"Knowing the Savior"
June 29, 2002
Stephen D. Nadauld
It's a special treat for us to be here with you this morning. The city of Rexburg and BYU-Idaho hold a special place in my heart. I have always thought of Rexburg as my ancestral home. My father and his five brothers and three sisters were all born and raised here in Rexburg. They had a family band that played for dances up and down the Snake River valley. I have fond memories of visits to my grandparents home located not far from here on the north side of west main street. I myself was born in Idaho Falls on the banks of the Snake River, in the hospital, which some of you may remember sat next to the temple.
I love that river and have spent many happy days there. What Washington Irving said of the Hudson River explains well my feelings for the Snake. Let me paraphrase his words: "I am grateful I was born on the banks of the Snake! I think it an invaluable advantage to be born and brought up in the neighborhood of some grand and noble object in nature: a river, a lake, or a mountain. We make a friendship with it; we in a manner ally ourselves with it for life." I certainly feel I have allied myself for life with the river, the fields, and the mountains of Idaho.
In fact I told my wife some years ago that since I was born on the banks of the Snake that I would also like to be buried right along the banks of the Snake River in Island Park. I explained that she could mark my grave with a head stone that had a little bracket on the side where she could place my fly rod. She could come up every memorial day and instead of putting flowers on my grave she could tie a new fly on my line and read a few pages out of an LL Bean catalogue. I think that would be a fitting remembrance that would help me rest in peace.
I want to tell you about the day when I began to love BYU-Idaho which as you may suspect was called Ricks College on the day I started loving it. In February of 1964 I had been serving for 28 months as a missionary in France and had six weeks left before returning home. On a Tuesday a telegram came explaining that my father had died of a sudden heart attack. On Wednesday I sat in a park and worked through the tears and confusion. It was determined that I should go home and be of whatever help possible to my mother. Thursday I caught a train to Paris. Friday I flew from Paris to Salt Lake and then rode the Greyhound bus all that night. I arrived home in Idaho Falls at 6:00 AM on Saturday morning and attended my father's funeral at noon that same day. Monday morning found me here in Rexburg at the office of President John L. Clarke. We visited about my circumstances and desire for an education. He offered to allow me to enroll a week late and then after pausing a few moments said, "And we would like to help you with a scholarship to pay your tuition."
That spring I took a chemistry class and a differential equations class among others and in May when it was time for final exams I believe there was still three feet of snow on the ground. I went on to receive a bachelors degree from BYU, a masters from Harvard Business School and a PhD from the University of California at Berkeley.
I remember on that day feeling deeply grateful to the President and to the institution for providing both the opportunity and some of the resources needed to begin my educational journey. A journey that would ultimately lead one day to my own appointment as a university president. That sense of gratitude and appreciation remains with me to this day as I contemplate the blessing that Ricks College - now BYU Idaho - has been and will continue to be to so many thousands of young people.
In the spirit of Education Week I would like us to visit together about knowledge and knowing. More specifically, let me ask, what does it mean when we say we know someone? You will quickly realize that it is possible to speak of knowing someone in many different contexts. For example, we may say I know her because we work together, or I've known him since he was a little boy or I know the family. Perhaps it may be said that we are only somewhat acquainted or I hardly know him or I don't know them at all. We may speak of how well a father or mother knows their child. Many years ago when our twin boys were infants Margaret was up most of the night tending one that was sick. In the morning we agreed that she should take the baby to our family doctor who was also our brother-in-law. Doctor Tom took the baby's temperature, examined his ears, nose, and throat; and then paused for a moment in thought. He then took out his black pen and marked a big X on the baby's stomach. He said, "Margaret, this baby is perfectly healthy, take him home and bring back the one without the X on his stomach." Sure enough it was the other twin that was sick and Margaret didn't yet know them well enough to tell them apart in the dark.
We may say that we know someone by reputation or we know their writings or their paintings or their music. Sometimes we infer that because we know someone we have influence with them. In fact we often impute great importance to knowing someone as in - to get something done you have to know the right people. So let me ask you two important questions. In this life what is it you would really like to get done? And who is the right person to know? A scriptural answer to these two questions is found in Mosiah 26 verses 24-27 as the Lord speaks to Alma. He says "For behold, . . . in my name are they called and if they know me they shall come forth, and shall have a place eternally at my right hand."(1) What wonderful and useful answers. It would be a glorious accomplishment to have a place at his right hand and each of us may wish for such a place but the condition expected by the Lord is straightforward. He says, quote "if they know me they shall come forth and shall have a place eternally at my right hand." End quote. Today I would like to explore with you the concept of what it really means to know the Lord and how that knowledge will be useful to us. One way to know someone is to be acquainted with or to be familiar with their attitudes and actions, to know how they would react in certain situations, to know what they would say and what they would do. We may ask ourselves, in the context of knowing the Lord, what was His attitude toward His friends? the poor? His mother? the Pharisees? His apostles? little children? His Father? sin?
What were his acts? His teachings? His travels? His choice of associates? His dress and demeanor? His management of the elements, the winds and waves? His acts of prayers? His act of suffering in the garden? His act of atonement?
Sometimes we speak of knowing someone because we know their background, we know where they were born and where they grew up. We may feel we know the places described even though we've never been there. For example what images come into your mind when we speak of Bethlehem? The scriptures say: "And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he [Herod] demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel."(2) Can you see in your mind's eye the gently rolling hills, the shepherds keeping watch over their flock by night, the star in the sky, the babe in the manger, the wise men bringing gifts? Consider Nazareth, a beautiful little village nestled in a valley not far from the Sea of Galilee. If you walked there today you might look at the streets and the shops and see a handsome little boy and be reminded of the carpenter's son who played in the hills, was taught a trade and reminded his parents that he needed to be about his real father's business.
Can you imagine the Sea of Galilee? In thinking of it I wrote these lines.
How I would like to have been there that night,
What an interesting place to be.
Where the winds blew fierce and the waves arose
On the Sea of Galilee.
And there in the boat in a state of fright
Trembling and sick with fear
Sat the disciple fishermen
Watching a spectre draw near.
It must be a spirit, it can't be a man
Together they reasoned and said.
But straight way he spoke, Be of good cheer
It is I, so be not afraid.
Yes he walked on the water, he calmed the sea
What an amazing sight.
I've no doubt that it's true, I can witness to you
Still I'd like to have been there that night.
Truly one way we can come to know the Savior is to ponder in our hearts the places He lived. The scenes He saw and the experiences He had. In our minds eye we can walk with Him. Daniel S. Twohig helps us do that with his beautiful and familiar verses:
I walked today where Jesus walked
In days of long ago.
I wandered down each path her knew
With reverenced step and slow.
There little leaves they have not changed,
A sweet peace fills the air.
I walked today where Jesus walked
And felt His presence there.
My pathway led through Bethlehem,
Ah memories ever sweet.
The little hills of Galilee
That know there childish feet.
The Mount of Olives hallowed scenes
That Jesus knew before.
I saw the mighty Jordan roll
As in the days of yore.
I knelt today where Jesus knelt
Where all alone He prayed.
The Garden of Gethsemane
My heart felt unafraid.
I picked my heavy burden up
And with Him by my side
I climbed the hill of Calvary
Where on the cross He died.
I walked today where Jesus walked
And felt Him close to me.(3)
Often we speak of knowing someone because we know the family. We may observe that a person comes from a prominent family, or an old line family, or a generous family. The story is told of a woman who gave food and comfort to a homeless child. The child in gratitude and innocence asked if this very kind and loving woman was God' wife. The woman replied that she was not God's wife, just on of His daughters. The child replied, I knew you must be related.
In John we read, "then said they unto him, where is thy Father? Jesus answered, ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also."(4)
Do we know the Father? Do we speak to Him? Do we know other members of the family? Do we remember the injunction from the Lord that "in as much as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me"?(5)
Two little brothers were learning to ride their bikes together. As they came down the hill in front of their home, one boy had a bad crash and ended up in the middle of the road tangled, bleeding, and crying. The accompanying brother jumped off is bike and carefully picked up and carried his bleeding brother home where he knew there would be help. When they reached the door it was the unhurt brother who was crying. When asked why he was crying he replied, "because my brother hurts." That day a father came to know the heart of a son. Not because the son had done something for the father, but because the son had done something for another of the father's children. Certainly one way we will be known to the Lord is through the reports that will come to him from other members of the family.
It's possible to know someone well because we have worked with them. We may hear, I know her, we work at the same company. Or, I know him very well, we've been business partners for 30 years. I know that person well, we've served together in United Way, or Boy Scouts, or Red Cross.
The scriptures are wonderfully descriptive with respect to this manner in which we may come to know the Savior. We read in Mosiah 5:13, "For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts . . . of his heart?"(6)
What better way to get acquainted--to really get to know someone--then to work side-by-side on a project that is dear to the heart of each person.
Do we work together with the master to accomplish his purposes? Do we work with energy and enthusiasm? Will we be able to speak of both the quality and the quantity of our work with Him? Is our work done for His glory and in deference to his authority? Remember He has said, "many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."(7)
How sad it would be if for any reason He were to say to anyone of us, "depart from me, I never knew you."
Consider this: you may know someone so well that you wish to be named after them. Fathers and sons have the same name. Wives take the names of their husbands. We may be referred to as Kiwannians, or Elks, or BYU-Idaho alumni or the son's of Mosiah or Helman's 2000 strippling warriors. However, we read in the Doctrine and Covenants, "Behold Jesus Christ is the name which is given of the Father, and there is none other name given whereby man can be saved; Wherefore, all men must take upon them the name which is given of the Father, for in that name shall they be called at the last day; Wherefore, if they know not the name by which they are called, they cannot have place in the kingdom of my Father."(8)
Do we know the name by which we will be called? Is it a name that our actions and attitudes bring honor to? Is it a name we revere and desire to be known by?
King Benjamin expressed this concept so beautiful to his people. "And now because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and daughters. And under this head ye are made free, and there is no other head whereby ye can be made free. There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh; therefore, I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ, all you that have entered into the covenant with God that ye should be obedient unto the end of your lives. And it shall come to pass that whosoever doeth this shall be found at the right hand of God, for he shall know the name by which he is called; for he shall be called by the name of Christ."(9)
Each week as we partake of the sacrament, we have the opportunity to remind ourselves of the name by which we may be called. The words are very explicit: "and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of they Son, and always remember him."(10) It should be enormously comforting to us that there is a formal mechanism whereby we associate ourselves with Him, and get to know Him better as we pledge to take His name upon us.
An important connotation of the word to know is to be subjected to or to experience. We may say of someone, we are well acquainted, we have experienced many things together. One may experience the support and sustaining influence of friends, neighbors, and loved ones and thereby come to know them better. This expression of knowing someone through experience is especially tender in the context of knowing the Lord.
Alma tells us, "And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and sicknesses of his people. . . . he will take upon him their infirmities." He will "take upon Him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance."(11)
Have you experienced relief from pain, sickness, infirmity?
Have you experienced Him bearing your burden, lightening your load, blotting out your transgressions? Often it is through our extremities that we come to know God.
President David O. McKay once related that members of a class were criticizing Church leaders for permitting the Martin handcart company to commence its journey so late in the season.
An old man listened and then arose.
"In substance [he] said, 'I ask you to stop this criticism. You are discussing a matter you know nothing about. Cold historic facts mean nothing here, for they give no proper interpretation of the questions involved. Mistake to send the hardcart company out so late in the season? Yes. But I was in that company and my wife was in it and Sister Nellie Unthank whom you have cited was there too. We suffered beyond anything you can imagine, and many died of exposure and starvation, but did you ever hear a survivor of that company utter a word of criticism? Not one of that company ever apostatized or left the Church, because everyone of us came through with absolute knowledge that God lives, for we became acquainted with him in our extremities.
"'I have pulled my handcart when I was so weak and weary from illness and lack of food that I could hardly put one foot ahead of the other. I have looked ahead and seen a patch of sand or a hill slope, and I have said, I can go only that far and there I must give up, for I cannot pull the load through it. I have gone on to that sand and when I reached it, the cart began pushing me. I have looked back many times to see who was pushing my cart, but my eyes saw no one. I knew then that the angels of God were there.
"'Was I sorry that I chose to come by handcart? No. Neither then nor any minute of my life since. The price we paid to become acquainted with God was a privilege to pay, and I am thankful that I was privileged to come in the Martin handcart company.'"(12)
The prophet Joseph was told in Liberty Jail concerning his trials that, "all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good."(13) I feel assured that the knowledge of the Lord that is gained through our trials and tribulations is invaluable in this life. But I'm equally convinced that the experience of coming to know the Lord in this life has implications that reach beyond the grave. Let me explain it in this way:
Sometimes when we say, I know that person, we wish to convey that we have influence with them. More specifically we infer that because we know them we can access their influence on our behalf. We do not necessarily expect preferential treatment but hope that our motives will be understood and that we may receive the persons best efforts on our behalf.
Consider a modest parable I have written for the purpose of illustration. A certain man found it necessary to seek counsel concerning a legal matter. It was a very difficult problem and had potentially serious consequences in terms of both time and money. He was not sure how to find someone who he felt would represent him before the judge in the most appropriate and sensitive manner. He researched law firms and asked questions of others who had needed legal representation. He narrowed his choice to two individuals. The first came highly recommended because of his training, expertise, and knowledge of the law. The man did not know the lawyer personally but did appreciate how highly he was recommended. The second lawyer was an individual the man knew intimately. They had been acquainted since his youth. They had long conversations about values, discussed important decisions through the years, knew each others' families and had served together in common causes. The second lawyer's legal skills were equal to the first.
Which of the two individuals would best represent the man before the judge, someone who knew him or someone who knew him not?
In fact each of us is in some kind of trouble with the law--the laws of God. Each of us will need an advocate to plead our case. Will our advocate know us well enough to plead for us?
We read in the 45th section of the Doctrine and Covenants, "Listen to him who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him--Saying: Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified; Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life."(14)
I believe the most critical issue in our discussions this day can be stated as follows: Will the Savior, who will be our advocate before the Father, know us well enough to plead our case with conviction? Will He know of our works? Will His knowledge of the thoughts and intents of our hearts cause our confidence to wax strong in His presence or cause us to shrink with shame and despair? Will we know Him well enough to ask for His influence on our behalf?
We can remind ourselves of the verses with which we began our discussion. The Savior said, "For it is I that taketh upon me the sins of the world; . . . and it is I that granteth unto him that believeth unto the end a place at my right hand. For behold, in my name are they called; and if they know me they shall come forth, and shall have a place eternally at my right hand."(15)
Surely we are promised a place at His right hand but only if we know Him.
Brothers and sisters if we live our lives such that as we stand and listen to the Savior plead our cause we hear, "yes we've met but only briefly," or "I hardly know them," or "I don't really know him or her at all," we shall despair greatly at our lost opportunity. Therefore, let us live so that as we stand before God we may hear our advocate say, "We're good friends, we know each other well, we've worked together, we've shared many experiences and been through tough times together." What a blessing it would be to hear Him say, "I've known her all her life, we grew up together, he's spent a lot of time in my house."
Let me conclude with these lines from Alma E. Gygi titled appropriately "All This I Know."
I have not seen the stable
Where they say His life began,
Nor Nazareth the city
Where he grew from child to man
Yet surer than the eye can see
My heart knows certainly
That He was there and lived for me.
I've never seen the winding Jordan
Flow from Hermons' slope,
Or Galilee the beautiful
Where oft He taught and spoke.
Yet in my heart there is no doubt
That in those lands he moved about
With men but as the Son of God.
Jerusalem the city of our Lord, I've never seen
Nor Bethany where oft He sought retreat
With friends serene.
Yet in my soul is bedded deep
This truth that I shall ever keep
He is the shepherd of God's sheep.
I have not seen the garden
Where He prayed in final hours,
Or Calvary where He was nailed
And pierced by evil powers.
Yet unhesitatingly I feel and know
He set me free - yes, even more
He died for me.(16)
May we come with all our hearts to know Him who died on Calvary and rose the third day to be our advocate with the Father is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
- Mosiah 26:24, underline added.
2.Matthew 2:4-6
3. Daniel S. Twohig, "I Walked Today Where Jesus Walked."
4. John 8:19.
5. Matthew 25:40.
6. Mosiah 5:13.
7. Matthew 7: 22-23.
8. D&C 18:23-25. Underline added.
9. Mosiah 5:7-9.
10. Moroni 4:3.
11. Alma 7:11-13.
12. Relief Society Magazine, January 1948, p. 8.
13. D&C 122:7.
14. D&C 45:3-5.
15. Mosiah 26:23-24.
16. Alma E. Gygi, "All This I Know"