First off.
Conference this past weekend? ( clapping my hands) Was amazing.
I've had one talk on my mind all day, so I decided to pick it apart..
Reinforced constantly during my
own review of the years has been my knowledge that our prayers are heard and
answered. We are familiar with the truth found in 2 Nephi in the Book of momon:
“Men are, that they might have joy.”1
I testify that much of that joy comes as we recognize that we can communicate
with our Heavenly Father through prayer and that those prayers will be heard
and answered—perhaps not how and when we expected they would be answered, but
they will be answered and by a
Heavenly Father who knows and loves us perfectly and who desires our happiness.
Hasn’t He promised us, “Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by
the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers”?2
My brothers and sisters, the
Lord’s purposes are often accomplished as we pay heed to the guidance of the
Spirit. I believe that the more we act upon the inspiration and impressions
which come to us, the more the Lord will entrust to us His errands.
Blessing one:
On one occasion many years
ago, I was swimming laps at the old Deseret Gym in Salt Lake City when I felt
the inspiration to go to the University Hospital to visit a good friend of mine
who had lost the use of his lower limbs because of a malignancy and the surgery
which followed. I immediately left the pool, dressed, and was soon on my way to
see this good man.
When I arrived at his room,
I found that it was empty. Upon inquiry I learned I would probably find him in
the swimming pool area of the hospital, an area which was used for physical
therapy. Such turned out to be the case. He had guided himself there in his
wheelchair and was the only occupant of the room. He was on the far side of the
pool, near the deep end. I called to him, and he maneuvered his wheelchair over
to greet me. We had an enjoyable visit, and I accompanied him back to his
hospital room, where I gave him a blessing.
I learned later from my
friend that he had been utterly despondent that day and had been contemplating
taking his own life. He had prayed for relief but began to feel that his
prayers had gone unanswered. He went to the pool with the thought that this
would be a way to end his misery—by guiding his wheelchair into the deep end of
the pool. I had arrived at a critical moment, in response to what I know was
inspiration from on high.
My
friend was able to live many more years—years filled with happiness and gratitute How pleased I am to have been
an instrument in the Lord’s hands on that critical day at the swimming pool.
Blessing
two:
The opportunity to be a
blessing in the life of another often comes unexpectedly. On one extremely cold
Saturday night during the winter of 1983–84, Sister Monson and I drove several
miles to the mountain valley of Midway, Utah, where we have a home. The
temperature that night was minus 24 degrees Fahrenheit (–31°C), and we wanted
to make certain all was well at our home there. We checked and found that it
was fine, so we left to return to Salt Lake City. We barely made it the few
miles to the highway before our car stopped working. We were completely
stranded. I have seldom, if ever, been as cold as we were that night.
Reluctantly we began
walking toward the nearest town, the cars whizzing past us. Finally one car
stopped, and a young man offered to help. We eventually found that the diesel
fuel in our gas tank had thickened because of the cold, making it impossible
for us to drive the car. This kind young man drove us back to our Midway home.
I attempted to reimburse him for his services, but he graciously declined. He
indicated that he was a Boy Scout and wanted to do a good turn. I identified
myself to him, and he expressed his appreciation for the privilege to be of
help. Assuming that he was about missionary age, I asked him if he had plans to
serve a mission. He indicated he was not certain just what he wanted to do.
On the following Monday
morning, I wrote a letter to this young man and thanked him for his kindness.
In the letter I encouraged him to serve a full-time mission. I enclosed a copy
of one of my books and underscored the chapters on missionary service.
On the following Monday
morning, I wrote a letter to this young man and thanked him for his kindness.
In the letter I encouraged him to serve a full-time mission. I enclosed a copy
of one of my books and underscored the chapters on missionary service.
About a week later the
young man’s mother telephoned and advised that her son was an outstanding young
man but that because of certain influences in his life, his long-held desire to
serve a mission had diminished. She indicated she and his father had fasted and
prayed that his heart would be changed. They had placed his name on the prayer
roll of the Provo Utah Temple. They hoped that somehow, in some way, his heart
would be touched for good and he would return to his desire to fill a mission
and to serve the Lord faithfully. The mother wanted me to know that she looked
upon the events of that cold evening as an answer to their prayers in his
behalf. I said, “I agree with you.”
After several months and
more communication with this young man, Sister Monson and I were overjoyed to
attend his missionary farewell prior to his departure for the Canada Vancouver
Mission.
Was it chance that our
paths crossed on that cold December night? I do not for one moment believe so.
Rather, I believe our meeting was an answer to a mother’s and father’s
heartfelt prayers for the son they cherished.
Again, my brothers and
sisters, our Heavenly Father is aware of our needs and will help us as we call
upon Him for assistance. I believe that no concern of ours is too small or
insignificant. The Lord is in the details of our lives.
My brothers and sisters, the Lord
is in all of our lives. He loves us. He wants to bless us. He wants us to seek
His help. As He guides us and directs us and as He hears and answers our
prayers, we will find the happiness here and now that He desires for us. May we
be aware of His blessings in our lives, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ our Savior, amen.
Blessing 3:
Meet Tessa
Blessing 4:
Throughout my life I’ve realized something:
There’s no such thing as
coincidence. It all happens for a reason.
They’re just blessing from God.
I’m miss Mahala and I’m aware of
the blessings God prevails unto me.
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