It is an honor, a privilege, and a blessing for me to address you today. It is an honor and privilege because you are a very special group of young people. You are good and noble persons who want to follow our Savior, Jesus Christ. So, it is a blessing for me to be with you today and share a few thoughts with you.
It is a great blessing to get an education in a beautiful place like this. The only fact of being here makes me think of the words of Jacob, brother of Nephi, when he said, "But great are the promises of the Lord unto them who are upon the isles of the sea; wherefore as it says isles, there must needs be more than this, and they are inhabited also by our brethren." 1 The promises of the Lord could be ours in any place we reside. I am a native of Uruguay, which is a small country in South America. I am so grateful for the great blessing of receiving the gospel of Jesus Christ in Uruguay while I was a teenager. It is a great blessing for you to be here getting an education centered on Jesus Christ and His teachings. Do you believe so?
I would like to invite you to consider a "believest thou" approach that can help us embolden our faith to receive the promised blessings. I would like to share a few examples to see how this approach can help us activate and recognize our blessings. A "believest thou" approach can benefit us as we stop and stand still and make time for the Lord.
Stopping and Being Still
Last General Conference, President Russell M. Nelson stated that, "Nothing invites the Spirit more than fixing your focus on Jesus Christ. Talk of Christ, rejoice in Christ, feast upon the words of Christ, and press forward with steadfastness in Christ." 2
As we focus on Jesus Christ, the Spirit can reveal all truth or true knowledge to us. It does not matter where we are, whether Uruguay or the isles of the sea. It does not matter what kind of education we pursue; we can get the knowledge that brings power. Power to serve others and work out our salvation and exaltation.
President Joseph Smith taught, "A man is saved no faster than he gets knowledge." 3 He added, "In knowledge, there is power. God has more power than all other beings because he has greater knowledge, and hence he knows how to subject all other beings to Him. He has power overall. 4 For that reason, we are to see that our education is centered on our Heavenly Father and His Son, our Savior, and Redeemer.
President Henry B. Eyring taught that, "True learning must have a powerful spiritual component. That spiritual element, when it is effective, refines and uplifts the aims of our total education. . . . Remember, you are interested in education, not just for mortal life but for eternal life. When you see that reality clearly, you will put spiritual learning first and yet not slight the secular learning. In fact, you will work harder at your secular learning than you would without that spiritual vision." 5
We come unto Christ by learning about His name as we keep and make sacred covenants with Him. We can learn of Him by several means. I would like to underline one way we can learn of Him. It is by observing some of the things that He did. It will help us to recognize our blessings as we also help others.
I will read a couple of events in the Savior's life to observe a Christ-like action or ability that we can also practice. We can "copy/paste" to become more like Him. This will help us to focus our lives on Christ. Please, pay attention to my reading or open your scriptures. One example is taken from the New Testament and the other one from the Book of Mormon.
In Matthew 20:30-34, we read, "And, behold, two blind men sitting by the wayside, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. And the multitude rebuked them because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David."
And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you? They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him." 6
A similar ability we observe in reading is in 3 Nephi 17:1-6.
"Behold, now it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words, he looked round about again on the multitude, and he said unto them: Behold, my time is at hand."
Then He gave them an assignment and explained to them His agenda, His next steps. He said, "I perceive." I like the word "perceive" because it shows he was paying attention to the needs of others. He continued, "I perceive that ye are weak, that ye cannot understand all my words which I am commanded of the Father to speak unto you at this time."
Therefore, go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand, and prepare your minds for the morrow, and I come unto you again."
"But now I go unto the Father, and also to show myself unto the lost tribes of Israel, for they are not lost unto the Father, for he knoweth whither he hath taken them."
However, a change is about to happen in this plan.
"And it came to pass that when Jesus had thus spoken, he cast his eyes round about again on the multitude and beheld they were in tears and did look steadfastly upon him as if they would ask him to tarry a little longer with them.
And he said unto them, "Behold, my bowels are filled with compassion towards you." 7
(We all know all the divine events of healing and ministering that followed. This is perhaps one of the most beautiful and touching passages in the Book of Mormon during the Savior's ministry on this continent.)
By comparing these two events in the life of the Savior, do you see an ability in the Savior's actions? Actions that turn out into joy. Actions that preceded the miracle. Actions that can lead us to grow spiritually if we also practice this Christ-like ability.
What have you learned from the Savior on comparing these two events? I will tell you about my learning. The Lord stopped and observed his surroundings to see the needs of others to so bless their lives.
We can serve others by ministering them as the Savior did in a holier and higher way. As we stop and stay still, we will recognize the needs of others and find knowledge and peace for ourselves. By doing so with covenants in mind, we are following President Nelson's teaching that "Anytime you do anything that helps anyone- on either side of the veil- take a step toward making covenants with God and receiving their essential baptismal and temple ordinances, you are helping to gather Israel. It is as simple as that." 8
We all have so many things to do that twenty-four hours seem not to be enough. We would like a day of thirty-six hours to be able to complete all of the tasks that we want to do. In such moments, we might need to stop and be still as the Lord said to Joseph Smith, "Yea, for this cause I have said: Stop, and stand still until I command thee, and I will provide means whereby thou mayest accomplish the thing which I have commanded thee." 9
Or to Job in the Old Testament, "Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God." 10
And as the psalmist wrote, "Be still, and know that I am God." 11
When we are bombarded with information and misinformation, which often wants us to react, so we do something they want us to do, and perhaps it is not necessary for me to do. Someone else is creating a need in my life. We realize the importance of stopping and standing still to learn from Him in such moments.
Much of the constant info bombardment reaches us via social media, via technology. Technology could be a wonderful servant or tool for us to acquire true knowledge, but it could be a tyrant master. We can control our devices or they can control us. It is our decision. We need to learn how to navigate this abundance of information. I would like to suggest that stopping and standing still could help us to control our circumstances, reduce our stress, fortify our spiritual foundation. "Believest thou" that stopping and standing still can help you to center your life in Christ?
Make Time to Think of Him
In the last General Conference, President Nelson pled with us to make time for the Lord. He said, "I plead with you today to counter the lure of the world by making time for the Lord in your life—each and every day. If most of the information you get comes from social or other media, your ability to hear the whisperings of the Spirit will be diminished. If you are not also seeking the Lord through daily prayer and gospel study, you leave yourself vulnerable to philosophies that may be intriguing but are not true. Even Saints who are otherwise faithful can be derailed by the steady beat of Babylon's band." 12
You can think of different ways to make time for the Lord every day. I would like to underline one way that has been a blessing in my life and has helped me to recognize God-sent blessings and promises for my life. Soon after being called as a General Authority, I received advice from one of the Twelve that has been a survival tool in my life. That advice can be summarized in one word. That word is "think." We are to take time to think of His Holy Name. This time to think will give us a chance to be still and know that He is our Savior and Redeemer. The Savior himself invited us to, "Be still and know that I am God." 13
This will help us to remain in the covenant path with temple covenants in mind. Thinking proactively with our covenants in mind could be an ability that we can develop and improve over time. In fact, the temple could give us an opportunity to hone our minds to receive revelation and direction from heaven. Our minds play an important role when we receive revelation. The Lord has said, "Yea, behold, 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. Now, behold, this is the Spirit of revelation." 14
In the scriptures that were added to the Nephite records, we learn that "Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another, and the Lord hearkened and heard, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of Hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them..." 15
May we be found among those that take time to think of His Name so our names might be written on a book of remembrance before Him, so we become one of His jewels and receive forgiveness.
Mormon, the Father of Moroni, while they were in the middle of very turbulent times with an abundance of sad news wrote the following to his Son, "My son, be faithful in Christ; and may not the things which I have written grieve thee, to weigh thee down unto death; but may Christ lift thee up, and may his sufferings and death, and the showing his body unto our fathers, and his mercy and long-suffering, and the hope of his glory and of eternal life, rest in your mind forever." 16
Taking time to think of Him will help us to center our education on Jesus Christ as we review and strengthen our spiritual foundation. We will learn how to navigate the hyper-abundance of information so that we will know how to act instead of reacting all of the time. Our divine spark will continue to be ignited. "Believest thou" that making time to think of Him will bless your life?
"Believest Thou" Approach
As we stop and stand still and make time to think, we can consider a "believest thou" approach to strengthen our spiritual foundation and faith. This approach can contribute to making our covenant promises a reality. We can see this approach being used by the great missionaries in the Book of Mormon as they strengthen the faith of two kings. It was also used frequently by the Savior before performing a miracle. We could use it to strengthen the faith of others and our own faith.
We can observe this approach when Ammon started to teach King Lamoni. "And Ammon began to speak unto him with boldness, and said unto him: Believest thou that there is a God? And King Lamoni answered and said unto him: I do not know what that meaneth." And then Ammon strengthens the King's faith in God by saying, "Believest thou that there is a Great Spirit?" 17 And the king said yea.
King Lamoni used his agency to make a decision. He chose to believe, and the miracle of the king's conversion and many others followed.
Aaron-another great missionary from the Book of Mormon- used the same "believest thou" approach as he was teaching the Father of King Lamoni. The Father of King Lamoni asked Aaron if God was the great Spirit that brought their fathers out of the land of Jerusalem? Then, "Aaron said unto him: Yea, he is that Great Spirit, and he created all things both in heaven and in earth. Believest thou this? The King's answer showed that he had decided to believe or chose to believe, saying: "Yea, I believe that the Great Spirit created all things, and I desire that ye should tell me concerning all these things, and I will believe thy words." 18
This belief led to the conversion miracle of many, even thousands.
This "believest thou" approach was used by heavenly messengers as well. The Spirit of the Lord emboldened the faith of Nephi to reveal to him the wonderful truths of this gospel. Nephi made time to think or ponder in his heart after making a decision about his belief when the Spirit of the Lord caught him away into an exceedingly high mountain.
"And the Spirit said unto me: Behold, what desirest thou?" And Nephi said: "I desire to behold the things which my Father saw. And the Spirit said unto Nephi: "Believest thou that thy father saw the tree of which he hath spoken?" Notice the "believest thou" approach. Then Nephi reaffirmed his belief by saying: "Yea, thou knowest that I believe all the words of my Father."
After this reaffirmation, the Spirit was ready to show more things to Nephi. The scripture says that after Nephi spoke these words, "the Spirit cried with a loud voice, saying: Hosanna to the Lord, the most high God; for he is God over all the earth, yea, even above all. And blessed art thou, Nephi, because thou believest in the Son of the most high God; wherefore, thou shalt behold the things which thou hast desired." 19
In the New Testament, we observe the Savior using this "believest thou" approach on several occasions before performing a miracle. One example took place with Martha before bringing back to life her brother and His friend, Lazarus.
After Martha expressed her certainty that her brother would rise again in the resurrection on the last day. "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die." Then He used the "believest thou" approach by asking her: "Believest thou this?"
She reaffirmed her belief. "She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world." 20 Right before removing the tombstone, the Savior taught Martha, "Said I not unto thee that if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?" 21
We know the rest of the story. One of the greatest miracles took place. "He said with a loud voice, Lazarus come forth and he was dead came forth." 22
Having faith in Christ is a decision that we make when we choose to believe and act. As we reaffirm our faith in His holy name, the promises become a reality in our life.
Believest thou that reaffirming our beliefs will bring blessings to our lives; even the covenant promises that we have as a covenant people?
Believest thou that stopping and being still helps us to feel joy, cope with stress, and meet the needs of others?
Believest thou that making time to think and pondering helps us to understand better and gives us additional insights?
Believest thou that great are the promises of the Lord unto them who are upon the isles of the sea?
If we believe and act according to our covenants, these additional promises will be a reality in our lives. As King Benjamin said, "if you believe these things, see that ye do them." 23
I know that President Russell M. Nelson is the prophet of God for all of humankind. It is a blessing to have a living prophet. Joseph Smith is the prophet thru whom God started this dispensation. The Book of Mormon teaches about many promises that are for us. The Book of Mormon teaches about Jesus Christ, testifies of His reality, restores knowledge about His sacred name, is the truth sent forth out of the earth. This sacred volume of scriptures makes us feel the reality of Jesus Christ. I believe in Christ, and I believe Christ. I believe all of His promises are given to us by His own voice or by the voice of His servants, the prophets.
I know Jesus Christ is the living Christ, the Holy Messiah, the greatest of all. He is our Savior and Redeemer. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Notes:
1. 2 Nephi 2:21.
2. President Russell M. Nelson, "Make Time for the Lord," General Conference November 2021.
3. See Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, 266.
4. See Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith (2007), 265.
5. President Henry B. Eyring, "Education for Real Life," Ensign, October 2002, 18. (Originally, a talk given on the 75th anniversary of the Institute of Religion program at a Church Educational System fireside in Moscow, Idaho, on May 6, 2001.)
6. Matthew 20: 30-34.
7. 3 Nephi 17: 1-6.
8. President Russell M. Nelson, "Hope of Israel," June 3, 2018.
9. Doctrine and Covenants 5:34.
10. Job 37:14.
11. Psalm 46:10.
12. President Russell M. Nelson, "Make Time for the Lord," General Conference October 2021.
13. Psalms 46:10, D&C 101:16.
14. Doctrine and Covenants 8: 2-3.
15. 3 Nephi 24: 16-18.
16. Moroni 9: 25.
17. Alma 18: 24-27.
18. Alma 22: 9-11.
19. 1 Nephi 11: 1-6.
20. John 11: 24-27.
21. John 11: 40.
22. John 11: 43-44.
23. Mosiah 4:10.