My Devotional Talk

Pattern I bought. From the tablecloth!

Back of Obi

Finished Yukata! Just 11 more to go!

The Pattern For Our Lives

Devotional Meeting
June 21, 2010
Tokyo, Japan

Introduction of Elder and Sister Gibson

Ideas:
Granddaughter wants a red kimono from Japan
Pattern - bought one for yukata – she won’t know the difference
Love to sew- brought a few sewing items
Needed machine and fabric
(small one in Watabe’s apt. - slow but steady)
old tablecloth in our apt.
Ready to go!??

Pattern has Japanese directions – problem? I can look at the illustrations to see what to do
Started cutting out pattern pieces – realized that I didn’t know what they were or where they went. Finally figured out that you had to tape pieces together to make one long piece for the front and back.

Now to lay out pattern on fabric – not long enough – figure out how to piece it together to make it long enough.
Lay it out – pins
Cut - scissors
Remove pattern and pin pieces together

Begin to sew together – wrong – unpick – start over
Trouble figuring out sleeves – opening under arms??

Decide to get a new machine – put it all away until I could get one
Have to go an hour or more to get to store - GOT IT! Plus bought some fabric – guessing about the amount – converting meters into yards.
Come back and begin learning how to use new machine

Still problems with figuring out directions on pattern
Finally ask for help –

Complete the yukata and cut out another from the fabric I purchased.
This time it is much easier.
I have more knowledge, good machine, help if I need it.

How is this like the pattern that we have for our lives?? Elder Packer taught us about patterns yesterday in conference. He quoted Doctrine and Covenants 52:14 which says "And again, I will give you a pattern in all things, that ye may not be deceived…"

There is a plan or pattern that we can follow – Plan of Happiness

We come to earth with some things that will help us - me bringing sewing items to Japan
We need directions that we can understand – the gospel teaches us the way
We must gain knowledge by studying and by seeking help from others who can teach us in the language we can understand – looking at the illustrations – then asking for help.
We begin to work on our project- mistakes are made and we must unpick and redo certain steps
The process is painful just like cutting, pinning, sewing fabric.

But we are able to complete the first project we were working on and start another.
This time it is easier – but we may want to alter or change the pattern somewhat. We may even want to make something more difficult. As long as we keep to the basics, this is fine. We just need to keep in mind the final product. It may be made of different fabric, a different color, different length, etc. but it will still turn out to be a useful beautiful garment.

We continue to improve our skills with each item that we construct. We are able to help others who are just beginning to learn.

Eventually, our days will end. Have we done the best we can possibly do? Will our Father in Heaven be pleased with how what we have made of our lives? We have assurance that if we have done our best and received the ordinances that are necessary, that our work will be accepted. Even if we are still working on projects, we know that Christ will be the "finisher" of our work. He will make it possible for our work to be completed and accepted.

I am thankful for patterns especially for the pattern and example of the life of Jesus Christ. We are so blessed to be able to be here working with all of you. You are teaching us so much and we are thankful for this opportunity to live among you. May we all help each other to complete the projects of our various lives and may Jesus Christ finish up what we cannot complete on our own. I say this …………………… Amen.