Thank you for being prepared to learn today. I invite the Spirit to touch our hearts as we learn together. I really appreciate the great employees who have made this terrifying experience manageable. I am also grateful for a loving family who has had patience with me and supports me unconditionally. Together we have created a slice of heaven here on earth. I love them all.
When I was invited to speak at devotional, my first thought was, “Everyone who speaks at devotional has had such moving and wonderful experiences to share.” I am as ordinary as you will find. I am an accountant whose very existence is ordinary. Why would they ask me? As I thought about being ordinary, a quote from President Gordon B. Hinckley when he was dedicating the Hinckley Building here on campus came to my mind: “There is no end in sight for the good you can do. Do you know it? You are just simple kids. You are not geniuses. I know that. But the work of the world isn't done by geniuses. It is done by ordinary people who have learned to work in an extraordinary way people of your kind who can do these things.” [1] Ordinary people who do things in an extraordinary way. I prepared seeking the Spirit that someone may be touched in an extraordinary way.
When it was time to choose disciples, Jesus chose ordinary fishermen, knowing the extraordinary work they would do. We read in Matthew 4:18-19, “And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." [2]
I believe we are all extraordinary. Just by keeping the commandments, you are doing extraordinary things in a world that thinks members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are peculiar. By keeping the word of wisdom, the law of chastity, sharing your love of the gospel, and keeping the Sabbath day holy, you are striving to be in the world but not of the world. We are a treasure to Heavenly Father. We read from Exodus, “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people. “ [3]
John A. Widtsoe, a member of the Council of the Twelve back in 1942, taught us about being a peculiar people: “Most astonishing of all, the most peculiar thing about the Latter-day Saints—so it seems to our weak generation—is that its members have the courage to live up to their beliefs in the face of adverse practices.” [4] That is even more evident today.
President Russell M. Nelson has also invited us to be different from the world. Recently, after interviewing young men and women for temple recommends and this last week on the discussion board, I have asked, “As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints what makes you different from others in the world?”
Here are some of the responses:
- The world is in confusion, but we have a prophet.
- I have a knowledge of the fullness of the gospel and the plan of salvation.
- Joy and peace from the Holy Ghost.
- Having the light and a desire to share it.
- Our perspective of life and why we are here. We don’t believe in “eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die.” [5]
- I know that no matter what I do, I can be forgiven through Christ.
- Courage to not conform, stand up for what I believe, and stand alone when needed.
- We can become like God.
- The charity I have learned to look at others through God’s eyes.
- Our families can be together forever.
- I have been recognized and asked if I am a Mormon because of the way I act and the light that comes from the gospel.
- I know my path. Even when I make mistakes, I can realize that mistake and correct my path.
- Wanting to do good—not just the appearance of doing good but submitting my will to our Father in Heaven.
- I am a child of God. People don’t know that and don’t know of the plan of salvation. I couldn’t make decisions without that knowledge.
- The priesthood authority. Without this, everything would fall apart.
- We have the Book of Mormon, which is another testament of Christ.
When I asked one young sister, she began to weep at the wonderful gifts she had been given that help her to be extraordinary. This greater understanding and authority from God brings great responsibility. It is up to us to learn as much as we can and share our gifts that help make us extraordinary.
Of course, we will not experience the great blessings that make us different from the world unless we exercise faith. Elder Kevin S. Hamilton taught us last week in devotional:
You will not know (or receive a witness) until after you have walked to the edge of the light and taken a few steps into darkness. You will not have a testimony of tithing until after you pay tithing. You will not have a witness of the Sabbath day until you keep it holy. You will not know that the Book of Mormon is true until you read it and pray to know for yourself. You receive no witness until after you exercise faith—until after the trial of your faith. [6]
Let us exercise the faith to enjoy these blessings.
Callings give us opportunities to follow Jesus and strive to become even more extraordinary. Every semester in wards, new elders quorum presidencies, Relief Society presidencies, teachers, and ministers are called. Many who are called are worried that they are inadequate to fulfill their callings. They ponder, “Why me? How do I do this? My peers are much more spiritual than; I why not them?” In any stage of our life, we may feel inadequate when asked to serve. We are only ordinary people, but as we keep the commandments and magnify our callings, extraordinary things will happen and give us confidence.
Twenty-three years ago, a young elders quorum president, not knowing I was struggling with the passing of my father, asked me during a personal priesthood interview to be an instructor in the elders quorum. I quickly told him I felt very uncomfortable at that time in my life to do that. He encouraged me by telling me this was a call from God. I agreed. A few weeks later as I taught about the Savior in priesthood meeting, the peace and love I needed was overwhelmingly shared with me. I wept as I realized that Dad was in loving hands and was at peace. An ordinary call to serve had turned into an extraordinary event that helped me understand my Dad’s passing.
In our lives we will experience unexpected things, which can result in great happiness or overwhelming sadness. When we are experiencing great happiness, we may forget to realize our Heavenly Father’s hand is in it. Then, when we experience the challenges, we wonder why Heavenly Father allows those things to happen in our life.
I want to share with you a challenge in my family, but first I share with you my favorite quote of all time: “I have a missionary, and I plan on waiting for him.” That was the first thing my beautiful wife, Euleza, said to me on our first date, and it changed my life forever. Five minutes later we were holding hands (we think our kids put our hands together), and yes, we did wait for her missionary to get home, but I won the prize. She has brought great happiness in my life. She has always been extraordinary as she strives to live like our Savior by loving those around her and sharing of her light.
The last 18 months have been a challenge in Euleza’s life, and consequently mine and our whole family’s. She has had neck pain for a few years. We have known she would need surgery. It was time, and the surgery went well, but pain remained in her shoulders. Doctors tried different things and had very little success. I felt helpless. Then in December of last year I came home from church to find her on the floor. She was so dizzy she couldn’t make it back to bed. We both thought this was a short-term thing. But as the days turned into weeks, her pain and dizziness didn’t leave. Finally, both her shoulders were operated on and it relieved some of the pain, but still the feeling of not being well continued. Three weeks later her gallbladder was removed. We both felt the strain of this and discouragement. Trips to the ER and doctors who were all trying to help didn’t seem to be helping. Thoughts of “Why her?,” “Why us?,” and “We can’t continue this way” came. We had many ministering angels that helped immensely, family, support from friends at work, and two stakes helping us and praying for our wellbeing. It is humbling, and we thank so many for the prayers and greats acts of love that have meant so much. But discouragement was getting in. One Sunday morning after another trip to the ER the night before, I went upstairs to be alone and knelt and talked with Heavenly Father. I wanted to ask Him for a deal—that if I worked harder he would make Euleza better. In the end I just told Him I appreciated everything I have been given. I felt peace knowing priesthood blessings had been given to Euleza and that we have so many praying for her.
My good brothers and sisters, I don’t tell you this so you can feel sorry for us—we are doing well enough—but I want you to think of challenges you might be having and what you are to learn from them. I have learned a lot and felt new emotions during this time. I developed confidence to allow me to deal with these new emotions and difficulties. I also know that new experiences, including difficulties, will continue, but I understand now they are meant to shape me, and I am better equipped to handle future challenges. Important things I have been taught all my life were put to a test and I learned it is okay to get discouraged, but it is up to me to react appropriately and mold myself as I experience challenges in my life.
Difficult times like this can make us feel ordinary or even worse. We may feel like we are alone and even may feel like no one, including our Heavenly Father, cares about us. Satan also knows this; he wants you to be as miserable as he is [7] and will use this to trick you into thinking you are, at best, ordinary. If you feel this way, recognize changes can be made. We can be the ones to initiate the changes we need by helping ourselves and allowing the influence of others to change our circumstance. Euleza gave a devotional a few years ago, and I want to share with you from her devotional about perspective.
We are here to help ourselves and others make it home. I am thankful for all the people on this earth and on the other side of the veil that has helped me not give up. They are the ones that when I asked for help instead of giving me a pity party would cheer me on. On one occasion I was going through a tough time. To this day I cannot even remember what that challenge was but I have never forgot her words to me. She said, "Euleza, I see you looking at yourself from what may seem to you to be a deep, deep hole. As you stand there at the bottom of that hole I see your hand reaching up. You want so badly to be pulled up to where you know you need to be; where you can feel safety and peace. But I also see you at the top of that deep hole, Euleza. You are reaching down to grab your own hand and pull yourself up." Then my friend added, "Grab on Euleza. Grab on and pull yourself up. You know where you want to be, and where you should be, you know it! Let yourself be rescued." [8]
Heavenly Father gives us people or circumstances around us that influence us in positive ways. It is up to us to allow the circumstances or people to improve our lives. If you are discouraged, get help. Start to pull yourself up and others will help. Have the confidence to know you can do extraordinary things. Then, as you improve, help others to realize they can do extraordinary things.
In the April 2003 BYU-Idaho Commencement, Elder David A. Bednar taught us, “Let me simply suggest that ordinary people who consistently and diligently do simple things will produce extraordinary results.” [9]
Here are seven simple things to help us build on our extraordinary foundation:
- Prepare for each day. I am normally a pretty mild-mannered, calm person. Not so much when I get on the basketball court. I really want to win. It took me many years to realize it was too easy for me to lose my temper and that I wasn’t myself after that happened. I began to contemplate the game before I played, thinking of what might happen and how I would react. Each time I did that I was able to handle my temper and play much better. If we begin each day contemplating the things that might happen that day, the challenges or temptations that might come our way, and prepare for any big events, we will not just handle them, but allow them to shape us more like our Savior.
- Be a solid member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Being solid includes church attendance, going to meetings outside of regular church time like stake meetings and firesides. Support home evening and ward activities. It means being active participants in priesthood, Relief Society, and Sunday School meetings. To be a solid member includes being on time to sacrament meeting and staying to all of sacrament meeting because you want to have your heart and mind enriched.
- Beware of pride. One of my favorite songs is “I Stand All Amazed.” The second verse, second line reads, “To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine.” We realize that Heavenly Father wants us all to come to Him, and through the Savior and His sacrifices we can by humbling ourselves. If you want to do things in an extraordinary way, you must be grateful, strip yourself of pride, humble yourself, and recognize that all we have comes from our Heavenly Father.
- Share your extraordinary gifts. We live in a time where we have so many opportunities to share the extraordinary gifts of the gospel to people around the world. You have a great opportunity at BYU-Idaho as you have been asked to use multi-media devices and applications to share the gospel. Pray about how to best do this and about whom you should share the gospel with. Prepare and prayerfully approach them with why this would be important to them. Invite them; testify to them; and most important of all, love them!
- Attend the temple. If you want to be extraordinary, attend the temple. This is Blakely, our oldest grandchild, the week leading up to her baptism. This sweet little eight-year-old recognizes how amazing the temple is even without an opportunity to serve in it yet. To quote Blakely, “It is so cool.”
- Become like our Savior by fulfilling the potential He has given to each one of us. He loves you; He wants you to be happy. He also understands why we are here. We will each have our share of challenges and heart aches; we will each have our share of joy and happiness. Our goal is to take each as the Savior would. Let those experiences shape our potential to become like our Savior and to return to Heavenly Father and have him say to us, “Well done, [my] good and faithful servant.” [10]
- Have courage to be what Heavenly Father created you to be. We need the courage to do what is necessary to prepare to have all that our Father has. It sounds overwhelming when we hear that we have the potential to become as our Father in Heaven is. But it is true; we were created and brought to this earth to become as our Father in Heaven. We left a wonderful place to come here and to find true and everlasting joy. Have the courage to recognize, seek, and embrace this truth. By doing so you will be extraordinary and show the greatness that is within you.
As I interviewed young men and women as a bishop, I would hear, “I don’t know why this happened. This isn’t who I am or who I want to be.” This was during difficulties in their life, issues with family, friends, or other trials. These are the times that shape and define us. They allow us to become like Christ, realizing we have these opportunities to learn as our Heavenly Father designed. However, challenges can shape us in either direction. What will you do? How will you handle the difficult times? I believe in you, and I know many others like family, friends, and the many ministering angels around believe in you. President Nelson believes in you. In the devotional for youth, he shared, “My beloved younger brothers and sisters, you are among the best the Lord has ever sent to this world. You have the capacity to be smarter and wiser and have more impact on the world than any previous generation!” [11]
My challenge to you, my great brothers and sisters, is that you build on being an extraordinary friend, spouse, or in some cases, an extraordinary stranger who does for others what our Savior would have us do. This is a wonderful university you are attending at a time when you are setting the very foundation for your mortal and eternal life. Keep the commandments, pattern your life after the Savior, and you will do extraordinary acts of love, you will have extraordinary influence on those around you, and you will live your life as your Heavenly Father caringly hopes you live it. I promise that as you are able to do extraordinary things, your life will be enriched; you will be given comfort when you need it. You will be prepared to comfort others who are desperately seeking comfort. You will be given inspiration to accomplish that which you were so lovingly sent here to do. Awaken the extraordinary capabilities in yourself. By doing so, you will taste of the joy and happiness meant for you. As so beautifully taught by Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf at our last conference, “Believe, love, do.” [12] I testify to you of the blessings and comfort you will receive by building on your extraordinary foundation in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
[1] Gordon B. Hinckley, “Dedication of Gordon B. Hinckley Building,” Oct. 22, 2002.
[2] Matthew 4:18-19.
[3] Exodus 19:5.
[4] John A. Widstoe, “Why are the Latter-day Saints a peculiar people?,” Improvement Era, Sept. 1942.
[5] 2 Nephi 28:7.
[6] Kevin S. Hamilton, “We Walk by Faith, Not by Sight,” BYU-Idaho devotional, Mar. 12, 2019.
[7] See 2 Nephi 2:27.
[8] Euleza Hymas, “Eternal Perspective and Our Potential,” BYU-Idaho devotional, Sept. 1, 2015.
[9] Elder David A. Bednar, “The Importance of Small and Simple and Ordinary Things,” BYU-Idaho Commencement, Apr. 26, 2003.
[10] Matthew 25:21.
[11] Russell M. Nelson and Sister Wendy W. Nelson, “Hope of Israel,” Worldwide Youth Devotional, Jun. 03, 2018.
[12] Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Believe, Love, Do,” Ensign, Nov. 2018.