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Elder Rulon G. Craven spoke on
developing talents and abilities to grow into foreordained callings and
responsibilities during his devotional address at Brigham Young
University-Idaho Sept. 24.
The former member of
the Second Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints began by quoting Church President Ezra Taft Benson, who
said, “No one is born into this world whose work is not born with him or
her.”
“That means that we
come to this earth with foreordained talents, abilities and capabilities,
and if we live worthy, we will develop those talents, abilities and
capabilities,” Elder Craven said. “I believe we are like chess on a chess
board and that our Father in Heaven through influence and power of the Holy
Ghost moves us into different positions and opportunities where we can
develop our talents and our abilities and fulfill our foreordained
callings.”
He shared
experiences from his life that exemplified four principles that will help
in realizing foreordained callings and responsibilities:
The first principle
is learning to obey the promptings of the spirit. As an 18-year-old, Elder
Craven worked on a merchant ship in World War II. One of his fellow sailors
suggested that a group of them get tattoos, but when Elder Craven had a
distinct feeling that he should not do it, he told them he did not want
one. He was subsequently able to explain his standards and gain their
respect.
The second principle
is self-effort. Elder Craven explained that “if you are going to reach your
foreordained callings and responsibilities, then you must be willing to put
forth the effort to grow into those callings and responsibilities.”
Since he had no
previous experience on the ship, Elder Craven’s initial job there was as an
engine wiper. He knew that such work was not for him and that he needed
knowledge. During his spare time, while his companions were relaxing, he
stayed in the engine room to learn. AI knew I had to sacrifice some
pleasures to achieve knowledge,” he said. Although there were others who
had been at sea longer than he had, Elder Craven was given greater
responsibility because of his efforts.
“You need to grow in
this kingdom,” Elder Craven said. “Make sure that you don’t have the same
experiences time after time after time, year after year after year. You
need to grow into your potential. You need to grow into your foreordained
callings, and that takes self-effort. If you don’t direct and improve your
life, no one else will.”
The third principle
he shared was to follow the prophets.
While sailing in the
China Sea, Elder Craven’s ship and several others followed a flag ship,
which communicated messages of safety and direction to the others. One afternoon,
Elder Craven watched an enemy plane fly into the side of a ship whose
captain had not listened to the flag ship. The result was destruction.
“The flag ship of
this convoy of saints . . . consists of the First Presidency and the Quorum
of the Twelve, and if we will follow their counsel and direction, we will
stay within the confines of the saints and receive the protection. But if
we make the decision not to follow the prophet, we can go back and back and
back. Then as if from no where, the adversary can come down upon us and
destroy our very lives.”
The final principle
Elder Craven shared is to always be active in the Church.
“By that I mean
accept callings and responsibilities with a positive attitude because they
are all preparatory to your foreordained callings and responsibilities, and
each of you have them. You just need to grow into what they are,” he said.
Next week’s devotional speaker
will be Elder Robert L. Backman, an emeritus member of the First Quorum of
the Seventy. He will speak Oct. 1 at 2 p.m. in the Taylor Chapel. # # #
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