Sister Sharon Eubank Addresses Single Adults at a Fireside in Nakano

On Sunday, June 9, 2019, Sister Sharon Eubank, First Counselor in the General Relief Society Presidency, addressed a group of Single Adults during a fireside held at the Nakano ward building.

To begin the meeting, Elder Takashi Wada, counselor in the Asia North Area presidency, talked a bit about the Especially for Youth conference that would be held in Korea. He then spoke about the four priorities President Russell M. Nelson listed in his October 2018 conference address:

“Our message to the world is simple and sincere: we invite all of God’s children on both sides of the veil to come unto their Savior, receive the blessings of the holy temple, have enduring joy, and qualify for eternal life.”

After quoting President Nelson, Elder Wada enlightened that our loved ones are both here with us and beyond the veil. The gathering of Israel involves both missionary work for the living and temple work for those beyond the veil. He encouraged all to have a current temple recommend.

Sister Eubank started her message by telling how she previously lived in Japan as a student teaching English in Suzuka. She told the audience that coming back to Japan is one of her favorite things, especially this time, coming with her cousin, Kathy, and her cousin’s daughter. Kathy served a mission in Japan several years earlier and helped in the teaching of the gospel to Elder Wada. It was a joyous reunion when they met this time in Japan, as Elder Wada had not known she was coming, and Kathy was unaware that Elder Wada serves in the Asia North Area presidency.

One of the first things Sister Eubank told the single adults in Japan, is that every Tuesday, the Relief Society General presidency prays for them.

Sister Eubank began her talk by reading a letter from a 48-year-old sister she was assigned to respond to. The sister, who is not married, has difficulty knowing her purpose. Sister Eubank requested the audience’s advice in finding the answers. The single sister commented that she felt isolated watching family members with their children and watching families in her ward. “I know that it is important for me to serve others,” the sister remarked, “but where do I fit in? Does the pain ever go away?”

Sister Eubank pointed out scriptural references of single adults whom she looks to as examples. The first person she discussed was Amulek. His story can be found beginning in Alma 10. Amulek was a man of importance. He was rich and had family and friends. Though he had a hardened heart, he was told by an angel to meet and feed Alma, and that if he did so, that the blessing of the Lord would rest upon him and his house. Amulek was obedient, and followed the directions of the angel. This obedience led him to become a powerful missionary. However, Sister Eubank drew attention to the possibility that Amulek may have lost his family and friends at the martyrdom in Ammonihah. Later, he lived in Alma’s house with Alma and his sons. She asked, “Did the promises to Amulek not come to pass?”

“In our own lives, if we live the gospel, we will be blessed,” Sister Eubank reminded, “but, sometimes it seems the promise is broken.”

Participants in the congregation told of their experiences. The first sister, at age 43, is not married and has no children. She had lived her life fixated on being married and having children, but so far, it hasn’t happened. Life has been difficult for her. She became depressed and nearly left the church. Eventually, she received her own personal revelation on her purpose in life. “That revelation may look different than outsiders see,” she responded. When asked by Sister Eubank if she received the revelation she sought, this sister answered, “I did, but it took a while to recognize it.”

The second participant, a brother in a wheelchair, reported that everything in his life has meaning. He reported that there have been times in his life when he struggled through his difficulties. “I asked, what did I do wrong? Does Heavenly Father really love me?” This brother has come to a stage in his life where he knows he is doing the right thing. “I have many questions, but I am in good hands and I love my life. I will do my best to show my love to others.”

“What powerful testimonies!” Sister Eubank proclaimed. “In these two testimonies, we hear the word of the Lord. Our lives may not be as we planned. We have blessings that have not yet come true.”

In referring back to Amulek, Sister Eubank pointed out that Amulek spent his life in missionary work. The Lord promised he would bless him. “We have the same promise,” she encouraged.

The next scripture she directed the congregation to is found in Ruth 1. When her husband died, her mother-in-law told Ruth to leave the church and go back to her people. Ruth chose to stay with her mother-in-law. Ruth was loyal. She was a widowed, poor refugee, living with her mother-in-law, yet she was loyal. Eventually, she remarried and through her line came Jesus Christ. “Moses was told ‘I have a work for you.’ Ruth was told ‘I have a place for you.’ He says the same to all of us,” Sister Eubank declared.

Zoram’s story begins in 1 Nephi 4. Mistaking Nephi to be his master, Laban, he gave Nephi the plates of brass, as Nephi requested. Later, when he realized that Nephi was not Laban, he had to make an instant decision whether to follow Nephi into the wilderness as invited, or to flee back to Jerusalem. In that moment, he chose to be Nephi’s friend, forever. Sister Eubank laughed and suggested that being a friend was Zoram’s super power.

Finally, Sister Eubank discussed Martha. While preparing food, Jesus invited Martha to be a disciple. Two scriptural passages prove that Martha became a witness of Jesus Christ. In John 11: 21, Martha perceives, “Lord, if thou hast been here, my brother had not died.” She again witnessed of Jesus when in verse 27 she announces: ‘Yea Lord, I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.” Martha was a single adult with a testimony of Jesus Christ.

Through the great examples of single adults in the scriptures, Sister Eubank taught that we can learn that as Amulek, we can turn grief into something meaningful; as Ruth, we can be loyal, and find out what God wants us to do; through Zoram, we learn to be a true friend; and just as Martha, we can be a witness of Jesus Christ.

Sister Eubank testified that “Jesus bore our pain in Gethsemane, so that we don’t have to.”

Sister Sanae Fujita was called out of the congregation to tell the story of how she received revelation of her purpose in life. Through priesthood blessings, she was told that God had a work for her to do. Through fasting, prayer, and taking the opportunities that came her way, she has received guidance. Sister Fujta feels her purpose lies in teaching and working for human rights in the United Kingdom. “I feel my boss is Jesus Christ,” Sanae told the group of assembled single adults. “I trusted Him in figuring things out.”

In conclusion, Sister Eubank testified: “If you seek guidance, you will find the work you need to do. God loves you.”

Please click on the link to watch the fireside in its entirety.

https://bcove.video/2InFsiz