Aloha!
Sister Funk and I were privileged to accompany President and Sister Tanner on a visit to Indonesia and Cambodia last year. We are pleased to be with them again and for their appointment to lead this fine university.
We are very grateful to be on this beautiful campus with all of you today and pray that the Spirit will be with each of us during our time together.
We Obtain the Desires of our Heart
When I first met Sister Funk she was dating a young man whom I knew. As a college student he had a strong desire to be successful in business. Forty years later, he has achieved that desire. He owns many properties and businesses and is wealthy. Not long ago, I asked Sister Funk if she ever thought she made a mistake when she stopped dating him and started dating me. Her response is one for which I am very grateful. She said, “I never desired to be wealthy, I desired to be happy, and I am very happy I married you.”
One of the important lessons we learn from the Book of Mormon is that ultimately we obtain the desires of our heart. There are numerous examples in the Book of Mormon of people finding joy and happiness or finding wickedness, according to their desires. When Alma encouraged his wayward son Corianton to repent, he taught, “it is requisite with the justice of God that men should be judged according to their works; and if their works were good in this life, and the desires of their hearts were good, that they should also, at the last day, be restored unto that which is good.”[1] He then added, “The one raised to happiness according to his desires of happiness, or good according to his desires of good; and the other to evil according to his desires to do evil...” [2]
We learn that our happiness depends less on the circumstances around us and more on living the commandments of God. Think of the time of Captain Moroni, a time of war and much difficulty, yet for those who were faithful in keeping the commandments, “there never was a happier time among the people of Nephi, since the days of Nephi, than in the days of Moroni.”[3]
Even growing up in similar circumstances in the same family, we can choose good or evil, happiness or misery, and the reason usually relates to the desires of our heart. Laman and Lemuel were taught by the same goodly parents as Nephi and Sam and saw many of the same miracles. Their father Lehi was “desirous that [his] family should partake” of the fruit of the tree of life[4] , but Laman and Lemuel “would not come unto [him] and partake of the fruit”[5] and did not experience the joy described by their father.
When Alma the elder invited those assembled at the waters of Mormon to come into the fold of God and described the responsibilities and blessings for those who do so, he asked, “if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord…that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?”[6] When the people heard these words, “they clapped their hands for joy and exclaimed: This is the desire of our hearts.”[7] And they were baptized.
Our Desires Direct Our Decisions
Our desires direct our decisions. And as President Monson has taught, decisions determine destiny. [8]
So my question for each of you today is this: “What is the desire of your heart?” What is it you truly want for your life?
With your knowledge of the gospel and a BYU-Hawaii education, you have the opportunity to make important choices regarding where to live, what to do, and how to serve. Your opportunities and choices are much greater than those your parents or grandparents enjoyed. Many of you are considering those important decisions right now as you plan and prepare for your future. So I repeat, “What is the desire of your heart?”
As you sincerely contemplate that question, let me encourage you to develop three foundational desires that will influence for good your other desires and decisions:
- Desire to receive and always have the Holy Ghost to be with you;
- Desire to know and always do the will of God; and
- Desire to become and be the means of doing much good.
1. Desire to Receive and Always have the Holy Ghost to be with You
After the Savior’s first day of ministering to the Nephites, He departed[9] and the people returned to their homes. hey spoke to others about their experience and told them that Jesus would show Himself to them again on the morrow. The next day the multitude was so great that the newly called disciples separated them into twelve groups and ministered unto them, “nothing varying from the words Jesus had spoken.”[10]
Something then happened that teaches us an important principle. The disciples prayed. What did they pray for? Remember the setting. This large multitude had gathered to be with the Savior of the world. These new disciples, called just the day before, had faithfully taught what Jesus taught, nothing varying, and now they prayed. It seems the likely thing to pray for, what many of us may do in that situation, would be to pray that Jesus would return very soon. But that is not what the disciples did.
The scriptures record, “And they did pray for that which they most desired; and they desired that the Holy Ghost should be given unto them.”[11] Interestingly, the thing they most desired was not that Jesus would return quickly. Instead, they desired the Holy Ghost. After they prayed they went down into the water and Nephi, who had been given authority to baptize the day before, baptized those whom Jesus had chosen. When they came up out of the water they were “filled with the Holy Ghost and with fire.”[12]
The invitation and admonition to each of us when we were confirmed a member of this Church was: “receive the Holy Ghost.” Elder David A. Bednar has taught, “these four words are not a passive pronouncement; rather, they constitute a priesthood injunction—an authoritative admonition to act and not simply to be acted upon (see 2 Nephi 2:26). ...As we receive this ordinance, each of us accepts a sacred and ongoing responsibility to desire, to seek, to work, and to so live that we indeed “receive the Holy Ghost” and its attendant spiritual gifts.”[13]
When Jesus did appear, He went off from the multitude and prayed: “Father, I thank thee that thou hast given the Holy Ghost unto these whom I have chosen; and it is because of their belief in me that I have chosen them out of the world. Father, I pray thee that thou wilt give the Holy Ghost unto all them that shall believe in their words.”[14]
I have observed the leaders of this Church pray, including members of the Twelve. I have heard and felt their great desire to be guided by the Holy Ghost. They always want to do the will of the Lord. These special witnesses of Christ, including the three new apostles sustained this past General Conference, have been chosen because of their belief in Him. In turn, those who believe in and act upon their words are given greater spiritual knowledge and guidance through the unspeakable gift of the Holy Ghost.[15]
In today’s world there are many things that can distance us from the Spirit, that cause us to focus on the temporal, or encourage us to doubt. If you most desire the Holy Ghost, the decisions you make and the path you pursue will be markedly different. When you exercise faith in Christ, study the scriptures and the teachings of the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles, and believe in and strive to follow their words, the Father will give unto you the Holy Ghost to assist you in doing so. May you truly receive and always desire to have the Holy Ghost to be with you.
2. Desire to Know and Always Do the Will of God
In the Lectures on Faith, the third lecture describes three things that are necessary in order for any rational and intelligent being to exercise faith in God unto life and salvation.
“First, the idea that he actually exists.
Secondly, a correct idea of his character, perfections, and attributes.
Thirdly, an actual knowledge that the course of life which he [meaning each of us] is pursuing is according to his will.”
With an understanding of these three important things, our faith “can become perfect and fruitful, abounding in righteousness...”[16]
From the First Vision, the Prophet Joseph Smith learned that God really exists and gained a correct understanding of some of His attributes. Joseph learned we are created in the image of God and that He knows us. Joseph also began to know the course he should pursue. Three years later, when he prayed to know of his “state and standing” before God, Joseph was visited by Moroni and told “that God had a work for [him] to do.”[17] As Joseph learned the course in life he should pursue, his faith became fruitful, and despite much opposition he abounded in righteousness as the prophet of the Restoration.
Through Latter-day prophets we have a correct understanding of the existence and of the character and attributes of God. Through faith in our Father in Heaven and His Son, and with the guidance of the Holy Ghost, we can know if the course in life we are pursuing is pleasing in the sight of our Heavenly Father. As needed, the Holy Ghost will correct us and help us adjust our course. Such guidance may come for every aspect of our lives.
As you desire to know and do the will of God, and He sees you responding to the spiritual promptings He sends to you, more will come. In my life I have been blessed to have that happen on several important occasions. Two of them related to choices you may face regarding where to live and work so you can provide for your family and be of greatest service.
During my final year of law school, I was blessed to receive offers to work in three different states. Sister Funk and I wanted a good place to raise our family, a rewarding professional opportunity, and to be where we could do the most good. We prayerfully counseled together. We felt impressed to go to Denver, so I accepted the offer with the lowest starting salary. During the early part of my career, I was involved in land use matters and gained good experience working with very fine lawyers. With only three years of legal experience, I was called upon to serve as legal counsel for the Church in the purchase and zoning of the land for the newly announced Denver Temple. On a pro bono basis, I devoted a significant amount of time to that effort during the next year and later served on the open house and dedication committee. We felt grateful for the spiritual guidance that led us to Denver so we could have that very special opportunity.
When our family was still young and growing, Sister Funk and I were looking for a larger home in another stake. In February of that year, we learned our bishop would be moving soon. We both received strong impressions that we should stay in our current ward, so we modified our search. In March, after returning from a vacation, we had decided to buy a new home under construction in our ward. As Sister Funk talked to the homebuilder on a Thursday morning, she learned the house we wanted had been sold while we were gone. She was very disappointed. That evening, I was called as the new bishop of our ward. The next day Sister Funk found the same model of house in a different neighborhood in our ward and we promptly bought it.
The year after we moved into our new home, our stake and ward were divided and the first house ended up in the other stake. Another year later, I was called as the stake president of the stake where we lived and served for ten years in that calling. Those opportunities may not have come if the Lord had not guided us to be where we could be of service.
As you pursue the opportunities that lie ahead of you, desire to know and seek to do the will of God. Prayerfully include Him in your decisions and then harken, which means to listen and obey, when the impressions of the Spirit come. It is wonderfully comforting when we know that the course we are pursuing is pleasing to our Heavenly Father.
A simple word of caution: we need to be moving forward in a good way for God to direct our steps. Sometimes a choice doesn’t matter; any of several good alternatives would be fine. Sometimes He leaves it to us to determine what is best. But on occasion, His direction and correction are necessary to avoid a mistake. If we desire His help and promptly respond when He offers it, we will not go astray.
3. Desire to become and be the means of doing much good
In April 1829, Oliver Cowdery began serving as scribe for the Prophet Joseph Smith in the translation of the Book of Mormon. At the time, Joseph was 23 years old. Oliver was 22 and a school teacher. They were the age and in the same stage of life as many of you. In response to a prayer for guidance by the Prophet and Oliver, they received the revelation contained in Section 6 of the Doctrine and Covenants. Several times in this section, the Lord urges them to keep the commandments and to assist in the work, with the promise that they will be blessed.[18]
Part of the direction they received seems especially helpful for you who come from developing countries and areas of the Church:
“Now as you have asked, behold, I say unto you, keep my commandments, and seek to bring forth and establish the cause of Zion;
Seek not for riches but for wisdom, and behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich. Behold, he that hath eternal life is rich.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, even as you desire of me so it shall be unto you; and if you desire, you shall be the means of doing much good in this generation.”[19]
Joseph and Oliver were cautioned not to seek for riches but for eternal life. Then this counsel, “if you desire, you shall be the means of doing much good in this generation.”[20] The same can apply to you. Successfulness in your career and becoming self-reliant are important, but also have a desire to be the means of doing much good in your generation.
Let me suggest two important ways for you to do much good:
First, be a good husband or wife and parent. Many cultures of the world today encourage postponing marriage and limiting the size of families, but one of the important reasons for coming to earth is to begin our eternal family.[21] Through the ordinances of the temple we can be married for all eternity and have children come to us who will be ours forever.
President Boyd K. Packer became an apostle when I was still in high school so his teachings have greatly influenced my life. In his final General Conference message and testimony last April, he talked about two topics – first, Marriage and Family, and second, the Atonement. President Packer repeated a principle he frequently taught: “the end of all activity in the Church is to see that a man and a woman with their children are happy at home, sealed together for time and for all eternity.”[22] Referring to his wife, Sister Donna Packer, he said, “Toward the end of our mortal days together, I am grateful for each moment I am with her side by side and for the promise the Lord has given that there will be no end.”[23] I hope each of you desire a marriage that you can cherish throughout mortality and take back into the presence of God. If you are not yet married, or if your marriage does not resemble that exalting objective, desire that blessing in your life.
Forty years ago this month, knowing of my interest in becoming a lawyer, Sister Funk served me with a “Summons to Court” and our courtship began. A few months later, I pleaded guilty to being in love with her and asked if we could be bound together forever. She said yes and my life has been eternally better as a result.
The president of the Church at the time we were married was President Spencer W. Kimball. He taught that we should not postpone marriage or children. We were married one week before I graduated from college and then we faced three years of law school together. A few days after my law school graduation, Sister Funk gave birth to our second child. Those early years were very hard financially, but we are grateful for our six children, their spouses, and now 13 grandchildren with whom we have been blessed.
When you measure your life near the end of your life, you will not reflect on the material things you have accumulated or the titles and positions you have held, but on your marriage and family. During my father’s life he had many titles, Doctor, Professor, Councilman, Commissioner, Bishop, President and others, but near the end of his life two years ago, nearly all of those who visited him called him Dad or Grandpa. The other titles had been given to others, but he was still a husband, father and grandfather who was dearly loved and appreciated by his family. Desire to be the means for doing good in your eternal role as a husband or wife and parent.
Second, be the means for doing good through service to God and others. Service is sanctifying. Service causes us to be less selfish; to focus less on our own problems and needs. Such service includes accepting and magnifying calls to serve in the Church. A call to serve usually does not come at a convenient time, and most always requires faith, effort and sacrifice. The result, however, is not only reflected in the good we do, but in how it changes us. We are blessed with increased knowledge, improved talents, and a more refined nature as we serve.
At the beginning of a very busy third year of law school, I was called to serve as an elders quorum president. As I went home after accepting the call, I thought of my classwork, my responsibilities as an editor of the law review, my research fellowship that required additional work, and that I needed to devote much attention to finding good full-time employment for after graduation. I realized I was being stretched far beyond my capabilities. That night in my prayers I told Heavenly Father that I had accepted this calling, and that I would do my very best, but I greatly needed His help in every aspect of my life. I was blessed in every way, in completing my education successfully, finding a good job, and being guided in my service as the elders quorum president. Sister Funk, as she always has been, was a great support. It was a very formative time in my Church service, and I learned that the Lord truly does bless those who strive to serve Him.
In many of the countries from which you come the Church is relatively new. Your talent and commitment are needed to continue the important work of establishing the Church there.
We do not seek specific callings in the Church, but I have observed some who seem to avoid callings or limit their willingness or availability to serve. Every calling is important and each calling we receive deserves our best effort. At different seasons of our life, we may be called upon to devote more of our time and energy to service. Such opportunities should not be avoided, but received with humility and gratitude as the means of doing much good. The Church needs your devoted service and from your diligent, faithful efforts, in whatever calls may come, you will be blessed.
I am grateful for the refining experiences of Church service. In your pursuit of a successful career, which is a worthwhile objective, and the establishment of your family, I encourage you to also seek to “establish the cause of Zion.” [24]
Conclusion
My brothers and sisters, with the many opportunities in life that await you, strive to pursue a course that will bring joy and happiness now and throughout eternity. I invite you to reflect upon the real desires of your heart. What is it you ultimately want? If it is something other than eternal life, then that is likely what you will obtain. But with a gospel understanding of your eternal potential, I invite you to desire to always have the Holy Ghost to be with you. With that wonderful gift, your desire to know the will of the Lord and then do it can be fulfilled. With those two desires in your heart, you will naturally desire to be the means of doing much good, including in your family and in the Church.
I bear witness that our Heavenly Father and His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, love us. Their desire is to bless us with eternal life as we draw near unto Them and keep Their commandments. May we desire to do Their will and receive such blessings, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
[1] Alma 41:3
[2] Alma 41:5
[3] Alma 50:23
[4] 1 Nephi 8:12
[5] 1 Nephi 8:18
[6] See, Mosiah 18:8-10
[7] Mosiah 18:11
[8] CES fireside, President Thomas S. Monson, “Decisions Determine Destiny,” Nov. 6, 2005; Elder Thomas S. Monson, “Decisions Determine Destiny,” Liahona, July 1980; Elder Thomas S. Monson, “Decisions Determine Destiny,” New Era, Nov. 1979.
[9] 3 Nephi 18:39
[10] 3 Nephi 19:1-8
[11] 3 Nephi 19:9
[12] 3 Nephi 19:13
[13] Elder David A. Bednar, “Receive the Holy Ghost”, Ensign, Nov. 2010.
[14] 3 Nephi 19:20-22
[15] D&C 121:26
[16] Lectures on Faith (2000), 39.
[17] JSH 1:29, 33
[18] See, D&C 6 verses 6-7, 9, 13, 37
[19] D&C 6:6-8
[20] D&C 6:8
[21] Elder Gerald N. Lund, “’Turning Hearts’ Means Creating Loving Eternal Family Ties Now”, Church News and Events, 3 Aug 2015. Elder Lund quoted President Russell M. Nelson: “We come to earth to start our eternal family. You do need a body to do that and you need to gain experience and you need to prove yourselves, but the primary reason is to start your eternal family.”
[22] President Boyd K. Packer, “The Plan of Happiness,” Ensign, May 2005.
[23] President Boyd K. Packer, “The Plan of Happiness,” Ensign, May 2005.
[24] D&C 6:6