Brothers & sisters, aloha!
Sister Hicken and I are blessed to be serving in the Hawaii Laie Mission. We love our missionaries! We knew of the sacred nature of this place before we arrived. Still, we have come to know even deeper its unique role in Heavenly Father’s plan, not just the history, but its central role in the ongoing gathering of Israel, and you, amazing students, are a part of this story. I am grateful for this opportunity to speak with you today.
I have prayed for the blessing of our Heavenly Father to guide me as I speak. I want to tell you three stories. One is fiction; the others really happened. I encourage all of you to listen, but I especially invite my friends, you students here at BYU–Hawaii, and the full-time missionaries serving in the Hawaii Laie Mission to pay special attention. You may forget the principle I will speak about, but hopefully, you will never forget the stories, and remembering the stories will bring the principle to your memory.
Before I tell you the stories, I want to define a word for you—epiphany. Webster’s defines it as “a sudden manifestation or perception of an essential or meaningful something, a striking, intuitive grasp of reality through an event.” [1] Today, I would like to talk about this very thing as it relates to our membership in His Church and our discipleship with the Savior, Jesus Christ.
Story Number One
In the movie “The Lord of the Rings,” a young hobbit named Frodo Baggins faces a heavy burden. He encounters fear, danger, uncertainty, and physical harm during his journey. At one point, Frodo becomes discouraged by the daunting task ahead. He has many companions to help him; one of his most trusted is the wise, old Gandalf. A meaningful exchange between the two helps Frodo as he receives his wise friend's counsel. Frodo says to Gandalf, “I wish the ring had never come to me, I wish none of this had happened,” Gandalf replies, “So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time given us.” Later, Frodo recalls this advice, and at this moment, he realizes that he, and only he, can save his people from the evil power of the ring. He must journey to destroy the ring in the mountain where it was first forged. Frodo experiences an epiphany; afterward, his commitment and resolve grow stronger to complete the journey. [2]
Story Number Two
In late June of 1933, a young man stepped off a boat in Plymouth, England, to serve his mission in the European Mission. No one was there to meet him when he arrived. He was terrified. He eventually made it to the mission leader's home. There, he was assigned to serve in Preston, England. A place rich in Church history. It was there that Heber C. Kimball and Brigham Young first taught the restored gospel. Preston was different than his home in America. Homes were small, the people were poor and had very little, but they were honest and hardworking.
Despite this, the people were not interested in an American religion and to make it worse, two missionaries from the area had just been sent home for violating mission rules. There was also a book floating around Preston about the Mormon church with anti-Mormon sentiments. Teaching was tough. To make things even worse, the young man was not well. His allergies were terrible, hay fever, his stamina was poor, he was homesick, and to top it all off, his best friend had been transferred away from him to another part of the British Isles. The young missionary could not take it any longer. He wrote his father a letter in which he stated that he was not getting anywhere and felt like he was wasting his father’s money, and that he should come home. His father, also his stake president, wrote back in a brief letter saying, “Dear Gordon, I have your recent letter. I have only one suggestion: forget yourself and go to work.” [4]
The young missionary remembered that earlier that very day he and his companion had studied the words in Mark 8:35. “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.” [5] This scripture, along with his father’s letter, seared his soul and with letter in hand he went upstairs to his bedroom at 15 Wadham Road, got on his knees and poured out his heart to the Lord. There in prayer, he promised to try to forget himself and lose himself in the Lord’s service. Many years later, he indicated how significant this series of events was in his life. He said, “That July day in 1933 was my day of decision. A new light came into my life and a new joy into my heart. The fog of England seemed to lift, and I saw the sunlight. Everything good that has happened to me since then I can trace back to the decision I made that day in Preston.” [6]
Who was this young missionary who experienced an epiphany? It was President Gordon B. Hinckley. Yes, a beloved prophet, and yes, even prophets of God have trials in their service with our Savior Jesus Christ at times in their lives. Doesn’t this give hope to all of us? I cannot think of a greater example of how to serve the Savior and His Church and kingdom than our former prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley.
My final and most crucial story number three.
A particular man grew up the son of a carpenter and was raised as an ordinary man, at least in how the world knew him. From a very young age, He lived his life as a teacher, always striving to better his fellowmen. Many rejected what he taught, and he had very few followers and believers.
Nonetheless, he continued his earthly journey. Until one night in an upper room with 12 of his closest friends, whom he loved, he taught them some of his most important sermons as a mortal for the last time. He gave the men the sacrament and taught them what it would mean to them soon.
Then He bade them to come with him, walk with him to a garden called Gethsemane. It was what happened in this garden that I would like to focus on for a moment. Christ’s suffering in Gethsemane was the most intense display of evil and darkness ever released on this earth. Peter, James, and John were the closest disciples who went further into the garden with Him. Then Christ went a little further and was exceedingly sorrowful even unto death, and fell on his face on the ground. He pleaded with his father, "…O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me:…" [7] but quickly added, "…nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." [8] Could he have pulled back? He asked the questions to find out if there was another way to accomplish the work he had been sent to do, but he did not give up. He did not want to get partway through the atonement, leaving something undone. W. Jeffrey Marsh, former BYU religion professor, said, "He submitted himself until the full payment was made. The suffering he endured equaled the combined suffering of all mankind. Why was he willing to suffer and see this through? Because he promised he would do this in the premortal life—his word was his bond. He was dependable. His example teaches us a lot about commitment. But there is another, even greater reason why he stayed: he loved us." [9]
What do these three stories have in common? Each one experienced an epiphany. Each was searching for or seeking something. Each had a task to do. Each had a choice to make under emotional and mental stress. Of course, two of these stories pale compared to the Savior’s. Nonetheless, they all experienced a change in their convictions, a mighty change of heart [10] that would take them to a new level in their existence.
Each of us will or could have a similar experience at some point in our lives. This will happen when our commitment to follow the Savior becomes a turning point in our love for this Church and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It may happen today, tomorrow, or months from now, but it will happen—if you seek after it.
I love what the legendary American-football coach, Vince Lombardi, once said, “The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.” [11] This statement is true not only about our schoolwork, jobs, service, or responsibilities at home, but also has a role in our membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If the quality of your life is not what you would like it to be, then reevaluate it. I suggest you first look at your commitment to excellence as a follower of our Savior, Jesus Christ, obedience to His call, and membership in His Church. Joshua said after gathering all the tribes of Israel together at Shechem, “…choose you this day whom ye will serve;…but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” [12] Are we not of a tribe of Israel? Does this not apply to each of us? Moses said to the people of Israel, “And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,” [13] In modern revelation Jesus Christ said, “ …see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day.” [14] Clearly, the challenge has been laid before us by our Savior, Jesus Christ to have a greater conviction than we may have to take up the cross and follow Him.
Our Beloved prophet, President Dallin H. Oaks, in this recent conference, made this promise if we do, when he said, “Our Savior, Jesus Christ, is our ultimate role model. We will be blessed if we model our lives after His teachings and self-sacrifice. Following Christ and giving ourselves in service to one another is the best remedy for the selfishness and individualism that now seem to be so common.” [15]
Finally, President Russell M. Nelson pleaded with us to make a greater commitment when he said, “The question for each of us, regardless of race, is the same. Are you willing to let God prevail in your life? Are you willing to let God be the most important influence in your life? Will you allow His words, His commandments, and His covenants to influence what you do each day? Will you allow His voice to take priority over any other? Are you willing to let whatever He needs you to do take precedence over every other ambition? Are you willing to have your will swallowed up in His?... [17] When your greatest desire is to let God prevail, to be part of Israel, so many decisions become easier. So many issues become nonissues!” [18]
My invitation to each of you is to listen to the words of our prophets, seek an epiphany in your service to the Savior, commit to serving the Lord, your family, your friends, your university, and to fulfill your callings and service opportunities with greater conviction.
As one, like you, who has covenanted through baptism to follow the Savior, Jesus Christ, and as one of those like many of you who have made binding covenants in His temples, I echo the words again of Gandalf to Frodo Baggins who questioned aloud why he must have the heavy burden he carried in the Lord of the Rings when he said, “So do all who live to see such times but that is not for us to decide, all we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” [20] Let this be true of our earthly missions to decide to follow the Savior in the time He has given us. Of course above all examples, our best example by word and deed from now into eternity is to follow the example of the Savior in the Garden of Gethsemane when He fell on His face and praying He said to His Father, our Father, while His soul was exceedingly sorrowful just before fulfilling the Atonement “…O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” [21]
My invitation today is to answer these questions. Our answers will tell us where we stand in our commitment and conviction to follow the Savior, Jesus Christ.
- Am I having daily personal supplication with the Lord in Prayer?
- Am I studying the scriptures daily to know my Heavenly Father's mind and will for me?
- Am I attending, and engaged in, my church calling, service, and meetings, and doing so with all my heart, might, mind, and strength?
- Am I regularly attending the House of the Lord, learning of my great potential, and seeking His guidance there?
- Am I loving the members of my family and my neighbors with unconditional love?
- Am I looking for ways to serve and lift my fellow students as the Savior would have me do?
I testify that membership in Jesus Christ’s Church requires commitment and conviction. I testify that Jesus Christ is our Savior and stands supremely at the head of this Church. I testify of His matchless love for each of us. He is my friend. I testify that President Dallin H. Oaks is a prophet of God. I declare we must be diligent in our service to our Savior because He is ever diligent in His service to each of us. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Notes:
[1] Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, “epiphany”
[2] The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Directed by Peter Jackson [Burbank, California: New Line Cinema, 2001–2003, Film]
[3] Paul Harvey, “Eulogy for an Owl.” The Rest of the Story, April 24, 2012
[4] Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Gordon B. Hinckley [2016], 201
[5] Mark 8:35
[6] Sheri L. Dew, Go Forward with Faith: The Biography of Gordon B. Hinckley [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company,1996], 64
[7] Matthew 26:39
[8] Luke 22:42
[9] W. Jeffrey Marsh, His Final Hours [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 2000]
[10]”mighty change of heart”
[11] Vince Lombardi
[12] Joshua 24:15
[13] Deuteronomy 10:12
[14] Doctrine and Covenants 4:2
[15] Dallin H. Oaks, "The Family-Centered Gospel of Jesus Christ",
[17] Russell M. Nelson, “Let God Prevail,” Ensign or Liahona, October 2020, 92
[18] Russell M. Nelson, “Let God Prevail,” Ensign or Liahona, October 2020, 94
[19] Hyrum Smith quote
[20] The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. Directed by Peter Jackson [Burbank, California: New Line Cinema, 2001, Film]
[21] Matthew 26:39