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Devotionals

How Do We Know What Is Right?

Sisters and Brothers, Aloha!

I want to start this morning with an invitation. Please take out something to take notes on. If in the course of this talk, thoughts come to your mind, write them down. You have permission to let your mind wander, in productive ways, about things about which you are concerned. As you have thoughts, write them down, so you can build on it and later act on it. Throughout my career this pattern of adult education, of being open to thoughts, writing them and then acting on them has been transformational. Elder Neil L. Anderson described the pattern in President Nelson and called it the “process of revelation and inspiration.” [1]

Most people come to a university for an education, to get the skills needed to get a decent job, to better their life. Others come to find a spouse or because their parents said they had to. My second invitation this morning is to search your soul and ask, “Why am I here at BYU–Hawaii?”

Our purpose at Brigham Young University–Hawaii is to help you become a lifelong disciple of Jesus Christ. If you genuinely want this, you need to actively work at it. It is not passive. You must be intentional. To be a disciple of Jesus Christ, you need to become a lifelong learner. You need to become educated and not just learn a vocation. If done right, the skills we are teaching are not just to get that first job. We are teaching you the thinking and learning skills needed to advance and succeed at all of your secular and spiritual responsibilities.

One of the most important skills you need to succeed is the ability to sort through information and know what is right. Search engines, databases, and artificial intelligence flood us with more data than we know what to do with. How do we assess what is right?

Assessment can be defined as the methods or tools that we use to evaluate and determine what information to pay attention to.

The first assessment method is testing information.

Let me give you just a silly example to illustrate my point. I was trying to figure out what temperature a slow cooker cooks at. A quick search said that the high setting is set to three hundred degrees Fahrenheit. This was on hundreds of sites, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s knowledge base. But it was in conflict with a single trusted source that said that slow cookers have a maximum cooking temperature of about two hundred degrees. It went on to say, “models that didn’t perform well in testing often cooked food around the boiling point of 212 degrees, which was too hot for optimal results.” [2] How do I assess this information?

I needed to do more than just study and think. I needed to act. So, I got out a thermometer. My particular slow cooker went up to 210 degrees—nowhere near the three hundred degrees proclaimed on the internet. I had a way of determining what was right for me. I had a test to assess the information in front of me.

The second assessment is knowing the basics or principles.

I am an optimist about the future. Artificial Intelligence can be a force for good, though when used poorly it can be used to deceive. Things are moving quickly. We have to make split-second decisions with information presented to us. We may not have time to pull out a thermometer and test a slow cooker. We need to prepare beforehand and learn principles that can help us know what is true.

In a previous job I had the responsibility to teach employees about phishing, where hackers send fraudulent emails with the goal of stealing information. We would teach employees what to look for, things that were out of place. Things like misspellings, bad grammar, and irregular links.

Over time the hackers improved. Even as the teacher I could not always spot the latest and most effective attacks because the techniques were changing. Nowadays you are more likely to spot a phishing email because it is spelled correctly and in perfect English.

Current studies are estimating that IT security techniques that are more than 18 months old are out of date and should not be trusted to protect your data. This period is known as half-life. While the principle of phishing remains constant, the application changes because situations change. While you still need to evaluate each email and look for things that are out of place, what is out of place will continue to evolve.

With a solid foundation we need to be continually learning the truth and we need to be learning from trusted sources. Just because we learned a technique in the past does not mean we have mastered it forever. We have to be lifelong learners to comprehend both the principles and the application of the principles. Or in spiritual terms we have to be open to continuing revelation.

As we test information and learn the basic principles, we also need to consider the third assessment method—have trusted sources of information. Continuing my IT security theme, if I want to make sure I keep my data safe, I should be seeking experts that truly value safety and security. There are hackers that would intentionally want to lead me astray.

The fourth assessment method is critical thinking.

Technology is serving up a world of deep fakes where even novices can mimic the voice and video of our public figures.

Maybe Brigham Young explained it better in his inaugural address at BYU–Hawaii when he said, “Don’t believe everything you see on the internet.”

OK, of course this is not a quote from Brigham Young. But how do you know that? There are contextual clues that something is off. Someone who has experience can easily notice these clues. That is why we teach to read and study as well as ponder and contemplate. Brigham Young lived from 1801 to 1877—long before the creation of the internet and long before the creation of BYU–Hawaii. It is a good believable message and without studying and thought it could be easy to believe.

I do not want to suggest that we doubt everything that we read. But we do need to learn to be critical thinkers and develop our abilities in asking good questions. This begins with learning to read daily. Read the scriptures, read your textbooks, read about new topics, read to your children. As we read, our minds are filled with questions—questions designed to help us learn, grow, and improve. These are not questions of doubt or fear. As we read and become better at asking questions, we naturally become better at finding answers to those questions.

For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices councils, “Always be learning. Look for opportunities to expand your mind and your skills. These opportunities can include formal education at school or vocational training, as well as informal learning from sources you trust.” [3]

There will be times when we are presented with new information that we do not know what to make of. There are times in our life that we will see disagreement about what is right and people we know and love will have differing opinions.

For the Strength of Youth continues, “Involve the Lord in your efforts, and He will guide you. As you learn about the world around you, learn also about the Savior, who created the world. Study His life and teachings.” [4] The life of Christ unlocks unique keys in understanding all types of knowledge in this world.

I believe we have seen a pattern on what to do taught to us since the beginning of this Church. Joseph Smith described his search. “My mind at times was greatly excited.” He described all those around him as using all their powers of both reason and sophistry to prove the errors of the other.

“In the midst of this war of words and tumult of opinions, I often said to myself: What is to be done? Who of all these parties are right; or, are they all wrong together? If any one of them be right, which is it, and how shall I know it?”

And what did he do? Many of you know this story. While reading the scriptures he came to the Epistle of James, first chapter and fifth verse, which reads: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” [5] He acted on this prompting, and he asked of God.

Our fifth assessment method is to look for primary sources.

Go to the person that can provide firsthand knowledge. In the important decisions in life, we have access to a primary source. We can turn to God.

So how do we hear God’s answers? One thing that I learned from Joseph Smith’s experience was he sought for a place to block out the world for a time. It was a place of solitude and quiet. If we want to be open to receiving answers to our questions, we need to be open to having times of quiet in our lives. To me this means time to turn off the electronics, take out the earbuds, and be open to being alone with our thoughts. President Holland in a conversation with The Elijah Interfaith Institute called moments of reflection, “character time.” [6]

As we have quiet moments to think, we can think about how we can improve. We hear answers to our questions. Steven R. Covey in a BYU devotional asked students to carefully ponder the answers to the following questions:

“What do I need to do to draw closer to the living Christ?

What do I need to do to be a better member of my family?

What do I need to do to more fully magnify my Church membership and callings?

What do I need to do to more fully magnify my stewardship as a student here?”

He followed by asking “How many here can honestly acknowledge that you know many things that perhaps you need to do in these categories? How many would also acknowledge that if you and I were to really do these things, marvelous results would take place in our lives. Why do we wait? What are we waiting for?” [7]

You may have clear answers to these questions. Some may take more work to find the answers. We are given additional tools in the Book of Mormon:

“Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things ... and ponder it in your hearts … I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost, ye may know the truth of all things.” [8]

Do you see in this scripture a pattern? Do you see the sixth assessment method?

There are things we need to do to be open to learning.

We need to prepare by studying. After we have studied and prepared our mind and heart, we need to enter into discussion to synthesize what we have been studying. Synthesis is the process of combining multiple sources of information and ideas to create something new. And once we have done this, we let God confirm this through the Spirit.

In an academic setting this pattern is known as an active or flipped classroom. In the Church we call this Teaching in the Savior's Way. [9]

I invite you, whether it is school, church, or personal introspection, to study the topic before coming to class. I invite you to ask questions. How much better would our search for answers be if, with the assistance of the Spirit, we were open to discussing, debating, and listening to challenging topics?

This process points out that seeking answers through prayer is more about seeking guidance on the process of analysis rather than focusing on the desired outcome you seek.

Let me use an illustration of how this may work in a personal setting. With permission, I share with you a story from Arlene Sewell told at a devotional in 2023. She shared how she received a job announcement from a friend that knew she would one day love to come back to BYU–Hawaii and serve as their chief information officer. She let the email sit for about a week but began to pray about it. “The more I prayed the more I felt to just apply. So, I did, and to much surprise I got a call that same week asking me how interested I was in moving to Hawaii and in the position. I was then fortunate to get a call to schedule my first interview and then my second interview.” She reasoned that “even if I don’t get the job at least we were able to get a free trip to Hawaii.”

She continued, “Meeting my future team in my interviews felt right. But I was torn with the responsibilities of taking care of my mother, the distance from my children and grandchildren, and missing out on my youngest son’s collegiate football games. On the second day of interviews, I woke up early to go running. I remember sitting in front of the temple and was torn on how this decision would affect my family... As I sat in front of the temple, I thought, ‘Lord if you need me here, please help me to balance my time ... and provide for my [family].’”

Later that month, she received a call and was offered the position to serve as the new CIO. She shared, “With much prayer and thought my husband and I felt that it was the right decision.” I love how Arlene concluded that “It may not have made logical sense, but it made spiritual sense.” [10]

But what about the other people who applied for this job? Didn’t they pray? Did they hear the same spirit whispering to them? Many of us are familiar with the scripture phrase “many are called.” Remember all in the equation have agency and may choose not to heed the call. The Lord calls many. I believe that the Lord is preparing us all for many, many things. But just as important— “few are chosen.” [11] While some may not be chosen because of pride or unworthiness, many, many times we are not chosen because we are needed for a different role.

You may find yourself in a situation in which you feel you were prompted to act—in a situation where you are looking to find the truth and you felt that you found it only for things to not immediately work out in the way you expected.

Will you allow revelation to happen in the Lord's way? And in the Lord's time? And let Him who sees the complete picture mold you into something better?

I too received an email from a friend telling me about that very same position. He too knew that someday I wanted to return and work at BYU–Hawaii. And though the timing was not perfect for my family, it was very much something my wife and I had planned on for years. I was fortunate enough to receive the first interview and then the next. Each time I felt the promptings from the Spirit to act. As I met the team, it just felt right. And as my wife and I sat on the steps of the temple, in tears we said, “Lord, if you need us here, please bless this all to work out.” And later that month I too received a phone call and as soon as I said “hello,” I knew I did not get the job.

Over the ensuing weeks I asked, “Why? Why was the Spirit so clear on what I should be doing if this was not where He needed me. Hadn’t I learned the truth?” But at the same time, I felt a deep sense of peace. As I learned about the amazing career and background of Arlene, I clearly was taught by the Spirit that BYU–Hawaii had chosen the right person, at the right time. And as I returned to my normal routine, I began to feel what the choir so beautifully sang about in the hymn “The Lord Bless You and Keep You” I began to feel peace. I felt promptings to learn more and to grow. I was led to additional things at work I needed to learn. My job at that time needed me to progress in the topics of compliance, risk, and governance. I felt the need to learn something new in the job that I was already in. The entire time, and as I reflect, for years before I applied for that CIO job, the Lord had been preparing me for a different career. He was preparing me for the job I have now and love. He knew that had I not applied for the CIO job I would not have been open to learning what I needed to, for where He needed me.

The tools the Lord uses are diverse. He is not always going to speak to your mind or to your heart. If you want to know the truth, sometimes you act in confidence. This is known as indirect revelation. In time, the Lord will often directly share with you that you acted upon the truth.

Another story to illustrate this process. There was a time in which I participated in a hiring committee. I prayed to find the right person. Someone that needed the job and who could benefit my place of employment. A colleague had recommended someone to me. I told this person that the position would open in a few weeks, and I would let them know—and I promptly forgot to follow up. We opened the position, and we had gone through the entire process and had extended the offer. Just as the candidate accepted, my colleague stopped by my office. Knowing that I forgot about his recommendation, I felt awful. The conversation quickly changed when, with a smile on their face and they said, “I told you this candidate is great.” At that moment, the Spirit testified to me that we had hired the right person. I felt at rest.

Last October in general conference President Nelson, in his talk “Overcome the World and Find Rest,” blessed each one of us when he said,

“With the power of the holy apostleship vested in me, I bless you in your quest to overcome this world. I bless you to increase your faith in Jesus Christ and learn better how to draw upon His power. I bless you to be able to discern truth from error.

I bless you to care more about the things of God than the things of this world. I bless you to see the needs of those around you and strengthen those you love.” [12]

Let us stop and think about this for just a moment. Each one of us received an apostolic priesthood blessing from a prophet of God. In that blessing we have been given the gift of discernment—the ability to “know something through the power of the Spirit.” [13]

We need the spirit of revelation in our life. We need to learn from trusted sources by asking questions. We master the basic principles on the important topics of life, and we learn to think critically. As we do this, with the Spirit, we will be blessed to discern truth from error. I testify to you that the Lord will shape you into much more than you could ever imagine being. As sons and daughters of a loving God, He desires to give you all that He has, and I share this with you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Notes:

[1] Neil L. Andersen, Facebook, August 20, 2018, facebook.com/neill.andersen
[2] Scott Kathan, "5 Slow-Cooker Tips”, October 19, 2022
[3] For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices [2022], 31.
[4] For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices [2022], 31.
[5] Joseph Smith History 1:9-11
[6] Jeffrey R Holland, “Coronaspection” Elijah Interfaith Institute, June 8, 2020
[7] Stephen R. Covey, “An Educated Conscience” BYU Speeches, May 27, 1975
[8] Moroni 10:3-5
[9] Teaching in the Savior’s Way [2016]
[10] Arlene Sewell, “Faith to Move Mountains”, BYU–Hawaii Speeches, February 21, 2023
[11] Doctrine and Covenants 121:40
[12] Russell M. Nelson, “Overcome the World and Find Rest”, Ensign or Liahona, November 2023, 98
[13] Guide to the Scriptures, “Discernement, Gift of,” Gospel Library