I am grateful to be here today. We have had some of our best interns, administrative assistants, etc. come from this university. I have been impressed by the quality of students who come with integrity, capability, and gospel-centered lives. I congratulate the choir that sang during the April 2011 General Conference Saturday afternoon session. It was beautiful.
What I will say today will be nothing new. I am grateful for President Clark's devotional talk given on April 19, 2011 when he talked about deep obedience.[1] I would like to add another opportunity for each of us to be obedient, to recognize Heavenly Father's love for us, and to choose to become like the Savior and bless the lives of those around us. I invite the Spirit to be with us to penetrate our hearts and move us to action.
I will begin with a story of Spencer, my nephew. One day when he was three years old, I attended the closing part of Primary with him and his Sunbeam class. A neighbor boy, Phillip, was in the class. I sat with Spence and the Sunbeams on the front row. All of a sudden I felt a pinch on the side of my face. I looked down at the little boy who had inflicted pain. He was grinning. It was Phillip. He continued to pinch me until I took his hand and asked him to stop.
He then proceeded to try and move Spencer out of his seat, roll on the ground, hit another child, run up to the front of the room, and generally cause commotion. Spencer watched all of this dumbfounded and he and I just looked at each other. We got Phillip back in his seat. I tried to give him attention, put my arm around him, and help him be reverent. He was a handful. We made it to the end of the meeting and Phillip ran out of the room. Spence didn't say much on the ride home.
His parents and I got dinner ready. As we were sitting around the table eating, he explained the experience with Phillip during Primary, recalling each incident. Finally, after sharing the details he made this emphatic declaration, "Phillip is not a child of God." We all just sat there puzzled at what he had just said and then got huge grins on our faces and tried not to laugh but be understanding. I recognized that Spencer had been taught by his parents who a child of God was and how he should act and the difference between this and his friend's actions.
We all know that Philip is a child of God and so is each one of you. This scripture teaches us, "Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God."[2]
One of the greatest truths is that each of us is a son or daughter of a Heavenly Father who loves us. We have an elder brother, Jesus Christ, who suffered, died, and was resurrected because of love for each one who has lived and who will ever live on the earth. You ask, "Julie, how can I know that this is true? That Heavenly Father and Jesus know me and love me?" Today I will talk about two ways: first, we know by the testimony of others and by our own experiences, and second, by serving and loving his sons and daughters.
First, we hear it from the words of others who have a solid testimony of these things and by the experiences we have.
I remember well a talk given by Virginia H. Pearce, daughter of our late prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley, regarding our relationship to Heavenly Father. Her talk was entitled, "Faith is the Answer." I quote, "We all know that more faith won't make our problems disappear. But I believe as our faith increases, we become more able to not only survive the hard times but become better because of them. I believe faith is the answer." Sister Pearce goes on to describe what faith means. Please feel the Spirit bearing witness of these truths as I say them to you. They are:
Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ live, and they are in charge of the world.
They know me.
They love me.
They have a plan for my future.
I will obey the commandments, work hard, and trust in their plan. Sooner or later, everything will be okay.[3]
I know this is true for me and it is true for each one of you. If you don't know, kneel down and pray with all the energy of heart and I bear witness to you that Heavenly Father will let you know of the infinite love He has for you. Take the time to do this tonight and then tomorrow until you know beyond a shadow of a doubt it is true.
Four-year-old Alex knew this was true. When he was in preschool, Valentine's Day was coming up. He decided to sign all the valentines for his friends by himself. It took a long time to sign six valentines with the letters, A-L-E-X. He did it painstakingly.
The day came and he and his mother got in the car to drive to preschool. Forgetting a note Alex needed to take to school, his mother asked if he knew where the note was. He didn't know so suggested they pray. She agreed. As soon as the prayer was done, she remembered where the note was in the home, ran and got it and hurried back to the car. The first thing Alex said was, "It wooked! I didn't think it would wook and it wooked." His mother asked, "What worked? "We pwayed and we found the note." She agreed and started the car, when all of a sudden they remembered Alex had forgotten his valentines and he didn't know where he had left them.
Alex said, "Let's pway again." Thinking that his testimony would be shattered if she didn't find the valentines, she said, "No, I'm sure I can find them." She again ran into the house. After a short time, she came out smiling, having found the lost valentines. The minute she got in the car Alex exclaimed, "It wooked again." She asked, "What worked?" "I pwayed again and it wooked. We found the valentines." The faith of a child. If Alex knows that Heavenly Father knows him and loves him and if Alex trusts Heavenly Father enough to pray for help in the issues of notes and valentines, how much should we also trust and know that He is there.
The people on the American continent knew. In 3 Nephi, when the Savior visited the American continent, we read:
"And it came to pass that he stretched forth his hand and spake unto the people, saying:
"Behold, I am Jesus Christ whom the prophets testified shall come into the world. And behold, I am the light and the life of the world."
Then the Savior invited the crowd who had fallen to the ground in reverence to arise, and He said:
"Come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet...
"And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do going forth one by one."[4]
What a tender experience for each individual. This is "Julie Merrill doctrine," but I believe that He addressed them by name. He knew them. They were His lambs and He knew them and He loved them. If Christ knew each of these people, I bear witness that He knows you and that He loves you and He wants to be there to bless you as you let him in.
My friend, Lynne, knows this is true. Lynne told me about a time when she was working two jobs to pay the bills. Her day started at 6:00 a.m. and ended at midnight. One day as she was driving home exhausted, she started talking out loud to Heavenly Father letting him know she wasn't sure she could do this for much longer or anymore. As she was driving in the quiet of her car, she felt as if the Savior was hugging her. A total peace came over her whole body. She had the distinct impression He was there with her and would help her through this difficult time. She had a reassurance that everything would be all right.
She went on to say that she has learned through experiences that sometimes the feeling that comes from Heavenly Father is a calm feeling. Sometimes there is an urgency to do something right at the moment. Whatever it is, she knows that Heavenly Father and the Savior know her, love her, and are there to help her through whatever the circumstances. She is learning to recognize the constant blessings and support coming from above.
Two wonderful verses in Isaiah testify again that the Savior knows us. He loves us. He wants to help us through this life. "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." These are great promises. He goes on to say, "For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, fear not; I will help thee."5 I love the imagery of the Lord holding my right hand. Sometimes when I am struggling I will take the Lord by the hand, inviting Him in and knowing He is there. He does know each of us.
The second way I believe we can know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ know us and love us is by the opportunities we have to give their love to those around us. In the book of Enos we read about Enos going to hunt beasts in the forests, and he remembered the words his Father had told about the joy of the saints. He says:
"And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens.
"And there came a voice unto me, saying; Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed.
"Now it came to pass that when I had heard these words I began to feel a desire for the welfare of my brethren, the Nephites; wherefore, I did pour out my whole soul unto God for them..."[6]
Notice how Enos once he felt the Lord's love, immediately wanted to bless the lives of others. We, too, once we feel of His love, will be praying to be an instrument to care for our brothers and sisters on this earth. And who is my brother? Each person we come in contact is our brother or sister. For the last few years in my morning prayers, I have asked Heavenly Father to guide me to someone who needs His help through me. I have had some incredible experiences that have been a blessing because of this simple request. Let me share one with you.
I work in downtown Salt Lake City. A number of years ago, I parked my car about 1½ blocks from the office. One day as I was crossing the street, I noticed a grandmother-like woman standing on the opposite corner. She had her bathrobe on. I walked up to her and asked how she was doing. She said she was fine. I asked what she was doing. She said she was out for her morning walk. I thought that was interesting and asked where she had walked from. She mentioned a place five miles away. I heard what she said and then was shocked. It was 7:30 a.m. How did she walk that far? In my mind I wondered what time she started.
And then I looked down at her feet and noticed she was wearing slippers and the thought came to me and I asked her, "Did you walk from the rest home a block away?" She said, "I think so." I offered to walk her home. Slowly, we walked arm in arm down the street. She told me about her children and that she loved music. She talked about how happy she was.
When we entered the rest home, a nurse hollered out, "Mary, did you leave the home again?" She smiled. I told the nurse who was coming towards us we had just walked from the corner. Mary thanked me and invited me to come again and the nurse whisked her off down the hall. What a marvelous experience. Heavenly Father blessed me to be able to help someone in need. I thanked him for the experience and walked happily to work.
David, a single man from Salt Lake said, "Make a concerted effort to reach beyond yourself and look for opportunities to serve. Acts of service can be as simple as a kind word, an expression of appreciation, a listening ear, etc. You will find that there are innumerable opportunities to serve others every day. Seek to give more than you take. Try to leave things better than the way you found them."
Another friend said, "I'm trying to remember that even though I am single the world doesn't revolve around my needs and wants. This is a unique time to provide service to my community and to others."
Clayton M. Christensen, a member of the Church and a professor of business administration at the Harvard Business School, gave the commencement speech at Southern Utah University on May 6, 2011. In his talk entitled, "The Importance of the Right Question," he shares an experience in his life when he felt he was going to get a promotion. When another man had been asked to take the job instead, he was crushed. He says:
"Somehow, after all of this, I came to understand that while men and women might measure their lives by summary statistics such as number of people presided over; how high in a hierarchy they are promoted, and so on, the only metrics that God will apply to my life are the individuals whom I have been able to help become better people, one-by-one. When I have my interview with God when my life is over; the fact that I held the title of a professor at Harvard won't even come up in the conversation. Rather, God will say, 'I put you in that situation, and then that one. Let's just discuss the individual people you helped become better people, using the talents that I gave to you.'
"His conversation with each of you will be similar--comprised of a recounting of the individuals whose self-esteem you were able to strengthen, whose talents you were able to reinforce; and whose discomforts you were able to assuage, in all of the situations that you will find yourself in the years ahead.
"Every day I ask God to help me find someone whose life I might bless in some way. Because I ask the questions; God gives me the answers."[7]
President Uchtdorf in the September 2008 General Relief Society Meeting said, "In the end, the number of prayers we say may contribute to our happiness, but the number of prayers we answer may be of even greater importance."[8]
In the Book of Mormon, in 4th Nephi, after Christ had visited the American continent, we read about a people who "had all things common among them; therefore there were not rich and poor, bond and free, but they were all made free and partakers of the heavenly gift...and all manner of miracles did they work among the children of men...in the name of Jesus." They had the love of God which did dwell in their hearts and there was no contention in the land "And there were no envying, nor strifes, nor tumults, nor whoredoms, nor lyings, nor murders, nor any manner of lasciviousness; and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God...and how blessed were they. For the Lord did bless them in all their doings."[9]
As I thought about the BYU-Idaho campus, I imagined a similar atmosphere among you where there were not a happier people in all the land because they did bless the lives of each other every day. Each person unselfishly regarding the well-being of his or her neighbor equal to his own. This can be your campus culture as each of you chooses to be guided to bless the life or lives of those you come in contact with every day and as you are sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Ghost.
Please take the challenge to know in your heart that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ live, and they are in charge of the world. They know you. They love you. They have a plan for your future. As you obey the commandments, work hard, and trust in their plan, sooner or later everything will be okay. I also challenge you to pray every day to be guided to those persons who need the Lord's love. You are instruments in the Savior's hands to bless our brothers and sisters.
I bear my witness that these things are true. Feel of our Heavenly Father and the Savior's love. Listen for the quiet messages of help and guidance that will come to each of you. Reach out to bless the life of every person you meet. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ live. President Thomas S. Monson is our prophet today. This gospel is the truth on the earth. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Notes
[1] Kim B. Clark, "Deep Obedience," BYU-Idaho Devotional, April 2011
[2] Doctrine and Covenants 18:10
[3] Virginia H. Pearce, "Faith is the Answer," Ensign, May 1994, 92-94
[4] 3 Nephi 11:9-15
[5] Isaiah 41:10, 13
[6] Enos 4-9
[7] Clayton M. Christensen, "The Importance of the Right Question", Southern Utah University Commencement Speech, May 2011, 3-4
[8] Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Happiness, Your Heritage," Ensign, Nov. 2008, 117-119
[9] 4 Nephi 1:3, 5, 15-16