My 1st Talk Given At a Sacrament Meeting
The topic was to tell my story, so this is pretty much our baptism, but my version, plus a few other little things I was asked to talk about. Also, this is what I wrote ahead of time. What I said was slightly different, as I spoke along with the promptings of the Holy Ghost.

Good morning brothers and sister. For those of you that don't know who I am, I am Delia Fraser. I just moved to Montana in September. And I was baptized just 3 short weeks later. <smile> I would like to start out by saying that I'm glad to have the opportunity to stand up and give a talk. I'm thankful that I have the opportunity, but I'm very nervous because this is my first talk that I have given in 5 years, and also the first one to such a large audience. <smile.>

I was given some pretty easy choices for my talk today - prolly the easiest choices I could even think of - but I found that everytime I sat down to work on my talk, it was hard to put everything I wanted to say together so I wouldn't sound like I was rambling. So I decided to combine my choices, so I'll be talking about my baptism, my experience with my patriarchal blessing, some of my favorite scriptures, and some missionary stories. <smile>

I want to give you a little back ground information on me, before I start, so you can know where I'm coming from on some of my points.

Before coming to Montana, I didn't know very much about Mormons. About the limit of my knowledge of them was that Donny and Marie Osmond were Mormon, and Mormons lived in Utah, and Brigham Young brought them there. That's all I knew - until my sister was baptized in 1997, and then my brother in 1998. I learned a little more about some of the gospel principals, and teachings of the church, but not much.

Last year, Josh and I came into some pretty rough times, and we were at a point where we were left with the decisions of moving to Montana to stay with dad, or become homeless. So, we packed all we could into our tiny little Sundance and headed north. As I think back on it, if any one tiny event didn't happen, even the bad ones that I wish didn't happen, we may never have been put into the position to move to Montana, and would never have been able to hear about the teachings of Jesus Christ and become members of his church.

Josh and I were baptized on October, 8th, 1999, in Billings, on the first day of the Temple Open House. I'm sure most of you have heard the story. I'm not going to go into details about it, but I'll give the gist of it. <smile> After a night of praying for the knowledge of the truth and to know what is right, I woke up that Friday knowing the truth, and not being confused anymore about what I had
learned in the lesson we had been given a couple days prior. Still, I had no intention of being baptized that day, but I was looking forward to telling Elder Thompson that I was ready to commit to baptism. I was simply amazed and overwhelmed after going through the temple for the first time.

I remember standing up to go to the font and looking at all the people that were they're to witness our baptism and it was truly amazing. I felt such a love that I had never felt before. I also had never seen so many missionaries in one spot before. <smile> I was so glad that so many members of our new ward family were there to see it as well.

On the trip home that night, I remember commenting to Elder Thompson that I felt like I had been reborn, and that I was given a second chance to live my life, and that things were only going to get better. Elder Thompson just smiled and said I was right. <smile> Since our baptism, every missionary that has come to Whitehall already has heard of us. It's a neat feeling to know that they still all talk about our baptism. <smile>

I have noticed a definite change in our lives, when we accepted the teachings, and started living the gospel <as best we could> we are happier, and we can see the blessings being poured on to us. We have been blessed with a wonderful, warm and welcoming ward family that has shown nothing but kindness and love towards us. We have been blessed to have such wonderful and caring neighbors, and to be able to live in an area where we can see the stars at night. Josh and I are still adjusting to our new life, but it's been a wonderful process.

Just 2 months ago, almost to the day, I received my patriarchal blessing. That has to be the 2nd most spiritually uplifting day of my life. I always heard from other people about their blessings, and how important it is, and what a wonderful experience it is. When I got my blessing, I remember hearing so many wonderful things that Lord has in store for me. And it was so detailed and tailored to my life that I was simply amazed. So many people had told me that they couldn't remember much what was said, but when they got their blessings in the mail, and read it for the first time, that there was a lot of information there that they didn't remember. My experience was kind of the opposite. I remember so many things that were said and I remember feeling such a great love that day. I was so excited at some of the things that were said to me. And I knew, the blessing came directly from Heavenly Father, for there were things mentioned that the Patriarch couldn't have known. A couple weeks later, when I received the copy of my blessing, I was eager to read it, to see what kind of stuff I had not heard, or missed when I got my blessing. I was reading it and I remembered certain things that were said, but I couldn't find them in my blessing. I wondered about it because I thought I was hearing things and wondered what it was I heard, because there were certain things I remember hearing as clear as I am talking now. After talking to the Bishop a couple of weeks ago about it, he mentioned that I was probably receiving a second blessing, and that my blessing was being translated to me right there, too. I felt so much better after hearing that. I have been thinking about that experience, a lot lately, and I still remember clear as day, what I heard. I feel very fortunate, that Heavenly Father loves me, and that he gave me that translation and extra information, because like the bishop told me, not everything is revealed in our Patriarchal Blessings.

President Thomas S. Monson of the First Presidency said this about patriarchal blessings:

"The same Lord who provided a Liahona to Lehi provides for you and for me today a rare and valuable gift to give direction to our lives, to mark the hazards to our safety, and to chart the way, even safe passage-not to a promised land, but to our heavenly home. The gift to which I refer is known as your patriarchal blessing. Every worthy member of the Church is entitled to receive such a precious and priceless personal treasure" (in Conference Report, Oct. 1986, 81; or Ensign, Nov. 1986, 65).

"Your patriarchal blessing is yours and yours alone. It may be brief or lengthy, simple or profound. Length and language do not a patriarchal blessing make. It is the Spirit that conveys the true meaning. Your blessing is not to be folded neatly and tucked away. It is not to be framed or published. Rather, it is to be read. It is to be loved. It is to be followed. Your patriarchal blessing will see you through the darkest night. It will guide you through life's dangers" (in Conference Report, Oct. 1986, 82-83; or Ensign, Nov. 1986, 66).

from Elder John A. Widtsoe, who was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:

]"Those who seek patriarchal blessings should ask for them with faith in the reality of the power of the Priesthood. They should seek them with an earnest, prayerful desire to become, through the blessings, more completely happy in their lives, and more perfectly serviceable in the work of the Lord" (Evidences and Reconciliations, arr. G. Homer Durham, 3 vols. in 1 [1960], 323).

"Men [and women] have stumbled at times because promised blessings have not occurred in this life. They have failed to remember that, in the gospel, life with all its activities continues forever and that the labors of earth may be continued in heaven" (Evidences and Reconciliations, 323).

Now, my favorite missionary stories.I really don't know where to start. I love missionaries, they played an important part in my life. Every missionary I have met here, has been so wonderful in helping me to understand the gospel, and the scriptures when we read. Elder Thompson has done more for Josh and me than any one ever has. I'm very thankful for him, and for the rest of the missionaries out there, past and present.

I would have to say that my favorite missionary story isn't a personal experience, but one my sister told me. It happened in her ward in Colorado. One of my friends from high school is LDS, and recently, she went on a mission and is serving in Finland right now. While in her first area, she was taking a ferry to an island so her and her companion could teach an investigator. Both of them didn't know the area very well, and they boarded the wrong boat. They ended up getting lost and not even being able to contact the mission president. The next morning, on the cover of the local paper, there was a picture of the 2 girls, and the headline, when translated, read "Mormon Missionaries Got Lost, Help Them Find Their Way Home"

And of course, my other favorite missionary story, josh is going to read. <smile> As far as favorite scriptures, I haven't read very many to have a real favorite yet. But so far, my most favorite scripture is Matthew 22:37-39

Most of you probably know this one by heart, since it's so important. I like this scripture because it contains the 2 greatest commandments we have been given. If everyone followed these, just think of how wonderful it would be. <smile>

Brothers and Sisters, I would like to thank you for listening to me, and for your patience with my first talk, I would like to close by bearing my testimony.

I know that this is the true church. I know that Jesus Christ lives, and loves us. I know that Heavenly Father loves each and everyone of us. I am very thankful for this church, and for Jesus Christ, and the opportunity I have to be here at this time, learning about the gospel, and the teachings of Jesus Christ. I know that Gordon B. Hinckly is a true prophet of God and divinely chosen. I also know that all of the General Authorities are also chosen by God, and they along with our living prophet lead and guide all of us in this church through revelation. I know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God, as well. And I am so very thankful for his hard work, and dedication, and obedience. I am so glad to be a part of such a wonderful ward family. Thank you. I leave these words in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.