Temple Bound
God's children are searching in greater numbers for answers and hoping for miracles as they look to Jesus Christ for relief. On 'Temple Bound,' hosted by Will Humphreys, explore how temples offer not just solace but also powerful tools for navigating these turbulent times through faith in Jesus Christ.
Tune in every Monday to hear Will Humphreys engage with guests who bring inspiring stories, profound teachings, and insights into accessing divine guidance through temple service.
Each episode promises to enrich your understanding and strengthen your connection to the Savior in unique and transformative ways.
Whether you're seeking answers, yearning for peace, or in need of a miracle, 'Temple Bound' is your weekly spiritual refuge, helping you anchor your soul to the Savior. Join us on this sacred journey to deepen your faith and discover the blessings of temple worship.
Temple Bound
Feeling Alone? How Your Divine Worth Connects to Christ and the Temple with Will Humphreys
Feeling like you don't fit in, like everyone else got the "joy memo" but you? In this deeply personal episode of Temple Bound, we tackle the very real struggles of loneliness, social anxiety, and mental health challenges facing youth today.
Drawing from a powerful message shared with a group of young people, your host shares a personal, embarrassing story about "tight pants" and how feeling like an outcast actually pointed to a deeper truth: our divine strength.
We explore how despite the rising tide of social poverty, as predicted by prophets, there is profound hope and a way forward through Jesus Christ and His restored gospel. You'll hear insightful statistics on mental health, powerful scriptures, and heartfelt truths about your inherent worth.
This episode emphasizes how regular church attendance, the presence of caring adults, and engaging in community service can significantly reduce risks associated with mental health struggles. Most importantly, we dive into how focusing on the Savior, discerning the voices in your head, being a true friend, serving others, and especially the temple can change everything.
Learn why you matter not because of your choices, but because you are a beloved child of God.
Key Takeaways:
- You are not alone in feeling alone or like you don't fit in. Many, including your host, have felt this way.
- Your struggles can point to your divine strength. The challenges you face prepare you for greater blessings.
- "Social poverty" is a real plague predicted by prophets. Statistics on youth mental health, social media's impact, and suicide rates highlight the urgency.
- The answer is always Jesus Christ. Focusing on Him through scripture study, church attendance, seminary, and pro-gospel actions brings joy.
- You matter because you exist; your worth is infinite. It has nothing to do with your choices or actions.
- Discern the voices in your head. Positive, pro-survival thoughts come from the Holy Ghost; negative, judgmental ones come from the adversary. Learn to call out and dismiss negative influences.
- Be a "Matt Floyd." Find friendship by being a friend, especially to those who need it most.
- Serve others and show gratitude. These actions foster health and well-being.
- The Temple is a sacred refuge. Its influence offers reprieve from the adversary and confirms your divine purpose.
Join us as we testify that Jesus Christ sees you, loves you, and that you've got this.
What other show ideas or questions do you have in your heart that we can help answer? Share them in the comments or over on Instagram!
Welcome back to Temple Bound. Today's episode is personal. This is a message that I gave to a group of youth in real time that I'm excited for you to hear. So even if you're not youth, this is going to be for you. If you've ever felt like you don't fit in, like everyone else got the joy memo except for you, this is for your ears. I share a story about tight pants Yep, tight pants and how standing out and struggling socially actually points to something deeper our divine strength. So when we talk about mental health, social media and loneliness, we're going to talk about it as a very real thing, but also how it connects to worth. So no, you're not the voice in your head telling you that you're not enough, and we're going to get into that in today's episode. So you're going to hear stats today about mental health, scriptures and some hard truths wrapped in love. We're going to talk about how Christ's service and the temple can and will change everything for you. Just as a reminder, you were born for this time. Enjoy the show.
Speaker 1:Good morning Guys. I am so excited to be here this morning and I mean that sincerely. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be able to address you guys at 9am on Memorial Day weekend. Before we get going, I want to thank immediately all of the veterans who are out there. Thank you so much for what you've done for our country. And we understand. Well, we don't understand, but what we do understand is that, thanks to your efforts, boys like Mikey can have the freedoms to join the church and enter the waters of baptism and be a part of this wonderful church and have our freedoms. And I am so excited for the musical number. I'm going to go really fast because I want to hear the Job family. I was coming in today and Brother Job, being a Job, came and introduced himself to me and invited me and made me feel welcome. That's a family that I want to be like. I have four sons and every single member of that family has just been such a powerful influence in small and big ways. So, guys, I am so grateful to be here.
Speaker 1:Like it was mentioned, my name is Brother Humphreys, I am in the Stake Young Men's Presidency and, for those youth who are out there, I just want you to know that we are so excited for Youth Conference coming up this week. This is a unique undertaking for Youth Conference up this week. This is a unique undertaking for Youth Conference. This is the first time we're having ages, you know, 11 to 12, all the way to 18 together at the same camp. That's 418 youth, over 500 people participating. It's a lot of hamburgers. It's a lot of hikes. We're not doing hikes, by the way, I don't know why, why I said that.
Speaker 1:So lots of really fun things coming for youth conference, and so I would like to take a second, and for today's address, I would like to focus specifically on the youth. So, ages 11 to 22, I'd like to speak to you guys directly. So, adults, you can totally tune out, you can. You're welcome to think about, like the game tonight, or what you're going to make for dinner or whatever. Like you know, work, whatever you're stressing out, you can tune out. And youth, guess what you can tune out too, you really can Like, we just have the sacrament. That's really the only thing that matters here. But, youth, if you would like to feel the spirit, I'd like to ask you to do something for me. Would you mind saying a prayer in your heart that my words can be guided, so that I can say something that will actually touch your heart, because I am passionate about who you are, the trials that you're going through, and to communicate this to you.
Speaker 1:I'm going to share with you an embarrassing story that happened to me at my very first ever youth conference back in El Paso, texas, 19 and something or another. In El Paso. I was 14 years old. This was my first youth conference. We didn't go somewhere fun like Camp Raymond, like we're doing. It was done locally in the Stakes Center and my ward. At the time there weren't a lot of members of the church, so there was me, christian Rene, who was my age, and Matt Floyd, who was a senior in high school. So, being 14 years old, me and Matt didn't hang out a lot, and Christian and I hung out a little bit, but he didn't come to this youth conference and I was all alone. I didn't know any of the members of the church in our stake that were my age and so I was really nervous. We went down for the first day and the classes were great and I was really shy and timid. I've told the youth before in some of our meetings, but just for the adults who are choosing to pay attention, I had braces and a headgear during those years and so, oh, some people are laughing. They know what I'm talking about. Yeah, that was a real painful time for me and I didn't have to wear that great fleet during youth conference. But I just felt really isolated and alone and that night was the first ever dance that we were going to go to. This was the first ever youth dance I was going to go to.
Speaker 1:My parents struggled financially greatly. My dad had recently filed for bankruptcy and so my mom didn't have money to get me like nice clothes to wear to the state dance and I really wanted to like fit in. But she found an old pair of slacks that my older brother, bub in Texas everyone has a brother named Bub he's. He was six years older than me and so he. There's your old pair of pants, but they kind of fit like, like, like style wise. But the point of the story is that they didn't fit hardly at all. Like I had to pour myself into these tight little pants that were about two inches too short, like my white socks, you know were there and maybe people think I'm trying to be Michael Jackson, I don't know, maybe it works, but the problem I was concerned about was how tight they were. These were tight pants. I had a hard time like touching the floor and I told my mom. I said, hey, these feel like they're a little bit like too snug. And she's like, oh honey, you're being vain, just go, being, just go to just go to the dance. They're going to love you. You've got such a great personality, like, why do people keep focusing on that? So I go to the steak dance and, to clarify, she drops me off.
Speaker 1:And I remember walking into this massive gymnasium, just like here, and seeing all these people and everyone felt older than me, cooler than me. I just felt so out of place and so immediately I walked in and I know this didn't happen, but the perspective was that everyone stopped and looked and stared at these, these tight pants that I was wearing, and so I squeaked my way across the gym and got through and decided to go straight to the bathroom and just hide. And so I went into the bathroom and closed the stall door and just like was trying to catch my breath. I was having an anxiety attack, I didn't know it at the time and then I heard these two boys come in and they were laughing and they're like oh my gosh, did you see that dweeb in the tightest of pants, right, and I just remember like, oh no, maybe they're talking about somebody else. And they're like, no, those black pants. I'm like, yep, that's me. And they started laughing about it and I wanted to disappear off the planet, just disappear. It is funny, but the reality of that moment for me is that I just wanted to not exist. And it wasn't like that was the first time I'd ever felt that way. That was one of many times. But this was a crowning moment for me and so I decided I can't do this, I'm out of here. So when the boys left I decided I was going to.
Speaker 1:There was no other way in my chapel to get to the payphone, to do that thing where you call collect and say, mom, pick me up, and then you hang up. So I was going back across the gym just with my head down, trying to disappear, and I hear, hey, will, is that you? And I turn around and it's Matt Floyd, the senior in my ward, the one guy that's there that I might actually know. I don't know Matt. Well, I mean, it's not like we hung out, but he was a senior and he's like Will, get over here. And so I walk over to the group. There's a group of boys and girls my age or older, most of them older, juniors and seniors. And this is how he introduced me. He said you guys, this is Will. He's in my ward, he is so cool, you're going to love him.
Speaker 1:What do you think that did? For me, nothing. It changed my life forever. It wasn't like a nicety. He had the power to do something that literally no one else could do except the Savior, which was to see me, accept me and help me feel the word that this generation I want to just promote more than anything else Belong. He made me feel like I belonged. So the rest of the night I ended up talking and laughing and joking with everybody else. We even tried to dance, which I couldn't do well because the pants, so I just kind of wiggled from the waist up. It was a wonderful evening.
Speaker 1:I had this experience of feeling accepted. I remember going home that night and my mom asked me how was it? And I said, mom, it was the best. So we're talking today a little bit about these experiences and youth. I don't like calling you youth, I'm just going to call you what you are leaders. So, leaders, have you ever felt like I did when I was in the bathroom. Have you ever felt like you don't fit in? Have you ever struggled to feel like, socially, you're accepted? Have you? Have you ever felt like you just don't want to exist from time to time? If you feel that way on any level, I need you to hear this. I see you. I need you to hear this. I see you, I feel you and I am you.
Speaker 1:No matter what you think of the guy standing in front of you, I'm still that very nerdy kid who's just trying to fit in and belong wherever he goes. That hasn't shifted. But it gets so much easier as you grow up, as you become adult. As a matter of fact, I have this strong hypothesis the more that we struggle when we're younger, the more we're blessed when we're older. And I was able to marry seriously this amazing woman who is so beautiful and so smart that recently, at Christmas this was Christmas of this year my older aunt turned to me and she goes man, will, you were such an awkward and ugly teenager. I am so surprised at how beautiful your family is. And I said thanks. I told my wife and she's like we gotta stop going to those Christmas parties and I said I agree. So listen, I know this from a couple of levels. Number one I don't wanna pretend like I know exactly what you're going through. The truth is, no one does. This generation is being bombarded in such a way that's unbelievable. But here's where it does matter and I want you to really focus on this, leaders is that I have four sons, ages 13 to 21. I can't break confidence, but I will tell you that I have been a passenger of the car of mental health challenges and struggles, social anxieties, pain, loneliness, and it's become my belief that this isn't something that's just here and there, even though when you're feeling it, it feels like it's just you. This is an actual plague.
Speaker 1:A year ago, I took my wife and four sons and we went to Mozambique, africa, to go do some charity work for some of the most financially impoverished people in the world, one of the most. This is tied for the top five poorest countries in the world. The first day we were out in this village in the middle of nowhere, mozambique. The sun is out, it's gorgeous, but everyone here has nothing Dirt floors, little grass huts, and we're digging a bathroom for this village with my four sons. And so this is. You know, they're working hard all day and we're digging this bathroom and the whole time these village kids are rushing us. Adults were rushing us. They don't even speak the same language, but they just loved on us. Adults were rushing us. They don't even speak the same language, but they just loved on us.
Speaker 1:And you just felt, so instantly accepted, that later that day my youngest son, van, he, turns to me and he starts crying. He bows his head. He didn't want anyone else to see, so I pulled him away. I'm like, hey, buddy, what's going on? And he goes. I was like in my mind oh, he's tired. You know he's a Gilbert kid, I'm not working him hard enough and this is like a thing for him, right? And he goes. Dad, I've never been happier in my life. I never want to leave.
Speaker 1:So I'm not trying to compare the types of poverty in this world, but the point I'm trying to make, leaders, is that there's this thing called social poverty that we have on the earth here today. And did you know that this social poverty is something that has been predicted by prophets for centuries or thousands of years? In the Bible, book of Mormon, doctrine and Covenants, there are repeated scriptures talking about the diseases and plagues that are going to be present on the earth before the Savior comes again. We're going to start in D&C 4531. Check this out. In that generation, you guys, leaders, they shall see an overflowing scourge for a desolating sickness shall cover the land. We're not talking just about COVID when we say desolating sickness. Do you guys know what desolate means? I didn't either. Check this out. Desolate the state of being devastated, encompassed by destruction, ruin and loneliness. Loneliness the adversary, since the day you were born, knew what you were supposed to do and has one goal. Knew what you were supposed to do and has one goal to isolate you, to make you feel alone. And he does a pretty good job, doesn't he Check out these social poverty statistics?
Speaker 1:Suicide has increased in youth ages 10 to 24 in the United States over the past 20 years by 61.8%. Teens who spend three plus hours a day on social media are twice as likely to experience poor mental health. And for the adults who are choosing to listen in, let's not use this as ammunition to create rules as much as open a dialogue to understand why they want to spend that kind of time on there. 70% of teens say anxiety and depression are major problems among peers. So this is a real war. This is something that is very serious and powerful and as we look at this situation, it can feel very hard to understand what to do.
Speaker 1:As a parent, I oftentimes have sat in the passenger seat of my kids' experiences, wishing I knew what else I could do to help. Seat of my kids' experiences wishing I knew what else I could do to help when I know it's not me. That's the answer. I can't be the savior, only the savior can be the savior. So as you youth are going through this journey, you oftentimes get told this thing I mentioned earlier about you're the greatest generation that the Lord has ever put on the earth. Have you guys heard that before? My boys have told me in confidence that they don't like to hear that, but not all the youth like to hear it, especially when they're struggling because they're in this position of feeling like it's inauthentic or like it's supposed to be a false motivation to pull them out of a rut. But, youth leaders, two things can be true at the same time you are facing plagues that the world has never seen before and you are prepared for this just because you're feeling and I'm talking to those who really struggle. So if you don't struggle, you can tune out. But for those of you who struggle from time to time, when feeling accepted just because you feel that doesn't mean that it's not true. It's proof that it is Because we knew this was coming in the latter days, these types of plagues and difficulties were coming, and so we ask how can we overcome these trials, how can we overcome the plagues that are facing you leaders? I'm so glad you asked. We're going to get right into it.
Speaker 1:Here's some good news statistics I want to share with you guys, now that we've painted this picture of what's plaguing us. Did you know and these are true regular church attendance is linked to a five-fold decrease in suicide risk. Regular church attendance, guys, just showing up, Just showing up. Don't worry about being tired or not focusing or paying attention. We get it, but get here, just get here. You are already killing it by being here.
Speaker 1:Number two the presence of just one caring adult can cut the risk of suicide in half. Just one caring adult can cut that risk in half. So think about if you had two adults. Think about it if you had a wonderful bishop and Bishop Rick, young women, leaders. If you're an adult that's serving in a youth capacity, I need you to hear how important your role is as a parent of a son who has seen connection happen in a way that I didn't know anyone could else provide except for his peers. Our role is to be the front line, the coaches of these Marines in the latter days. It is the most important thing we can do with our time. Lastly, adults adolescents who engage in community service are 34% more likely to report excellent or very good health.
Speaker 1:Listen, when we ask a question in the gospel of Jesus Christ, the coolest thing is we always have an answer. You're going to hear it, but I want you to hear it like you've never heard it before, because we're going to talk about it just for one or two minutes more, in a way that maybe you haven't thought of. The answer is always Jesus. When we're singing those hymns in primary, we are gearing our leaders' minds to confront these horrible plagues by knowing instinctively where to go. We go to Jesus, but how do we go to Jesus?
Speaker 1:President Russell M Nelson says the joy that we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives. When we focus on the Savior, there's one eternal principle that becomes true, and it doesn't matter how we focus on him Scripture study, coming to church, going to seminary, anytime you do anything good for anyone that's pro-survival or pro-gospel this truth will enter your heart and in your soul in some meaningful way. Which is this will enter your heart and in your soul in some meaningful way, which is this you matter, you matter. You are so important. What makes you valuable is that you exist. It has nothing to do with your choices. Worth, as you're going to hear about in our talk here, is not determined by our actions or choices. It is because you are his. We are the saviors. That's what makes us valuable.
Speaker 1:As adults, we get caught up in other things like status, wealth, you know, fitting in toys, all these silly things that don't matter at all. In the end, the only truth that matters is that we are his. Number two we have to understand the voices in our heads and where they're coming from. There are five things we're going over and I've got literally 60 seconds. So, leaders, can you stay with me a little bit longer for those of you who stayed with me. Number one you matter. Number two you have to discern the voices in our heads. The voices in our head we always think is just us right that we're generating those thoughts. But here's the truth is that you have the Holy Ghost and you have the adversary constantly trying to influence you constantly and we feel those influences like thoughts that come into our heads. So here's how you can know the difference If a thought is telling you something positive, happy, pro-survival, pro-joy, it's always coming from the Holy Ghost, always. If it's negative, if it's sad, judgmental, that is always coming from the adversary and it's useful to call it out.
Speaker 1:People who struggle with eating disorders in a famous book that was written on this topic learn to give that negative voice in their head a name. A name is often used as Ted the eternal destroyer and they say, ted, get out of my life. So the next time you're looking in the mirror and Ted comes out and he's saying, wow, look, you don't. You don't look. Well, You've got the headgear on your head, you look ridiculous, your pants are way too tight, like, yeah, I mean, that's a true thing, the pants being tight, I'm saying, like all those other things just being that, the negative feelings, that's where we have to like, call it out and separate it out. This is what was recently stated from Sister Rena's talk. She said you need to hear this, so I will say these words out loud. You are not the voice in your head or the mistakes you have made. You may have to say out loud Satan, not today, and put him behind you. Trust me on this one, guys. It sounds silly, but this has been a game changer.
Speaker 1:One book I recommend to all of you I'm two minutes over time. One book I recommend to all of you that's super important is this book by Dennis Deaton. It's in Deseret Bookstore, called Look Into Christ. And Every Thought Doubt, not Fear, not Read this book. It is amazing.
Speaker 1:Number three be a Matt Floyd. Turn to Christ. Be a Matt Floyd, find friendship by being a friend to people who maybe look like they need it more than you. And there's look like they need it more than you and there's always someone who needs it more than you. Number four serve others, show gratitude.
Speaker 1:These are all talks.
Speaker 1:I'm just doing a high level thing. And number five my heart, the temple. I love the temple. When we are in those sacred walls, the adversary's influence cannot touch us. We get a reprieve. So go and just be there, just be present. The Lord's Spirit will manifest to you that you matter and that you were born for this.
Speaker 1:I testify that you were. I testify that Jesus Christ sees you, he loves you, and I want you to know that I believe and testify with all my heart that you've got this. You've got this, so don't you ever give up. Don't you ever give up. Talk to a leader or parent if you're struggling, and just know this that we've in some way can relate and been there. We love you. The church is true, and I say this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Thank you for listening to today's episode. We want to hear from you. The church is true, and I say this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Thank you for listening to today's episode. We want to hear from you. What additional show ideas would you like to hear about? What questions do you have in your heart that we can help answer? Please leave those in the show notes of today's episode or over on Instagram. Thank you for your cooperation and helping make this show the best it can be. Until next time.
