Good Morning Brothers and Sisters
Last night I was on facebook and bumped into a members profile on www.mormon.org's which led me to some interesting things like this one

As hard as he works in his New York clothing design studio, Robert knows real success will come from raising his two sons to have integrity and to be honest throughout their lives.

What are you doing to help strengthen your family and make it successful?
We believe that family is the fundamental, most important unit of society. Families were designed to help and teach one another as we progress through this mortal life. In your life, what family member has had the biggest impact on you personally and why?
You can create your own profile.. read other profiles and lead others to this site to share the gospel and the beliefs of the church.. fun...

This talk is about examples from the scriptures of people that have strengths and talents that can help us be successful in our lives... therefore I found it fun to read about real living members of the church sharing what success means to them.. and other aspects...
Now.. on to my talk..

Do you remember this line from the movie “The Lion King” “Remember, Remember who you are” as the Old King Lion in the clouds reminds his son on earth? To define success we have to Remember who we are...

How can we even begin to understand how to be successful... unless we first remember who we are
As Spirit Sons and Daughters of our Heavenly Father who loves us.. we are Queens and Kings.. Priests and Priestesses, Gods and Goddesses in embryo... We have the right to search and find happiness in this life.. Our success is helping Heavenly Father have his success..

Once we understand who we are our attitude should change to understand we can do anything that is needed with the help of the Holy Ghost and the Angles in Heaven.. with the help of our brothers and sisters and the priesthood here on this earth who also have the same basic definition of success.

Heavenly Father defines his success Moses 1:39 “For behold, this is my work and my glory --- to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man”

Thus for the purpose of this talk my definition of success will be to gain immortality and eternal life, but also have an abundant life in the process.. John 10:10 “I am come that they might have life (eternal) and that they might have it more abundantly” So, abundant life while working on the process to gain immortality and eternal life...and to help other also make it back to Heavenly Father.. Remember that the Angels in heaven rejoice when just one soul is saved...

Yeah.. I think my definition of success will be to end my life sliding into heaven like into home base.. all used up but going Wheee what a life... I want an abundant life full of experiences and bringing as many people as I can with me into Heaven, with my family sealed with me into eternity... and then having Heavenly Father say.. well done though Good and Faithful servant.. you have accomplished all that was needed.. you have done my work.. .. yeah.. anyway.. how do we do it.... what examples do we have..


Jesus told us that which we should do.. the greatest commandment Matthew 22:37-39 “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the laws and the prophets”

Mosiah 2:41 those who keep the commandments unto the end shall dwell with God in a state of never – ending happiness
Alma 3:26 Those whose works are good reap eternal happiness
Alma 27:18 none receive joy of God save penitent and humble seeker of happiness
see Index for Happiness pg 143 back of D&C

We all have been given strengths and talents to accomplish the goals we set for ourselves in heaven. Once we understand our goals here in this mortal life, defined by our definition of success.. then it is easier to develop our strengths into the ability to accomplish those goals... we do not need to be weighed down by the definitions of the world for success. Nor by sins and chains of unrighteousness..due to the plan of atonement which allows us to overcome our carnal nature and become one with God, with Jesus Christ...

To achieve the success as defined by what God's success is.. it takes leadership, problem solving and all other types of skill sets: we each need to develop our skills so we can achieve our goals and thus Heavenly Fathers goals for us..

Moses could not have accomplished what he did if he did not have or learn those skill sets he needed for the calling he was given.. To lead God's chosen people out of Egypt and to build a nation that was God's in the land he had promised Abraham and his posterity
He was raised in the Pharaoh's palace – where he learned a different mind set than that of a slave.. he learned to lead.. he learned all the history, sciences, and other teachings of his day. He also learned much about the gods of Egypt but I believe he retained the teachings of his mother when she was nursing him of the God of Abraham and Israel...
Some of the strengths he had were born into him.. others were learned and honed..
Then through the trials he had, he was purified and brought to those that worshiped God and learned about God and what it takes to follow him.. until he was ready for God to call him to the job of leading the Israelites out of Egypt.
In the process of learning he had to have patience, he had to be able to lead, to teach, and to listen to the voice of the people and to the still small voice of God directing him in what he would need to do..

Had he ever opened an ocean before? NO... Had he ever lead a large large group of people before? NO only flocks of sheep...
Moses not only had to lead a people out of Egypt he had to teach them who they were, to change them from being slaves to being Kings and Gods, Queens and Godesses, Priests and Priestesses... that is what took the 40 years in the wilderness... To teach them dependence upon God and to teach them the laws that would help them become a great nation as long as they followed them...

Yet through faith and determination he did it.. He had the help of his Father in law (a Priest) to learn skills.. such as delegation.. and I am sure he had much more help in learning what skills he needed that made use of his inborn strengths. He could not just follow the commandments.. they had not yet been given when he started, He through the inspiration and guidance of God and direct communication wrote them.. He could not go to a sacrament meeting or a temple.. they also had not yet been brought into the worship of Heavenly Father, through divine guidance, inspiration and some direct communication brought forth the temple and all it's worship plans..... think about that.. and how he made it so much easier for us..

Then lets look at a different type of success with different strengths and talents and callings
Ruth... What would we consider her strengths.. she was caring and compassionate, flexible enough to change, persistent, obedient, and trusted God..
Ruth was not born a Jew, nor raised one.. but she married a Jewish man... but then her husband died as did her father-in-law and brother-in-law... She was determined to love and stay with her Mother-in-law – Naomi.. She promised she would worship as Naomi did.”thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God;” (Ruth 1:16). and so she did..
She gleened/scavenged in the fields for food for her and Naomi.. which means they were some of the poorest in the land..
She caught the attention of those around her and Boaz the master of the field told his harvesters to leave more than usual so she could gleen it and to protect her when in the fields...Boaz said to her “It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband; … and am come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore. The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou are come to trust.” (Ruth 2:11-12) She then through due process married Boaz and became an ancestor to King David and Jesus Christ...
I consider her successful..

If we look at a strength such as problem solving.. which person in the scriptures would come to mind?
I think of Nephi.. Nephi had to figure out how to get the plates from the cruel and devious Laban. They tried twice unsuccessfully.. then depending totally on God for where and how to accomplish that job.. He went into the city alone.. before he went he prayed, he was probably fasting too.. and he did not have the support of his brothers so he went alone.. what a problem.. He went and through divine guidance he found a way to solve the problem and get the plates.. in a way never supposed.. In the scriptures it seems a lot of that happens.. in a way that we would not have expected... but God knew and because we trust in him it happens.. Fun
Then think of Nephi and building a boat.. How would you do it even today if you were asked to build a boat to carry all your people across a large body of water.. all your family.. whoot better make sure it will not sink.. How would you do it..
Now consider they had no knowledge, tools or materials except in a natural form.. trees, ores that had to be mined.. and who knows what else.. Nephi, trusted God, prayed, fasted for guidance, and then went forward.. he developed a plan for the boat.. he was led to where the ore was.. he had to face opposition, he built a forge and created the tools.. and then he built the boat..
I cannot help wondering where and how he did it.. Did he spend some time as a youth at a shipyard? Or with ores and smelting and creating tools.. Then think of the organizational ability and skill-sets it took to gather all the materials needed, to direct a work team to create the boat.(leadership). to bring the supplies needed.. to make ropes.. and a lot more..
Then we see his spiritual leadership as well. He guided his family, people to continue to follow the commandments.. to stay true to Heavenly Father.. and he was given many revelations to help guide his people and to understand about the Savior... yep another successful person in the scriptures..

At what point do we consider a person successful? When does God?
Consider Job.. God did.. he had the respect of his peers, leadership of the community, of the princes of the land even... He had a wonderful family, lots of sons, he had land and animal herds and servants.. He was charitable, kind, had integrity, and he depended upon God.. He followed the commandments, he put God before all else. So at that point he is successful... then he looses it all.. in a matter of a very short time.. it is all gone.. except his wife, and daughters.. then he even looses his health.. he sits in the ashes of mourning.. he develops boils and other illness.. He wishes he were never born.. but he never never rebukes God.. or curses God.. even though many so called friend say he must have done something wrong..He kept his integrity.. he kept his full faith in God that this is the way God wanted it so it would be OK.. So at this point would you call him successful? God did..
Then finally God talked to him and answered and challenged him.. We learn much in what is recorded about Heavenly Father.. think about these verses
Job 38:4-7 “When God created all the heavens and the earth.. and When the morning stars sang together for joy and all the sons of men shouted for joy”... We were there.. we were the ones shouting for joy...
Job 42:12 “So then the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning”.. Successful?

And then my Brothers and Sisters I would like to look at Joseph Smith Jr.. raised in poor material circumstances.. yet he was raised with the scriptures.. His family background was one of spirituality and searching the scriptures.. His grandfather and his great grandfathers and some uncles were all involved in some level of scripture study and had received revelations... he was called when still a boy..to do something that was impossible... to create the Church of God upon the earth again.. to bring back all the truths and organization that is needed to accomplish the goals of a loving Heavenly Father..
“For this is my work and my glory to bring about the immortality and eternal life of man.”
So.. what strengths were needed.. what skill sets.. did he get them all at once? NO.. line upon line.. precept upon precept.. strength upon strength, skill upon skill built upon one another.. shared by others as he had need and developed.
Joseph had determination and faith, a testimony only like other prophets. He was loving, caring, strong, fun-loving, he developed leadership.. when he lead others followed, teaching skills.. he had to teach everyone everything about the gospel.. because no one had the truth.. and all needed to learn it. He had to listen to the Holy Spirit for safety and for instruction.. Just like Nephi he had to have divine guidance in organizing the Church..
He had to have endurance through all his trials..and many more strengths and more yet of skill sets he developed over the years..
He, with divine guidance, laid out the city of Nauvoo.. and I think 3 times designed temples.. He brought forth the true gospel so we would have a clean set of commandments so we would know what to do in order to achieve eternal life.. Our commandments are still the same as those brought forth by Moses.. but even more so we can accomplish the goals we have for our time...

Another person of interest.. in a parable.. The Good Samaritan.. was he real or only an example we don't know.. but he had compassion.. he was willing to go out of his way to help another unknown person.. He was willing to risk himself to help a stranger.. He shared what he had.. he not only initially helped this stranger into a safe and caring position. But he came back and made sure he was doing ok.. He had to have enough personal resources to help that person.. He had enough courage, enough compassion. He had to have worked enough to have those resources so he could help.. yep. An interesting person.. was he successful.. I would think so... we always refer to a person that stops and helps a stranger as a good Samaritan... so yep...

so now what about us...

God gives us the basic strengths we will need to accomplish our mission here ..we have to take those talents and strengths, develop them through doing his will as told us in this story by Jesus
For the purposes of this talk.. think of talents here as strengths and skill sets..
1.Matt. 25: 14-30
  14 ¶ For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
  15 And unto one he agave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
  16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
  17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
  18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
  19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
  20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
  21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
  22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
  23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
  24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
  25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
  26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
  27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
  28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
  29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
  30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

We have to do all that we can in order to develop our strengths and talents.

How does one begin to learn what their strengths are... I believe that God knows each of our strengths much more than we do and strives to put us in situations that help us grow our strengths.. We are all raised in a situation that develops some aspect of our strengths... Through the Bishop God calls each of us to callings.. most of the time for us to learn something about our own abilities. Through schooling we find out what interests we have and through jobs we learn more about ourselves..
Through our relationships we learn even more about ourselves..and through our trials and struggles we strengthen our strengths.. the more we build on our strengths the more we can be successful.. the more we can assist others..

When we are doing all we can and still have a need then call upon God to help us.. but not ask him to do the job for us
We have to also learn how to hear and follow, how to trust.. and how God works

Our Deepest Fear
By Marianne Williamson

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness
That most frightens us.

We ask ourselves
Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.

Your playing small
Does not serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking
So that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine,
As children do.
We were born to make manifest
The glory of God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us;
It's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine,
We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we're liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.

Luke 2:48 paraphrased Where much is given(talents) much is expected.. expected to do what if not use those talents and do what we can to accomplish following the commandments and building the kingdom..