Every summer our entire family enjoys a reunion together at the beach. Each day Elder Bednar and I conduct a devotional with our grandchildren, and then they teach their parents what we have taught them. A few years ago, we examined the account in Matthew, chapter 14 where Peter walked on the water.
As we cut out stick figures of Jesus and Peter and then showed the grandchildren how to make a boat out of a piece of paper, we discussed how Peter had faith to get out of the boat and start walking on the water toward Jesus. We also pointed out that when Peter became distracted by the wind and the waves and began to sink, Jesus stretched out his hand to save him.
As we started cleaning up, our six-year-old granddaughter said, "Grandma, please do not put things away yet. I want to write something on my boat." She wrote these words, "Look to Jesus."
In the short time we have together, I pray the Spirit will strengthen our desire to have the faith to get out of the boat and keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.
Before I began my freshman year at BYU, I was given this timeless advice: Do not hesitate to branch out into fields you are interested in, and make sure to include your Heavenly Father in your educational plans. At that time in my life, branching out meant taking classes and getting involved in activities that would stretch me and force me out of my comfort zone. "Jumping out of the boat" experiences, as I like to call them, prepare us for what lies ahead.
Take a moment to reflect back on your life. How has a decision or accomplishment in the past been a preparation for today? I had such a preparatory experience right here on this campus.
Shortly after Elder Bednar became the President of BYU-Idaho, we spoke at a multi-stake devotional. At the end of my remarks, I expressed love for the students and naively commented, "I wish I could take each of you home with me and feed you ice cream and cookies." Well, the next Monday evening we heard a knock on our door. To our surprise, on the doorstep stood a group of students with ice cream and cookies in hand ready to take me up on my offer. That very night commenced the tradition of Home Evening with the President and his wife that has continued on this campus for more than 18 years.
I must admit that Home Evening was a "jumping out of the boat" experience for me. I expected we would teach a prepared and scripted lesson, and have complete control over what happened, how it happened, and when it happened. But my husband suggested another idea. He wanted to invite the students to ask questions. When he proposed this concept, I felt uncomfortable, unsure, and started to cry. This was way out of my comfort zone. Fear of failure and lack of faith gripped my heart. Reassuring me, Elder Bednar remarked that I could always decline his invitation to answer. And I did say no, especially at first. I'm grateful for those Home Evenings that caused me to prayerfully reach deep within myself and plead for heavenly help to replace fear with faith. Over time I became less hesitant to answer questions and more reliant on the Lord.
This past May, Elder Bednar and I were invited to participate in a live, worldwide Face to Face activity with the youth of the Church. Tethered together by the spirit of the Lord and technology, young people from all over the world asked us heart-felt questions in real time without us knowing in advance what the questions would be. As I contemplated later about this opportunity, I realized that past Home Evenings with the students at BYU-Idaho had been a preparation for this future event.
I pray that as you have opportunities to be stretched emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually, you will not hesitate to demonstrate your faith and "jump out of the boat," knowing that when you don't think you can do hard things, the Savior will stretch out his hand to assist you, just as he rescued me. Look to Jesus with confidence and know the life-lessons you are learning here and now truly will prepare you for a wonderful and remarkable future.
I have a testimony that God answers prayers; that Jesus is our strength and our salvation; and that revelation from the Holy Ghost comes as thoughts to our minds and feelings to our hearts. I testify that God speaks his mind and will today through men we sustain as prophets, seers, and revelators. I know Elder Bednar has been called of God to be a special witness of the name of Jesus Christ in all the world. May you listen to and be blessed by his counsel today; in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.