My Talk on Constantly Improving my Trust in God

This is my talk I gave yesterday!

Think of your personal answer to this question as I tell you the Tale of Two Cities, or the Tale of Two Moves: “How does constantly attempting to improve my trust in the Lord help me grow closer to Him?” 

Sarah and I were living in one of the nicest places in AZ. At the time of our lease renewal, we were hoping the lease price would stay the same. But they were increasing it by $400. That was a bit steep for us. Sarah was working a lot, and she wanted me to figure out where we would live, with Heavenly Father's help. After searching, we found a place in Apache Junction for only $900. We couldn't pass up this deal. Let me say, it was a dump. But the owner said that he had another apartment to look at if I was interested. A little bit more expensive. I said okay, I'll take a look. As I was driving to it, with a prayerful heart, I noticed the Lost Dutchman mountains and the peacefulness of the area we were driving through. The Holy Ghost told me that this would be a good place to live. I wasn't even at the apartment, yet. The apartment was beautiful and in a nice location. I felt this was the place to be for our family, I was just sad that I couldn't be there with Sarah to show her.

When I had come back to report that I had looked at a different apartment and felt this one was the one, Sarah had felt I hadn’t done a thorough job in getting all the information about the first place, and the first one was something that we could afford. So we took our petition to the temple. But we didn't even get as far as the temple's steps outside the doors because we were in disagreement with each other about whether this was actually direction from the Lord.

We both came to the consensus that we needed an answer to this question. I told her that I had the idea that we could go to the apartment to look at it. But we decided to petition the Lord for guidance while also testing him like Gideon did in the Bible. 

In the Bible story, Gideon questioned one of God's commandments to take a very small army and go against one many times larger. Gideon is not quite so convinced to do it, so he tested the Lord by putting out a sheep's fleece and said, God, if you make this fleece wet during the night and the ground around it dry, I will not question. God caused the fleece to be wet and the ground was dry, however, Gideon was still not convinced, so that night he tested the Lord again, and asked God, if you make the fleece dry, and all around the ground be wet by next morning, I will do what you command. And the Lord made it so.

Like Gideon, we wanted to prove the Lord. So we decided to think of our own fleece that would testify to us that this is the place that we needed to be. We didn't want to spoil it for the other, so Sarah did not tell me her fleece, and I did not tell Sarah my fleece.

For me it was pretty simple, I wanted it to be that when we arrived, that we would bump into someone that lived at the apartment complex and talk with them. When we arrived, we were peering into the apartment, when a man came out to take his trash to the dumpster. We said a few words to him. And that was my confirmation.

Sarah's fleece was to see a butterfly. Obviously she didn't know in what way she was going to see a butterfly, but on the way to the apartment, she saw an apartment complex that had a logo with a picture of a butterfly.

We talked after that and she told me her fleece was confirmed and I told her that my fleece was confirmed. Our prayers were answered about where we were supposed to live.

Now, our time in Apache Junction, was a beautiful place of growth for us, but it also wasn't the easiest place to live. We had our ups and downs there. But even when we had our downs about this place, I could always go back to the confirmation from Heavenly Father, and I trusted in that confirmation.

Now the tale of the second move. Sarah and I have been living in Santa Maria for the Last 2 and a half months. But let me tell you how trusting God has helped everything fall into place.

We first visited Santa Maria in May of 2021. Sarah and I enjoyed the atmosphere and the feeling of being in Santa Maria so much that it had always been a secret dream of ours to move here. I would put it in my long-term goals of a someday eventuality.

It wasn't until the beginning of this year, January 2025, that we told ourselves that by the end of the year we want to be in Santa Maria, October 2025, when our lease was up.

Little did we know, that just one month later, Heavenly Father would challenge us with the decision to break our lease, pack up everything, and apply for a job in Santa Maria. Heavenly Father had different plans for us. 

Kirsten reached out to me and told me that the school district was hiring a music teacher. I was like OMG, this is my dream job. After much prayer and deliberation amongst ourselves, I applied for the job, was told that I got the job and that I needed to come into the office to sign all the paperwork, get a livescan, and TB test. I was very unsure if I could do all this and especially if I should accept. I took my petition to the Lord that night and Heavenly Father told me to write down some stuff in a prayer and to take a walk, and after, I would know. I felt like God was calling us to move to Santa Maria. I didn't know how we would get all the things done. I told the employer that I would take the job and come as soon as possible to Santa Maria to do all the stuff required. And we were moved in the next two weeks.

It was all very crazy, and my adjustment to the change has had its ups and downs, but throughout the process, and in all my hard times here, I can look to Heavenly Father and say, I have trusted in your direction, now please lead me through the good times and bad.

Nephi says, “O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh...”

Isaiah says, “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song...”

Alma tells his son, Helaman: “I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day.”

President Nelson says: “To do anything well takes effort. Becoming a true disciple of Jesus Christ is no exception. Increasing your faith and trust in Him takes effort.”

I want you to think of your very best of your best friends. How much trust do you place in your best friend?

Would you tell your best friend all your pains, your secrets, your wishes for your life?

What would your best friend do if they heard of your pains; would they want to alleviate them? Heard of your secrets? Would they give you undivided attention? If you tld them your wishes for your life; wouldn't they support you in accomplishing your wishes, goals, and dreams-and even help you by giving you suggestions on what you can do to change your life for the better because they know you and love you?

Jesus Christ said: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

Jesus did that. Not only did he lay down his life for mankind. He also bore our sins, our afflictions, our mortal weight and pain.

He said: “Ye are my friends.”

Jesus is our very best friend. All he asks is that we come unto Him. And why wouldn't we want to do that? He offers love, peace, and happiness and a place next to His Father.

I can only imagine
What it will be like
When I walk by your side...
What my eyes would see
When your face is before me…

Surrounded by Your glory
What will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you Jesus
Or in awe of you be still?
Will I stand by your presence
Or to my knees, will I fall?
Will I sing hallelujah?
Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine…

At the LA Temple Visitor's Center, I had the opportunity to sit in front of the Christus statue. As I looked into the eyes of my Savior, I imagined him descending from the clouds, speaking to me, nail prints in His hands and feet, wound in his side. I imagined that day when he would come and minister to me.

Because He walked the path, I know the way. 
Because He calmed the storm, I’m not afraid. 
Because He made the lame to walk and caused the blind to see
And blessed the children one by one, I feel His love for me.

Because He died for me, I’ll live again. 
Because He is my Friend, I’ll follow Him.
Because He fills the world with light, I’m filled with hope and peace. 
And when He comes to earth again, I’ll kneel before His feet.  

And I will praise forever 
The Savior of the world, 
And I will sing together 
With all the Saints on earth. 
Because He gave to me ev’rything 
He had to give, 
I breathe, I see, I hope, I love, I live.

When I have put my trust in the Lord, He has led me to the Promise Land, to Zion, many times. A land flowing with milk and honey. He takes care of me personally. I know the Lord will take care of you. All you have to do is trust in Him, seek after Him, and follow Him. Ask, and ye shall receive. Seek, and ye shall find. Knock, and the door will be open unto you.

In the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.