Brother and Sister Loftin

We've been the phantom new couple in our new ward in Oregon for the last 6 months. We moved in and met a few people at church our first week in town and, after that, only made it church on rare occasions during the next few months due to traveling to Gage's football games on weekends or Gage's football meetings on Sundays. Fellow ward-members had heard about us or maybe even seen glimpses of us, a lucky few were able to catch us and welcome us to the area. But after playing hide-and-seek for 6 months, we were called to the pulpit to formally introduce ourselves.



Here is a copy of my talk...
And yes, I write it out word for word, otherwise I'll freeze and talk about The Bachelor and hair products.
Gage, on the other hand, is Mr. Missionary and just wrote out bullet points and let it flow with the spirit... so I won't include his list of 10 incomplete sentences. Although I will inform you that his talk was very, VERY good! He had the congregation laughing and his wife drooling. He's so dreamy when he's Peter Priesthood.

February 26th, 2012

Gage and I are from two small towns in Utah County. We met and started dating in the summer of 2010 and got married about 7 months ago in July, 2011.

I agreed to meet Gage only to get my best friend off my back. She had been harassing me for close to a YEAR about going out with him. According to her, we were perfect for each other and I would absolutely love him. Me, well, I am a stubborn planner and rarely open up to ideas that aren’t in my plans. Gage was not a part of my plans, so you can imagine how fed up I had to be with my friend’s nagging to finally meet this guy.

To my surprise, the second I met him I was smitten. Slowly but surely, I made room for him in my plans. Obviously, my friend knew what she was talking about because we were soon inseparable and got married in the Salt Lake Temple a year later. And I am pleased to say my only regret in marrying Gage is all the “I told you so’s” I have had to endure from her.

Gage signed to play football at Portland State right around the time we got engaged, so we moved up here within weeks after getting married. Our first 4 months here were all football. Between games on the weekends and practice every day of the week, we weren’t able to get too involved in the ward. Luckily, we made it to the off-season and were quickly cornered about speaking in church.

We have been called to speak on what it means to “live in the world and not of the world.”

As the Savior endured his final days on this earth, He summoned the blessings of the Father upon his apostles. He sensed his time was near and knew he would soon be leaving them. In John chapter 17, He prayed:

“And now, I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. I have given them they word; and the world hath hated them because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from evil.”

Just as the Savior prayed that his apostles would not be taken out of the world, but kept from its evil, members of the Church everywhere are praying that by the power of the priesthood and the Holy Ghost they may be strengthened to withstand the world’s negative influence.

The concern is not where we live, but how we live.

For me, this phrase has come to mean embracing what makes me, as a Latter-Day-Saint, different from everyone else and using those differences to stand as an example to others.

President Harold B. Lee said, “You cannot lift another soul until you are standing on higher ground than he is.” This does not mean to put yourself in a position only to be boastful or look down on others but, rather, to allow yourself the opportunity to reach out and help those in need. You cannot teach someone a better way of living, if you are not first living better yourself.

President Spencer W. Kimball said, “…Excellence and quality are a reflection of how we feel about ourselves and about life and about God.” With that statement in mind, members need to be in the world as to contribute in a positive way, all while separating themselves from the wicked, and even the mediocre, so as not to succumb to the sins of the world.

As Latter Day Saints, we have the privilege of being set apart from the rest of the world. Because our beliefs, behaviors, standards, and traits are so different from many other people, we usually end up drawing some attention to ourselves. As we as stand out and put ourselves under the curious, watchful eye of the rest of the world, we are in the prime position to stand as examples and lift other souls to the higher ground that is found in the world, but not of it.

There are many things that make us a peculiar group of people. For example, the word of wisdom, modesty, the sacrament, temple work, temple marriages, and the Book of Mormon, but the one I want to specifically talk about today is optimism through trials.

Optimism does not accompany every single one of us through every single circumstance. We all have times when frustration, discouragement, and negativity overcome our thoughts and guide our outlook. Despite these negative slips, however, most of us are capable of optimism and rise above the ways of the world by seeking out the good in others, recognizing opportunities in struggles, and maintaining an eternal perspective.

I’m a little biased towards President Gordon B. Hinkley, since he was the prophet who raised me, so bear with me as I quote him countless times.

In 1974, he told the members of the church, “I am asking that we stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight. I am suggesting that as we go through life we “accentuate the positive.” I am asking that we look a little deeper for the good. …That each of us turn from the negativism that so permeates our society and look for the remarkable good among those with whom we associate, that we speak of one another’s virtues more than we speak of one another’s faults, that optimism replace pessimism, that our faith exceed our fears.”

As Latter Day Saints, we have so many reasons and means of optimism.

-We have a relationship with a Father in Heaven who loves us.

-We know our brother who gave his life for us and allowed us to repent of our sins.

-We have the records of our ancestors showing us how hard they worked and how far we, as a church, have come.

-We know we are on this earth for a temporary time to be tested and realize our potential. Through this, we know that this difficult mortal life is not permanent and we can understand the bigger picture of what really matters.

-We acknowledge a life after this, in which we return to live with our Heavenly Father and spend eternity with our families.

These basic elements of our church provide countless opportunities to see the world in a positive light and not lose hope when times are trying. These beliefs and their resulting optimism set us apart from others and allow us to be examples to them and bring them closer to the Lord.

My own personal trials come in the form of change. I am terribly afraid of it. I hate the heavy, empty feeling of unfamiliarity that knocks me off my feet every time something changes. I feel a frantic, painful panic that clenches my stomach as I look down a bunch of unexpected, unknown, open-ended forks in the road. I struggle when I don’t know what to expect, when I don’t have a routine, and when I have to adjust to something completely different. I am very high-strung and set in my ways, to say the least.

For this reason, moving to Oregon was one of the most challenging events of my life. We moved here as soon as we got home from our honeymoon, so it was a rapid adjustment from being a daughter living at home to being a wife living 800 miles away from family, friends or even a familiar face. Gage was in the heat of fall camp, which meant that for the entire month of August, he left at 7 in the morning and returned home at 10 o’clock that night. I didn’t have a job or any idea how I would continue my schooling. I had nothing to do all day but spend my time feeling bad for myself. Despite all of our best efforts to make it a comfortable transition, I really struggled to make this place a home.

As I sat in our apartment surrounded by the only belongings we brought with us, clothes and an air mattress, I sulked in my sour attitude. I was so overwhelmed and discouraged. Optimism was nowhere to be found. I let myself be consumed by the world and Satan’s heavy, disheartening outlook.

President Hinckley once said, “You can’t, you don’t, build out of pessimism or cynicism. You look with optimism, work with faith, and things happen.”

Well, I was ready for something to happen.

Just as I was planning my pity party, I began scouring LDS.org for anything that would ease the pain of change and reignite my flame of optimism. I read through a few talks until I was knocked over by a quote from C. S. Lewis that put everything into perspective and completely empowered me. Just as President Hinckley suggested, faith began to exceed my fears.

When writing of God’s expectations for His children, C. S. Lewis indicated there is often pain in change. He wrote: “Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on: you knew those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently he starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of—throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace.”

For the first time in weeks, the silence surrounding me was radiating with warmth. I felt hope and encouragement.

How beautiful and reassuring to hear of the beautiful palace that is planned for us, if we can only endure the banging and building it takes to get there. So often, we are stuck in our ways, content with where we are at, and settle into mediocrity. If we would just remain optimistic and look for the opportunities hidden in our trials, we would see first-hand how God is molding and lifting us to reach our potential. With optimism and faith, we will get through our trials, and we will be better people because of the experiences and lessons learned.

This reminder of optimism helped me to drown out my pessimism and see the hidden blessing in our new adventure in Oregon. It hasn’t been easy and there are days I would give anything to be home with our families, but in large-part, my outlook has changed for the better and there has been a noticeable difference in our time here. Everything fell into place and we couldn’t be more blessed than we are right now. I can’t possibly deny the Lord’s hand in my life after this “trial” in Oregon has only begun to leave me with a new tower and courtyard. Gage is nearing the end of his degree and I found an online bachelor’s program from Utah State University that offered my entire degree over the internet. We have made wonderful friends, incredible memories, and had meaningful missionary moments. We have grown closer and stronger as a couple than we ever could have had we not left our comfort zone. We’ve grown a greater appreciation for the family, friends, and comforts of home that we took for granted. If I had only had the optimism and patience in the beginning, I would have realized what the Lord was doing as he was “knocking about my house in a way that hurt abominably.”

Not only does optimism set us apart and allow us to be examples to others, it also enables us to rise above the fog of the world and see the divine worth and eternal plan our Father in Heaven has for us. During our time on this earth, optimism can be our escape. With all we know and have been given, we have no reason to be pessimistic for long. We are far too blessed and far too faithful to overlook the eternal, hopeful scheme of things. With optimism, we can dwell in the world, but rise above it.

In summary, the Lord gave Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery marvelous counsel about how to live in a way that will keep anyone from being robbed of optimism, confidence, and hope. It is found in Doctrine & Convenants chapter 6, verses 33 through 34:

“Fear not to do good… For whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good, ye shall also reap good for your reward. Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail.”

In closing, I would like to share my testimony that as long as we build upon the rock of our Redeemer and keep his commandments, we will stand strong against trials and stand tall among the people and things of the world. I have learned the power of optimism first hand and am so grateful for the wonderful examples of optimism and resilience that I have in my own life. Through these things, we can be a positive contributor to the world while not falling victim to its negative and unrighteous storms…