Brothers and Sisters I am grateful for this opportunity to be with you. I would like to thank President and Sister Clark for their kindness and hospitality and all those who helped in the preparations for today. I have to let you in on a secret though, I had been trying all summer with little success to lose a few unwanted pounds. But after accepting the invitation to speak in devotional my appetite has not been the same. I never expected this assignment would be my new fitness pal.
In all seriousness this has been a unique and humbling experience to prepare for. I have sought earnestly the guidance of Heavenly Father as to the message that He would have me share with you today. I pray for the comfort of the Holy Ghost to be with me and you and that the Spirit will teach us what we need to become better disciples. I am grateful for the love and support of my family and friends who are here in the I-center and those listening online. I feel of their strength and encouragement.
What an amazing sight you are. I know that our Heavenly Father is mindful of each us and that we are here on this campus at this time for a specific reason. Looking into the audience brings to mind the scripture found in Abraham chapter 3, where the Lord is speaking to Abraham and He shows him the premortal world in which we lived and states of those in attendance, "and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones."[1] I can't help but think that today I am surrounded by noble and great spirits, valiant children of our Heavenly Father who seek diligently to know Him and His will for them in their lives. I have witnessed students, faculty, staff and administrators here on campus living the gospel, standing in holy places, being Christ's hands in giving selfless service and magnifying their callings. President Gordon B. Hinckley made the following statement, "Somehow, among all who have walked the earth, we have been brought forth in this unique season. Be grateful, and above all be faithful."[2] You are doing just that.
I love this campus and the Spirit that permeates here. In fact two life changing events happened for me on these dedicated grounds. First, as a new freshman I came to the knowledge for myself that the gospel of Jesus Christ was true. No longer did I wish to lean on the testimony of my parents and leaders. I wanted and needed a testimony of my own. So I studied the scriptures and the words of the prophet. I did as Moroni admonished. I got down on my knees with a sincere desire to know, and I prayed to receive a confirmation. That witness came and has been the foundation upon which I stand. The second was in the summer of 1991 in the beautiful gardens just southeast of the I-center. That was where my sweetheart proposed. Words cannot adequately express the adventure we have been on in the last 23 years and I look forward to an eternity together. These two decisions and choices have helped mold and shape my life.
In this audience today there are individuals coping with about every situation imaginable. Some of you have never been happier. Others are grappling with unseen struggles and heartache, only to put on a brave smile and face another day. I know I've experienced both. It is because of our vast range of experiences that one might wince or take offence if a speaker doesn't say just what we want to hear. But here is the reality, we each have our own customized opportunities to grow through trials, but our challenges and disappointments don't change the doctrine. None of our lives are perfect, and neither are we. In fact, please don't suppose that I have things figured or that I anywhere near where I should be. But I do not want to offend or overwhelm anyone; I only wish to remind our spirits of who we really are and our true potential.
In Matthew chapter 22, verse 37 when the Savior was asked to identify the first great commandment, he simply stated, "Thou shalt love the Lord they God with all thy heart, and with all they soul, and with all thy mind." Looking at that scripture, I do not believe that it is by accident that our hearts were mentioned first. Our hearts can be used as a synonym for our entire makeup. In fact we often use phrases like, heart of gold, big hearted, good hearted, pure hearted, a deceitful heart, or cold hearted to describe the total person. I believe God asks for our hearts and our wills to be turned to Him, because in reality that is the only thing we have to give to Him. Everything else is already His.
In fact, in Doctrine & Covenants section 137 verse 9 it reads, "For I, the Lord will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire of their hearts." So to me this means that when the Lord measures an individual, He does not take a tape measure out and wrap it around the person's head to determine how smart they are, nor does He take a chest measurement to determine his strength, but He measures the heart as an indicator of the person's capacity and potential to bless the lives of others. God has told us repeatedly that he does not look on our outward appearances, "but the Lord looketh on the heart."[3] He doesn't evaluate us on the basis of our physical attributes, our social status, educational degrees, family pedigrees or economic status. I also want to point out that our Savior has not asked us to be a certain size or to look a certain way.
It is about our heart and our desires that I wish to speak to you today.
The scriptures are filled with accounts of individuals who have either chosen to follow God and His commandments or those who have not. In my study of the Book of Mormon I have looked closely at the differences between those whose hearts were converted and those who did not or would not understand the teachings of God. One that I still can't quite wrap my head around is that of Nephi and his older brothers Laman and Lemuel. They were raised by the same loving parents, taught the gospel principles so what was it that made them so different from each other? May I share with you a few observations: Nephi had a great desire to know God, he sought diligently in faith with a lowly heart to know the truth. He was obedient and faithful to the commandments. One of my favorite scriptures that depicts the character of his heart is found in 1 Nephi chapter 4, verses 6 and 7 it reads, "And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do. Nevertheless I went forth." What an amazing example of obedience and conversion. First, because he knew and recognized the Spirit and second because he acted even though he didn't know what the outcome would be. He trusted God. I can't wait to meet Nephi!
Now let's look at Laman and Lemuel; they murmured against their father to the point of wanting to take his life, they knew not the dealings of God and disputed or argued continually one with another. In fact we see their lack of desire to know God in 1 Nephi Chapter 15. Nephi is talking with his brothers and he tells them that their father has spoken many things which were hard to understand, "save a man should inquire of the Lord, and they, (Laman and Lemuel) being hard in their hearts, therefore they did not look unto the Lord as they ought." In fact the scriptures state in many instances that their hearts were past feeling. Then Nephi asks them point blank, "Have ye inquired of the Lord?" And guess what their response was? "We have not, for the Lord maketh no such thing known unto us." How can the Lord make something known unto you if you don't ask? Part of me wants to rebuke them by saying O, ye of little faith. Can you not see the hand of the Lord in your life? I just can't quite wrap my head around the actions and attitudes of Laman and Lamuel.
The Lord promises that "If ye will not harden your hearts, and ask in faith, believing that ye shall receive, with diligence in keeping the commandments, surely these things shall be made known unto you."[4] Isn't it interesting how different the desires of these brothers are? And how instrumental their decisions and choices were between keeping the commandments and hardening their hearts. The question I ask myself then is which one of the brothers do I resemble? We have been warned in a revelation given in the Doctrine and Covenants section 88 that in the last days "men's hearts will fail them."[5] I do not want to be one of those individuals whose hearts fail them. But we can see that this is being fulfilled, all we have to do is look at the world to know of this sad reality.
So what can we do to protect ourselves from becoming past feeling or having our heart fail us? How can we be so converted to the gospel that when we are asked to do hard things we will not murmur but simply go and do. The Savior teaches us in Matthew chapter 6 that we must, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, were moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through nor steal...But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all things shall be added unto you. For where your treasure is there will be your heart also."[6] I invite each of you to consider how you would respond to the following questions: What do you really want? What does your heart truly desire? And what are you willing to sacrifice and do to get it?
Do you want to know if this gospel is true? Do you want to live after the manner of happiness like Elder Holland taught us about last month? Do you want to strengthen your relationship with Jesus Christ? Do we desire to be numbered as His. When we entered the waters of baptism we covenanted with God to take His name upon us and to strive to be like Him. Are we living in such a way that others will look at us and recognize we are disciples of Jesus Christ? Are there changes that we can make today to show our Heavenly Father that more than anything else we want to serve Him? The choice is ultimately ours. It is up to you and me. God will help and facilitate us, but He will not force us.
In Alma, chapter 29, Alma teaches that the Lord "granteth unto men according to their desires."[7] I have come to believe that whatever we really want in this life, we will ultimately get. Twenty years from now what we have become should not be a surprise to us, because we will have become what we have set our hearts upon. Elder Dallin H Oaks stated, "It is our actions and our desires that cause us to become something, whether a true friend, a gifted teacher, or one who qualifies for eternal life."[8] If we want wealth, money and status, we'll find a way to get them. If we want to find misery, it is all around us looking for company. By the same token, if you really want to get more physically fit, overcome a bad habit or develop a specific talent or become more in-tune with the Holy Ghost, we'll find a way to do those things as well. We will find what we are looking for.
A word of caution to us all. If we love the world more, and are more concerned about how to fit in and to justify the natural man and his behaviors, we will slowly take upon us those characteristics. Some of which are selfishness, contention, bitterness and sadness. I know firsthand that when we allow negative thoughts to fester in our hearts it brings misery into our lives. And the person it effects the most is us. We cannot serve two masters. Heavenly Father has taught us from the beginning that we are meant to be happy. President Monson said, "I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn on this short sojourn upon the earth, are lessons that help us distinguish between what in important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by, instead find joy in the journey now."[9] Men are that they might have joy. Finding and keeping this joy is our choice. I don't stand here today saying that every day of my life has been delightful for me, I have struggled. But I know that the challenges I face are for my benefit and learning. For those of you who know me personally, I have a few mantra's that are said frequently if not daily. "Come what may and love it,"[10] which I stole from Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin and "Attitude is Everything."
Brothers and Sister another stark reality is that Satan is also after our hearts, because he is fully aware that if he can control our feelings and desires, he can control us - which is why he tries desperately to set our hearts upon the vain things of the world, to puff up our pride and harden our hearts to be past feeling. Kristen Oaks made a great statement when she came and spoke on campus she said, "Hold lightly to the things of this world but hold tightly to the things of heaven."
I am not proud of it but there have been times where I have cared more about what the world thinks than standing up for what I know to be true and right. I have had to ask Heavenly Father for forgiveness and use the gift and enabling power of the atonement to repent and become stronger in my convictions. He knows us perfectly. He stands with His arms outstretched all the day long, waiting for us to come unto Him for peace.
Elder Neal Maxwell said, "Whatever we embrace [in this life] instead of Jesus and His work will keep us from qualifying to enter into His kingdom and therefor being embraced by Him."[11] He continues, "I testify that what a wise man wrote is true: If we have not chosen the kingdom of God first, it will in the end make no difference what you have chosen instead."[12]
Are there things in your life that are keeping you from embracing the gospel of Jesus Christ? Are there obstacles that we put in our lives that distract us from feeling the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, or that stop us from receiving personal revelation? Are you standing on the porch and peering into the windows of full discipleship rather than entering the door receiving the blessings that come to those who follow the principles of the gospel. If you think that by being in near proximity of the truth will be enough to save you from the shafts and whirlwinds of the adversary, you are wrong. President Dieter F. Utchtdorf put it so eloquently:
"Either you are committed or you are not. Either you are moving forward or you are standing still. There's no halfway. We all face moments of decision that change the rest of our live. As members of the Church, we must ask ourselves, "Will we dive in or just stand at the edge? Will I step forward or merely test the temperature of the water with my toes? Those who are only sort of committed may expect to only sort of receive the blessings of testimony, joy and peace. The windows of heaven might only sort of open to them. Wouldn't it be foolish to think, "I'll commit myself 50 percent now, but when Christ appears at the Second Coming, I'll commit myself 100 percent?"[13]
I might add that is not just foolish but sad. Because it will be too late. This life is the time for us to prepare, for Him to see through our actions and desires that we choose liberty and life through our mediator, Jesus Christ. Just as Abraham was asked to sacrifice something precious to him to show his obedience to God. We must also sacrifice. Are there habits or vices that we could put on the alter to prove our desire and commitment to follow Him. Could we turn off a movie, video game or put down a phone and look for ways to be His hands and better yet be an answer to someone's prayer? Could we make going to the temple a priority so that we can receive revelation and direction? If we love our Savior such that our hearts are forever changed, His image will fill our countenances. As we look to Him we will find the answers that we seek. They could be different for all of us. But the Lord does know the way, because He is the way and He is our only chance for successfully navigating mortality. His Atonement makes available all the power, peace, light and strength that we will need. Once we have decided to turn our hearts over to the Lord and that we want to be like Him, the process of following Him becomes one of joy and fulfillment.
My invitation to you is to search your hearts to determine what you really desire. Remember the covenants you have made and the power they carry. Remember that you are noble and great and a potential heir of all the Father has. We cannot risk being casual about the Savior's work or about our role in it. Our influence for good is needed more than ever in this world. The Lord is counting on us to move His work forward. We need to accomplish what we were sent here to do. To become the individuals we were meant to become. Remember that you and I will be judged according to our actions and the desires of our hearts.
I will close by asking you again to ponder these three questions: What do we really want? What does our heart truly desire? And what are we willing to sacrifice and do to get it? My plea to you is to find the answers for yourself and then act upon your convictions. We have been promised that if we ask, it shall be given, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened.[14] My prayer is that you will stand alongside me in the fight for truth.
I know that God lives and desires for us to be happy. He loves us and watches over us. Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer, it is through His gift of the Atonement that we are able to repent and one day return home. The gospel was restored to the earth through the prophet Joseph Smith who desired to know the truth, who saw God the Father and His Son. We have a living prophet President Thomas S Monson who guides us today. I know that through obedience to the precepts and principles of the gospel true happiness is found. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Notes
[1] Abraham 3:22
[2] The Dawning of a Brighter Day, Gordon B. Hinckley, April 2004
[3] 1 Samuel 16:7
[4] 1 Nephi 15:11
[5] Doctrine & Covenants 88:91
[6] Matthew 6:19
[7] Alma 29:4
[8] Desire, Dallin H. Oaks, April 2011
[9] Finding Joy in the Journey, Thomas S. Monson, October 2008
[10] Come What May, and Love It, Joseph B. Wirthlin, October 2008
[11] Settle This in Your Hearts, Neal A. Maxwell, October 1992
[12] Response to a Call, Neal A. Maxwell, April 1974
[13] Brother, I'm Committed, Dieter F. Uchtdorf, July 2011
[14] Luke 11:9