Brothers and sisters, thank you for being in devotional today. You will be blessed for being here.
In gatherings such as this where we come to be instructed and edified, our hungering spirits are blessed and magnified by what we feel here. As the Lord told the Prophet Joseph, “…..where two or three are gathered together in my name, behold, there will I be in the midst of them – even so am I in the midst of you.”[1] What a marvelous and wonderful blessing.
Did you know that the speakers for devotional aren’t assigned a topic? When they receive an invitation to come, they are asked to prayerfully select by inspiration the topic that the Lord wants them to bring. I am grateful that we have the opportunity each Tuesday to gather with the Lord in our midst and receive the inspired messages our speakers have prepared in this way.
Lehi, in the Book of Mormon describes how this process worked for his family in the wilderness. He tells his sons that they would have all perished without their brother, Nephi’s obedience to the commandments of God in bringing them “the sharpness of the power of the word of God.”[2]
Nephi obediently brought to his family messages that the Lord gave to him for them. These messages were not only timely but were critical to their survival and to the success of their journey to the Promised Land.
In First Nephi chapters 17 and 18, we read of the Lord’s command to Nephi to build a ship. When he brought that message to his family, they must have thought he was crazy. Why did they need a ship? After all they were enjoying, after eight long years of trial in the wilderness their beautiful home by the sea which they called “Bountiful, because of its much fruit and also wild honey.”[3] They probably didn’t want to go anywhere by land or sea. Nephi says, quote: “my brethren did complain against me, for they did not believe that I could build a ship. Neither would they believe that I was instructed of the Lord.”[4]
But the Lord continued to inspire Nephi, so that with much patience he was able to persuade them to, quote: “worship the Lord, and … go forth with me; and we did work timbers of curious workmanship and did build the ship after the manner which the Lord had shown unto me; wherefore, it was not after the manner of men.”[5]
Nephi prepared for the role he played in his family as the message bearer for the Lord. We read of his preparation In First Nephi chapter 2, verse 16:
“And it came to pass that I Nephi, being exceedingly young, … having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father wherefore, I did not rebel against him like … my brothers.”
We must prepare like Nephi, with softened hearts to be message bearers for the Lord: as missionaries, as leaders and teachers in our wards and stakes, as home and visiting teachers, and someday, as Moms and Dads, and perhaps even as devotional speakers who bring forth the “sharpness of the power of the word of God.”[6]
I love the Lord for sending his messages to us through his servants whose hearts, like Nephi’s are softened to believe all the words of the Prophets and who are inspired to bring messages from God that make us aware of our needs, and instruct us on how to proceed.
President Clark has prepared a message for us today with that kind of inspired preparation. Months ago even before we had delivered our devotional address at the start of Fall Semester, he had begun to receive direction from the Lord about what he should say to you today. We know that what he has prepared is a message directly from Heaven.
It is my prayer that we will listen with and be instructed by the Spirit as we receive His message. I pray that we will each understand the message’s specific application to our personal needs, and that along with instruction on how to proceed, we will receive inspiration and courage to act on those instructions.
We gather under direction from the Lord. As it says in Doctrine and Covenants, section 29:
“And ye are called to bring to pass the gathering of mine elect, for mine elect hear my voice and harden not their hearts. Wherefore the decree hath gone forth from the Father that they shall be gathered in unto one place upon the face of this land to prepare their hearts and be prepared in all things.”[7]
I know that our Savior Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He lives. “How oft will I gather you,” He says, “as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, if ye will repent and return unto me with full purpose of heart.”[8]
It is my prayer that we will all gather here at every devotional for the softening of our hearts, in preparation for all that He has prepared for us. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Notes
[1] D&C 6:32
[2] 2 Nephi 1:26
[3] 1 Nephi 17:5
[4] 1 Nephi 17:18
[5] 1 Nephi 18:1-2
[6] 1 Nephi 1:26
[7] D&C 29:7-8
[8] 3 Nephi 10:6