Sister Hobbs and I are delighted to be here. I want to speak about a few things that have become very important to me. And so I pray that the Spirit will be here that we may learn together. Often I find myself speaking on topics where I need improvement. I think that is one way the Spirit teaches us. If we sincerely seek for truth, the Spirit will "show us all things that we should do" (2 Nephi 32:5). Jesus has invited and commanded us to follow him. I want to follow Jesus and be more like Him. However, I have a lot of work to do. But I am grateful for the many challenges, opportunities, and blessings the Lord has given me. I have seen His hand in my life guiding, directing, and helping me. I know He has protected me when I was not as careful as I should have been, and He has helped me correct mistakes I have made. It is so important to know He loves us.
Hawaii has been a part of our lives in some interesting ways. We love Hawaii, but it is not a particularly easy place to get to. You don't just drop in. Like all special places, it takes some effort to get here. I don't believe any of us are here by chance.
In the same way, we are not on this earth by chance. We have a purpose and it required some effort on our part to get here. As children of God our potential is unlimited, but we, by our choices, determine what we will become and what level of happiness we will enjoy. Lasting happiness and eternal blessings will come to those who choose to take upon themselves the name of Christ, always remember Him, and keep His commandments.
I grew up in Idaho. I dreamed of traveling to faraway places and always wanted to visit Hawaii. Then with a kind invitation from friends and using money I saved from a small newspaper route, I spent 3 weeks in Hawaii. (Photo 1 Bruce Hobbs) My friends were not members of the Church, but they patiently took me around Oahu and made a special effort to show me the Church College of Hawaii (Photo 2 Church College), the Polynesian Cultural Center (Photo 1c Straw Hut), and the Hawaiian Temple. (Photo 1d Hawaiian Temple) It was a great adventure. (Photos 1a Anchor and 1b Hawaiian Boat) I was less active in the Church and my understanding of gospel was limited. But I felt the spirit of the temple and was impressed with the beauty of this campus.
My next Hawaiian experience came a few years later. Though I was less active, I was fortunate to attend BYU in Provo. There I began to learn about Church missions. At first, I paid very little attention to it. But soon I became curious, and finally I was troubled about it. I had never thought about serving a mission, and now I couldn't stop thinking about it. I did not want to take time away from skiing, golfing and my other personal interests.
Now I am an old guy and this was before President Kimball taught that every young man should serve a mission. This was during the Vietnam War when many young men were not able to serve missions. A few close friends told me not to worry because not everyone had to serve a mission. They asked me what my Patriarchal Blessing said about my mission. I didn't have a Patriarchal Blessing. Being a little naive, I wondered if my Patriarchal Blessing would tell me I did not have to serve a mission. But I did not understand how the Lord works in our lives.
I went to see the Patriarch. To my surprise, my blessing was very clear about my responsibility to serve a mission: it startled me. But I was still determined and stubbornly declared that I would never serve a mission. Gratefully, the Lord was mindful of me and two years later with the patient guidance of the Spirit and help from wonderful friends, I received my mission call to Korea. I reported to the Language Training Mission in Hawaii. (Photo 3 Hawaiian temple) Unfortunately, I had not prepared to be a missionary. But, with the help of the Lord and many patient companions, I grew and had a wonderful missionary experience.
Now, 38 years later I am back in Hawaii. As I reflect on my life's progress: where I came from, what I have done, and what I have become: I see this campus as a place of new beginnings for me. Today I am stand where once I sat and listened to others. I hope I am a different person from the young missionary who came in 1973. Because of certain decisions, I have been given many opportunities and received many blessings. I have not been perfect, but I have tried to improve and make better choices. Brothers and Sisters I hope you feel that this life is a gift: a wonderful blessing. It is not always easy, but it is wonderful. I pray each one of us will strive to make the most of it.
Last summer, our youngest son returned home from his mission to Warsaw, Poland. We missed him so much, but he learned things Sister Hobbs and I could not teach him at home. On the day he reported his mission, I could see how much he had matured. I was so glad he was home. I felt a little like our Heavenly Father must feel about us. He wants us to come home. Our salvation is His work and His glory. And Brothers and Sisters, we can trust Him for He knows how to do His work. (2 Nephi 27:21)
I believe we all know who we are and what we should be doing. Perhaps you even know why the Lord brought you to BYU-Hawaii. God established this unique university. He prepared wonderful teachers, leaders, and mentors to love you and assist you in your education. What would He have you learn while you are here?
Do you know that you can learn things here that you cannot learn at just any college or university? Here you are taught to learn "by study and also by faith." (Doctrine and Covenants 109: 7) You are free to invite the Holy Ghost not only into your personal study, but into your classrooms. The Spirit can be part of your educational experience. Here you are taught the principles of Godhood.
Everything you need to be successful is here, but you must do your part. Success will not come without planning, patience, and diligent, consistent effort. It will not happen without the proper exercise of your agency. You must "act for yourselves." (2 Nephi 2: 16) You must choose to obey the commandments. You must choose to seek after and follow the Savior.
In the recent dedication of the Laie Hawaii Temple President Monson prayed: "Father we seek to be like Thee. We seek to pattern our lives after the life of Thy Son. We desire righteousness for ourselves and our children and our children's children. We plead with Thee to make us worthy to inherit the fullness of those blessings found only in Thy holy temples: even those blessings which grow out of a continuation of the family unit forever."
Then President Monson prayed specifically for you:
"Our Father, strengthen the youth who walk in a world saturated with the sophistries of Satan. Give them the courage to stand firm for truth. Bless them with a lengthened view of their eternal possibilities." (Dedicatory Prayer of Laie Temple, LDS Church News)
President Monson is praying for you. He knows Satan is trying to defeat you. If you let him, Satan will gently lead you down a path that will rob you of your blessings. But Heavenly Father is mindful of us. We can know right from wrong." For behold, my brethren,
it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and
the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge,
as the daylight is from the dark night."
(Moroni 7:15)
Moral Agency
Our Heavenly Father gave us our personal, moral agency: the power to choose and to act. President David O. McKay said, "Next to the bestowal of life itself, the right to direct that life is God's greatest gift to man."
(Teachings of Presidents of the Church: David O. McKay (2003), 208). Agency is essential for our growth. How we exercise that agency will determined what we will become. The most important choice we will ever make is to submit our wills to our Father." For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the Fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticing of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love,
willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his Father." (Mosiah 3:19) Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught "As you submit your wills to God, you are giving Him the only thing you can actually give Him that is really yours to give." (Elder Neal A. Maxwell, Ensign, May 2004, p. 46)
We put off the natural man when we align ourselves with God. The gift of the Holy Ghost teaches us how to do that and gives us directions from our Heavenly Father. We are assured the continual companionship of the Holy Ghost as we keep our covenants. Each time we partake of the sacrament we renew our covenants to:
- Take upon ourselves the name of Christ
- Always remember Him
- Keep His commandments
Satan's plan was to take away our agency. But our Savior's unselfish commitment to our Father's plan preserved our agency. Unfortunately, one third of our brothers and sisters chose to follow Satan. Those of us on this earth trusted our elder Brother enough to accept our Father's plan, confident that with our Savior's help we could obtain eternal life and exaltation. Now we must continue in the path we chose. Elder Robert D. Hales taught: "By His perfect life, He [our Savior] taught us that when we choose to do the will of our Heavenly Father, our agency is preserved, our opportunities increase, and we progress. But let it be known: we must continue to choose to follow the Savior. Eternity is at stake, and our wise use of agency and our actions are essential that we might have eternal life." (Elder Robert D. Hales, Ensign, Nov 2010, p. 25)
It is true that the exercise of our agency includes certain risks. If we are cautious, some risks are obvious and relatively easy to avoid. Other risks are more difficult to discern. Mistakes hinder our growth and can even prevent us from returning to our heavenly home. Despite all that has been done for us, if we are not careful, we can fail. To protect and assist us in our journey, our Father blessed us with sacred gifts to guide the use of our agency. If we use these tools wisely, we will recognize Satan's temptations to act, dress, and behave in a manner that will lead us into unwise and dangerous decisions. Knowing that we will make some mistakes, our Father provided a Savior for us and a plan of redemption by which we can repent and get back on the right path.
Always remember that God is with you. Though these islands are in the middle of the ocean, He has directed the work here. He sent His missionaries. He established His Church. He placed the temple here. This is His university. He brought you here. Through the years, millions of people have dreamed of coming to these islands. Make no mistake, Satan is also aware of BYU-Hawaii and of the work the Lord is doing here. He is here placing distractions and temptations in your way: casual behavior, worldliness, alcohol and drugs, pornography, and immorality.
I want to mention a few gifts that will help us avoid Satan's temptations:
- Prayer. Through prayer we can communicate directly with our Heavenly Father and receive personal direction from Him through the Holy Ghost. We must never neglect prayer. Constant, meaningful prayer is our lifeline to our Heavenly Father and His love. It reflects our sincere desire to know Him and demonstrates our willingness to humble ourselves and seek His will and not our own.
- Scriptures. The scriptures contain God's message for us. Scripture stories clearly teach us the consequences of choices. They teach us truth, give us council, and encourage us. As we study the scriptures, the Holy Ghost will testify to us of the reality of Jesus Christ and His mission. Consistent daily scripture study will keep us on the straight path.
- The Spirit of Christ. The Spirit of Christ is "given to every man that he may know the good from the evil." (Moroni 7:16) Every man that hearkened to the voice of the Spirit can become one with God. (Doctrine and Covenants 84:45-47) This spirit is so important to our progression. Remember, Satan is an interrupter and a distracter." Whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil." (Moroni 7:16-17). With the spirit of Christ we can recognize Satan and his deceptions." Wherefore, I beseech of you brethren, that ye should search diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ." (Moroni 7:19)
- True Messengers: angels and priesthood leaders. "Behold he sent angels to minister unto the children of men, to make manifest concerning the coming of Christ." As well as angels, the Lord sent prophets to teach and guide us." And God also declared unto prophets by His own mouth, that Christ should come." (Moroni 7:22-23) Angels and prophets are true messengers. If we follow their counsel, we will be protected and guided throughout our lives.
We should develop trust in the Lord's messengers. We are blessed with a regular opportunity to sustain our leaders and listen to their counsel and testimonies. We need eyes to see and know them and ears to hear and heed their counsel. They speak what God would speak if He were here." What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my work shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same." (Doctrine and Covenants 1:38) At times their counsel may seem old fashion and speak of small and simple things that seem unimportant, but we know that out of small and simple things the Lord brings great things to pass. As we heed their counsel, our testimonies of the prophets and our trust in them will grow.
When I first arrived in Korea, I was very discouraged missionary. I had not yet finished reading the Book of Mormon. Its language was strange and difficult for me. I needed help. In my first apartment I found a copy of the Ensign magazine with the April 1973 General Conference talks. One thing I did have was a love and respect for our prophets. As a young boy my Grandfather taught me about the Brethren. In many ways my Grandfather would not have been considered active in the Church. But he loved the Book of Mormon and General Conference. He enjoyed listening to the prophets. In his home during General Conference, I would watch my Grandfather as he listened to the Brethren on television. Even as a young boy I felt the peace in the room. My Grandfather would often turn to me and say, "Bruce, there ain't but one of those guys that don't know what he is talking about." I'm not sure the correctness of his grammar, but I knew my Grandfather loved and respected our prophets. He planted in my heart a deep love and respect for these messengers.
And so, in a small room in Korea, struggling to find myself, I began to study the words and counsel of the Brethren, and they spoke to me. I felt the Spirit in their messages. They opened the scriptures for me. I began to read and understand the Book of Mormon. My testimony began to grow. I bear my witness of these men. I have been blessed to meet and associate with many of the Brethren. All my experiences have confirmed to me that they are the Lord's anointed servants. They are true messengers called and ordained by God. He directs them. They speak for him. If we will open our ears to their counsel, they will teach us about our Heavenly Father and show us what He would have us do. A few weeks ago, you were taught by Elder David A. Bednar. I have worked closely with Elder Bednar. I watched him and know him. He is a true and living apostle and prophet. Perhaps the best thing that I could do today is motivate you to study his talk. I know he had an important message for you. President Henry B. Eyring has taught: "God sends messages and authorized messengers to His children to build trust in God and His servants enough that we will go out and obey His counsel. He wants that because He loves us and wants our happiness. And He knows how a lack of trust in Him brings sadness." "I am to build trust in God and His servants enough that we will go out and obey His counsel." (President Henry B. Eyring, Ensign, Nov 2010, p. 70)
- The Gift of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is a revelator, testifier, teacher, and guide. He will teach us truth. But the companionship of the Holy Ghost requires obedience and virtuous living. We must be humble and recognize our need for His guidance." Let us do whatever is required to qualify for the Holy Ghost as our companion, and then let us go forward fearlessly so that we will be given the powers to do whatever the Lord calls us to do." (President Henry B. Eyring, Ensign, Nov 2010, p. 59)
- The Temple is the Lord's house. When we live for it, we are blessed to enter His house, feel His presence, and be taught by His Spirit. Like you, we in Rexburg have a temple in our backyard. What a blessing to walk the sacred temple grounds and attend the temple on a regular basis. Those of you who are endowed can enter often and participate in all the ordinances. Those who are not yet endowed can obtain a limited use recommend and perform baptisms for the dead. In the temple we are taught patterns for life. We see how our Heavenly Father organizes and teaches. These patterns will be a model for our lives and for our homes.
- His Son. God's only begotten Son is our Savior, redeemer, teacher, mentor, and example. He is our advocate with the Father and has power to redeem us from our sins. Our Savior is a very special gift from our Father. He came to earth as an infant, born in humble and lowly circumstances. His atoning sacrifice is essential for our progression, but so too is His perfect example. Elder Robert D. Hales taught: "Throughout His life our Savior showed us how to use our agency. As a boy in Jerusalem, He deliberately chose to "be about [His] Father's business.' In His ministry, He obediently chose "to do the will of [His] Father.' In Gethsemane, He chose to suffer all things, saying, "Not my will, but thine, be done.'" (Elder Robert D. Hales, Ensign, Nov 2010, p. 25)
"And by His perfect life, He taught us that when we choose to do the will of our Heavenly Father, our agency is preserved, our opportunities increase, and we progress." (Elder Robert D. Hales, Ensign, Nov, 2010, p. 25)
Our Savior's birth and life teaches us the blessing and the infinite and eternal worth of a child.
This past year has been a remarkable time for our family. Our only daughter, Jenny, and her husband, Mark, have longed for a child of their own. Though it was not their first choice, they began to think about adoption. In January 2010, Mark was struggling with pneumonia. During this time, Mark and Jenny were preparing to adopt a baby. As Mark's condition worsened, Jenny encouraged him to see the doctor once more. On a February morning, as they drove to the doctor's office, Mark and Jenny mailed some of their final adoption papers. But what was just a doctor's visit changed our family's whole perspective. Mark was diagnosed with stage four non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. (Picture of Mark in Hospital) It was a terrible shock. Everything was different now. Our family went from looking forward to a new baby to praying Mark would regain his health.
During this past year, we have learned to count our blessings and trust the Lord. We learned of the goodness of people. We felt the prayers, love and support of family members and friends. We experienced miracles. One miracle was Mark's healing. Another was watching the Lord open the door and connect Mark and Jenny to a remarkable young woman who chose to place her new baby girl with Mark and Jenny. In December Mark's cancer screenings were clean and clear and on December 15th Paige Ryann was born and came home in time for Christmas. (Photo 5 Mark, Jenny and Paige) What a miracle! Through the Holidays I pondered the question: "What was the first gift of Christmas?" The answer of course is: "A Child." (Photo 6 baby Paige) I now understand in an entirely different way the infinite goodness, wonder and blessing of the birth of a child. Never forget that at Christmas time what we really celebrate is our Heavenly Father's supernal gift: a child, His only begotten Son.
While you are here at BYU-Hawaii, you can become disciples of Jesus Christ. You can help spread the gospel throughout the earth and assist in the establishment of Zion. But Satan would have you shirk your responsibilities, deny your gifts, and seek your own interests. He can't force us to make poor choices, but he can influence us to follow the ways of the world. Disobedience, casual behavior, worldliness can lead us into dangerous territory. We cannot forget who we are and what we should be doing. As a 12 year boy Jesus answered His concerned parents: "Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business." I hope every one of us will feel as He did. Everything you need to succeed is here. We were not sent here to fail. But fail we will if we are not "about our Father's business."