Brothers and Sisters, Aloha.
It is an honor for me to be asked to speak to you today and I am humbled by it. I pray for an interest in your faith and prayers that I may be guided by the Spirit in those things that I shall say that we may all “be edified and rejoice together.” It is a wonderful experience for my wife and me to serve as missionaries here at BYU-Hawaii. The best part of this mission, for us, is getting to know you students. I can truly say we enjoy you and have developed a great love for you, especially as we have taught you and worked with you.
Here at BYU-Hawaii I am privileged to teach the Celestial Marriage classes in the religion department. There are enrolled in these classes the married, the engaged to be married, and the “wanna-bees.” These are interesting and wonderful students. For example: Wonki Lee and Jiseon Choi were introduced to each other by their mission president as they finished their missions in Korea by going to the temple. After returning home Wonki asked Jiseon for a date. She accepted. He rode the train three hours to her town, Seoul, Korea, then took her to a temple session and out for dinner, then rode the train again for three hours back home. They repeated that dating procedure—the train, the temple, dinner, and the train—every week for six weeks, then they were married in the Seoul Korea Temple. Jiseon is now expecting their first child.
Landon Green, a returned missionary and recently married to JiHye Kim told me that he is the son of Charlotte and Gary Green. He said that before he was born, I mean conceived, his mother could not get pregnant. She sought counsel and a blessing from her stake president in Minnesota after which they moved to Utah where she did become pregnant. Landon and I figured out that I was that stake president and he was the product of the blessing.
Ikaika Kim is a temple ordinance worker who also goes to the temple with his ward every week and performs baptisms for the dead. In class the other day we jokingly tried to get him a date to the dance from among the living.
Claudia Fierro and Sydney Cranney are former seminary students from the Heber City, Utah area whose teacher was our son, Michael. Kaylee Butler is the daughter of my seminary student, James Butler, whom I taught in Pocatello, Idaho in 1978. That is just a small sample of the interesting and wonderful students that have blessed our lives here at BYU-Hawaii.
Today I would like to talk to you about a subject that is very close to my heart and has had a tremendous impact in my life. I have entitled these remarks, “Instructed by the Spirit.”
First, to lay a foundation for my remarks, let’s look at a few passages of scripture. In the Fourth Article of Faithwe read, "We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost."
This Article of Faith reminds us of the process we go through to receive the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. If we have faith, repent of our sins, and make a covenant by being baptized, then, by that covenant, we will have the Holy Ghost in our lives. God has so promised it. It is guaranteed. If you keep the commandments, you have the Holy Ghost whether or not you recognize it.
D&C 8:2-3 says: "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 . . . "
This passage of scripture is as powerful as it is simple. It indicates how the Lord will communicate with us. In it the Lord says, “I will tell you in your mind and in your heart . . . this is the spirit of revelation.” The phrases In your mind and in your heart teach us that the Lord communicates with us through our thoughts (in your mind) and feelings (in your heart).
In John 14:26 it says, 'But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance. . ."
You will note that it says that the Holy Ghost is the Comforter. Acting as the Comforter, he shall teach you all things and help you remember all things. For example, I was able to pass the state board exams for counseling licensure in Utah nineteen years after I completed all my course work for my doctorate degree because of my study—as I rode the bus to and from work, and by the spirit bringing things to my memory-- without which inspiration I would have never passed the exams.
2 Nephi 32:5 says, "For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do."
To repeat, it says that the Holy Ghost will show unto us all things that we should do.
We learn from these passages and others that the Holy Ghost will, by covenantal promise, do at least the following things:
• Show unto us all things that we should do.
• Teach us all things.
• Help us remember all things.
• Give us thoughts and feelings which is defined as the spirit of revelation, and
• Comfort us.
Now that we have a foundational knowledge of the workings of the Holy Ghost we can better appreciate an unusual passage in the 4th chapter of 1 Nephi. This passage of scripture emphasizes principles that have comforted me and illustrates what I am trying to say to you.
You will recall that Nephi and his brothers were sent back to Jerusalem to obtain the brass plates from a man by the name of Laban. After being unsuccessful two times in their attempts to obtain the plates, Nephi records the following experience: "And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do. Nevertheless I went forth, and as I came near unto the house of Laban I beheld a man, and he had fallen to the earth before me, for he was drunken with wine. And when I came to him I found that it was Laban. And I beheld his sword, and I drew it forth from the sheath thereof; and the hilt thereof was of pure gold, and the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine, and I saw that the blade thereof was of the most precious steel. And it came to pass that I was constrained by the Spirit that I should kill Laban; but I said in my heart: Never at any time have I shed the blood of man. And I shrunk and would that I might not slay him" (1 Nephi 4:6-10).
After the spirit gave some instruction to Nephi, Nephi goes on to say In verse eighteen "Therefore I did obey the voice of the Spirit . . . ."
In reviewing this passage we see that Nephi was:
“Led by the Spirit,”
“Constrained by the Spirit that [he] should kill Laban,” and
“[He] did obey the voice of the Spirit”
In other words, we can say that Nephi was “instructed by the Spirit.”
I would now ask of you, since you were baptized and made the covenant to receive the Holy Ghost, have you been instructed by that Holy Spirit? Did you recognize the Spirit when it came to you? Did you obey his voice?
Shortly after Sister Cottle and I were married I was drafted into the United States Army and was sent to fight in the war in the jungle of Viet Nam. I was assigned to a twelve man “search and destroy” team whose mission was to stop the flow of enemy supplies on the system of jungle trails from the north through the Viet Nam central highlands. This team usually moved its ambush to a new location every day. On those days that we did not move to a new location our situation become dangerous because the enemy could find us more easily. Therefore, on the days we did not move we set up guard positions on the trail in every direction a short distance from where the team was camped. Each soldier took a turn being the guard, who was called the OP, military talk for observation post.
On a Sunday in August of 1970 my team did not move to a new location. Following proper protocol we organized the guard stations. I took the first turn as OP.
I moved up the trail about twenty five yards. I took two weapons with me--an M-16 rifle and a claymore mine. These slides show me with my M-16, helmet, and bandolier of extra ammunition magazines fastened around my waist and shoulder.
As I said, I went up the mountain trail about twenty five yards from the rest of my team. I then stepped off another fifty feet and set up the claymore mine as shown in the slide. A claymore mine is a slightly u-shaped, hard plastic bomb that is filled with 700 steel balls and C-4 explosive. I aimed the mine toward the trail where it went around a very large tree a short distance from me. I carefully inserted an electrical blasting cap into the top of the claymore mine and then unwound the electrical cord back to my OP position.
I attached the electrical wire to the detonating device which was a hand-squeeze “clacker.” The clacker generated just enough electricity when the handle was squeezed to set off the blasting cap, which in turn, set off the mine.
The claymore mine was such a dangerous weapon that the clacker had two safeties. It was necessary to release these safeties before the handle could be successfully squeezed; however, there was a problem with the double safeties. It was difficult to release these safeties when a soldier was frightened or under duress. In those situations a soldier often failed to release both safeties before squeezing the handle. This caused him to break the handle as he pressed on it, which resulted in his failing to set off the mine. By then, the soldier would be creating such a commotion that the enemy would see him and shoot him.
I sat down on the ground. I placed the clacker and my M-16 in front of me also on the ground and began my two-hour guard shift. I calculated that from where I had planted the claymore mine I had about two to three seconds to set off the mine before an enemy scout would walk beyond the blasting radius of the mine and be right in front of me.
I sat for about an hour and a half. It was hard to keep focused and alert when nothing was happening. It was at this time that a very distinct and clear thought came into my head. It seemed to linger there for several seconds. It captured my total attention.
It said, “Lyle, what would you do if an enemy soldier came around that big tree with his AK-47 rifle pointed directly at you?”
Obediently, I answered that question. I thoroughly reviewed in my mind, step-by-step, exactly what I would do. I would pick up the clacker. Then, I would release one safety with my left hand while simultaneously releasing the second safety with my right hand. Then, with my right hand, I would press down on the handle of the clacker and explode the claymore mine.
As soon as I finished this mental rehearsal I actually saw an enemy scout walk around the big tree with his rifle pointed directly at me! Automatically, and without thinking, I picked up the clacker and using both hands together, released the two safeties, and squeezed the handle.
Instantly, there was a deafening explosion that seemed to shake the earth. As the dust began to clear I thought I saw the enemy soldier crawling toward me. With my heart pounding I quickly fired my rifle until it was empty. I then reached for another ammunition magazine in the bandolier that was around my waist, but my fingers were shaking and I could not retrieve the new magazine. It was like a nightmare!
At that moment, three of my team members came up the trail to my position. They quickly checked to see that I was all right, and then proceeded up the hill to determine what had just happened. They soon shouted, “KIA,” which was army jargon for “killed in action.”
All went very quiet and I lay on my back reviewing what had just happened. I did not feel good. I had just ended a man’s life! War or not, it was not a good feeling. I questioned myself with, “You hold the Melchizedek Priesthood, you have been married in the temple, you keep the commandments, why didn’t you speak in tongues and convert the soldier instead of what you actually did?” It seemed that I pondered these thoughts for a long time. The heaviness of my thoughts was surprising to me and weighed down upon me. (It is even hard to tell you about it today.)
Soon my team members returned back to camp. As they passed by me they patted me on my back and said, “Cottle, good job! How did you do that so fast?”
“How were you able to react so quickly?” “It’s amazing!” I appreciated their words but the heaviness of my feelings was not lifted.
The next day my good friend, Woody Christiansen, from Bountiful, UT and I knelt in the jungle and prayed aloud for comfort and safety from the enemy who had increased his attacks against us. When we finished, we looked around to find several of our team kneeling in prayer with us. This had never happened before to us. Woody and I were the only Mormons on the team.
A few days passed. We returned to base camp. A company meeting was held. I was awarded a bronze star medal for the meritorious service I had rendered to the men in my team, to my company, and to myself. I felt that I had done nothing heroic. I had just done my job—I had acted to preserve my own life and the lives of my team members.
I took an opportunity to visit with the LDS church group leader in base camp. He helped me with some comforting words and I thanked him; however, the most comforting thing to me then, and over the many years since that terrible event, has been my remembering those thoughts that came to my mind just prior to my setting off the claymore mine--the question that came clearly into my mind, “Lyle, what would you do if an enemy scout came around that tree with his rifle pointed directly at you?” I remember that it was that question which prompted my mental preparation and allowed me to respond quickly, and accurately to preserve my life and the lives of others. I have come to the realization that the question was the voice of the spirit instructing me in all that I should do.
I am comforted by the words in the scriptures and Nephi’s unusual experience. I have a better understanding of what happened to him. And like Nephi, I was obedient to that voice, that spiritual prompting. I do not know the full reason why my life was preserved on that occasion, but I do know the scriptures are true and apply to our lives and are comforting to us in our times of trial.
Now, for some additional insight let’s look at 3 Nephi 9:20, ". . . . And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not."
Some of the most faithful people in all of the Book of Mormon had the Holy Ghost and did not know it. President Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said concerning this passage:
"Too many of us are like those whom the Lord said '[came] with a broken heart and a contrite spirit,' '[and] at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not.'
"Imagine that: 'And they knew it not.' It is not unusual for one to have received the gift and not really know it.
"I fear this supernal gift is being obscured by programs and activities and schedules and so many meetings. There are so many places to go, so many things to do in this noisy world. We can be too busy to pay attention to the promptings of the Spirit.
"The voice of the Spirit is a still, small voice-a voice that is felt rather than heard. It is a spiritual voice that comes into the mind as a thought put into your heart.
"All over the world ordinary men, women, and children, not completely aware that they have the gift, bless their families, teach, preach, and minister by the Spirit within them." (President Boyd K. Packer, The Cloven Tongues of Fire, Ensign (CR), May 2000, p.7)
Let me tell you how I met my wife. We were both students at BYU and lived in the same ward—but I did not know her. For several weeks I noticed a very pretty girl walk into Sacrament meeting, usually during the opening song. The doors to the chapel were in the front of the room, so she had to walk in front of everyone to take her seat. I noticed her as she walked in. She was very attractive, but for some reason unknown to me, I did not pursue getting to know her. This scenario was repeated on many Sundays.
During this same time I was serving in the Elder’s quorum presidency. Each month I interviewed a particular home teacher who went faithfully to his homes every month. Whenever he reported visiting with a certain Lynne Cowan, it made a big impression on me. Her name stuck in my mind—Lynne Cowan. I did not know who “Lynne Cowan” was. Now I had two mysteries that plagued me—who was Lynne Cowan and who was the pretty girl that came into church during the opening song?
By the end of the semester I was determined to discover exactly who Lynne Cowan was. My roommate was a know-it-all kind of a guy—kind of like the home-teacher-at large to all the girls in the ward. I said to him, “Larry, who is Lynne Cowan?” He burst out laughing and said, “You don’t know who the prettiest girl in the ward is?” He was nearly aghast that I didn’t know her. He said, “She is that attractive girl that comes into sacrament meeting during the opening song.” In that explanation he quickly solved my two mysteries in one statement—who was Lynne Cowan and who was the pretty girl at church.
At the ward closing social, as I was leaving with another girl, Lynne was arriving. I spoke to her for the first time. I said, “Hi, Lynne.” She appeared shocked that I knew her name. At that moment I wished that I was not committed to leaving with the other girl.
Two weeks after I graduated from BYU I returned from Idaho to the BYU campus to get certified as a school teacher. Immediately I called Lynne and asked her out. We had a date every night for three weeks, and then I proposed to her. She accepted. We were married two months later. We were so happy!
It was not until sometime after we were married that it came clear to me how carefully I had been guided and prompted by the Spirit to find her. It had never occurred to me during this long process that I was receiving thoughts and feelings from the Spirit. I see it now. It is obvious to me. I am so grateful for the guidance I received then and have sought diligently to more readily recognize the promptings of the covenantal gift of the Holy Ghost.
In D&C 6 the Lord tells us that we receive instruction from Him every time we pray. "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, blessed art thou for what thou hast done; for thou hast inquired of me, and behold, as often as thou hast inquired thou hast received instruction of my Spirit" (D&C 6:14).
According to this passage we receive instructions (answers) from the Lord every time we pray. Even a non-answer may be instructive.
For sixteen years we reared our children in Minnesota where it can get extremely cold in the winter. Kristin, one of our five daughters, played on the high school volleyball team. She also had a boyfriend. One Friday night in the dead of winter she had a volleyball practice followed by a date at her friend’s house. She drove our little Ford Escort to the practice and then to his home. It had been unusually warm for Minnesota that day and the snow had melted some. Consequently, she wore only a sweat suit over her uniform for warmth.
Early in the evening I became agitated about Kristin. I repeatedly asked Sister Cottle about her. Finally we went to bed. We said our normal prayer and asked that Kristin be protected to return home safely. We climbed into bed but I could not go to sleep-- which was very unusual for me. I was agitated about Kristin. I forced myself to remain in bed with reassuring thoughts that Kristin was totally trustworthy and never out late.
Eventually, I became so agitated that I could no longer lie there. I got up. I called her friend’s home. His mother answered—I had obviously awakened her. She informed me that Kristin had left their home over an hour earlier. Now I became frightened. It was only a ten or fifteen minute drive from their house to ours. I felt a strong urging to go search for her.
It had turned bitterly cold that night. Ice, from the melting snow earlier in the day, had built up on the country roads where we lived. I prayed that I would be able to find her. Lynne remained at home to answer the phone in the event that Kristin would call. (We did not own a cell phone yet.)
I took Jenny, Kristin’s younger sister, with me. She was having a sleep-over, or I should say, a stay-awake-over, with a girl friend from the ward.
We had to decide which way Kristin would drive home because there were multiple routes from which to choose. It was not the one-road-Kamehameha-Highway situation. We quickly chose a route and drove carefully along. It was very dark and everything was covered with snow and ice. After many minutes, we passed a house, the only house on that stretch of road. It had a car parked backwards in front of it. As we passed the house Jenny shouted, “There’s the Escort.” I stopped immediately and backed up—there was absolutely no traffic on that road at that time of night. It occurred to me later that no one else would have found Kristin that night and she would have frozen to death by morning.
We couldn’t see any damage to the car at first glance which only made my anxiety increase wondering what had happened to Kristin. Upon closer examination we discovered that the back of the car was caved in by the power pole against which it was resting—but no Kristin.
We tried the door. Surprisingly, it opened. Kristin was unconscious in the driver’s seat but she was practically lying down because the back of the car seat had broken in the impact with the pole. I spoke to Kristin and she tried to respond but had great difficulty in doing so. She was only wearing a sweatshirt for warmth so I removed my big winter coat and put it over her and Jenny did the same. I then climbed carefully into the car, to let my body give warmth to Kristin fearing she might be freezing to death. I tenderly whispered encouraging words of love and a blessing in her ear, careful not to touch her.
Her friend and his mother came by. They had a cell phone. His mother dialed 911 for help and then called Lynne who also came in just a few minutes. Soon the paramedics arrived. They carefully removed Kristin from the car on a stiff board stretcher, put her in the ambulance and drove her to the hospital. Only then did I realize how cold it was. I was seriously shivering without a coat. I looked worriedly for Jenny who was also without a coat. Fortunately she was smart enough to get into my car whose engine was still running and the heater nice and warm.
Kristin had suffered a brain concussion; however, because of the answered prayers in her behalf and our being guided to find her, she did not freeze to death that night, and today she is happily married with four daughters of her own. We had, indeed, been instructed by the spirit.
Today, I have shared with you only a sample of the many times I have been privileged to be instructed by the Spirit of God. Each experience is sacred. Each occupies a special place in my heart. These experiences have enriched my life, and blessed me beyond measure.
It is my prayer, brothers and sisters, that we will live our lives in such a way as to be worthy to receive the comforting and supernal gift of the Holy Ghost. I pray that we will recognize those thoughts and feelings born of the spirit and be obedient to that voice.
I know that God lives and that he hears and answers our prayers. I know that Jesus is the divine Son of God, our Redeemer and friend. I know that the Holy Ghost bears witness of the Father and the Son. They love us and are not far from us. They comfort us in all our trials.
According to John 14:26 and 16, the Holy Ghost is the Comforter and Jesus is the second Comforter. And as it says in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, "Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation. . ."
May you have that witness also, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.