Introduction
Sister Teh and I are happy to have the opportunity to visit this wonderful institution again. There is something about this place that is awe-inspiring to me even when I was a young man. I had dreamt of studying marine biology on this campus but, the Lord had other plans. The Laie Hawaii Temple, BYU–Hawaii, and the Polynesian Cultural Center is a triad of inspiration blended amongst the lush vegetation and beautiful scenery of the North shores. It is simply a spiritual paradise. So, who would not want to study here?
Prophets and Apostles, especially President David O. McKay, have foreseen the Lord’s purposes and vision for this area, particularly for this institution of learning, as it relates to the establishment of God’s kingdom here on the earth. I went back and studied some of the foundational speeches of the university. I highly recommend that you do the same once in a while. It will fix your vision and help refine your desires, and your temporal and spiritual goals and trajectory.
Allow me to share some of President McKay’s prophecies. This first one is from his remarks during the groundbreaking in 1955:
“…the world needs men who cannot be bought or sold, men who will scorn to violate truth, genuine gold. That is what this school is going to produce. More than that, they’ll be leaders. Not leaders only in this island, but everywhere.”
“You mark that word, and from this school, I’ll tell you, will go men and women whose influence will be felt for good towards the establishment of peace internationally.”1
This next one is an excerpt from the dedicatory prayer he offered in 1958:
“May there radiate from these buildings an aura of light as tangible as personality radiates from each individual, influencing all to live clean and upright lives, to seek truth diligently, to be inspired so to live that others seeing their good deeds may live to glorify Thee, our Creator, our Father, our God.”2
Fifteen years later, Elder Marion G. Romney came to dedicate the Aloha Center on this campus. He quoted liberally from President McKay’s message and then said:
“The extent to which education in America has lost its way is due to the separation of learning from fundamental values and truths. That separation must never occur here. The life of the mind does not require separation from spiritual things. The spirit will quicken our desire for knowledge and also our desire to use knowledge to serve our fellow men.”3
Lastly, during the inauguration of your beloved university president, John S.K. Kauwe III, Elder Holland reminded us about the mission of this institution:
“Our principal target area for BYU–Hawaii, as has been mentioned and as you know, will continue to be Pacific- and Asia-oriented areas of the Church. We are in hopes that an ever-larger population of students and future leaders will come from these lands.”4
If you have not as yet grasped what our leaders are trying to impress upon your minds, let me summarize it for you. The goal is to raise up lifelong and dedicated disciples of Jesus Christ who will then return to be leaders in their homelands and other nations. We are already seeing the fulfillment of this in the lives of thousands of BYUH alumni. And it will continue to be fulfilled in you- who are presently here.
Heaven’s Help is Available to Each of Us
Allow me to emphasize something that I have learned over the years. The world is full of opportunities even though many times it may not appear to be that way. I speak not only of economic opportunities but also of intellectual, emotional, social, and spiritual opportunities. I will focus my remarks today on some of those spiritual opportunities.
Whether in times of peace or war, economic boom or depression, enlightenment or confusion, and even in the midst of a pandemic, there will always be opportunities for spiritual growth. The better we are able to recognize those opportunities, the better we are able to take advantage of them. One of the primary purposes of the plan of salvation is to provide God’s children with individual opportunities to grow spiritually.
In pursuing this course, we always have access to heaven’s help through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The scriptures and the testimonies of living prophets are replete with this truth. A loving Father in Heaven never intended for us to walk the path alone. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ work with each of us “one-by-one.” Therefore, even though the plan of salvation is for all of God’s children collectively, it is also individualized. He has a unique and individual plan for each of us. Why? President Russell M. Nelson said it best:
“Simply summarized, God, our loving Heavenly Father, wants His children to return to Him. How logical is that? What else would you expect from a loving father?”5
If you are still wondering if God loves you and is truly mindful of you, let me remind you of what Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf told you in last month’s devotional:
“There’s no number large enough to measure your worth. But there’s a number that can determine your destiny. That number is one. God our Heavenly Father, knows each of us personally, is interested in each one of us and cares about our well-being and progress. God is on your side. He wants you to succeed."6
You may ask: “How does heaven’s help come?” Heaven’s help comes because of Jesus Christ. It comes in a myriad of ways but mostly through the abiding influence of the Holy Ghost whose mission it is to teach, testify, comfort, guide, and warn.
When we receive heaven’s help it does not mean that we will be spared from difficulty or suffering. Neither will it take away the need for us to exert effort, work hard, and use our faculties. But, we can be assured that we will be sustained, buoyed up, comforted, find peace, and receive strength. For example, when Amulon placed heavy burdens on the people of Alma and persecuted them, the people of Alma “cried mightily to God and poured out their hearts to Him.” Then the Lord “did ease the burdens upon their (your) shoulders and did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease,”7
If we are to receive heaven’s help, there are things that we need to do and conditions that we need to accept. Today I would like to focus on three fundamentals- Trust in the Lord, Obey God’s Commandments and Follow the Prophet.
Trust in the Lord
What does trusting in the Lord mean? Most of us know and love this passage from the Proverbs: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”8
For me, trusting God is “putting my life in His hands.” I imagine myself as clay in the hands of a master potter. Not just any clay, it has to be malleable and moist. Not hard and dry. If we trust God, we allow Him to direct our lives and mold us into becoming the kind of men and women that we can and ought to become. In the words of President Russell M. Nelson:
“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 voice to take priority over any other?”9
The Savior set the perfect example for us when He said: “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.”10 Nephi reminds us that one of the great tragedies in life is when men trust others instead of God. “O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; ...Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.”11
Jacob, the brother of Nephi, also taught: “Seek not to counsel the Lord, but to take counsel from his hand.”12 When we insist on our way of doing things instead of doing things the Lord’s way, we are telling Him that our way is better than His.
Trust in God is a precursor to faith in God. For us to truly develop faith in God and in Jesus Christ we need to trust them first. If we do, then the faith in Jesus Christ we will develop is the kind that becomes “a principle of action and power”13 in our lives.
We are all familiar with the story of Abraham being commanded by the Lord to sacrifice Isaac. Just imagine how conflicted Father Abraham must have been. He knew that killing was wrong even though his own father was not a very good example. But, Abraham trusted God. He knew that everything would work out even though he did not know how. Note that the Lord did not intervene even when Abraham already expressed his intent to obey. The Lord waited to intervene only after Abraham “stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.” This and other examples of trusting in God is how Abraham rose up to become the father of all nations.
Do any of you like to play chess? I do but I am not good at it. I have a very limited capacity to think beyond my second or third moves. During my younger years, I had such admiration for chess grandmasters. I marveled at their capacity to think through not only their next several moves but also anticipate their opponents’ counter moves. They are also able to play out different defense and offense scenarios in their mind.
Later, as I learned about the stories and lives of people I meet, and as I have had the opportunity to reflect back on my life, I have come to the conclusion that, in a way, God is the best chess player of all. He moves chess pieces with precision and perfect timing. He puts us in places and situations that are critical for our life experience, growth, and opportunities. He truly knows the end from the beginning.
Allow me to share a personal experience that played out over a period of forty-four years.
When I was a first-grader in a Catholic school in the Philippines, they adopted a Chinese immersion class. It is similar to what many schools in Utah have. I remember my teacher well. She looked Asian and spoke Mandarin. So, in my seven-year-old mind, I concluded that she was Chinese and therefore from China. She taught us mathematics and a few Chinese songs. She taught us how to read and write Chinese characters. She also taught us how to speak. To help us learn to pronounce the Chinese characters correctly, she taught us how to use a pronunciation guide called BoPoMoFo. That is my introduction to the basics of the Mandarin language.
Fast forward forty-four years later in 2016. We were called to serve as mission president and companion in the Taiwan Taichung Mission. Please understand that neither Grace nor I speak Mandarin nor served Mandarin-speaking missions when we were young. So, imagine our surprise and anxiety. After a few weeks of being in Taiwan, I made some fascinating discoveries.
First. I grew up with some familiarity with the Fukienese language. It is one of the Chinese languages from the province of Fujian. My parents and other relatives spoke it fluently, so I picked up some of it as well. Although Mandarin is the primary language spoken in Taiwan, the older generation also spoke Taiwanese. I discovered that Taiwanese is very similar to Fukienese. So, I was able to strike up simple conversations in Fukienese with and to the delight of the elderly population.
Second. One day I heard a Chinese song playing on the radio that sounded very familiar to me. I realized that it was one of the songs that my Chinese teacher taught us. After further investigation, I discovered that all the songs she taught us were popular and well-loved folk songs of Taiwan.
Third. Remember BoPoMoFo the phonetic guide my Chinese teacher taught us? I discovered that BoPoMoFo is used almost exclusively in Taiwan and not in China. Even the local Taiwanese missionaries that served with us were astonished that I knew BoPoMoFo.
So, after forty-four years I found out that my teacher was actually from Taiwan and not from China. Imagine how these discoveries endeared me even more to the country and the wonderful Taiwanese people. It had such a profound influence in my life and my service that later on, I started referring to myself as “Yiban Taiwanren” or- half-Taiwanese.
Brothers and Sisters, we may sometimes think that we have prepared a spectacular plan or roadmap for our lives. That may be the case but, we should never doubt that God has a perfect plan for us. We are His children. He knows us intimately and definitely better than we know ourselves. He sees us not only for who we are now but of who we are capable of becoming. Now, therefore, let us be like little children- “willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon us (him), even as a child doth submit to his father.”14 So, for heaven’s help- trust in the Lord.
Obey God’s Commandments
One of my favorite stories about obedience is found in 1 Samuel 15. The Lord commanded Saul through the Prophet Samuel to destroy the Amalekites and to spare nothing including all their animals. But Saul did not obey. Instead, he spared the King’s life and the “best of the sheep and oxen and all that was good.” The Lord was disappointed and said unto Samuel: “It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments.”15
King Saul then lied and said to Samuel that he has “performed the commandment of the Lord.” When Samuel confronted him and asked about hearing the bleating of the sheep and lowing of the cattle, Saul put the blame on his people and then began to rationalize saying: “for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God;”15 Then came this firm rebuke from the Prophet Samuel: “Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”15
On the contrary, Adam and Eve obeyed God’s commandment to offer sacrifice even if they did not completely understand the reason why. When asked, Adam simply said: “I know not save the Lord commanded me.” Our first parents understood what it means to obey. As we strive to become more obedient, it will be well for us to pay more attention to the phrase: “save the Lord commanded me.” Then, resolve to obey with joy and not with constraint.
Many years ago, when Sister Teh was pregnant with our first child, I started to worry about how I was to pay for the doctor and hospital bill. Even though we were both working money was always tight. Every month after setting aside funds for tithing and other offerings, rent, utilities, transportation, school, and food- there was nothing left for savings. During this time, I was working full-time during the day and went to college at night until 9:30 pm. Then, a job opportunity came up. It was to sell fruits in the market from 10:00 pm until 5:00 am the following morning. I took the job because it fit perfectly with my schedule!
So, for the next two months, I would be at work from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm. Go to school from 6:00-9:30 pm then go to my second job from 10:00 pm to 5:00 am. I will go home and shower and have breakfast and then the cycle began again. After the two months, I still remember earning around P7,300 pesos. When our first child was born, guess how much the hospital bill was? P7,300 pesos.
Obedience, my dear young friends, is the first law in heaven. It determines the trajectory of one’s life. For heaven’s help- obey God’s commandments.
Follow the Prophet
The Lord knew from past experiences with his children that there will always be those who will find it difficult to follow His prophet. So, when He called the Prophet Joseph Smith to open this dispensation- He gave this admonition and promise.
“Wherefore, meaning the church, thou shalt give heed unto all his words and commandments which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me;”
“For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith.”
“For by doing these things the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good and his name’s glory.”16
We now know from early Church History that there were many who did not accept Joseph Smith and others after him. The same is true today as the voices of the world are intent on discrediting the Lord’s servants. The adversary knows that if the voice of the prophet is left unheeded, he will have power over the people. He will have much success in persuading people to either “run in place” on the covenant path or actually get off of it.
In olden times, the argument is simply settled by whether or not a person believes in a living prophet. Satan is aware that in the latter-days there is a more effective way of ensnaring people. He confuses people by allowing them to believe in a living prophet but at the same time, convinces them that the prophet doesn’t always get things right. So, people feel justified because they believe in a living prophet but can pick and choose which of his counsels they will follow. This is totally consistent with Satan’s pattern of deception by spreading lies and half-truths and candy-coated sins.
Today, I bear witness to you that there is a living prophet on the earth. He has been prepared and preserved by the Lord for such a time as this. He is the Lord’s mouthpiece and a “watchman upon the tower who seeth the enemy while he is yet afar off.”
During the last conference, President Russell M. Nelson taught us about the need to strengthen our spiritual foundation through temple ordinances and covenants.
“My dear brothers and sisters, these are the latter days. If you and I are to withstand the forthcoming perils and pressures, it is imperative that we each have a firm spiritual foundation built upon the rock of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
So I ask each of you, how firm is your foundation? And what reinforcements to your testimony and understanding of the gospel are needed?”17
To that end, he invited us to go to the temple often because “the Savior and His doctrine are the very heart of the temple” therefore “the temple lies at the center of strengthening our faith and spiritual fortitude.” He invited those who have not been to the temple to “Begin now to learn and experience what it means to be armed with priesthood power” by being endowed. He taught us that we are bound to the Savior through ordinances and covenants.
President Nelson also said that when the renovations on the Salt Lake Temple are completed, there will be no safer place during an earthquake in the Salt Lake Valley than inside the temple. Then he said this-
“Likewise, whenever any kind of upheaval occurs in your life, the safest place to be spiritually is living inside your temple covenants!”17
As I thought about this last statement and the counsel to “stand ye in holy places and be not moved, it felt like he parted the curtains a little wider for me. We all know that we cannot be physically standing in holy places all the time. We can be out and about in this busy and chaotic world and still be standing in holy places figuratively if we are living inside our temple covenants. That is so comforting to know.
Let us listen to some of the counsels that President Russell M. Nelson gave during the last three years. The hope is that it will stir our hearts and awaken a stronger desire to heed his words. Let us learn from the primary children- “Follow the Prophet. He knows the way.”
My prayer is that we each can learn from the primary children as they sing fervently: “Follow the Prophet. He knows the way.”
For heaven’s help- follow the prophet.
My dear young friends, I bear my witness that, because of Jesus Christ, heaven’s help is always within our reach. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Notes
1. David O. McKay, Groundbreaking & Dedication of CCH/BYU–Hawaii, February 12, 1955
2. David O. McKay, Church College of Hawaii Dedicatory Address and Prayer, December 16, 1958
3. Marion G. Romney, Dedication of the Aloha Center, Church College of Hawaii, January 25, 1973
4. Jeffrey R. Holland, “A Historic and Special Day”, John S.K. Kauwe III Inauguration, October 19, 2021
5. “Begin with the End in Mind”, 2014 Seminar for New Mission Leaders; June 22, 2014
6. Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Devotional for Young Adults, January 9, 2022
7. Mosiah 24:14-15
8. Proverbs 3:5-6
9. “Let God Prevail”, October 2020 General Conference
10. John 6:38
11. 2 Nephi 4:34
12. Jacob 4:10
13. Lectures on Faith (1985), 3
14. Mosiah 3:19
15. 1 Samuel 15:3-23
16. Doctrine and Covenants 21:4-6
17. President Russell M. Nelson, “The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation, October 2021 General Conference