This week's BYU-Idaho devotional speaker told students how to receive revelation by wrestling before God in prayer.
Elder Kazuhiko Yamashita is a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He currently works in both the Family History and Priesthood and Family departments for the Church.
Elder Yamashita is originally from Japan. He joined the Church of Jesus Christ in 1971. During his devotional, he shared an experience he had when he was a university sophomore.
He was looking for his future career and considering dropping out of his university and transferring to a different one. He did not enjoy his university life at the time because of this.
During his struggle, Elder Yamashita received inspiration one day to pray as Enos did in the Book of Mormon.
In verse five of the book of Enos, he said, "and my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication of mine own soul" (Enos 1:4).
Elder Yamashita did as Enos did and prayed all day long. He said he received specific answers and advice. Every time he prayed, he felt Heavenly Father's love so strongly that it prompted him to think deeply about his future.
“My main message is an invitation to students to have a good experience, wrestle before God in their prayers. … I’m sure through that experience, anyone, we, everyone can change and receive very clear inspiration and revelation,” Elder Yamashita said in an interview with BYU-Idaho Radio.
Elder Yamashita then shared five things we can do to wrestle spiritually before God. We can ponder deeply, pray with sincerity, use proper language that shows love, respect, reverence and closeness to Heavenly Father, always give thanks to him, and seek his guidance and strength in all we do.
“My dear friends, I am sure many of you have wrestled before God in prayer,” he said. “It is wonderful. That experience will bring you many benefits. Your testimony will be strengthened.”