Brothers and sisters, friends, it is a privilege for my husband, Heber, and I to be with you today, to see you on this beautiful campus, and learn about what you are doing. Yes, "There Is Something Different About This Place". We thrill with the reports we hear of increased opportunities and expanding possibilities at this university, in addition to service that is given by representatives of this institution. For example, as I understand the winter semester at BYU–Idaho ended on April 6 and the spring/summer semester began April 16, giving advisors and students a one week break. Thirty one unselfish BYU–Idaho students and two activities advisors chose to given valuable service for that week rather than taking the time off.
Pamala Majors, also known as Maps", is a student here at BYU–Idaho who led this group along with a very capable council. These great souls drove to Utah Youth Village’s Alpine Academy in Erda, Utah, close to Tooele, Utah. I am a member of the Board of Trustees for Utah Youth Village.
These amazing students volunteered eight hours of hard work every day from Monday through that Friday. This group painted almost 8,000 feet of fiberglass fence. They built a hay barn from scratch. They took down eight horse corrals, moved them four hundred yards away and rebuilt them. They dismantled a thousand feet of a 10 foot high fence. They fertilized thirty acres of grass and pasture. They had fun. Several times they visited the troubled girls who live on that campus. Thank you. This is most commendable. These are good times.
But even in good times we must acknowledge and be prepared for opposition. As you well know, we cannot expect smooth sailing at all times. That would defeat the very purpose of our earth life experience. There will be storms along the way for each of us. May I share three guidelines or principles to help you prepare for a happy future in spite of the storms? I’d like to begin with a brief account of a storm years ago on the Pacific Ocean.
But even in good times we must acknowledge and be prepared for opposition. As you well know, we cannot expect smooth sailing at all times. That would defeat the very purpose of our earth life experience. There will be storms along the way for each of us. May I share three guidelines or principles to help you prepare for a happy future in spite of the storms? I’d like to begin with a brief account of a storm years ago on the Pacific Ocean.
During World Ward II my husband was a young 18-year-old sailor in the U.S. Navy. He was stationed as a signalman on an attack troop transport ship in the South Pacific. His post was 75 feet above the water line. As a signalman during war time he learned a lot about the value of a strong ship, about the importance of manning your post, knowing the signals, having constant communication with command headquarters, and certainly the power of prayer.
He tells of a very dark, stormy night when security and safety for everyone on board was of major concern. There could be no light outside the ship—not even the light of a match—that could attract the enemy, and give away their location. That night, horrendous waves were pounding against the side of the ship, causing it to list at a 45-degree angle, almost enough to capsize the ship. In the turbulence of this storm, Heber, on the top deck, lost his footing and went sliding on his back toward the outer edge of the ship. Holding both arms high in the air and with a fervent prayer in his heart, he hoped to save himself by catching the two iron chains surrounding the deck before being swept overboard. At that moment the ship reversed its pitch and he started sliding in the other direction and fortunately, was able to regain his footing.
When I first heard Heber relate this breath-taking experience, I was taken back in my mind to the message given at my high school graduation by Elder Oscar A. Kirkham, one of the Presidents of the Seventy of the Church at that time. I recall just three statements he made that seem even more relevant today. I can hear his voice clearly in my mind as he said:
Build a seaworthy ship;
Be a loyal shipmate; and
Sail a true course.
My young friends—as you know—we are living in the last gospel dispensation. Satan has marshaled all of his forces for his final pre-millennial struggle in an attempt to win us to his ranks, whatever the cost. It is not hard to see that the conflict is escalating. We see evidence of evil power everywhere trying to popularize dishonesty and immorality by promoting the belief that not only do we have freedom to choose, but there will be no accountability for the consequences of our choices. The good news is that you were reserved, and held back to come forth at this time.
You must have earned a high level of trust when you consider that this time has been referred to as the winding up scenes before the Second Coming of our Savior. Prophets have said, “God has reserved spirits for this dispensation who have the courage and determination to face all the powers of the evil one, visible and invisible.”[1]
In the October 2003 General Conference, President Hinckley, speaking to the youth, repeated what we have heard before, “You are the best generation we have ever had.”[2] You have a foreordained station to man and a battle to win.
Today, I say to each one of you with an assurance that I feel deep within that:
You have it within you to build a seaworthy ship;
You have it within you to be a loyal shipmate;
You have it within you to sail a true course.
First of all, build a seaworthy ship.
You will remember from the Book of Mormon that young Nephi was commanded to build a ship. He had never built one before, and the support from his brothers was not exactly encouraging. They began murmuring against him, “Our brother is a fool, for he thinketh that he can build a ship; yea, and he also thinketh that he can cross these great waters.”[3] You remember Nephi was born in Jerusalem. What would he know about building a ship?
But Nephi was attuned to the voice of the Lord. The Lord said, “Thou shalt construct a ship, after the manner which I shall show thee,”[4] and “. . . I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments . . . ”[5] In partnership with the Lord, Nephi built a ship and crossed the great waters with his family.
Noah was commanded to build an ark of gopher wood. We read, “Thus did Noah: according to all that God commanded him, so did he.”[6] Noah heard the voice of the Lord, and his people were protected—safe in the ark until the waters subsided.
Now let us learn from the brother of Jared. The Lord came to him in a cloud and spoke to him for three hours chastening him because he had not remembered to pray and call upon the Lord for guidance. And the Lord said, Go to work and build the barges according to the instructions of the Lord.”[7] He was obedient and followed the Lord’s directions. Now, wouldn’t you expect smooth sailing without a storm? Let’s see what happens.
We read that a ferocious wind began to blow; they were many times buried in the depth of the sea; great and terrible were the tempests caused by the fierceness of the wind. But no monster of the sea could break them, neither whale that could mare them; they did have light continually whether it was above the water or underneath; the wind continued to blow until they finally set their feet on the shores of the promised land (see Ether 6:7–10). Then we read, “and they did shed tears of joy before the Lord because of the multitude of his tender mercies over them . . .”[8]
The fierceness of those winds were among the mercies. “Afflictions shall be for thy gain.”
Nephi, Noah, and the brother of Jared each heard the voice of the Lord in their time and circumstance.
This is your time. Your circumstance is different from the ancient prophets, and will be different from the person sitting next to you, but what is the same is that you too, can hear the voice of the Lord. “Yea, behold” the Lord says, “I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart.”[9]
I have two suggestions for your consideration in building a seaworthy ship.
First, look inside yourself. In the novel, The Chosen by Chaim Potok, the Jewish father cries out to the master of the universe in behalf of his son who has a brilliant mind. The father says, “A mind like that I need for a son? A heart I need for my son. A soul I need for a son. Compassion I want for my son. Righteousness, mercy, strength to suffer and carry pain. That is what I want for my son. Not a mind without a soul.” The son speaking of his father says, “He taught me to look inside myself in company with my soul.”
He was probably saying, “Son, it is within you? Walk around inside yourself. Avoid the popular trend of compromising principles, justifying behavior, rationalizing and giving way to pressures and at the same time giving away all that you hold dear.” That is not who you are!
On Wednesday, May 22nd, 1974, the Salt Lake Tribune carried an article about a Mr. Jeb Magruder, who had been sentenced to serve in a federal prison for his part in the Watergate scandal in Washington, D.C. Appearing before the judge, Magruder was quoted as saying, “By now I know what I have done and Your Honor knows what I have done.” Then he gave this very sobering confession, “My ambition obscured my judgment and I lost my ethical compass.” When the pressure is on and opportunity seems to be knocking, rationalization can become an enemy that can sink a ship. Looking inside ourselves with a sense of who we are as sons and daughters of God, and remembering the covenants we have made that binds both us to the Lord and He to us, makes for a safe trip—even in enemy territory.
The second suggestion in building a seaworthy ship is best learned from President N. Eldon Tanner who served as a counselor to four Presidents of the church, and was honored as a “Giant in our City,” by the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce. He was known far and wide internationally as a man of integrity. One time, speaking in general conference he told of a lesson he learned from his father.
“You know when I was a young man my father pointed his finger at me and said, ‘Young man, I want you to realize that this world is divided into two great groups. You and the rest of the world.’ And he was serious about it and he made me feel serious about it before we were finished talking.” His father continued, “Regardless of what the world does it cannot save you, and regardless of what the world does, it cannot destroy you. It is what YOU do yourself that determines what’s going to happen.”[10]
I say that same thing to each of you today. While our intentions may be positive, it ultimately is our actions that measure the safety and reliability of our ship. Integrity is learning to make our actions consistent with our knowledge of right and wrong. Let us say with Job, “ . . . till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.”[11] Like Job, you have it within you to build a seaworthy ship.
Now let’s talk about BEING A LOYAL SHIPMATE.
A loyal shipmate will stay the course, resist the temptations of Satan and, when needed, make course corrections as prompted by the Holy Ghost. President Hinckley reminds us, “There is no greater blessing that can come into our lives than the companionship of the Holy Ghost.”[12]
While many today are being swept overboard by the storms of evil for the want of an ethical compass, you are called to be a dependable, trustworthy, alert signalmen to stay your post, regain your footing quickly (if ever you lose it), and help point the way for others who will follow. Hopefully you already know that what often appears as freedom to do whatever you want, is a camouflage for enslavement. And if the storms are not enough, you know to beware of pirates! Forces with malicious intent will attempt to board your ship and, if possible, rob you of your treasures, your peace of mind, your clear conscience, your freedom, your integrity, your morality, even your eternal destiny, and leave you shipwrecked, washed up.
I cannot overemphasize the guidance and strength that comes from pondering, meditating, and going to the mountain often as Nephi did. We read that “he sat pondering.” How often do we turn off the television, put aside our cell phones, palm pilots, computers, and turn off the noise of the world to just ponder?
On occasion when we conduct a private—and sometimes sobering—interview with ourselves, we recognize the disordering of our priorities and the over-programming of our lives. To be loyal to ourselves, and to the Lord, we must seriously ponder our priorities and how we use our time. I believe the adversary would, if possible, try to keep us busily engaged in a multitude of things—even good things—if it would distract us from the few things that make all the difference.
We read that when Nephi sat pondering, an angel of the Lord came to him and asked, “What desirest thou?” Would you be prepared to respond to that question if an angel asked of you, “what desirest thou?” We are mortal, we have many desires, but when we take the time to ponder the course of our life, meditate and ask thoughtful, heartfelt questions, the spirit will speak to us. There will come into your heart and soul promptings that help clarify your highest priorities. You will find yourself seeking direction, then planning with a purpose, praying with purpose, and then taking time to listen to the whisperings of the still small voice. Alma tells his son Helaman to “Counsel with the Lord in ALL thy doings and he will direct thee for good . . .”[13] I have found this to be so true. Please make time to ponder.
A loyal shipmate is very familiar with the power of prayer. We begin our prayers by addressing our Father in Heaven. He invites us to ask, ask. We read in the Bible Dictionary that God is already willing to grant blessings for ourselves and others, but these blessings are conditional upon our asking for them.[14]
President Hinckley knows the blessings that come from prayer. He tells us, “Get on your knees every morning and night talking to your Father in Heaven concerning your feelings in your heart and the desires of your minds in righteousness. When all is said and done there is no power on earth like the power of prayer.” Prayer keeps the channel of communication open. We can talk AND we can listen. My husband and I learned an important lesson while we were in the mission field about the blessing of being able to hear and the concern when you can’t hear.
Because Heber’s station in the Navy was right next to two huge artillery guns that were fired frequently—and not having ear protection in those days—his hearing began to deteriorate. This deterioration has accelerated over the years. Today—without the benefit of hearing aids with a large amplifier over each ear—he is almost totally deaf. My niece asked me how I whisper sweet things to him at the end of the day when he has removed his hearing aids. I tell her I shout, “I love you,” and he can read my lips. I believe there are many times our Father in Heaven might be shouting to us along our journey as well, saying “I love you,” but because of all the road noise, the loud music and the distractions to our mind, the message can’t get through.
During our mission we had an unusual experience while on our way to a zone conference. While traveling in an unfamiliar heavily-wooded area, both of the batteries in Heber’s hearing aids died at the same time. That had never happened before. I could speak to him but he could not hear me. He could speak to me but there was no two-way conversation. Can you imagine what an anxious feeling of isolation that was? What if we could never talk to each other or hear each other and be in communication with each other again. Tears filled my eyes as I prayed. Fortunately, as we drove in silence through the wooded area, we spotted a small convenience store. There we were able to get new batteries, and open up our line of communication again.
A loyal shipmate will keep the batteries charged by renewing sacred covenants each week during sacrament meeting, as well as attending the temple regularly. What a wonderful blessing you will have when this beautiful Rexburg temple is completed and ready for you to visit often to remember the covenants you have made and increase your understanding of the blessings that can be found nowhere else.
And now last but not least, YOU HAVE IT WITHIN YOU TO SAIL A TRUE COURSE.
I believe many of the so-called storms in our lives are customized for our individual growth. We can expect tests at the point where we are most vulnerable. It may relate to pride, or envy, need for approval at all cost, or addictions which creep in like tiny termites, never noticed until the destruction is done.
Sailing a true course is dependent on at least two very critical principles while in this turbulent sea we are on. It was King Benjamin in one of his last addresses who gave this final warning, “And finally, I cannot tell you all the things whereby ye may commit sin; for there are divers ways and means, even so many that I cannot number them. But this much I can tell you, that if ye do not watch yourselves, and your thoughts . . . even unto the end of your lives, ye must perish . . .”[15]
I believe we perish when we lose the spirit. It should not be surprising that in our day of advancing technology, the most deadly and destructive tools of the adversary, the enemy, has to do with pornography and drugs, and all the related evils that would actually change our course, our direction, and our destination.
In the book, As a Man Thinketh. we read, “In the armory of thought, man forges the weapons by which he destroys himself.”[16] That is sobering. But if our hearts and minds become filled with love, or “. . . full of love . . .”,[17] we will set our sail for our final destination without detours.
The Savior, before leaving his earthly ministry and finalizing his teachings that would provide the signs and signals to stay the course, spoke of love. “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”[18]
As we strive to sail a true course and make course corrections—as directed by the spirit—we learn as we go, sometimes in remarkable, unexpected ways. It may even take a crisis to help us change our thinking.
Let me explain a hard lesson I learned during the third year of our mission. Very unexpectedly, Heber was rushed to the local hospital in Richmond, British Columbia with what the doctors diagnosed as a life-threatening condition. A virus was attacking the valves of his heart. As he was wheeled into a hospital room on a gurney, I followed close behind praying every step of the way. There in the room was a very sick man sitting on the edge of the other bed. He looked emaciated. His eyes appeared to be crossed, his mouth was drooping, and his gown was off his shoulder revealing dark tattoos down both arms. I immediately turned my back. I didn’t like the feeling I had. He looked to me like a man who had made a lot of wrong choices. My thoughts told me I didn’t want to be in that room with him.
As soon as Heber was settled with medication that relieved the pain and put him to sleep, I took a seat in a folding chair and began pouring out my heart pleading with the Lord for my husband’s complete recovery. In my anguish I thought I heard the words, “You reach out to others and I’ll take care of you.” I immediately reflected on our total commitment to the missionaries, the members, the nonmembers, the investigators, and asked myself, “what more can I do?” Again the whisperings of the spirit, “you reach out to others and I’ll take care of you.”
I found myself turning to look again at the old man with the tattoos. Could he possibly be one of the “others” I wondered? I was prompted to get him a drink in a little paper cup. He thanked me and seemed appreciative. Later I took him a second drink. This time I had the Book of Mormon in my hand. He asked me about the book. When I told him it was the Book of Mormon he stumbled over his words admitting that he used to be a Mormon and asked if he could borrow it when I was through. When I handed the book to the patient he reached for it like a hungry man would reach for food, maybe remembering that it contained the bread of life.
I went back to my chair and found myself praying for the old man. When the night nurse came in he said to her in his muffled voice, “get the big chair at the end of the hall.” The nurse explained, “Oh Mr. Kapp is much too sick. He will not be getting up tonight.” The man insisted. “Get the big chair.” The nurse wheeled in the big chair and he said pointing to me, “it’s for her.” Can you believe that in his hour of struggle he was thinking of my comfort? I went once more to get him a drink of water, the only thing I could think to do in appreciation for his kindness. This time when I returned to the big chair he had arranged for my comfort, things were different. Not with the brother in the bed close by, but within me. He looked different than before. His eyes looked very tired but not crossed, and his speech was slow, but not slurred. And in an amazing way I realized that the tattoos, which had been so offensive to me, were not the ones on his arms but the ones in my heart.
During the long night I continued praying for Heber and also my new friend. In the process, I experienced a healing. Not physical, but spiritual. In the morning the curtain that had been drawn around the patient’s bed was opened and the bed was empty. He had passed away during the night. I realized in soberness that one of his last acts was for my comfort. Into my mind came the words of Elder Maxwell, “Empathy at a time of agony is part of divinity.” I realized then that this brother’s concern for me, was more Christ like than my first judgment of him. I asked myself, “why did I just loan him the book, why didn’t I offer to read to him?” But that opportunity was gone. I felt a love for this man, my brother, who had concern for my comfort when he was in need himself.
I related this experience to a group of sisters in the northern part of the province. When the closing prayer was given by someone who had been labeled, “less active,” she closed in a tone of deep emotion with these words, “Oh God, help us to love one another and look past each other’s tattoos.”
When we “put off the natural man” and become a “saint” through the atonement of Christ, we will have love in our hearts. Not only in our hearts but we will be “full of love.” With that love we will be filled with the spirit. And by the spirit we will know when we are on course and even more importantly, we will be prompted when we are not, and by the spirit we will be guided to make course corrections along the way.
As storms of evil continue to increase during these perilous times of which the Apostle Paul spoke, I hear in my mind the words to a hymn:
Jesus Savior pilot me
Over life’s tempestuous sea.
Chart and compass come from thee
Jesus Savior pilot me
When at last I near the shore
And the fearful breakers roar
May I hear thee say to me
“Fear not I will pilot thee.”[19]
I testify that He will pilot us!
It may help to remember that the storms of life are not meant to destroy us, but to keep the wind blowing so we do not become casual and in fact, become stronger. It is the turbulence of the sea and the power of the wind that keeps us turning to the Master. He who calmed the tempest on the Sea of Galilee, will still the storms in our lives. And in a case where a terrible storm might cause one to slip and fall—with the threat of losing their footing and being swept overboard—there is a sure source of rescue for everyone. It is through the “ infinite and intimate” atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The atonement makes it possible for each of us to reach the highest degree in the Celestial Kingdom—our ultimate destination—and rejoice in all the promised blessings even to become joint heirs with Jesus Christ.
I pray that each day of your lives you will be anxiously engaged in building a seaworthy ship, prepared to endure the storms that are a necessary part of this mortal life , becoming a loyal shipmate what ever it takes , and sailing a true course.
In President Hinckley’s conference address in 1995 the first year as President of the church the title of his address was Stay The Course and Keep the Faith. Let us follow the prophet. I know that God is our Father and Jesus Christ is our Savior. He marked the path and led the way. To this I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Notes
[1] Cannon, George Q., Gospel Truth, Vol. 1, p. 21
[2] November 2003, Ensign, p. 84
[3] I Nephi 17:17
[4] I Nephi 17:8
[5] I Nephi 17:13
[6] Genesis 6:22
[7] Ether 2:16
[8] Ether 6:12
[9] D&C 8:2
[10] 1986 Semi-annual Conference
[11] Job 27:5
[12] Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, SLC DB 1997, p. 259
[13] Alma 37:37
[14] Bible Dictionary, p. 753
[15] Mosiah 4:29–30
[16] Putman, James Allen, As a Man Thinketh, p. 5
[17] Mosiah 3:19
[18] John 13:34–35
[19] Hymns, 104