My brothers and sisters of the BYU-Idaho family, I seek your tolerance and your prayers with my efforts this day. Many of you, especially my noon-hoops associates and the Department of Geology know me well--my strengths and my many weaknesses. It is my prayer that heaven will accept my offering this day and the message shared will allow the Spirit to communicate that which is needed for each individually.
Because of my love for science, I need to share a brief comment with you regarding challenges that might be perceived to exist for those who choose to spend their life's work in a field of science.
While the brightest minds available among our students are desperately needed to mitigate existing and pending financial challenges, we also need those blessed with an aptitude for science to respond to the stirrings they feel within to become the new surgeons, geneticists, psychologists, engineers, geologists, and so on. There is a tremendous outpouring of knowledge being revealed upon the earth today, and we need individuals who know how to rely upon the promptings of the Spirit to tackle challenges that will continue to plague mankind.
A marvelous blessing came into my life when Elder David B. Haight of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles emphatically taught our faculty that "we do not have a problem we can't solve." During that experience, the Spirit communicated to me that I didn't have to worry about finding out if apparent conflicts in science and religion could be reconciled or not. They can. We simply have to press forward, leaning upon the Spirit, never trusting to our own devices, knowing that all things are known to the great Creator and will be revealed as is needed to bless mankind.
Occasionally, students have confided in me that they feel looked down upon for seeking knowledge and possibly a career in the sciences because of perceived conflicts between science and religion. To the student body and to my dear colleagues who teach and advise students in disciplines outside of the sciences, please allow all students the freedom to consider careers in science without feeling undue pressures that they might somehow be going against teachings of the Church. As in all departments on this campus, they will be watched over by individuals with great faith and unwavering testimonies that will guide them in pursuit of truth and their careers.
Today is Valentine's Day, one of my favorite events of the year because it helps me take a more active role in showing my love and appreciation to my sweetheart. Knowing for months that this would be the day for my talk, my thoughts have been directed to share with you how developing our faith is integral to our ability to love.
In addition to the Savior and our current prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, each of us likely has many personal examples in our lives that have showed us how to love. I'm grateful today to have in attendance with me some of those who have blessed my life, allowing me to see their example of how to love and minister to others in the manner taught by Christ.
Recorded in Matthew, we read how one of the Pharisees, a lawyer, approached Christ "tempting him," asking: "Master, which is the great commandment in the law?" to which Jesus responded:
"... Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou Shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."1
With all the laws, commandments, rules, etc. that governed the people during those times, it is significant to me our Lord taught that the most important thing we could do in this life would be to love our God with all the energy of our being, and to love our neighbors.
In the Book of Mormon, Nephi bears testimony of a doctrine that is central to my message today. Nephi enters his father's tent and hears these words:
"... Behold I have dreamed a dream, in the which the Lord hath commanded me that thou and thy brethren shall return to Jerusalem. For Behold, Laban hath the record of the Jews and also a genealogy of my forefathers ... Wherefore the Lord hath commanded me that thou and thy brothers should go unto the house of Laban, and seek the records and bring them down hither into the wilderness."2
Father Lehi then explains to Nephi that he has already talked with his other sons about the task of returning to Jerusalem to get the plates. I can imagine their response being something like this: "Father, it wasn't a dream, you were having heat stroke. You don't really want us to go back there. You said we had to leave or we would be killed. If God really wanted us to have the records he would have told us to get them before we left."
Contrast the brothers' response with that of Nephi: "... I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them."3
Reviewing these points, we see that we are commanded to love God and our neighbors and we know with a surety that God does not give commandments without a way prepared to obey that commandment. I like to think that Nephi's response, as compared to his brothers', is related to their faith or lack of faith. Nephi's willingness to go back to the house of Laban was not based on his military training or skills in defensive combat; his willingness to go was based on his faith in God, trusting that while on God's errand, they would be sustained and accomplish whatever they were commanded to do. Nephi did not know how they would do it, but his faith was sufficient to know that they could do it and would be successful.
A more ancient commandment was given unto our first parents Adam and Eve: "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife, and they shall be one flesh."4 In recent times, the prophets of our church have continued to echo the importance of the marriage commandment. Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught this lesson in the October 2008 General Conference:
"Scriptures declare that "it is lawful that [a man] should have one wife, and they twain shall be one flesh, and all this that the earth might answer the end of its creation." Another affirms that 'the man [is not] without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.' Thus, marriage is not only an exalting principle of the gospel; it is a divine commandment."5
Since the time of Adam and Eve, the commandment and the importance of marriage has been taught and continues to be taught today. As a people, we are grateful to have the assurance from Nephi that commandments from God come with a warranty. He will prepare a way for us to obey that commandment. We don't have to wonder if we can find a spouse; it is incumbent upon us to develop sufficient faith to enable us to continue forward knowing we can obey this commandment.
Most of us have heard the scripture: "Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy."6 Could that verse also be interpreted to read that "Adam fell in love with Eve that men might be?" Elder Gerrit Gong of the Seventy explained that to have joy means: "to be genuinely happy, in an eternal sense."7 I can testify to you that in my life, those moments of greatest joy are intimately intertwined with my hope of an eternal family and eternal relationships.
In the Book of Mormon, Alma 31-32, there is a masterful lesson presented on learning to believe. In our discussion today, I use faith and belief interchangeably; hence lessons about learning to believe also apply to learning how to have faith. Both are gifts from God. Alma and a small group, including two of his sons, visited a people known as Zoramites. These Zoramites were dissenters, once having the gospel but had fallen away, living in a state described as "perverting the ways of the Lord in very many instances."8
Alma observed that the people built synagogues where only one day a week, the town's people gathered and attempted to worship God in a very unfamiliar manner. Those who were in the synagogues were so full of pride that the poor among them:
"were cast out of the synagogues because of the coarseness of their apparel--Therefore they were not permitted to enter into their synagogues to worship God, being esteemed as filthiness, ...esteemed by their brethren as dross, ... poor as to things of the world; and also ... poor in heart."9
The irony here is that it was this group of the poor who actually performed the manual labor to build the synagogues and were then banned from using them. Those who were poor approached Alma, seeking his help to know how they might worship God when they were not allowed into the synagogues. Alma was quick to teach them of the false concepts they held with respect to only worshiping in the synagogues and only worshiping God one day a week. Alma then taught this beautiful lesson on faith:
"Yea, there are many who do say: If thou wilt show unto us a sign from heaven, then we shall know of a surety; then we shall believe. Now I ask, is this faith? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for if a man knoweth a thing he hath no cause to believe, for he knoweth it.10
Here on our campus, I've heard similar comments applied to dating. Sometimes you sweet sisters won't accept an invitation to go out with a young man who doesn't have all the physical attractiveness of the latest heartthrob unless there is a sign from heaven. Of equal concern, some young men try to convince you innocent sisters that you really should go out with them, and on the second date accept their marriage proposal because they have received revelation for you since they are so much more in tune with the Spirit after having served their mission and you may still be learning how it all works. Both are problems. In verse 21, Alma teaches:
"And now as I said concerning faith--faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true."11
Consider this verse with respect to dating, courting, and marriage. You and I have the witness of living prophets testifying that it is our Heavenly Father's plan for each to find an eternal partner. Hence, we know that we will be blessed and our lives enriched and filled with joy if we will find our spouse. We must have hope that there is a person out there for each of us even if we can't yet see them. Continuing with Alma's teachings:
"I would that ye should remember, that God is merciful unto all who believe on his name; therefore he desireth, ... that ye should believe, yea, even on his word. But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words."12
My young brothers and sisters, isn't this similar to the way we start to fall in love? It is as if a small seed representing our ability to love is planted in our hearts, which can then grow and blossom, ever expanding. However, we also have the ability to cause the seed to die and cast out our love because of our unbelief if we are not careful.
As we come into this world, it has been revealed and declared by living prophets, that each person deserves to be born into a family with a loving mother and father. My parents, Rendon and Maralyn Lovell, raised seven children and literally wore out their lives in service to others and watching over, protecting, and providing for their seven children, 36 grandchildren, and eventually 70 great-grandchildren. My first recollection of loving someone is tied to these good parents.
That circle of love slowly expanded to my siblings who took time to invest in relationships that allowed me to love and appreciate them for the way they influenced my life and forgiving me of my many shortcomings.
After high school, I came as a student to this campus primarily to play football. After a season-ending knee injury, I started thinking more seriously about life. I was blessed in many ways but two stand out. My branch president loved me and I knew it. My missionary preparation class provided the perfect setting for me to examine and strengthen my testimony of the Savior. During that year, many experiences allowed me to draw closer to my Heavenly Father, to feel of his love, and I learned to love Jesus Christ as my Savior.
Leaving school to serve a mission, I found myself in South America, laboring in and around the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The 1970s were difficult years for that country with dangerous political instability and runaway inflation; yet, I was impressed by how much the people loved their country.
One of our missionary tools was to build photo panels about gospel themes and then display them on portable easels in public areas. On one such occasion, in between busloads of people, I gazed upon our display focusing on a section titled "Living Prophets" which included a photo of then President Spencer W. Kimball, from whom I had received my mission call. This was a pivotal moment in my life as the influence of the Holy Ghost overwhelmed my soul, filling me with love and gratitude as I was taught, by the Spirit, that there really is a living prophet upon the earth and he is tasked with guiding all, who will seek Christ, on how to find their way home. From that day on, I have been blessed to love the leaders of the Church, not because of any close personal relationship I have with them; rather, I suggest that because of my faith, my heart has been blessed with the ability to love these leaders.
Completing my full-time missionary service, my mission president gave me great counsel about dating and finding a wife. After being home only a few short weeks, I convinced my dad to allow me to return to Ricks College. Entering the library to work on a report, I went to the circulation desk for help.
There my heart was stolen by a beautiful, blue-eyed, blonde, library worker. After that experience, I spent a lot of time studying in the library! Vickie had graduated with her associate degree and was thinking of moving to attend Utah State University. In my mind that was unacceptable. I had to work fast. We began dating and the rest is history. We met in July, became engaged in October and then married December 18, the day after finals. As much as I thought I loved her then, referring back to Alma's teachings, we had just barely planted the seed of our love. For the last 35 years, we have nurtured and watched over that seed as our love grew; first for one another and our Heavenly Father, then for children, grandchildren, and our many dear friends.
My dear young brothers and sisters, we are living in a world that continues to expand and fulfill the prophecy that there would be those who would: "call evil good, and good evil, that put darkness for light, and light for darkness, that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"13 Please do not be deceived! I plead with you to strictly follow the counsel from our leaders: "Do not have any sexual relations before marriage and be completely faithful to your spouse after marriage."14
Think of what happens to the potential missionary who succumbs to the physical urges and then knowing he cannot serve unworthily, confesses to his bishop what has happened resulting in a delay, postponement, or possible disqualification of the opportunity to serve? What happens to the individuals who are waiting for that missionary to find them and lead them unto Christ?
What happens to the couple who feel that they love each other and are planning to go to the temple and suddenly realize that because of actions committed in moments of passion they are no longer worthy to enter the Lord's house? Will they have the courage to see their bishops and let the Savior's atonement wash over them, enabling them to build their marriage on a sure foundation? Is their faith sufficient to trust that by doing what is right, everything else will work out? Please keep yourselves clean before the Lord. If you have transgressed, today is the best day to start the repentance process. Don't wait.
Over the last 14 years, I've come to know thousands of students. Many, mostly young women, have shared with me their frustrations at being unsuccessful in their efforts to date and not seeming to have opportunities to find a spouse. I don't get it. Talk about a target rich environment! This campus is literally full of faithful, marvelous young people--beautiful and talented women and handsome capable young men who yet, in many cases, do not date.
To all who are doing your very best to be temple worthy and still opportunities to date and marry elude you, I pray that your faith will sustain you as you learn to "wait upon the Lord." Please listen to a selection of teachings from our beloved Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.15
"What, then, does it mean to wait upon the Lord? In the scriptures, the word wait means to hope, to anticipate, and to trust. To hope and trust in the Lord requires faith, patience, humility, meekness, long-suffering, keeping the commandments, and enduring to the end.To wait upon the Lord means planting the seed of faith and nourishing it 'with great diligence, and ... patience.'"
"Waiting upon the Lord means pondering in our hearts and 'receiv[ing] the Holy Ghost' so that we can know 'all things what [we] should do.' It means 'relying alone upon the merits of Christ' and 'with [His] grace assisting [us, saying]: Thy will be done, O Lord, and not ours.'"
My thoughts turn to the Book of Mormon and the counsel that Father Lehi gave to his sons: "Arise from the dust, my sons, and be men."16 To my young brothers here, please get over your fears, get over your toys, and any selfish habits that might be holding you back. Follow the example of the apostle Paul, who stated: "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things."17
Again to you my young brethren, I extend the invitation to "arise and be men." For all who have found your eternal companion and have been sealed together for time and all eternity, we are thrilled for you. But please don't think you have reached the journey's end. I encourage you to look at your marriage much the same way you would your most difficult course here at BYU-Idaho.
To pass any challenging course you must invest yourself completely, daily readings and exercises, group efforts (just your wife!), otherwise you will not be prepared to pass the tests and unnecessary heartache will follow. Your marriage must mean more to you than anything else, worthy of your best effort, or when life's tests rain upon you, and I promise you they will come, you won't be ready. Seek, listen, and obey the promptings of the Spirit and you will be safe.
If for reasons beyond your control you find yourselves without a spouse, even being faithful, I know that you will still have times of loneliness. I encourage you to develop your faith. It will sustain you as you "wait upon the Lord" trusting that your Heavenly Father will reward you on His timetable with all the blessings of heaven that are prepared for you.
Over the last five to ten years, Vickie and I have had the opportunity of living close to and serving loved ones as they wrestled their way through the twilight years of their lives. My wife and those of her family spent many, many evenings visiting her maternal grandparents, first in their home and then in care facilities prior to their passing.
Soon after that experience, my father suffered a series of strokes. For several years, we watched as my mother would faithfully drive the 20 or so miles from home to Rexburg each day where she would sit with my dad; read to him, show him pictures of their family, or just sit and hold his hand. Dad eventually lost the ability to express his love to mother in words, but his eyes spoke volumes as he would gaze upon her face and smile. We also saw him communicate his sorrows as he would look at mother at the end of the day and the tears would begin to flow, knowing she needed to go home.
Their faith in God and in the plan of salvation allowed them to live a life of service to one another and those around them, allowing them to face the debilitating effects of worn out bodies and eventually physical death, knowing that their Savior, our Savior, even the Lord Jesus Christ lived upon the earth, suffered for the sins and weaknesses of mankind and fulfilled the eternal demands of justice through His atoning sacrifice, preparing a way for you and I to be resurrected and reunited as eternal families.
It is my prayer that we might constantly seek the sweet companionship of the Holy Ghost who will "teach us all things [that we must do]"18, and that we will go forth and develop sufficient faith to love, doing all within our power to be obedient to His commandments and at the same time, exercise our faith to "wait upon the Lord" and trust in his love for each of us. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Notes
1 Matthew 22:36-392 1 Nephi 3:2-43 1 Nephi 3:74 Abraham 5:185 Russell M. Nelson, "Celestial Marriage," Ensign, Nov. 20086 2 Nephi 2:257 Gerrit Gong, "Choose Goodness and Joy," New Era, Aug. 20118 Alma 31:109 Alma 32:2-310 Alma 32:17-1811 Alma 32:2112 Alma 32:22, 2713 Isaiah 5:2014 For the Strength of Youth15 Robert D. Hales, "Waiting upon the Lord: Thy Will Be Done," Ensign, Nov. 201116 2 Nephi 1:2117 1 Corinthians 13:1118 John 14:26