The other day, I was listening to one of my favorite podcasts, Finding His Fingerprints. This podcast is all about finding God’s fingerprints in our daily lives. I love these girls and I am so grateful for who they are and the messages that they share each week.

This year, they are taking each week to talk about a name of Christ. Last week, they discussed The Good Shepherd. I actually had to listen to it about three times because kids were asking me questions and then I had my own thoughts distract me; and I realized that even thought I really wanted to hear the podcast, I just needed to get some things done before I could really focus on their message.

It wasn’t until yesterday that I was in the car by myself that I got to really focus on what was said. At one point, they brough up the Parable of the Great Banquet. I knew immediately that there would be a blog post about this parable. You can find the Parable in Luke 14: 15-24 (KJV)

“….Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.

…A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.

And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.

And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.

And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.

So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt (lame), and the blind.

And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.”

In this parable, the feast is actually a spiritual feast. The food on the table is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Many were invited to the feast and when it had been prepared, those that had been previously invited, came up with reasons not to actually come and feast with Christ. The servant represents the prophets and apostles. They go to gather people to feast on the words of Christ. Yet, many of those that had been invited would not put aside the things of the world to go to the Lord and partake of His nourishment.

How often do you find yourself in this situation? I know that I used to do this all of the time. And I have always found that the world is ready and waiting to suck me into distraction and when I realize that I missed out on something amazing, I always regret it.

Last September, we had Elder Bret K. Nattress come speak at our Stake Conference. There is usually a leadership meeting and an adult meeting the Saturday before the Sunday session. I had never really attended a leadership meeting which is for all the people holding leadership callings in their ward. And I am ashamed to say, I frequently found a reason to stay home from the adult sessions previously.

This last year, I decided to attend as many church meetings as possible, because I am always spiritually feed at these meetings. At this time, I was serving as a secretary in the Primary Presidency and the secretary isn’t usually invited to the leadership meeting. This time, however, they made it very clear that the secretaries were invited to attend. I was so excited.

This conference was very powerful. I am so grateful for the invitation. I wrote pages of notes on things that I needed to hear or that spoke very powerfully to me. That night, on the drive home, I told my husband that I felt very strongly that I needed to do something. He said, “Oh boy…” We have had a lot of adventures that started with similar words. Adventures that changed our lives completely. I laughed and told him that it wouldn’t be too crazy.

I then told him that I felt very strongly that I needed to go to the Temple once a week and that I would need his help to make it happen. I also needed to invite someone to go with me frequently. He said, “Okay, as long as I can go once a month, and we take the kids with us every other month.”

I loved this idea. The temple is an hour away from us as long as traffic is good and it has been an amazing experience. I have grown so much spiritually doing this. I have grown closer to my Savior and I have learned many new things about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I have had the most amazing experience taking other women to the temple with me. As soon as I committed to doing this, I would look around at church and wonder who I was to invite. The Spirit has consistently spoken to me and shown me people to invite. I don’t even wonder if it is my own thoughts or not. I just act. I have cherished each experience. I have gotten to make acquaintances become friendships and shared the most amazing moments with these women.

In this story, I get to be the servant in the Parable of the Great Banquet. I get to go around and invite those to feast at the Lord’s table. What an amazing experience it has been! I have seen hearts begin to heal, inspiration play out in real time, and answers to prayers be given. Most importantly, I have seen the peace wash over these women as they serve in the House of the Lord.

One such time with a sweet friend, we had a great conversation driving to the temple. Once inside, my friend was very quiet and I didn’t know if I should make more conversation and see if she was okay or not. The Spirit whispered to me, “She is with me now. Give her time with me and reflect on the things that you need from me. I have her. “What a tender experience!

Going back to the Parable, after those invited to the supper give reasons why they cannot come, the Lord tells the servant to go and find those that will come. I reflect on The Chosen and how they portrayed this part of the disciples sharing this with the gentiles and how everyone reacted. There was a lot of anger, outrage, and frustration around it.

God has people that have been given the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If they don’t use the teachings in their lives or share it with others, God will find someone that will. “The works, and the designs, and the purposes of God cannot be frustrated, neither can they come to naught.” Doctrine and Covenants 3:1

This coming weekend is one of my favorite times of the year, General Conference. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a living Prophet and Apostles that lead the church of Jesus Christ today. After all of the apostles were killed, the Priesthood was also taken from the earth. It was restored in the 1800’s. To learn more about this, I would love for you to contact a missionary.

The Church of Christ was created and it had the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with His Priesthood Power that was restored to the earth. We have had a living Prophet since then. There is a General Conference twice a year, once in April and again in October. It is always the first weekend of that month. There are five two-hour sessions. Three sessions on Saturday and two on Sunday. This is broadcast to each church building and out over the internet. You can watch it here.

If you could listen to a Prophet and the Apostles of the Lord speak, would you take that opportunity? Well, my friend, this coming weekend, you will have that opportunity. It is broadcast in many languages and you can hear these amazing messages that will change your life. Bring a notebook for taking notes, it will be amazing!

This is your individual, personalized invitation to feast at the Banquet with the Lord. Will you come feast with the Lord, or will you busy yourself with worldly things?

For those that absolutely cannot, don’t worry, the Conference is archived almost right after it is broadcast and you can listen to each session on your own time. The point is not when you do it, the point is: will you do it?