April 16, 2012

This week was ward conference in Sedona. Our stake president told us he'd like to talk "trash" to us, because he owns one of the garbage pick up companies in the area.
CJ was leaving for his mission to Argentina. He had a flight from Utah to Georgia, then to Argentina. His mother told him to chew some gum on the plane to keep his ears from popping and stuff. So he did. During the plane ride he got tired and took the gum out and put it in a piece of paper and then in his suit jacket pocket. He was almost asleep when he realized there was water coming under his seat and his scriptures and Preach my Gospel books were on the ground. He got up and got his books but it was a little late. They were wet. In the commotion of all that the gum worked its way almost out of his pocket. But, he did not realize it. He sat down again and fell asleep. When he woke up in Georgia he had gotten gum all over his suit. Not only that but he managed to get it on the person sitting next to him on the plane! Thankfully during the layover in Georgia he was able to call home and his loving mother was able to walk him through some steps to get the gum off their clothes.
President Taylor then likened this story to us. With the gum being garbage or trash. What "garbage" have we picked up along the way? Usually we don't intend to keep it very long but in the commotion of life we forget about it until it has surfaced and makes a mess of us and sometimes others. Thankfully we can change and with the help of a loving Father in Heaven, Parents, and Bishop if necessary get clean of the mess.
I am thankful that our Savior Jesus Christ provided the atonement so that I can be changed by grace. Just like you can see "the change from one piano lesson to another piano lesson." We can be changed from one life lesson to another life lesson.
Love
Elder Fagersten in AZ