Carsons farewell talk....
Carson Lewis
Rome, Italy
Farewell
15 August 2021
Good morning brothers and sisters, I could not be more excited to talk and share my testimony with you today. Excited or nervous; either one, maybe a little of both. My name is Carson Lewis. I was born in Worcester, Massachusetts and lived about an hour outside of Boston. When I was 15, my parents decided to ruin my life and move across the country when I was in the middle of high school. To my surprise, I quickly made some friends that I’ve gotten to know super well over the past 3 years. They've been pretty good, other than the time they threw my keys in the bushes. You know who you are. I’ve made bonds with people that will last an eternity. I’m so grateful for each of my friends and the role they have played in my life. In Massachusetts, friends faded as we got older because we didn’t share the same values. As I entered high school, most of my friends have turned to drugs and alcohol. As scary as it was, moving here gave me the opportunity to be surrounded by amazing people that would lift me higher because of our corresponding beliefs. My friends, family, and my bishop made me confident and excited to serve a mission. Growing up, I wasn’t always on board with serving a mission. I never wanted to but I always knew I would because I was scared of what people would think of me. Mostly what my parents and siblings thought of me. I have two older brothers that served in South Korea and Chile so I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to follow that. After talking with Bishop Toone, I knew it didn’t matter where I served. I prayed that wherever I went, whether it was Idaho or Italy, it would be the place for me. After opening my call, I felt like my prayers had been answered. I know God watches over me, and everyone else too. He sends us challenges to help us grow. He will help us through these learning experiences because he has a plan for us. I didn’t understand the plan of moving here but looking back, it’s the best thing that could have possibly happened to me. It set me on the straight and narrow path back to my Heavenly Father. He loves us and I know that because I’ve seen it in my own life.
As a kid, the only reason I actually wanted to go on a mission was to vacation in a nice country for two years. I had selfish reasons for serving and I still do today. Now my selfish reason is because I want to grow my own testimony. There’s no better way to get good at something than to do it all day, everyday for two years. This way, I can grow my testimony for myself, without my parents holding my hand, trying to do it for me. It scares me to go through the motions of the church with a weak testimony I got for being forced to Sunday school as a child.
About a year ago, Bishop Toone started calling me, talking to me about serving a mission. He had me petrified. So scared and nervous that I was an emotional wreck for a week before I could process leaving my family for two years. I cried almost as much as the girls in my friend group. No I actually didn’t, that’s impossible. As I thought about it and talked to my bishop more, the idea of leaving didn’t sound too bad. I wanted to better understand the gospel, meet new people, and tell them about the greatness of the church. I slowly started to realize the significance of the gospel and what role it played in my family members' lives. If I have something so great, why would I not want to share it? Back in Sunday school when I was about 12, I taught my first lesson about sharing the gospel. I started by sitting in front of the class and eating Hersey kisses... Although I didn’t share; I just looked at them and ate my chocolate. Understandably, people were either mad that I wasn’t sharing or thought I was an idiot. I began my lesson by comparing the Hershey kisses to the gospel. If I have something so amazing for everyone to have, why would I keep it for myself? The gospel is a blessing in my life and I want to share it with others. I hope that everyone else will be willing to share it too. To all the kids thinking about missions, if you want to serve and preach the gospel too, it’s best to decide right now that you want to do it while you’re young. It’s easy to think that you can decide later... and it is but if you make up your mind now, you’ll have a definite answer when things like college or work get in the way. It was a tough choice, and I didn’t always want to go, but I’m glad I made up my mind as a kid. I invite all of you little people to start thinking and praying about serving a mission.
This time last year, some friends and I went down to Bear Lake to enjoy the end of our summer. While we were there, my friend's family had planned a trip to the Minnetonka cave. We found out as we got there that it’s this half mile cave that slowly gets deeper and darker. It’s filled with stalagmites and stalactites which are like big pointy rocks that grow a little but each year. I would recommend that it’s worth the trip down but absolutely do not touch the rocks. I had to learn the hard way that it’s bad for the rocks if they’re touched. As we got to the end, our guide wanted to show us what total darkness looks like. She turned off the lights and it was so dark that we couldn’t see our hands in front of our faces. This was to show us that without light, we would be in complete darkness. She then showed us how even the smallest light could make it so we could see again. The faintest light expelled the darkness immediately. As she turned the actual lights on, the darkness completely disappeared.
Our half mile trek down the cave is just like our life here on earth. As we left the light of heaven, we crossed the veil into a world of darkness. Through his plan, he gave us his son Jesus Christ as the light.
A plant needs sunlight to survive. Without it, it will slowly dry out and die. The savior's light is equally important in our spiritual lives. As we intensify our love towards Christ, we receive immeasurable amounts of light that will expel darkness. In doctrine and covenants 50:24 it’s says “That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.” Each day that I strive to be better, I feel the happiness of God's plan.
The light of Christ prepares us for the presence of the Holy Ghost. In Elder Dyches talk in the last general conference, he says “The greatest source of light that Heavenly Father imparts to you in mortality comes through the Holy Ghost, whose influence “shall enlighten your mind [and] fill your soul with joy.” When we do things that follow God's commandments, we invite the light of the Holy Ghost to influence our decisions for the good. Without the Holy Comforter, we are vulnerable to making poor choices. It is so important to keep our thoughts and actions pure so we can invite the Holy Ghost into our everyday lives.
We are given this blessing through the restored priesthood. We are baptized and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost that will stay with us. When we stay close to the covenant path, we will be revealed and testified of truth, warned of danger, comforted and provided peace. Elder Dyches later says “Because “light cleaveth unto light,” the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost will lead you to make choices that will tend to keep you in the light; conversely, choices made without the Holy Ghost’s influence will tend to lead you into shadows and darkness.
There is sunshine in my soul when I preach the gospel and bear my testimony. My friend James and I got the opportunity to teach an investigator with another set of missionaries. After teaching, I could feel the light of Christ. It wasn’t even a great lesson and it was so awkward but it was one of the happiest moments of my life. I would not give up that experience for the world. I could not be more ready to lose myself in the savior's gospel for two years. I don’t expect it to be easy but I’ve learned throughout my life that the best memories come from the most challenging times.
My grandpa's father went through challenging times. He served in World War II which had a traumatic effect in his life. He was at Pearl Harbor while they were bombed by the Japanese. Ever since that day, he had prejudice against the Japanese. He had turned to alcohol to help which turned into a terrible habit for years. He eventually had my grandpa, David and his brother, randy. They lived in south salt lake together. David and Randy decided to start going to church. After a while at church, the bishop talked to the boys and they agreed to send home teachers to teach my great grandpa. The home teacher was Mr. Yoshida, a Japanese man that lived in Utah. Despite his hatred for the Japanese, he let them in to hear them out. After multiple visits from the home teachers, he agreed to be baptized. From there on out, he was a faithful member of the church who has softened his heart to hear about the church.
I come from a great family that has set me up to succeed. Because of my great grandpas tender heart, I was able to be born into an amazing situation where I was raised in the church and now I can preach the gospel. My goal is to bring people like my grandpa to the church. Although sometimes it doesn’t seem like much, missionary work can change lives. Because of the home teachers that converted my great grandpa, we have been a missionary family ever since. If you talk to my grandpa for more than 3 minutes, he will tell you our family has served over 6666 years, starting with my grandpa. My grandpa has been such a blessing and made such an impact on my life. I’m grateful for his choice to serve a mission.
I know these two years are not for me. They aren’t about touring around Italy. It’s about the people in Rome that are looking for the gospel. Most importantly, it is about Jesus Christ. I know that through him, we can be guided to the people we need to teach and bring them to the light of the gospel. God has a plan for us. When we are patient and show our faith in Him, he will bless us.
I bear my testimony that I know this church is true and I know Joseph Smith restored the true church. I know that if we follow the savior's light, we can make it back to our Heavenly Father. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen
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