Brothers and Sisters Aloha,
I am grateful for the opportunity to share with you my feelings and thoughts in devoting this hour in testifying of the Savior and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For the past month I have fostered feelings of doubt and much anxiety, and have wondered whether to attribute this to preparing to address you at this devotional or in supporting the All Blacks in their quest to win the rugby world cup that was being played in New Zealand. Well, the All Blacks have won the world cup and the butterflies are still here. Our Laie 8th Ward theme for this year seems most appropriate, "Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees" (Hebrews 12:12). I am therefore thankful for the opening prayer and the introduction and testimony of my eternal companion, Debbie. I ask for Heavenly Fathers guidance that in some way my words may convey and share with you my feelings and allow the spirit to be present this morning.
As I look out into the student body, I see young students preparing to make the most important decision of your lives. I am taken aback thirty six years to when I had graduated from this University. With a degree in finance, I had been accepted into the management training program with a local bank. The dress code was aloha shirt attire, as you will all be aware when starting out in the real world, pay was minimal, and even then the cost of aloha shirts was beyond our budget. So my wife, Debbie decided to use her sewing skills and proceeded to buy the fabric that was on sale from our local stores. In the Seventies, safari shirt patterns were the rage and polyester material was plentiful and affordable. The challenge was that the inexpensive fabric had pastel colors. To tell the truth it must have been a sight, going to work wearing aloha shirts that were pink and lime green and royal blue. I must have been naive, but I didn't mind, because they were new and fresh and clean. Maybe it was because my shirts were the handiwork of my companion.
During my first year in the management training program our banks' branch decided to celebrate Christmas by going to a dinner, which also included a show. After the dinner we were entertained with a floor show. As the show unraveled, it soon became obvious that the show was burlesque in nature. My wife turned to me and to this day I remember her words, "I want to go home to our children, I will wait in the car." To you young students, there are moments of truth that you will face and management training programs do not prepare you for these moments. Do I stand up and leave with my wife under the gaze of my fellow employees or do I shrink back and wait for a more convenient and less conspicuous time? The prophets Lehi and Nephi knew about this moment and I am so thankful that Debbie and I knew about Lehi and Nephi.
".... .behold, he saw other multitudes pressing forward; and they came and caught hold of the end of the rod of Iron; and they did press their way forward, continually holding fast to the rod of iron, until they came forth and fell down and partook of the fruit of the tree.... .And great was the multitude that did enter into that strange building. And after they did enter into that building they did point the finger of scorn at me and those that were partaking of the fruit also; but we heeded them not" (1 Nephi 8:30, 33).
We left that floorshow together, and I knew that the person in whose embrace I had placed my faith for the upbringing of our children, though tenuous and full of challenges, was in safe hands.
I am grateful for being taught at the feet of living prophets and apostles and embracing their teachings and modern day revelations. In 1993 the Hawaii State Supreme Court found the states refusal to grant same sex marriage licenses, discriminatory. In 1998 a constitutional amendment granting the Hawaii State Legislature the power to reserve marriage to opposite sex couples was voted on, however prior to the vote members of our BYU-Hawaii student body along with members of the L.D.S. church throughout the State of Hawaii were invited to rally and show their support for the Constitutional Amendment. On two occasions I was privileged to witness our BYU-Hawaii students raising banners supporting traditional marriage as we marched along the medial strip along Kahekili Highway in Kaneohe and Kuulei Road in Kailua. I heard the jeers and sneers and abusive words of non traditionalists, however the reassuring message from the Teachings of Joseph F. Smith buoys me up,
".... ..the people of God know the voice of the true shepherd, and the stranger's voice they will not heed, nor the counsels of him who assumes authority that does not belong to him. None such will they ever follow. The Latter-Day Saints know the spirit of the gospel; they understand the spirit of truth. They have learned their duty, and they will stand by truth, no matter what may come."
I witnessed a young married student mother holding aloft her baby. Standing next to them was the baby's grandmother, three generations in support of an amendment, similar to what has become known as the Family Proclamation issued by our modern day Prophets and apostles,
"The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and women is essential to his eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity."
As I witnessed these events, for me it was not unlike envisioning Moroni in the Book of Mormon,
"And it came to pass that he rent his coat, and he took a piece thereof and wrote upon it - In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives and our children.... .Behold, whosoever will maintain this title upon the land, let them come forth in the strength of the Lord, and enter into a covenant that they will maintain their rights and their religion that the Lord God may bless them" (Alma 46:12, 20).
As a result of this support, the Hawaii State Legislature passed a law that banned same sex marriages. Today, Same sex marriages are prohibited by Hawaii State statutes. The words of hymnal #254, True to the Faith, remind us of the battles that lie ahead,
"While we know the power's of darkness seek to thwart the work of God. Shall the children of the promise, cease to grasp the iron rod? No, True to the faith that our parents have cherished, true to the truth for which martyrs have perished, to God's command, soul heart and hand. Faithful and true we will ever stand."
I am grateful for teachers at all levels of learning in whose embrace we place our faith as they share their knowledge and testimony about truth and divinity. In a tribute and memory of Dr. Karl G. Maeser, which I believe is a tribute to all teachers, perhaps the noblest of all professions, is the text penned by Annie Pine Greenwood with music by L.D. Edwards,
"Come lay his books and papers by, he shall not need them more.... . per chance, when death its change hath wrought, and this brief race is run his voice again shall teach, who thought the teachers work was done."
In 1960 as I was nearing my 12th birthday and getting ready to graduate as a Top Pilot from Primary, I had not completed memorizing the last and longest article of faith, the 13th. It didn't seem to matter to me that the pin recognizing this accomplishment would not be added to my green primary bandelo. I was more concerned with joining my buddies, who had moved up from the Primary program. The Sunday was fast approaching when our Branch President would welcome us into the Young Men program. That Saturday night my mother received a call from my primary teacher, Sister Becky Modelick. I do not remember the level of conversation except that she told me, "Tomorrow morning at 7:00am, get yourself ready and go on over to Sister Modelicks home." Needless to say at 7:00am the next morning under the tutelage of my faithful Primary teacher I completed and passed off the 13th article of faith. I will always be grateful and remember Sister Modelick.
I know many of you living here on campus will have wonderful learning experiences. I would like to share two examples with you. In March 1998 our housing office received this letter,
"I was a student there in l985, when I arrived, I was given one too many blankets. When I checked out, I was only required to turn in the one. I took the other blanket with me when I returned home. I can't explain my actions. It was wrong. I am sorry. I recently came across the blanket at my parent's home in some old storage and felt the only way to right the wrong was to return it. I ask for your forgiveness and hope you will accept my apology and find use again for the blanket."
Our housing office received this letter in September 2004.
"I was a student at BYU-Hawaii 1979-1980, my freshman year. After school was out but before I returned to the mainland I took a case of toilet paper out of a supply closet and together with a couple of friends proceeded to "TP" the open air courtyard of our dorm, Hale II. I am sorry for my actions done at the time. After returning from a successful mission to Brazil, I went to BYU. Now some twenty years later here is the first part of my repentance process. In an effort to correct this juvenile indiscretion, I ask the University's forgiveness and I have enclosed a check to pay for that case of toilet paper, plus interest."
Living in the resident halls is not just about brick and mortar, regardless of the size or age of your room you can experience blessings reserved for you. In preparing a room in her home for the prophet Elisha, the widow women's description fits your rooms perfectly,
"Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee on the wall; and let us set for him there, a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither" (2 Kings 4:10).
I am grateful for the missionaries who came to New Zealand in the late 1800's and embraced our culture and learned our language, as they did in all of Polynesia.
"Send forth the elders of my church unto the nations which are afar off; unto the islands of the sea; send forth unto foreign lands; call upon all nations, first upon the Gentiles, and then upon the Jews" (D&C 133:8).
"Know ye not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the Isles of the sea...." (2 Nephi 29:7).
In March 1881 a convention was held at a Maori village near Masterton in the Waiarapa District, north of Wellington. Among the subjects that were discussed between the Maori chiefs, who belonged to the Catholic, Methodist, Presbyterian and Anglican churches is if all Christianity was of Christ, why were not all Christians affiliated with but one church? The same question the boy Prophet Joseph Smith asked, "Which is the Church? Which one should the Maori join?" After much discussion and debate the question was directed to one chief, Paora Potangaroa. His answer was "Taihoa" which means "wait" or "wait a while." The chief left the assembly, and retired to his own residence. There for three days he was occupied in prayer, fasting and meditation. After the three days Potangaroa returned to the convention. Freely translated these were his words, "My friends, the church for the Maori people has not yet come among us. You will recognize it when it comes. Its missionaries will travel in pairs. They will come from the land of the rising sun. They will learn the language and teach us the gospel in our own tongue. When they pray they will raise their right hands."
I owe my membership in the church to the missionaries Elders Edward Newby and George S. Taylor who baptized my great grandparents, grandma Huitaus' parents, Albert Meha and Mary TeHau in 1885. With regards to the missionary effort, my grandfather James Rongatoa wrote in his journal,
"When I think of the gospel, the Plan of Salvation, of the early missionaries who introduced it to my grandfather Roma Ruruku and mother Wetekia, and later my father John Arthur, baptized July 25, 1889, I feel as my ancestors felt, but in the modern posture on bended knees, humble and reverently offer my heart and all that I have in gratitude to my Father in Heaven for my membership in the Church"
For missionaries like George Q. Cannon, whose figure graces the entrance to this building, along with Jonathan Napela holding aloft the Book of Mormon, we owe a sense of gratitude. The mural in the David O. Mckay foyer depicts the arrival of ten missionaries, within two to three months five became discouraged and left the mission. Elder Cannon was not among them. After learning the language Elder Cannon along with other Hawaiian members, notably Jonathan Napela, translated the Book of Mormon in the Hawaiian Language. Following his mission George Q. Cannon also supervised the printing of the Book of Mormon which was completed in January 1856.
September of last year, I returned home to New Zealand to attend the funeral of a remarkable man, his name is Junior Wineera. In March, 1944 Junior was the youngest of thirteen children born to Raha and Leah Wineera. His parents noticed very early in his development that his reflexes were slow and he did not respond to movement. Baby Junior was taken to an eye specialist who confirmed their fears, he had been born blind. Raha was not active in the church and Leah belonged to the Anglican faith. In 1945 President Matthew Cowley of the New Zealand Mission visited the Porirua Branch. Upon hearing that President Cowley was attending the church services, Raha took his 9 month baby to the meeting that Sunday. He said, "Brother Cowley, our baby hasn't been blessed yet; we'd like you to bless him." President Cowley said, "Why have you waited so Long?" Raha responded, "Oh, we just didn't get around to it." President Cowley said, "All right, what's his name?" Raha gave him the name and just as President Cowley was to start the blessing Raha said, "By the way, give him his vision when you give him a name, he was born blind." After the initial shock President Cowley said to himself, "Why not, I had faith in that father's faith." A few years later, when visiting the area, President Cowley asked the Branch President about the status of Junior. He remarked, "Brother Cowley, the worst thing you ever did was to bless that child to receive his vision, he's the meanest kid in the neighborhood, always getting into mischief."
I had the privilege of growing up in the neighborhood with Junior, he may at one time been the meanest kid, but he was without guile. Every Sunday morning his mother Leah, who remained true to her Anglican faith, laid out a clean, ironed white shirt in preparation for Junior to attend his Sunday morning Priesthood meeting. As the only active member of five brothers, he grew up honoring his Priesthood and fulfilling his duties. When he was a Priest he would often repeat the Sacrament prayer several times, he slowly articulated the words until he eventually got them right. He was not conscious of how long it took and neither were we. Junior never received his driver's license and would often be seen walking to Titahi Bay or Porirua city, four mile hikes. He just enjoyed walking and meeting and talking with people, often addressing them with this salutation, "How might you be today, Sir." He would have enjoyed the Kahuku Bike path. I am not sure how the locals would have responded to his salutation. He loved his Priesthood and excursions to the Temple. He had embraced the simplicity of his father's faith with good works. Junior knew he had received a special blessing but to him being a worthy member of the church was special.
Elder Cowley often said, "The Gospel of Jesus Christ is beautifully simple and simply beautiful."
Three days ago I attended the baptism of an 8 year old member of our ward; she was baptized and confirmed by her father. I have pondered the significance of the covenants that she is making with our Heavenly Father at such a young age. The faith that she has placed in her parents and family, in her teachers, in her older siblings, in her leaders, in the teachings of the prophets and apostles and in her Heavenly Father and his Son Jesus Christ. This is the faith that is spoken of by Alma and Paul,
".... faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true" (Alma 32:21).
"Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:l).
In her lifetime this young women will understand the significance of the prophet, President Spencer W. Kimball's statement,
"It takes a great faith to pay tithes when funds are scarce and demands are great. It takes faith to fast and have family prayers and to observe the Word of Wisdom. It takes faith to do home teaching, missionary work, and other service, when sacrifice is required. It takes faith to fill full-time missions. But know this -all these are of the planting, while faithful devout families, spiritual security, peace, and eternal life are the harvest...."
I am grateful for the opportunities of learning and service that BYU-Hawaii and the Laie community has provided for my family and I. Please take advantage of your time while you are here. As you increase in knowledge and wisdom continue to build your testimony of the Gospel. It is a blessing that many of you take the time to serve and attend the temple. When we place our faith and trust in our Heavenly Father and his Son, Jesus Christ, he has promised us that our burdens and challenges will be made lighter and bearable.
President Uchtdorf's message to us is so true,
"The gospel of Jesus Christ has the answers to all of our problems. The gospel is not a secret. It is not complicated or hidden.... It is not someone's theory or proposition. It does not come from man at all. It springs from the pure and everlasting waters of the Creator of the universe, who knows truths we cannot even begin to comprehend. And with that knowledge, He has given us the gospel - a divine gift, the ultimate formula for happiness and success."
I bear you my testimony that Jesus Christ is the god shepherd, he is our Good Samaritan, he is the chief steward of the vineyard and we plant today and in whose embrace we have placed our faith.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.