Years
ago at BYU the University sponsored a lecture series entitled "The
Last Lecture," which I was fortunate enough to attend. Prominent
people in various disciplines and careers were invited to come to the
campus and speak to the student body as though it were to be the last
public lecture they would ever give.
Many of
you have also undoubtedly heard of Randy Pausch, a professor of
computer science and human-computer interaction and design at the
prestigious Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh. Diagnosed with
pancreatic cancer, which would prove to be terminal, he spent the last
year or two of his life delivering what he called his "Last
Lecture." He eventually had a book published with the same title
that became a bestseller. It was a distillation of all he felt was
important in his life that he wanted to pass on to his young
children, former students and colleagues, and many others as well. He
passed away at the relative young age of 48.
I
believe "The Last Lecture" concept is most valuable. It has
made me think over the years what I would say, especially to my own
family, were I to deliver to them my final words regarding what I
felt to be most important for me and for them.
As I
have thought about this concept, I wondered if the Savior had given a
last lecture, and if he had, what last message did He leave with us?
What message would capture the essence of his mortal ministry and
eternal mission?
I
believe the answer to those questions is found in the Gospel of
Matthew wherein Matthew records the Savior's last public lecture. Of
course we know that Jesus spent some sacred time teaching precious
truths to his Apostles during and after the Last Supper, prior to
entering the Garden of Gethsemane,
According
to Matthew the Savior's last public lecture is recorded in chapter 25
of his Gospel. In this last lecture He taught three parables, all of
which pertain to His Second Coming: the Ten Virgins, the Talents, and
the Sheep and the Goats. I believe that It is the parable of the Sheep and the Goats
that captures the essence of who He is and what he
would have us do and become as well.
In the parable, when the king, who is the Savior, returns to judge the nations "…he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:" [25:33-34]We all know why the Sheep were called the "blessed of the Father," and would inherit the kingdom prepared for them from "the foundation of the world." They had simply followed the example of Christ in giving selfless service to others –"…Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." [25:40]
And
who were the "least
of these?"
They were the sick, the hungry, the naked, the thirsty, the stranger,
and even those in prison. In one sense we are all strangers, naked,
hungry, and thirsty; the "least of His brethren." We all
are in desperate need of his infinite love and mercy manifest through
the Atonement.
His
"last lecture" to us I believe is that the most important
thing we can do in our lives is to follow His example of unselfish
service. President Monson in addressing the BYU student body recently
challenged them by saying, “An
attitude of love characterized the mission of the Master, He gave
sight to the blind, legs to the crippled, life to the dead. Perhaps
when we [face] our Maker, we will not be asked, ‘How many positions
did you hold?’ but rather, ‘How many people did you help?’ In
reality, you can never love the Lord until you serve Him by serving
His people." [From Elder Oaks 2009 April Gen. conference
address]
Our
20-year-old granddaughter, Kelsey Rushton, the son of Rich and Lara,
for those of you who know our family, has taken to heart the words
and example of the Savior, as well as the counsel and example of a
living prophet, seer, and revelator. She, along with 19 other young
adults went to Uganda, Africa at the beginning of May to spend four
months serving some of the "least of these" in small
villages in the rural areas of Uganda. This selfless service
undertaking is sponsored by a nonprofit organization called HELP
International. It is nondenominational and its sole mission is to
provide humanitarian service and aid to some of the least of these
our brothers and sisters in Africa and throughout the world. Kelsey
and her friends have worked with children in orphanages, have built a
health clinic out of mud/adobe bricks they helped to make, and have
served the people in these villages in many other ways as well. It
should also be noted that they have had the opportunity to river raft
and take a short Safari. Kelsey's blog, "Kelsey's summer in
Africa," (some of you may want to check it out – very
inspirational) is overflowing with gripping pictures and expressions
of the joy and fulfillment she is receiving in having this experience
of serving others in this way. I know that it will impact her life
forever. Parenthetically,
her younger brother Trevor, who is a senior in high school this fall,
was able to organize and implement an Eagle Scout project which
included raising funds and gathering together soccer equipment that he subsequently was able to take to Belize (a country adjacent to
Honduras in Central America). He was able to give the equipment,
including soccer shoes which are hard to come by in that country, to
impoverished young kids, and work with them to improve their soccer
skills. I believe that Trevor, like his sister, has experienced the joy of
giving selfless service to others. It will have an impact for good on
him, and hopefully will just be the beginning of selfless service
which he will continue to give in the mission field and throughout
his lifetime.
Of
course, we don't need to go to Africa or Central America to serve
"the least of these." I love what Mother Teresa of Calcutta
said about having devoted her life to selflessly serving the poorest
of the poor and the very least in their society in India. She taught
that “one
thing will always secure heaven for us—the acts of charity and
kindness with which we have filled our lives.
“We
can do no great things, “only small things with great love.”
[From Elder Oaks April conference address, 2009]
I
think of mothers who do countless small things with love for their
little babies and children. I believe that these small acts of
kindness and charity, which "never faileth," will surely
"secure heaven for them." I also think of my wife, family
members, and many good friends and caregivers who have done so many
small things, and with love, for me over the years. I frequently say
I have been kept alive for 23 years, paralyzed and on life support,
by love., The nagging thought I have in my mind at times is if a
beloved family member or friend were in my situation would I do for
them the small things, and with love, that must be done on a daily
basis to provide them with the highest quality-of-life possible? I
wish I knew the answer to that.
“He
who lives only unto himself withers and dies, while he who forgets
himself in the service of others grows and blossoms in this life and
in eternity." [Gordon B. Hinckley]
Dad/Grandpa/Jack
