The musical number was amazing. Brother and Sister Tuhler, thank you for sharing your musical talents with us, and bringing in such a wonderful spirit.
Recently, the following note was brought to our home. It said, "Please, Help Me." It was delivered by a good sister. Her intentions were to leave it taped to our front door. However, before she could leave, my wife greeted her at the doorstep. Soni immediately noticed her despair and need for physical and medical assistance. I was troubled by her situation! It reminded me of times in my life when the same words, "Please help me," had gone through my mind. Those three words have significantly influenced and shaped me. I wish to share two personal experiences with you today.
In December of 1987, four months after Soni and I were married, we joined her family on a vacation to Hawaii. One afternoon, her family was on Waikiki Beach enjoying the sun and sand. However, I wanted to do something a bit more adventurous. I convinced Soni and her grandmother to come with me to the famous Hanauma Bay, located on the other side of the island. At the bay, the locals were body surfing. It looked fun and I wanted to try. Despite my Idaho tan line, I started to feel like a native in the water. My confidence grew as I learned to dive under the big waves to avoid getting pummeled. I was enjoying myself until three large waves came ashore. I dodged the waves, but had not planned on the rush of water going out to sea. I found myself trapped in a river like current. In a short amount of time, I was far from the safety of the beach. I panicked! I had no life preserver or understanding of what was happening. All I could think about was the big sharks that were certainly lurking beneath. I tried to swim against the current, but my efforts proved futile. I was frantic! A few yards away from me was a young man with a surfboard. Desperately, I swam to him and grabbed for his board pleading for help. Not knowing what was going on, he jerked the board out of my hands and I went down under the water again. Fighting to get to the surface and gasping for air, I choked up the seawater that was threatening to fill my lungs. I was certain, that I was going to die! I needed help. Surrounded by complete despair, I felt so helpless, hopeless, and full of fear. I had never been more aware of my limitations and nothingness while in this awful condition. I wanted to live.
My second experience is tied to the account of Jairus and his daughter found in Mark 5: 22-23 & Luke 8: 49-55:
"And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet,"And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live."
Can you see and feel the pain of this father? He loves and cares for his daughter, but he cannot help her. He lacks power, knowledge, and capabilities to do any more for her. For a parent this is such a terrible place to be. Almost 22 years ago, our daughter Jessica was two and a half years old. We were living in Provo at the time. Due to early labor complications with our third child, Robert, Soni was hospitalized. Our two children, Jaren and Jessica, went to Rexburg to stay with grandparents. While in Rexburg, Jessica was involved in a serious accident. When we heard about the accident, waiting for more news was unbearable. We pleaded for help in the hopes that some divine miracle might intercede.
The rest of the scriptural account is in Luke 8 starting at verse 49:
"While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master."
Our Jessica died a few hours after the terrible accident. In some way I think I can empathize with Jairus.
"But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.
"And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.
"And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.
"And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.
"And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.
"And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway."
I love this story.
Less than 24 hours, after Jessica died, Soni delivered Robert. Now we had an 8 week premature baby to take care of and a daughter to bury. It seemed like nothing in our once perfect lives was right. The following days and weeks for Soni and I were numbing. There was extreme sadness, great frustration, and at times almost complete despair. We needed help! We had kind friends and a loving family that blessed us, but it was not enough. The lasting help we really needed and longed for came from a loving Father in Heaven and the Comforter. In our despair, we became completely aware of our need for the Savior and we obtained a greater understanding of the plan of salvation. I still think of Jessica every day. Now her memory is a constant reminder of wonderful days to come. Because of Jesus Christ, the daughter of Jarius lives and so does Jessica.
Troublesome times, or just the woes of life, are actually important to our eternal progression. None shall escape the difficulties of mortality. This life's purpose is to try our souls. Trials and failures can wake us up. I testify that salvation is impossible, unless we have a spiritual awakening to a sense of our own nothingness, and begin to rely completely upon our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Spiritual consciousness is the first step in making important and required changes to become prepared for our eventual return to Father in Heaven. You must know who you are and where you are going; otherwise you will just drift spiritually ending up in life's log-jams of disappointments, or marooned on the quicksand beaches of a false-sense of being. Spiritual consciousness will be the filter that will allow us to judge according to the standards of heaven. It is a firewall that will protect us from unwanted attacks of the adversary. In our weaknesses, trials, and failings, there arises an enduring humility and awareness of our complete reliance on the merits of Jesus Christ.
King Benjamin spoke of this awareness as he began his famous sermon approximately 2100 years ago. He asked his people to give extra attention to what he was about to say. We read in Mosiah 4:5-7:
"For behold, if the knowledge of the goodness of God at this time has awakened you to a sense of your nothingness, and your worthless and fallen state—
"I say unto you, if ye have come to a knowledge of the goodness of God, and his matchless power, and his wisdom, and his patience, and his long-suffering towards the children of men; and also, the atonement which has been prepared from the foundation of the world, that thereby salvation might come to him that should put his trust in the Lord, and should be diligent in keeping his commandments, and continue in the faith even unto the end of his life, I mean the life of the mortal body—
"I say, that this is the man who receiveth salvation."
King Benjamin pleads with us to be aware of our own fallen condition and see the goodness and greatness of God—for this, and only this leads to salvation. Brothers and sisters, I hope and pray that this awareness begins to stir our souls to a remembrance of the necessity to rely on Him. Just as important as it is to be reborn, it is imperative that we are spiritually conscious.
One of the greatest examples of a spiritual awakening is that of Alma the Younger in Mosiah 27:
"My soul hath been redeemed from the gall of bitterness and bonds of iniquity. I was in the darkest abyss; but now behold the marvelous light of God. My soul was racked with eternal torment; but I am snatched, and my soul is pained no more."[1]
Alma the Younger's awakening to his nothingness, and seeing the greatness of God, is miraculous. Our awakening may not be as intense, but it will be miraculous nonetheless.
As the stories, and scriptures I have already shared so poignantly illustrate, awakening requires two things: a realization of our own sense of nothingness before God, and second, our absolute dependence on Christ. Then comes the mighty change of heart described throughout the scriptures.
The counsel of King Benjamin was direct "awaken to a sense of your nothingness, and your worthless and fallen state." Why is this important? What are we to be taught by such an unsavory realization? The answer is simple: it teaches us humility and meekness. Compared to God's great and grand creations, we hold but a speck of significance as taught in Helaman 12:7-8:
"O how great is the nothingness of the children of men; yea, even they are less than the dust of the earth.
"For behold, the dust of the earth moveth hither and thither, to the dividing asunder, at the command of our great and everlasting God."
President Uchtdorf, in the 2011 October General Conference gave a talk entitled "You Matter to Him." He stated:
"This is a paradox of man: compared to God, man is nothing; yet we are everything to God. While against the backdrop of infinite creation we may appear to be nothing, we have a spark of eternal fire burning within our breast. We have the incomprehensible promise of exaltation—worlds without end—within our grasp. And it is God's great desire to help us reach it."
Just like King Benjamin's people, we are now ready to move to the second realization of our awakening: the need for Christ as our Savior and Redeemer. This account is found in Mosiah 4:2
"... And they all cried aloud with one voice, saying: O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and earth, and all things; who shall come down among the children of men."
Without the merits of Christ we are nothing, less than the dust. With the merits of Christ we are everything—the purpose of the creation, the reason for the fall, and ultimately the beneficiary of the atonement. Christ, in His pure and perfect state, sacrificed His will for us, suffered beyond our ability to understand, and willingly gave his life that we shall live. His virtues include all that is good and all that is from God. He is the best and greatest of everything that both God and man may ascribe. Of course, we must do all we can, for that is the requirement of His grace, but our all, and even our very best, will never do. We will fail, use our agency against God's will, and even break that which is most precious. But, Christ will restore, reclaim, and make right. Our bodies will be broken, sick, and afflicted, yet He will make whole. Our souls will wander to unrighteous and ungodly places, and He will save and redeem. Nephi stated it beautifully in 2 Nephi 31:19:
"... For ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save."
What does it mean to rely "wholly on Christ?" The story of the rich man illustrates this best. It is found in Mark 10:17-22.
"And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
"And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
"Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
"And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
"Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
"And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions."
The rich man did not fully understand what it means to rely wholly upon the merits of Christ. He came to the Savior, assuming he had done all that was required. In his pride, you can almost hear the rich man say, "Look at all I have accomplished. What more could I possibly do to receive eternal life?" The Savior lovingly embraced him and asked him to forsake all. The Savior's invitation was simple "Follow me...in everything." Jesus will not make up any differences—Jesus will make all the difference. Christ will make us whole, but only if we rely wholly upon His merits. Unfortunately, the rich man expected to find his salvation through his own good merits, and was ultimately deceived.
David A Bednar, in his devotional address given at BYU on October 23, 2001, taught:
"Individual willpower, personal determination and motivation, effective planning and goal setting are necessary but ultimately insufficient for us to triumphantly complete this mortal journey. Truly, we must come to rely upon 'the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah.'"[2]
Once we rely upon the merits of Christ, we are ready to bind ourselves to him. How do we do this?
It is not enough just to be a good person. We must enter into covenants and ordinances that bind us to Christ—the must be performed by His holy priesthood, by those trusted with His authority. Covenants and ordinances cannot be replaced or substituted with our own wishful or ignorant ways. Christ declares, "Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life." It must be His way.
Elder Bednar taught in the 2015 April General Conference:
"Ordinances and covenants are the building blocks we use to construct our lives upon the foundation of Christ and His atonement. We are connected securely to and with the Savior as we worthy receive ordinances and enter into covenants, faithfully remember and honor those sacred commitments, and do our best to live in accordance with the obligations we have accepted. This bond is the source of our spiritual strength and stability in all of the seasons of our lives."
How do we best live in accordance to these sacred obligations and build our spiritual strength. Well, turn off unbecoming entertainment. Cut out unnecessary chaos. Take the time to be still and listen. We must be prepared to follow the uncomfortable whisperings of the Spirit, which will result in small course corrections that eventually lead to our seat at God's holy table. Of course, reading the word of God, participating in meaningful prayers, faithfully and joyfully attending church, and sanctifying our time in His holy house, may seem trite and even inconsequential, but I promise there is no better way to develop our relationship with God. Our relationship with Christ will be as individual and unique as our own fingerprint. Finally, service and sacrifice will allow us to call him "friend."
I have an invitation for each of us. Heed those uncomfortable suggestions from the Spirit. Judiciously evaluate your relationship with Christ. Commit more fully to keeping your covenants. I promise you that over time, improvements in just one of these things will help you win important victories and gain spiritual high ground.
Unfortunately, our sojourn on the earth can be terribly frustrating, dealing with life's unavoidable setbacks. Our time is full of ups and downs, victories and failures, good, bad, and sad experiences. Our very best is not going to cut it. We will fail again and again, and we may feel that divine help never comes fast enough. I want to turn this gloomy realization into something encouraging, even hopeful. But before I do, I want to make one thing clear—knowing that we will falter does not give us license to knowingly falter or to give up. Press forward with courage, and redouble your efforts, because God is trying to teach you something important. C.S. Lewis, on page 88 of his book "Mere Christianity," said it best:
"We may, indeed, be sure that perfect chastity - like perfect charity - will not be attained by any merely human efforts. You must ask for God's help. Even when you have done so, it may seem to you for a long time that no help, or less help than you need, is being given. Never mind. After each failure, ask forgiveness, pick yourself up, and try again. Very often what God first helps us towards is not the virtue itself but just this power of always trying again. For however important chastity (or courage, or truthfulness, or any other virtue) may be, this process trains us in habits of the soul which are more important still. It cures our illusions about ourselves and teaches us to depend on God. We learn, on the one hand, that we cannot trust ourselves even in our best moments, and, on the other, that we need not despair even in our worst, for our failures are forgiven. The only fatal thing is to sit down content with anything less than perfection."
The next time you find yourself discouraged; take courage in the fact that there is a lesson to be learned. Your failures and frustrations are opportunities. They condition us to trust Christ instead of ourselves. Never give up. There is always help and hope. The most important thing in life is to turn to Christ in our best and worst moments.
When I was in drowning in Hanauma Bay, I was certain I was going to die. Struggling to stay afloat and choking up seawater, I was desperate and eager for help. I did not know how to save myself. There was a man that was several yards away. He understood my situation and knew how to help. He encouraged me to calm down, pointed me at a 45-degree angle back to shore, and directed me to swim. I followed his council exactly, and within moments, I was back safely on the beach. Just like this man who helped me, I know that Jesus Christ knows our plight and how best to help.
Soni's and my experience with Jessica's death has become one of my most difficult blessings. I became a better man who was more acquainted with a loving Father in Heaven and Savior. I better understood Their Plan of Salvation, exaltation, and happiness for me and my family. I know They live, love, and want us to return home. I testify that if we remember to be humble and rely wholly upon the merits of Christ, we will find strength and assurance to overcome our trials and, more importantly, return to live with Him. Ezra Taft Benson affirmed, "Only Jesus Christ is uniquely qualified to provide that hope, that confidence, and that strength we need to overcome the world and rise above our human failings."[3] In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Notes
[1] Mosiah 27:29
[2] 2 Nephi 2:8
[3] Ezra Taft Benson. "Jesus Christ: Our Savior and Redeemer." General Conference, October, 1983