My dear sisters, Mique (hello). My name is Janae. My father is Haskell Chapoose. My mother is Sherrie Chapoose Woodland. My paternal grandparents are Conner Chapoose and Lulu Wash Brock. My maternal grandparents are Dale Dixon and Quetta Openshaw. I, like Book of Mormon prophet [Nephi], have been “born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat the learning of my” parents. My mother was born and raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and my father was baptized after they were married. I count myself blessed to have been given to my parents.

 

I am an enrolled member of the Ute Indian Tribe. I was born and raised on the Uintah and Ouray (U&O) Reservation, Fort Duchesne, Utah, which is located in northeastern Utah. Living on the reservation is both a great blessing and a great challenge.

 

Following high school graduation, I attended Brigham Young University-Hawaii Campus. I served as a full1time missionary for the England London South Mission, and returned home.  My plans were to return back to college. My plans however were just that, mine, and the Lord had other things in mind for me. I have remained here on U&O, working for the United States Federal Government and now for the Ute Indian Tribe. I have the privilege of both serving my tribe, my community, and my congregation.

 

I consider this an opportunity and a great privilege and a very humbling experience. The purpose of my remarks is to inspire, uplift, and most importantly testify of Jesus Christ.

I very much relate to the words written by Book of Mormon prophet Moroni: “I speak unto you as if ye were present.” The preparation of this talk is taking place days before your hearing it or seeing me. I am in front of a monitor, with a talk written beforehand. Oh, the wonder of technology and oh, the wonder I feel as I have prepared to speak to you.

 

Dear sisters and friends, I envision you in my mind: your face, your home, your family, your neighborhoods and communities. I think of your challenges, your difficulties and your strengths, resiliency and your good works. I reflect on your responsibilities and circumstances, their beauty as well as things that you may desire to be different. I ponder hopes and dreams and aspirations. I am filled with love and gratitude and respect. May God’s blessings continue to be upon you.

 

I would like to invite you to ponder for a moment the reach of this Sacred Sisters Devotional. You are here, as well as many others that we cannot see. While we are different in so many ways, we are more alike in so many others. I desire and pray for the assistance of the Holy Ghost for you and for me as we consider together the scripture in John 14:18: “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”

 

As the Savior’s earthly ministry came to a close, He taught His disciples that His departure would not leave them without comfort. They did not fully understand this. What does this mean to you: “I will not leave you comfortless”?

I thoroughly enjoy the comforts of modern life. I have food, clothing, and shelter that is relatively easy to come by. Technology and electronics ease my ability to work, socialize, and keep in touch. I find it irritating when the store runs out of something I want. I become impatient when traffic is slow, or when my messages are not instantaneously received, without taking into consideration how magnificent modern conveniences have made life.

 

I also thoroughly enjoy when my life is smooth sailing, no difficulties, no discomfort, and no problems. Having said that, I have had huge spans in my life, and times currently, where things are not smooth sailing.  There is difficulty, there is discomfort, and there are problems.

 

When I was growing up, I believed that as long as I did what was right, keep the commandments, and was obedient, everything would be okay -- meaning nothing bad would happen. Some time ago, in the midst of great difficulty, I read the following quotation: “Expecting the world to treat you fairly because you are good is like expecting a bull not to charge because you are a vegetarian.”

 

In my difficulty, I could not understand why I was “being charged” when I was doing my best to do the right thing.

 

I Will Not Leave You Comfortless

 

When the Savior said, “I will not leave you comfortless,” did He mean I would be free from discomfort or difficulty?

 

During weekly partaking of the emblems of the sacrament, we promise to take upon the name of Christ, always remember Him, keep his commandments, and serve Him to the end. In turn we are promised a remission of sins, and that we “may always have his Spirit to be with” us. His Spirit is the Holy Ghost.

 

“The Holy Ghost, a member of the Godhead, bears witness of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. He is the source of personal testimony and revelation. He can guide us in our decisions and protect us from physical and spiritual danger. He is known as the Comforter, and He can calm our fears and fill us with hope....” We are entitled to comfort that comes through the Holy Ghost, by keeping our covenants and by being obedient.

 

Living on the reservation and in this world has many challenges: poverty, addiction, trauma, mental health issues, domestic and social unrest. These issues touch us personally in our immediate family or through our community. I long for the time when we are free from this fallen world. But what can be done until then? We are not exempt from difficulty, but through the gospel of Jesus Christ, we may be comforted in our difficulty. We may know that all these things are for our good and will give us experience. 

 

Christ as the Example

 

Jesus Christ set the perfect example of what this looks like. He is God’s perfect Son who came to this fallen world to do His Father’s will. He was perfectly obedient but subject to adversity and difficulty. Born in lowly circumstances, He endured derision, ridicule, mocking, betrayal, assault, and pain. In addition, He was subject to bear our burdens and transgressions through the atonement. He suffered because of us. How unfair is that?

 

What enabled Him to remain obedient and true to His plan? The very things that will enable us.

 

Christ came to know who He was. He was not born knowing all things, but “grew in wisdom, stature and in favor with God and man.” I do not know all things. Jeffrey R. Holland reminds us to “hold the ground you have already won, even if that ground is limited.” I know that we are children of God. That is one thing that brings comfort through the Holy Ghost.

 

Do you recognize who you really are as a child of God? I am coming to know more and more about whom I am. In addition, I have come to know that in greater measure because of the harsh adversity and difficulty. With that knowledge, I am able to know more about you and the rest of our brothers and sisters and who they are. That is both a humbling and sacred experience to know that God loves me, and He loves you the same. He is no respecter of persons. You are a beloved daughter of God, and your life has “meaning, purpose, and direction.” 

 

Use the Scriptures

 

In Alma 32:7 we are told that if we just have the “desire to believe,” to let that desire work within us to become knowledge. This is faith. Not faith in things that are untrue, but faith in those things that are true. Moreover, as Alma counsels, watch for that to grow and pluck the “fruit.”

 

Additionally, we may learn who we are through reading the scriptures. Christ’s rebuttal to every temptation by the adversary came from the scriptures. We too may use the scriptures to rebuke the devourer, quench adversity, and find comfort in times of difficulty. I testify that this is true. I find comfort, answers, and power from reading the scriptures, through God speaking to me in His word. You are “children of the most high,” a beloved, precious child of God. I testify that that is true.

 

Forgive One Another

 

While on the cross Christ sought forgiveness from God the Father, citing his offenders knew not what they were doing. Through His atonement, we are able to receive forgiveness for our transgressions. Additionally, we may receive relief when others transgress against us. The atonement is for both the offender and the offended.

 

All are subject to the consequences of other’s choices. These choices may have had far-reaching effects that are adverse in nature, hurtful, damaging, and destructive. Additionally, they may be positive, healing, repairing, and productive. Indigenous communities know this all too well.

 

Where does healing and reparation come from? It comes in and through the atonement of Jesus Christ. It is not within our ability to change the past, but the atonement is able to change our todays and our tomorrows.

 

The pattern of forgiveness is set: acknowledge the transgression, feel sorrow and show forth remorse and apologize, make amends or restitution when possible, and forsake the transgression, showing forth-changed behavior.

 

But what about if I have been wronged? This may be very difficult if no apology, sorrow, or remorse comes. We are not in the position to force another to use the atonement, but we are able to use the atonement ourselves. Acknowledge the transgression, feel sorrow, make amends within areas that are in your control, forsake the act of speaking ill or passing judgment, and give it all to the Savior, leaving ultimate judgment to Him.

 

The Promises are Sure

 

The promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are your promises and my promises by virtue of the blood that literally flows through our veins as literal descendants. The responsibilities and blessings are bound to each of us. You have those before you and those who will come after. You connect past generations with one arm extended through the veil and the other arm extended to the future generations not yet born.

 

Do not make the mistake to think that you are required to hold it together alone, by your own strength, power, will, and desire. In Matthew 11:28-30 we are told, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

 

A yoke binds two livestock animals together to distribute the load or work evenly. It allows the strength of both animals to work together. Growing up, to me, the concept of a yoke always denoted a burden of sorts. In October 2022 General Conference, President Russell M. Nelson spoke of this yoke. He said, “Entering into a covenant relationship with God binds us to Him in a way that makes everything about life easier. … Yoking yourself with the Savior means you have access to His strength and redeeming power.” 

 

How beautiful is that? This yoke is to bind us to Christ’s perfect strength and His redeeming power. I need Christ’s strength because mine wanes and tires. I need it because mine is not perfect or enduring. I need it, because with it I truly can “do all things.”

 

Not long ago a member of my Stake Presidency said, “We need to expect things to go wrong. Perfection does not come in this life; it comes in the next.”

 

Dear sisters and friends, expect things to go wrong, but know that the outcome is certain. I invite you to remain bound to Christ. You are on the side of victory. You have my complete confidence that you will succeed and arrive at your eternal destination -- not because life is perfect and free from difficulty, but because this is the time for men and women “to prepare to meet God” by enduring well in difficult circumstances. It is not only okay but it is essential to recoup and re-energize through prayer, scripture study, partaking of the sacrament, and attending the temple. It is okay to start again, each day, hour, or minute.

 

Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. He is my Savior, my Advocate with the Father, and He is the answer. We are not here to fail, but “that the works of God should be made manifest.” 

 

This is not a race; it is a beautiful journey of becoming, recognizing and relying on Christ’s promise, so that when we see Him we will be like Him. We will testify that He has not left us comfortless, but He has indeed come to our ancestors, and has come to us as He promised. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.