My Dear Brothers and Sisters, Aloha!
EXPRESS GRATITUDE
I love President Russell M. Nelson! He is a wise and humble servant of the Lord. I know and testify that He is the Lord’s mouthpiece on the earth today. He has given many memorable talks in his time as an Apostle, and now as Prophet. My remarks today have been inspired by his first talk as President of the Church in April of 2018. His landmark talk on revelation.
Let me start by sharing a few quotes from his talk, "In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost. My beloved brothers and sisters, I plead with you to increase your spiritual capacity to receive revelation.” [1]
What a powerful prophecy by our Prophet. Here is another quote from his talk on revelation, “One of the things the Spirit has repeatedly impressed upon my mind since my new calling as President of the Church is how willing the Lord is to reveal His mind and will. The privilege of receiving revelation is one of the greatest gifts of God to His children. Through the manifestations of the Holy Ghost, the Lord will assist us in all our righteous pursuits.” [2]
President Nelson also shared an experience when he was a physician that the Lord revealed to him, through the Holy Ghost, how to perform an unprecedented operation and how the Holy Ghost diagramed the technique in his mind. He then shared other pivotal moments in his life where personal revelations from the Lord, through the Holy Ghost, blessed his him and his family.
I love the examples of personal revelation in the scriptures, especially personal revelations of Nephi in the Book of Mormon.
NEPHI OBTAINING THE PLATES OF BRASS
After two failed attempts to get the brass plates, Nephi went back to Jerusalem. In his words he wrote, “I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do. Nevertheless I went forth…” [3]
As President Henry B. Eyring taught, “Nephi was guided by the Spirit minute by minute through the night on the Lord’s errand.” [4]
NEPHI BUILDING A SHIP
"The voice of the Lord came unto me, saying: Arise, and get thee into the mountain. And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto me, saying: Thou shalt construct a ship, after the manner which I shall show thee, that I may carry thy people across these waters." (1 Nephi 17:7-8) [5]
"And the Lord did show me from time to time after what manner I should work the timbers of the ship. Now I, Nephi, did not work the timbers after the manner which was learned by men, neither did I build the ship after the manner of men; but I did build it after the manner which the Lord had shown unto me; wherefore, it was not after the manner of men. And I, Nephi, did go into the mount oft, and I did pray oft unto the Lord; wherefore the Lord showed unto me great things." (1 Nephi 18:1-3) [6]
Each of us can receive personal revelations specifically for our lives. The Lord reveals His will to us to guide us and to bless us because He loves us!
Brothers and sisters, I would like to share some experiences from my life where the Lord revealed His will to me through the Holy Ghost. I share these experiences with reverence and the most tender of feelings, because of the sacred nature of these revelations. These experiences blessed me and my family.
My prayer is that by sharing these experiences it will encourage you to seek for the blessings of personal revelations in your life. And to help you truly understand that our Heavenly Father loves you! He loves you so perfectly He sent His Only Begotten Son. And His Son sends the Holy Ghost to guide us and to reveal His will for us. To help us with school, with finding an eternal companion, with finding a career, with our current job, with our families, with our Church callings, with our trials and our hard times we can know the will of the Father and the Son in ALL things through revelations from the Holy Ghost.
"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." (2 Nephi 32:5 ) [7]
LIFE EXPERIENCE #1
In 2007, I was an assistant football coach at The United States Naval Academy. One day there was a summit for world leaders at the Academy. As I looked out a window from my office I saw several helicopters that were preparing to leave the Academy as the summit had just concluded. The thought came to me how unique the Naval Academy was and how our students would go and serve our country throughout the world. I then had this clear and peaceful impression: “I would become the head football coach at the Naval Academy, and it wouldn’t be because of football, but the Lord would use me as an instrument to help build His kingdom.” Up until that point I had NO aspirations to be the head coach; life for our family could not be going any better. But because of that personal revelation I started to prepare to be the head coach at the Naval Academy. So, during my own free time I prepared. Offensive, defensive, and special teams schemes, plans for recruiting, in season practices, training sessions, philosophy on player discipline, academics, off season schedules and calendars, personnel and staff proposals…I left no stone unturned.
Well, later that year in December, I was in Seattle, Washington recruiting when I received a call from our athletic director. He told me to get on the next plane back to Annapolis, informing me that our then head coach had just taken a job at another school and that he would like to interview me as a possible candidate for the head coach position at the Naval Academy. I arrived in Annapolis later that evening. The interview lasted several hours. I answered every question that he asked me in great detail. Because of the personal revelation that I had received months early from the Holy Ghost, I was completely prepared for that interview. I was hired that night. The Holy Ghost guided me.
EXPERIENCE #2
In 2019, after 11 seasons as a head coach, I was called as stake president of the Annapolis Maryland Stake. At first, I wondered if the General Authorities were sure it was me. Maybe they didn’t know my schedule. Maybe they didn’t know how busy I was. But, both General Authorities bore their testimonies to me and my wife that the Lord clearly revealed to them, individually and collectively, that it was me. After that, I was at peace because I knew that they were called of God AND the Lord revealed to me that it was His will.
On our short ride home after that interview, I was still kind of in shock. The thought came to my mind, Lord, how can I do this? How can I be a stake president and a Division 1 head football coach at the same time? Then the Lord clearly showed me a vision. I saw my house, I saw the Naval Academy, and I saw the stake center. My house, the Naval Academy, and the stake center were all less than five minutes apart from each other. I saw a vision of me leaving our football field, getting changed, and rushing off to the stake center for a stake meeting. Brothers and sisters, that exact vision actually happened many times as I served as stake president.
2019, my first year as stake president, was the best season of my career! We finished 11-2 and ranked in the Top 25. I thought, wow, this is pretty sweet, just faithfully serve the Lord and honor your covenants and everything will be smooth sailing! Well, the next couple seasons weren’t so smooth; we had losing seasons. It caused me to be on my knees more in prayer, it caused me to study the scriptures harder, and it caused me to plead more with the Lord for help. The trials of those three seasons caused me to be close to the Lord, and it allowed me to hear His voice. I believe it helped me receive clear guidance from the Lord on how to lead our stake during the turbulent times of the pandemic. I also believe the great success of the 2019 season showed me that I could do both, be the head coach and stake president, and be successful if that was the Lord’s will. The Lord was clearly guiding me.
EXPERIENCE #3
In 2022, we were getting ready to play Air Force. It was a critical game in our season. I fasted and earnestly prayed for heavenly help and guidance. But I didn’t receive many revelations about the football game like I had received in so many other games over my career. But, before the game at the hotel, I did receive clear revelations as it pertained to our stake on certain matters that had not been clear before. These were matters that our stake presidency had spent years contemplating, pondering, and petitioning the Lord for His will. The Holy Ghost directed me on this stake matter.
On the bus ride to the game I fervently prayed for the Lord’s help. I received a powerful but quiet revelation from the Lord telling me, “I am here.” That gave me great peace thinking that revelation meant we were going to win. During the game, in the midst of 50,000 screaming fans and us losing, I asked the Lord if He was still there. Again, I heard a still small voice, “I am here.” That gave me courage that we were going to make a comeback and still win. Well, at the end of the game, when it was obvious that we would not win, I again asked, “Lord, are you still there?” And again, I heard, “Yes, I am still here.” Even though we lost this critical game I received guidance on how we were to proceed in matters as it pertained to our stake and His kingdom. After this devastating loss in a critical game of my career, the Holy Ghost in His role as Comforter, provided me with comfort when I so desperately needed it.
EXPERIENCE #4
Later in 2022, in our game vs Army, as always, I humbly but earnestly petitioned the Lord for help. This was another critical game. People might think it is strange or inappropriate to ask the Lord for help for a football game, but for me this was more than a football game; this was my life; this is what I did for a living; this is how I supported my family. These were more than football games for me and my family. I was pleading with the Lord for help with my job. I was seeking His guidance. The livelihood of my family and many other families were at stake.
One night during the week of the game I was awakened by a dream. For me it was a nightmare. In my dream I had a vision, and in this vision I saw the Army sidelines storm the field in celebration. I woke up and pleaded with the Lord, "Please no! I’ve given 25 years of my life to help build this program. I am doing everything you ask of me. I am honoring all of my covenants. I am faithfully serving as your stake president. Lord, please no." Then the impression came to my mind, "Lovest thou this, more than me?" In my mind I responded, "Lord Thou knowest that I love Thee more than this... but please no."
The game was close, as the Army games normally are. Early in the game I received a clear inspiration to call a play that we never even practiced that entire week. I was inspired to put in a player who wasn’t playing at the time. These clear, distinct impressions have happened several times during my career and they were always right and always had positive results. Well, the play worked perfectly. The player we put in the game ran untouched 75 yards for a touchdown! As I ran down the sidelines I said to myself, “Thank you, Lord! Thank you, Lord!” And then I heard a voice telling me, “I am here.” That gave me great peace again, thinking that meant we were going to win. Things looked promising. We were going in for the go-ahead touchdown in double overtime, but we fumbled the ball inches before the goal line. Army then kicked the game winning field goal. And then, their entire sidelines stormed the field in celebration. It was the exact same scene that I saw in my dream. As devastating as the loss was, I was comforted again because the Lord had already showed me earlier that week that we wouldn’t win. I was also comforted by the perfect play call knowing the Lord hadn’t totally abandoned me. He was still with me.
I was fired immediately after the game in the locker room. My wife and I decided that it was best that we left Annapolis and move closer to family. Thus, I would have to be released as stake president. As I met with the new stake president, a wonderful man, he told me that as he watched the Army-Navy game on TV that as soon as we fumbled the ball at the end of the game he received personal revelation that he was going to be called as the next stake president. It was a tender mercy from the Lord for both of us, to help us both recognize and both prepare ourselves for the will of the Lord.
So how do we receive the constant influence of the Holy Ghost? Each week as we partake of the sacrament and renew our covenants with the Lord we learn and are reminded through the sacrament prayers exactly what we need to do to “always have his Spirit” to be with us.
“O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it, that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him and keep his commandments which he has given them; that they may always have his Spirit to be with them.” [8]
- We eat the bread in remembrance of the body of the Son. We drink the water in remembrance of the blood of the Son that was shed for us. So, first, we remember the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
- We witness to our Heavenly Father that we will take upon us the name of His Son, Jesus Christ.
- We witness to our Heavenly Father that we will always remember Him, Jesus Christ.
- We witness to our Heavenly Father that we will keep His commandments which He, Jesus Christ, has given us.
And then, our Heavenly Father covenants that we may ALWAYS have His Spirit to be with us.
Do you see a common theme? The common theme is clearly Jesus Christ. Everything points to the Savior. The way to have the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost is the Savior Jesus Christ. "Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ." (2 Nephi 32:3) [9]
In the New Testament we read:
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6 ) [10]
In the Book of Mormon we read:
"Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God. And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot. (Moroni 10:32-33) [11]
And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ... (2 Nephi 25:26) [12]
Jesus is the way! Come unto Christ and be perfected in him! When we come unto His Son, then the Father sends us the Holy Ghost. Simply stated, the more we come unto Christ the more we have the companionship of the Holy Ghost. Once we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, by the laying on of hands, after we are baptized we then can have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost through the constant companionship of Jesus Christ.
The main role of the Holy Ghost is to testify of the Savior, that He is Only Begotten Son of God.
As we remember Jesus’ atoning sacrifice, remember to take upon us His name, always remember Him, and keep His commandments, we will always have His Spirit, the Holy Ghost, to be with us.
In closing, I share an experience of a dear friend who served as a stake president of a neighboring stake: One year we had a regional training for stake presidents with Elder Quentin L. Cook. Me and my dear friend both arrived early for the meeting. We were very excited about this training with Elder Cook. As we waited for our meeting to start, somehow, we got into a discussion of how we were called as stake presidents. He told me the Lord revealed to him that he was going to be stake president while he was still serving as a bishop. He told his family about these promptings. Well, eventually there was a reorganization of the stake presidency, but he wasn’t called. He was a bit perplexed and wondered why he had received those promptings. Later on, as he was serving as the ward Young Men president, there was another change in the stake presidency. And again, he had those same promptings that he was going to be stake president. But this time, he reluctantly told his wife about the promptings, and she was the only person he told. A ward Young Men president normally did not get an interview with the General Authority assigned to seek the Lord’s will on who will be the next stake president. But there was a mix up in the paperwork and they accidentally scheduled an interview for my friend. The General Authority told the then stake president that it was okay and that they would still give my friend an interview. Well, this time he was called as stake president. He told me it was a tender mercy from the Lord, because the Lord knew Him. The Lord knew that he needed time. He needed time to digest things. The Lord was mindful of him personally as the Lord prepared this great brother to serve as stake president.
The Lord’s promptings and revelations may not always come in the time or in the way that we expect. But, if we are worthy they always come in the best time and in the best way for us because our Heavenly Father is all knowing and all powerful, but most importantly, His divine love is perfect and pure.
CLOSING TESTIMONY
Brothers and sisters, I add my witness that our spiritual survival requires “the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost... [And] through the manifestations of the Holy Ghost, the Lord will assist us in all our righteous pursuits.” [13]
I testify that the Holy Ghost comes to us through and because of Jesus Christ. I know that He is the Only Begotten Son of God. I know that He is the Savior and Redeemer of the world. I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is His Church. I know that BYU–Hawaii is one of His schools. And I know that He loves you! And because of that love, He has gathered you from around the world to this chosen land of Laie, to learn of Him, to receive personal revelations from Him, and to build His kingdom. In His name, even Jesus Christ, amen.
Notes:
[1] President Russell M. Nelson, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” Ensign, April 2018, 96.
[2] President Russell M. Nelson, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” Ensign, April 2018, 96.
[3] 1 Nephi 4:6-7
[4] President Henry B. Eyring, “Our Constant Companion,” Ensign, October 2023.
[5] 1 Nephi 17:7-8
[6] 1 Nephi 18:1-3
[7] 2 Nephi 32:5
[8] Blessing on the Bread
[9] 2 Nephi 32:3
[10] John 14:6
[11] Moroni 10:32-33
[12] 2 Nephi 25:26
[13] President Russell M. Nelson, Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives," Ensign, April 2018, 96.