawn Mower

I had a branch president in one of my areas that gave some of the most impressive, engaging talks I had ever heard. I attended a Stake Priesthood meeting where he was asked to speak, and it was my first chance to actually hear him give a talk. He spoke confidently, and never lost the attention of anyone in the room, especially the young men at the meeting to whom he was addressing.

He started with a story about a time he was mowing his lawn as a teenager, and he came upon a few small turtles. He reasoned that there must've been a mother nearby, but couldn't see it. Afraid to accidentally mow over the turtle in the tall grass, he checked every spot of grass before he mowed over it. That is, until he got to one little patch of untrimmed lawn. He thought to check the grass before mowing, but decided against it. To his horror, the grass was indeed hiding a turtle. He then explained how we should never let our guard down when it comes to the gospel.

This impressed upon me just how powerful a personal, well-told story could help teach a gospel principle. Church leaders have used them for years to help teach tough, and perhaps complex topics, with no better example than our own prophet, Thomas S. Monson.

The reason for this seems clear: the conflict-resolution set up that we find in stories perfectly matches up with the problem-gospel answer that has existed as long as holy writ itself, while also providing memorable images to accompany abstract concepts. "Never let your guard down" seems like an obvious, oft-heard message in the church, but with this story, it becomes a lesson I'll not soon forget.

Messages of Faith, Love, and Personality

There is a man who was a family friend who lived down the street from me growing up. He called (and still to this day calls) me “Lizzy Lou”—my favorite nickname of my childhood, and one that is associated with endearment. I have always looked up to this man, and then he became my bishop, and now currently serves as the Stake President of my home stake. This man is a wonderful man, and because I know this, I pay close attention to his words when he speaks. I know that he has a message prepared for me, and that it is directed by the spirit.

Canyon View Stake Center

On numerous occasions his talks have included similar items that truly help me to listen, understand, and grapple with life messages that need to be applied to me personally. He asks questions—and only answers some of them. Other questions he leaves unanswered, for us to do the work to find the answers that best suit us. He tells stories; stories that leave me captivated, hanging on every word; and stories that dig into my soul and find similar events that are going on in my life. His stories accompanied with his testimony of love and faith, have a way of getting more than one message across. Another aspect dealing with his presentation, is on occasion he will let a tear or two slip. When he shows emotion, it shows power. It shows the power of the Holy Ghost testifying of the principle or truth of which he is speaking. He is not a blubbering baby who is hard to understand. He is a strong, faithful man, who has a pure and steady testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. His questions, stories, and emotions bring power to his addresses, and I’m sure help more people in the audience than just me.

-Lizzy S.