1. Concern for the One
1.1. Jesus Christ is our greatest example. He was surrounded by multitudes and spoke to thousands, yet He always had concern for the one.
1.1.1. Jesus Christ is the best example of going after the one. It is easy to be distracted by the crowd and lose focus on the one.
1.2. Some are lost because they are different
1.2.1. It is so easy to exclude people because they are different. This is a big challenge and it is easy to do. I find that when I let go of what other people think of me, then I am more likely to reach out to those who are different.
1.2.2. The Lord did not people the earth with a vibrant orchestra of personalities only to value the piccolos of the world. Every instrument is precious and adds to the complex beauty of the symphony.
2. Drenched in Gratitude
2.1. Entitlement is a poison
2.1.1. If there is entitlement at BUYI among the students, teachers, workers, and even the people of Rexburg, then the spirit of Ricks will be gone.
2.1.1.1. When we are entitled, we don't appreciate and look at the tender mercies that the Lord gives us each day.
2.2. We live in a society of entitlement
2.2.1. It's difficult to escape a "poison" when we are constantly surrounded by it. The world is filled with entitlement and it seems to be getting worse and worse.
2.2.2. Satan was entitled and expected Heavenly Father to give him everything where as Jesus was humble and willing to accept Gods will.
2.3. Hard hearts
2.3.1. As our hearts are hardened, we can't hear the voice of the spirit and we think that we are entitled to everything.
3. Special Challenges Video
3.1. Everyone has different challenges that not only affect them but their families as well.
3.2. The three different examples in the video all show how challenging and rewarding it can be to have a child with special needs.
3.3. One thing that really touched my heart was how the church and people in the church were blessings to these different families. Many ward members reached out to help them and were answers to prayers especially for the parents.
3.4. I also loved how every disability and every situation was different but God knows them each so well and personally. He knows exactly how to help these families in need.
4. Doctrine of Inclusion
4.1. We are all neighbors and we should love, esteem, respect, and serve one another despite our deepest differences—including religious, political, and cultural differences.
4.2. If we are truly disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, we will reach out with love and understanding to all of our neighbors at all times, particularly in times of need.
4.2.1. I love what he said about "If we are truly disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ." How often do we think we are being a disciple of Christ but we aren't reaching out to those in need and serving his children around us.
5. The Moving of the Water
5.1. I love how he compared disabilities in the Bible to disabilities today. For example, the blind, the halt, the deaf, the dumb. I find it helpful to remember that disabilities have been seen since Jesus's time. and they are the ones that Christ healed.
5.2. “Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.” (John 9:1–3.)
5.2.1. I love this point! Just because someone has a disability, doesn't mean they have sinned or their parents have sinned. Often times the Lord is trying to teach us something. Everything happens for a reason.
5.3. Never Ridicule
5.3.1. I have worked with special needs throughout my life and have had experiences where my clients were treated poorly by other people. I saw how painful it was and how much it affected them. The sad thing is, a lot of them are used to it.
5.4. "Shes under there somewhere"
5.4.1. This part of the talk really touched my heart. Every special needs individual is a person. Sometime it is difficult to see but underneath they have a whole personality of their own. They are blessed with gifts and skills just like everyone else.