After we visited this good sister we went across the street to a rehabilitation center where an elderly member of our ward is recovering from a quintuple bypass. It has been a blessing to see this faithful man and his sweet wife go through this journey together. He is almost 83 and the recovery process has been a long and hard one, but it appears as though he has reached a point where he is doing quite well and he may even be able to return to his home in the near future to continue with his recovery. Many of our ward members have visited him regularly, and they await the time where they will be able to serve him and his sweetheart on a more personal and regular basis when he returns home.
Our last visit for the night brought us to a great little casual restaurant to eat dinner, but also support a former member of our ward who was playing in a band. We also met his parents who are still member of our ward, his wife and new baby, another family that lives in our ward, and finally ran into a single mom and her daughter who recently moved form our ward. We enjoyed the music and the great company.
At this point we thought that the night had pretty much ended on a high point....and...it really was a great night....doing what we're supposed to be doing, seeing some friends, eating some good food, and best of all, spending the time with my sweetheart,
We started heading home, but just after entering the highway at exit 4, I almost immediately saw the brake lights of everyone in front of me frantically coming on with tires and brakes screeching. Whatever was happening was happening about 8 cars in front of us. As e got closer to what was going on we could see large car parts strewn all over the road. Their was a very small car in the right hand emergency lane that had it's front end completely smashed in. Everyone slowed down except for another car and just kept on going....seemingly no one willing to stop and help. I immediately told Sue that we needed to pull over and help. I got out of the car and ran to the destroyed car, not knowing what to expect....were they alright, were they hurt badly...heaven forbid, was someone killed. By the look of the car, any scenario was in play at that point. When I got to the car a young woman was covered with blood...so much so that her long dark hair looked like it had pancake syrup in it. She had blood covering her head, face, hands, and it kept on coming, not gushing, but coming. It was also apparent that she could not move her lower legs because of either broken ankles, legs, or both. Then I saw that there was a very small baby probably 2-3 months old at most in the backseat. Thankfully the baby was in a rear facing child seat. She was alert but not crying or moving around...all this while the horn was stuck wide open. The young lady (Adrian) was hysterical at this time and obviously very concerned about the baby. The other people who had stopped to help were good people but they seemed to be lost as to what to do. They did call 911 so help was on the way. I felt immediately impressed to treat Adrian like my daughter. I was able to talk to her, comfort her, and let her know that her baby was awake and looked pretty good with no evidence of injury. After about 5-6 minutes the police and rescue arrived, but while they were assessing the damage and what to do, I asked Adrian if she was LDS...she said no. I then told her that I was an LDS Bishop and asked her if she would like a blessing....she said emphatically....YES. I looked around at the other people who were there and while I felt they were very good people, I could also tell that they either were not LDS or were not worthy priesthood holders. I then anointed her with consecrated oil that I ALWAYS keep on my keychain, and then sealed the anointing and gave her a blessing. I stayed with her while the workers were checking the baby out to keep her calm.
She asked for my phone so she could call her parents. I dialed the number for her and she talked to them for all of 10 seconds and gave the phone back to me. I continued to calm her down for another minute and told her that I was going to leave and that she was in good hands and that she and the baby would be alright. I then started walking away and realized that her parents must be terrified since she only talked to them for seconds...what were they thinking? I dialed the number on my phone and got Adrian's mom. She was hysterical as well as I don't think she was told very much. I got her calmed down and reassured her that it appeared that her daughter would be fine with no apparent life threatening issues with her or the baby. I asked her if they were LDS and they said no. I told them that I was an LDS Bishop and that I had given her a blessing. They said that was great and they were very thankful.
Sue and I then went home, Sue was very shaky and I was calm, but emotional because I felt that I had just been a part of the Lord's plan. I told Sue that we could never deny this church or it;s Gospel.
I just got off the phone with Adrian's father this morning at 10:30. I explained to him who I was and this good man was so very thankful that someone was with his daughter and grandchild. We talked for about 5 minutes and found out that she indeed had fallen asleep while driving. If she had done that just another 100 feet she would have gone down a steep median and either rolled her car or gone head on into oncoming southbound traffic. Adrian suffered a broken ankle, a broken nose, and a few cuts and bruises, but the baby is perfectly fine. She will be out of the hospital in two days.
NOW, I want to be clear about this. This evening was not about me in any way shape or form. This was about being in tune to the Spirit AND following it. Both Sue and I feel that we were placed in this position to help others come unto Christ. I know that we were supposed to visit all of those good people last night and be there for that sweet young lady. Who knows what will happen, but it probably was as good a missionary opportunity as one could have. The church is true! This is the Lord's church, and HE is running it....if we all stay worthy we can all be along for the ride....hold on tight because its a heck of great ride!
To my family members who are Priesthood holders, always keep yourself worthy and open to the promptings of the Spirit. Carry consecrated oil with you AT ALL TIMES...you never know when the Lord will need you. Always treat your spouses better than yourself and put them first in your own life. Did you know that our spouses are the only other people other than the Lord that we are commanded to cleave unto....not our parents, not our siblings, not our friends, not even our children....our spouses. I have a wonderful wife in Sue. We tell each other how much we love each other daily, we pray together, and many times we serve together.
Please enjoy the following talk given during a BYU devotional by Dennis B Neuenschwander of the Presidency of the 70 in 1998, and published in the September 2002 Ensign
From a devotional address given at Brigham Young University on 19 May 1998.
We need to ponder our spiritual experiences, learn from them, and be strengthened by them.
We need to ponder our spiritual experiences, learn from them, and be strengthened by them.
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It is a good thing for us to know what we believe. We should know and be familiar with the doctrines, ordinances, covenants, and teachings of the Church and its modern-day prophets. Equally important, however, to knowing what we believe is believing what we know. Believing what we know has to do with recognizing, trusting, and learning from our own spiritual experiences.
Deeply personal spiritual experiences are granted to us for our own edification and occupy an important place in our education. Such experiences will always be in harmony with the doctrines of the Church and the teachings of its living prophets.
I am passing through the same educational process you are. Along the way I have made a few observations about learning from the experiences the Lord has granted me. I would like to share a few of my observations with you.
1. We can know some things without knowing all things.
When Nephi desired a confirmation of his father’s vision, the angel asked him, “Knowest thou the condescension of God?” Nephi’s answer was, “I know that he loveth His children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things” (1 Ne. 11:16–17). Nephi seemed satisfied to permit his knowledge of some things to expand his faith and give him confidence in areas where his knowledge was not quite as complete. We would do well to nurture this understanding. President Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985) taught that “faith is based on past experience. It is not blind obedience, even without total understanding, to follow a Father who has proved himself” (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball [1982], 59). For example, each time the Lord answers a prayer, my knowledge that He does answer prayer is strengthened. This knowledge expands my faith and confidence into those times when His answers do not come as quickly or when His timing is far different from my own.In an academic setting we understand this principle of not knowing all things quite thoroughly. We are comfortable with the idea that we must take basic courses before we move on to more advanced work. The absence of complete knowledge in a discipline does not hinder us in knowing some things about that discipline. In fact, our pursuit of additional knowledge is driven by our understanding that we do not know all things.
Learning takes time. Though we understand this in our secular lives, we are often impatient in our spiritual development. We sometimes feel that the Lord ought to reveal more than He does in order to remove some of the discomfort we experience when we realize that we do not have a ready answer for every question. In Primary, however, we memorize the ninth article of faith, which teaches us that more is yet to come: “We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.” [A of F 1:9]
Alma teaches that spiritual growth takes effort as well as time: “If ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life.
“And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, … by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, … and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst” (Alma 32:41–42).
The people of Alma’s day did not immediately understand how to plant and nourish the word in their hearts. Alma answered by giving them three basic steps: pray in all circumstances, read and understand the scriptures, and believe in the Son of God (see Alma 33). In this progressive revelation of spiritual knowledge by virtue of our diligence, faith, and long-suffering, we can surely know some things without knowing all things.
2. Spiritual experiences are very personal and may not be understood by others.
The Lord cautions us to exercise great care in how, where, and with whom we share our spiritual experiences. We cannot expect a basically unbelieving world to understand experiences of a deeply personal and spiritual nature.A most interesting example of this is found in the ninth chapter of John: “And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth” (John 9:1). Jesus spat on the ground, made clay of the spittle, anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, and then told him to go wash. “He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing” (John 9:7). What was the reaction among the people to this miracle? Did they accept it as a confirmation of their faith? First his neighbors didn’t even recognize him. “And they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?” (John 9:8). “Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he” (John 9:9). They asked him, “How were thine eyes opened?” (John 9:10). He answered their question very simply, surely anticipating that they would accept his response and take joy in his good fortune. “A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight” (John 9:11).
His was a simple explanation and testimony of a deeply personal spiritual experience. The neighbors, however, could or would not understand, so they brought him to the Pharisees, who also asked him how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see” (John 9:15). The reaction of the Pharisees is also insightful. As the miracle was performed on the Sabbath, some said, “This man,” speaking of Jesus, “is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them” (John 9:16).
Didn’t the Pharisees completely miss the point? They pressed the blind man again, not to gain understanding of the miracle but to determine his opinion of him who had performed the miracle. “What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thy eyes?” Again, a simple answer: “He is a prophet” (John 9:17).
“But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight.
“And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see?
“His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind:
“But by what means he now seeth, we know not” (John 9:18–21).
Even his parents failed to appreciate the miracle in their son’s life. Because they feared the Jews, the parents simply said, “He is of age; ask him” (John 9:23). Again they called the man who was blind and again pressed him about Jesus, saying, “Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner” (John 9:24).
I suppose by now, after several explanations, the man was growing increasingly impatient, which is felt in the terseness of his reply. “Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see” (John 9:25). No amount of explanation, however simple and straightforward, would help others to understand and accept what he himself had experienced. After all the explanation and testimony, they reviled the recipient of the miracle and said, “Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples” (John 9:28). The man answered them again, “Why herein is a marvelous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes” (John 9:30). They answered him and said: “Thou was altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out” (John 9:34). In the end, no one accepted the miracle, the doer of the miracle, or the recipient of the miracle. No one even seemed happy that the blind man could see.
The spiritual experiences the Lord grants to us are extremely personal. We should share them only selectively or not at all. If we do choose to share them, it should be only with those who can understand and appreciate such things and will hold them as sacredly as we do, as a confirmation of their own faith.
3. Spiritual experiences not understood by others will often be rejected, but their rejection does not change the experiences.
Joseph Smith writes in his history that he shared his experience of the First Vision among the professors of religion, which caused great persecution towards him. In his reflection, the Prophet compared himself to the Apostle Paul in his defense before King Agrippa. The Prophet writes that Paul “related the account of the vision he had when he saw a light, and heard a voice; but still there were but few who believed him; some said he was dishonest, others said he was mad; and he was ridiculed and reviled. But this did not destroy the reality of his vision” (JS—H 1:24; emphasis added).The Prophet continues: “So it was with me. I had actually seen a light, and in the midst of that light I saw two Personages, and they did in reality speak to me; and though I was hated and persecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet it was true; and while they were persecuting me, reviling me, and speaking all manner of evil against me falsely for so saying, I was led to say in my heart: Why persecute me for telling the truth? I have actually seen a vision; and who am I that I can withstand God, or why does the world think to make me deny what I have actually seen? For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it” (JS—H 1:25).
If others do not enjoy spiritual experiences, it does not mean that we do not. I am reminded of an experience in New York as a graduate student. I was serving as a seventies stake missionary. The bishop called one evening and told me that some members were involved in a discussion with a group of what we would now call born-again Christians. The members were challenged by the conversation and had called him for help. He asked me if I would be available to enter the discussion, which I did. Through that evening, it became clear that my new friends rejected the idea that Joseph Smith could have had a vision. My response was a question. “What is the highest and most sacred personal experience you could have?” Their answer was: “A revelation of Jesus.” I answered, “Why then would you deny another that same blessing?”
This leads to a closely related fourth observation regarding our spiritual experiences.
4. As others may reject our spiritual experiences, they will often try to dissuade us from believing them.
There will always be those who are not content to simply reject your spiritual experiences but will do all they can to convince you to deny what you yourself have experienced. One of the most interesting examples I could find in the scriptures relating to this principle is the reaction of the Nephites toward the signs given at the birth of the Savior. Samuel the Lamanite had come among them only a few years before the signs were to be given. He made clear predictions of the signs they would witness. These would not be simple things. The sun was to go down, but there would be no darkness through the whole night. “A new star” would appear, and there would be “many signs and wonders in heaven” (see Hel. 14:3–6). Such would be their amazement that they would all fall to the earth (see Hel. 14:7).It seems to me that such occurrences would be hard to miss. Yet when all happened according to the prophecy, many people found them hard to believe. “And it came to pass,” we read, “that from this time forth there began to be lyings sent forth among the people, by Satan, to harden their hearts, to the intent that they might not believe in those signs and wonders which they had seen” (3 Ne. 1:22).
Surely we have undergone spiritual experiences in our lives that have amazed us. We ponder them and wonder about them. Satan will always be there to whisper in our ears that they either did not happen as we remember them, or he will try to persuade us to deny them altogether.
Referring to pondering and reflection leads me to a fifth observation.
5. Sometimes only upon reflection, or when someone else points it out, do we recognize what we have experienced.
The experience of the disciples on the road to Emmaus on the day of the Lord’s Resurrection exemplifies this. He appeared to them and questioned their sadness as He spoke with them along the road. They rehearsed the events of the last few days. The Savior took the opportunity to teach them from the scriptures concerning the prophets and Himself. When they came into the village, they invited Him to stay with them. He ate with them, took bread and blessed it and broke it and gave it to them, and at that point their eyes were opened and they knew Him, but He vanished out of their sight. Only upon reflection did the disciples understand what had occurred. “Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?” (Luke 24:32).This is a common experience for all of us. It seems to me that we often do not immediately recognize the importance of what is happening to us.
Many of us have served full-time missions. Every successful missionary teaches the investigator to recognize the Spirit. At the height of a wonderful gospel discussion, a missionary will ask the question, “What do you feel right now?” It is a difficult feeling for the investigator to describe. Usually, phrases like “I feel warmth” or “I feel peace and comfort” are heard. What they feel is something they have never experienced in quite the same way. It is then that the missionary explains what is happening and what it means. So it is often with us. Only with good teachers may we sometimes begin to understand that which is occurring in our lives. Knowing this, the Lord has told us continually to ponder His word in order that we may understand.
6. Trusting our spiritual experiences will help keep us from deception.
A most revealing experience regarding this principle is that which occurred to Moses (see Moses 1:1–13). “Moses was caught up into an exceedingly high mountain” (Moses 1:1), where he saw God face to face and talked with Him. The glory of God was upon Moses so that he could endure His presence. God showed Moses some of the workings of this earth. When this marvelous vision was complete, God withdrew from Moses, and Moses was left to himself. Satan now came, tempting and commanding Moses to worship him. Moses queried him, asking: “Who art thou? For behold, I am a son of God, in the similitude of his Only Begotten; and where is thy glory, that I should worship thee?” (Moses 1:13). Moses, because of his previous experience with God, understood the deception that was being offered to him. “For behold, I could not look upon God, except his glory should come upon me, and I were transfigured before him. But I can look upon thee in the natural man. Is it not so, surely?” (Moses 1:14). Moses then commanded Satan to depart. Moses’ knowledge and trust in his first experience most assuredly kept him from the deception of his second experience.On 2 August 1913, the First Presidency published a statement, which bears the title “A Warning Voice.” Their statement embodies a basic principle that, if followed, will keep us from deception: “In secular as well as spiritual affairs, Saints may receive Divine guidance and revelation affecting themselves, but this does not convey authority to direct others, and is not to be accepted when contrary to Church covenants, doctrine or discipline, or to known facts, demonstrated truths, or good common sense” (in James R. Clark, comp., Messages of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 6 vols. [1965–75], 4:285–86). Those who fall away from the Church generally struggle with this principle. Recognizing and understanding our own spiritual experiences within the gospel framework keep us safe from deception.
7. Spiritual experiences confirm our testimonies and help us to endure moments of doubt and uncertainty.
President Kimball has said that “faith grows through spiritual experience” (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, 76). When I was a mission president, I would ask missionaries leaving the mission field to write down for their final interview with me the major lessons they had learned through the course of their mission. What I heard most often was: “I learned the importance of prayer,” “I learned that God answers prayer,” “I learned the importance of regular scripture study,” or “I learned to appreciate hard, disciplined work.” Never did I hear anything that related to the goals of the mission, the number of baptisms, or number of hours worked. After reviewing what they had learned, I returned their written accounts to them with the counsel that they keep them in a safe place. I told them that a time would come in their lives when matters would not be so clear as they had been in the mission field. It was then that they were to retrieve and read what they had written about their own spiritual experiences.You may know that before one is considered for employment at BYU, an interview with a General Authority is required. Not long ago I interviewed a brilliant individual for a position. His training was in a discipline that could possibly pose some challenge to his testimony. I asked him whether he had ever wavered in his faith or, in the course of his study, ever lost his testimony. He answered the question candidly and told me, yes, he had. His integrity was impressive. I asked him how he had overcome the challenge. The answer was simple. He said, “I went back to my missionary journals and read them in order to rediscover what I once knew to be true.”
Spiritual experiences are granted to us by a loving Heavenly Father. They are meant to strengthen us and educate us in His ways. We need to ponder our lives that we may comprehend our spiritual experiences, learn from them, and be strengthened by them.
Love to all!
5 comments:
ray, i am speechless! what an experience you will never forget. thank you for sharing it!
Thank you for sharing Ray. I shouldn't have read it at school bc it made me emotional. This has been an awakening day.
A
Thanks, both mom and I thought that we need to share this experience. As I was writing the blog it came to me that this is just one example of what can and does happen to each of us. Everyone of our family members has had spiritual experiences that have affected our lives and the lives of others, and at the very least have been around others who have. Your mom is an extremely special lady who is so in tune to the Spirit...I have never known anyone personally who is constantly more in tune.
I hope this blog entry will serve as an impetus for all of our family members to stay in tune with the Spirit. It not only affects lives....but...changes lives
Love to all!
Thanks for sharing. Will and I were in our bedroom with the blinds open when mom called. We had just watched a police car go flying down the freeway with lights flashing. While I was talking to her we watched others flying by as well. I'm glad you were in the right spot at the right time.
I have a whole new life with you, Ray. I love to see you be guided by the Spirit. It is wonderful to be part of all of it. I had just had a conversation with Melissa at lunchtime about recognizing and sharing spiritual experiences when I found this post & talk. It brought perfect closure to our half hour conversation. I'm sure it is all just "coincidence"! All I can say is AMEN!
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