Happy Father's Day! What a privilege it was to hear from three departing missionaries today who gave such beautiful tributes to the father figures in their lives, the fathers in the scriptures and of course to our Heavenly Father. We were blessed to have our relief society numbers added to as a result of the farewells and the holiday. Alicia Call Peterson's sister, Linda Parrack (Sunrise Mountain ward) and two sisters-in-law; Tanya Thomas Call and Tina were able to join us along with Brother Ed Boye's daughter, Memory. Welcome sisters!
Sister Joanna Beck used Gary E. Stevenson's talk "The Heart of a Prophet" as her main source today but supplemented with thoughts from "Revelation for the Church, Revelation for our Lives" by President Russell M. Nelson; "Live According to the Words of the Prophets" by Carol F. McConkie and "Prophets Speak by the Power of the Holy Spirit" by Ulisses Soares.
Elder Stevenson shares his insider view of the process of the calling of a new prophet. After he explains this "sacred and memorable meeting", Elder Stevenson states "this was a deeply sacred experience, with an outpouring of the Spirit. I offer to you my absolute witness that the will of the Lord, for which we fervently prayed, was powerfully manifest in the activities and events of that day."
Apostles are in an obvious postition to have experiences with the prophet but personal experiences are not limited to just the twelve.
In 1974 while in high school, Sister Joanna Beck was at the Spokane World's Fair where they had a big display for the church. President Spencer W. Kimball came through and she was able to shake his hand. She said it was a powerful witness to her soul and she could see kindness emanating from his eyes.
Sister Korilyn Wilkins Burt's father was the first MTC president and his first wife was the daughter of Harold B. Lee. When he passed away, President Hinckley, President Monson and President Faust all came individually to his funeral on their way to Olympic events. They came in quietly. She said President Monson was a tall big man and you could feel him enter like heat in a room. The feeling was so strong. Her dad had some of his nose removed from cancer and when President Faust, who was a good friend to her father, looked at him he said "Well, he's looked better". President Hinckley wrote a letter after the funeral to their family which is a family treasure. It was neat to hear of such personal interactions from living prophets.
President Kimball also wrote a letter to Sister Linda Parrack in response to her letter she wrote as a 10-12 year old when her dad was serving as a bishop. She said this experience helped her to realize the prophet loves every single one of us.
Sister Leslie Winward Wright didn't have a personal interaction to share but she still had a personal experience. Once for a young women's lesson, she had her husband put together a montage of different prophets and apostles speaking from President Spencer W. Kimball to the current leaders. There was no visual, it was just their voices and she said the Spirit was so strong as the young women reacted to the different voices with fond recognition.
Sister Alicia Call Peterson remembers being at BYU and attending the weekly devotionals. She said when a prophet would come to speak the feeling was powerful as soon as they walked into the room.
Sister Linda Call Parrack had a similar experience with the cultural celebration when you could physically feel the presence of the prophet.
Sister Gloria Murphy likewise experienced the power of a prophet when she was at a rodeo in northern Arizona for the 24th of July and the prophet rode into the middle of the stadium and the whole rowdy stadium went completely quiet.
Sister Mary Call was able to lead tours through the London temple and was able to shake David O. McKay's hands and talk with him. She said he was so kind and gentle.
Sister Becky King was at her husband's mission reunion before they were married. Mark E. Peterson was there and he had them come and stand before him. He was very tall and she said he looked down at them and he told Jim "You take care of this little girl"!
Sister Dana Sue Kast Janulis heard President Nelson and his wife, Wendy, speak at Roots Tech. She said she didn't need to shake his hand to know he was a prophet. She could feel it from listening to him.
Sister Valerie Updike was nine years old when she was able to ride on a float for a 24th of July parade. President McKay was on the same float and even had her sit on his lap. She said her parents kept trying to tell her he was a prophet but she would insist "No, he's an angel!"
Sister Susan Fuhriman Farley has met four prophets: President Mckay as she shook his hand as a young girl; President Monson as she was on her mission in Toronto; President Nelson who had breakfast in their home when he came to release her husband and President Hinckley. She was at a reception where President Hinckley was being honored. Her husband's work associate had made a large donation and was invited to be with the Hinckleys. At one point, their work associate came and took Sister Farley and her husband and ushered them into this room where it was just President and Sister Hinckley. She had heard they were frail and not able to shake hands so she had held back but President Hinckley reached out and took her arm.
Everyone that shared seemed to have individual experiences with a unifying outcome: they each felt the power of the office of a prophet of God and the love of the Lord through the man called in His service.
Elder Stevenson describes it this way with regards to President Nelson: "His outreach is to all, young and old. He seems to know everyone and is particularly gifted at remembering names. All who know him feel that they are his favorite. And so it is with each of us—because of his genuine love and concern for everyone."
Sister Beck reminded us of President Nelson's professional life as a renowned heart surgeon and recounted Elder Stevenson's experience when he was invited to attend an event where President Nelson was honored as a pioneer of heart surgery. Many professionals shared their respect and admiration but a former student of President Nelson sitting next to Elder Stevenson shared personal experiences that held Elder Stevenson spellbound: "Most interesting was his description of President Nelson’s teaching style, which, he said, brought with it a large measure of notoriety. He explained that much of the teaching of heart surgery residents was conducted in the operating room. There, residents observed and performed surgery under faculty supervision, as a laboratory classroom. He shared that the operating room environment under certain faculty surgeons was chaotic, competitive, pressure filled, and even ego driven. This man described it as a difficult environment, sometimes even demeaning. As a result, resident surgeons even felt their careers were often on the line.
He then explained the unique environment found in President Nelson’s operating room. It was peaceful, calm, and dignified. Residents were treated with deep respect. However, following the demonstration of a procedure, Dr. Nelson expected the highest standard of performance from each of the residents. This man further described how the best patient outcomes and the best surgeons came out of Dr. Nelson’s operating room."
Elder Stevenson continues: "This is no surprise to me at all. This is what I have observed firsthand and been truly blessed by in the Quorum of the Twelve. I feel like I have been, in a sense, one of his “residents in training.”
President Nelson has an exceptional way of teaching others and offering correction in a positive, respectful, and uplifting manner. He is the embodiment of a Christlike heart and an example to us all. From him we learn that in any circumstance we find ourselves, our conduct and hearts can be in accordance with the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ."
Sister Beck then asked us to consider what is on the Prophet's heart? What has he counseled and asked us to do since he has been the prophet? Several sisters reminded us of his invitations:
---Read the Book of Mormon every day! (Sister Ellie Pace)
---Stay on the covenant path (Sister Diane Doyle Broderick)
---Rely on the Spirit (Sister Chrystalyn Jones Trimble)
---Go to the temple (Sister Susan Fuhriman Farley)
Sister Beck then turned to President Nelson's closing remarks for our April Conference:
---I EXHORT you to study the messages of this conference frequently—even repeatedly—during the next six months. Conscientiously look for ways to incorporate these messages in your family home evenings, your gospel teaching, your conversations with family and friends, and even your discussions with those not of our faith.
And after the announcement of seven more temples, President Nelson states:
---"My dear brothers and sisters, construction of these temples may not change your life, but your time in the temple surely will. In that spirit, I bless you to identify those things you can set aside so you can spend more time in the temple. I bless you with greater harmony and love in your homes and a deeper desire to care for your eternal family relationships. I bless you with increased faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and a greater ability to follow Him as His true disciples."
Newly called Elder Ulisses Soares shared his testimony of the prophet: "Brothers and sisters, from the bottom of my heart, I testify that the prophets speak by the power of the Holy Spirit. They testify of Christ and His divine mission on earth. They represent the mind and heart of the Lord and are called to represent Him and teach us what we must do to return to live in the presence of God and His Son, Jesus Christ. We are blessed as we exercise our faith and follow their teachings. By following them, our lives are happier and less complicated, our difficulties and problems are easier to bear, and we create a spiritual armor around us that will protect us from the attacks of the enemy in our day."
Sister Beck shared President Nelson's sobering warning at the beginning of the lesson: "... in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost."
As Elder Soares explains, part of the key to having the constant influence of the Holy Ghost, is to listen to and follow the teachings of the living prophets.
As we continue to study the Conference talks and other counsel from our prophets (including the recent counsel to the youth of the church) we will know what teachings we need to work on personally and in our own homes to be prepared spiritually for these last days.
Sister Joanna Beck used Gary E. Stevenson's talk "The Heart of a Prophet" as her main source today but supplemented with thoughts from "Revelation for the Church, Revelation for our Lives" by President Russell M. Nelson; "Live According to the Words of the Prophets" by Carol F. McConkie and "Prophets Speak by the Power of the Holy Spirit" by Ulisses Soares.
Elder Stevenson shares his insider view of the process of the calling of a new prophet. After he explains this "sacred and memorable meeting", Elder Stevenson states "this was a deeply sacred experience, with an outpouring of the Spirit. I offer to you my absolute witness that the will of the Lord, for which we fervently prayed, was powerfully manifest in the activities and events of that day."
Apostles are in an obvious postition to have experiences with the prophet but personal experiences are not limited to just the twelve.
In 1974 while in high school, Sister Joanna Beck was at the Spokane World's Fair where they had a big display for the church. President Spencer W. Kimball came through and she was able to shake his hand. She said it was a powerful witness to her soul and she could see kindness emanating from his eyes.
Sister Korilyn Wilkins Burt's father was the first MTC president and his first wife was the daughter of Harold B. Lee. When he passed away, President Hinckley, President Monson and President Faust all came individually to his funeral on their way to Olympic events. They came in quietly. She said President Monson was a tall big man and you could feel him enter like heat in a room. The feeling was so strong. Her dad had some of his nose removed from cancer and when President Faust, who was a good friend to her father, looked at him he said "Well, he's looked better". President Hinckley wrote a letter after the funeral to their family which is a family treasure. It was neat to hear of such personal interactions from living prophets.
President Kimball also wrote a letter to Sister Linda Parrack in response to her letter she wrote as a 10-12 year old when her dad was serving as a bishop. She said this experience helped her to realize the prophet loves every single one of us.
Sister Leslie Winward Wright didn't have a personal interaction to share but she still had a personal experience. Once for a young women's lesson, she had her husband put together a montage of different prophets and apostles speaking from President Spencer W. Kimball to the current leaders. There was no visual, it was just their voices and she said the Spirit was so strong as the young women reacted to the different voices with fond recognition.
Sister Alicia Call Peterson remembers being at BYU and attending the weekly devotionals. She said when a prophet would come to speak the feeling was powerful as soon as they walked into the room.
Sister Linda Call Parrack had a similar experience with the cultural celebration when you could physically feel the presence of the prophet.
Sister Gloria Murphy likewise experienced the power of a prophet when she was at a rodeo in northern Arizona for the 24th of July and the prophet rode into the middle of the stadium and the whole rowdy stadium went completely quiet.
Sister Mary Call was able to lead tours through the London temple and was able to shake David O. McKay's hands and talk with him. She said he was so kind and gentle.
Sister Becky King was at her husband's mission reunion before they were married. Mark E. Peterson was there and he had them come and stand before him. He was very tall and she said he looked down at them and he told Jim "You take care of this little girl"!
Sister Dana Sue Kast Janulis heard President Nelson and his wife, Wendy, speak at Roots Tech. She said she didn't need to shake his hand to know he was a prophet. She could feel it from listening to him.
Sister Valerie Updike was nine years old when she was able to ride on a float for a 24th of July parade. President McKay was on the same float and even had her sit on his lap. She said her parents kept trying to tell her he was a prophet but she would insist "No, he's an angel!"
Sister Susan Fuhriman Farley has met four prophets: President Mckay as she shook his hand as a young girl; President Monson as she was on her mission in Toronto; President Nelson who had breakfast in their home when he came to release her husband and President Hinckley. She was at a reception where President Hinckley was being honored. Her husband's work associate had made a large donation and was invited to be with the Hinckleys. At one point, their work associate came and took Sister Farley and her husband and ushered them into this room where it was just President and Sister Hinckley. She had heard they were frail and not able to shake hands so she had held back but President Hinckley reached out and took her arm.
Everyone that shared seemed to have individual experiences with a unifying outcome: they each felt the power of the office of a prophet of God and the love of the Lord through the man called in His service.
Elder Stevenson describes it this way with regards to President Nelson: "His outreach is to all, young and old. He seems to know everyone and is particularly gifted at remembering names. All who know him feel that they are his favorite. And so it is with each of us—because of his genuine love and concern for everyone."
Sister Beck reminded us of President Nelson's professional life as a renowned heart surgeon and recounted Elder Stevenson's experience when he was invited to attend an event where President Nelson was honored as a pioneer of heart surgery. Many professionals shared their respect and admiration but a former student of President Nelson sitting next to Elder Stevenson shared personal experiences that held Elder Stevenson spellbound: "Most interesting was his description of President Nelson’s teaching style, which, he said, brought with it a large measure of notoriety. He explained that much of the teaching of heart surgery residents was conducted in the operating room. There, residents observed and performed surgery under faculty supervision, as a laboratory classroom. He shared that the operating room environment under certain faculty surgeons was chaotic, competitive, pressure filled, and even ego driven. This man described it as a difficult environment, sometimes even demeaning. As a result, resident surgeons even felt their careers were often on the line.
He then explained the unique environment found in President Nelson’s operating room. It was peaceful, calm, and dignified. Residents were treated with deep respect. However, following the demonstration of a procedure, Dr. Nelson expected the highest standard of performance from each of the residents. This man further described how the best patient outcomes and the best surgeons came out of Dr. Nelson’s operating room."
Elder Stevenson continues: "This is no surprise to me at all. This is what I have observed firsthand and been truly blessed by in the Quorum of the Twelve. I feel like I have been, in a sense, one of his “residents in training.”
President Nelson has an exceptional way of teaching others and offering correction in a positive, respectful, and uplifting manner. He is the embodiment of a Christlike heart and an example to us all. From him we learn that in any circumstance we find ourselves, our conduct and hearts can be in accordance with the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ."
Sister Beck then asked us to consider what is on the Prophet's heart? What has he counseled and asked us to do since he has been the prophet? Several sisters reminded us of his invitations:
---Read the Book of Mormon every day! (Sister Ellie Pace)
---Stay on the covenant path (Sister Diane Doyle Broderick)
---Rely on the Spirit (Sister Chrystalyn Jones Trimble)
---Go to the temple (Sister Susan Fuhriman Farley)
Sister Beck then turned to President Nelson's closing remarks for our April Conference:
---I EXHORT you to study the messages of this conference frequently—even repeatedly—during the next six months. Conscientiously look for ways to incorporate these messages in your family home evenings, your gospel teaching, your conversations with family and friends, and even your discussions with those not of our faith.
And after the announcement of seven more temples, President Nelson states:
---"My dear brothers and sisters, construction of these temples may not change your life, but your time in the temple surely will. In that spirit, I bless you to identify those things you can set aside so you can spend more time in the temple. I bless you with greater harmony and love in your homes and a deeper desire to care for your eternal family relationships. I bless you with increased faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and a greater ability to follow Him as His true disciples."
Newly called Elder Ulisses Soares shared his testimony of the prophet: "Brothers and sisters, from the bottom of my heart, I testify that the prophets speak by the power of the Holy Spirit. They testify of Christ and His divine mission on earth. They represent the mind and heart of the Lord and are called to represent Him and teach us what we must do to return to live in the presence of God and His Son, Jesus Christ. We are blessed as we exercise our faith and follow their teachings. By following them, our lives are happier and less complicated, our difficulties and problems are easier to bear, and we create a spiritual armor around us that will protect us from the attacks of the enemy in our day."
Sister Beck shared President Nelson's sobering warning at the beginning of the lesson: "... in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost."
As Elder Soares explains, part of the key to having the constant influence of the Holy Ghost, is to listen to and follow the teachings of the living prophets.
As we continue to study the Conference talks and other counsel from our prophets (including the recent counsel to the youth of the church) we will know what teachings we need to work on personally and in our own homes to be prepared spiritually for these last days.
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