February 10, 2016 - Wednesday in Nauvoo

Although the wind had died down considerably, the temperatures were still in the teens.  And since we had our weekly training meeting, walking around our Nauvoo trail was not possible this morning.  Nor was it possible to walk to the training meeting at the Visitors Center.  After our morning devotional and prayers, we left for the training in our van at about 7:15am.  We sure enjoy getting to our meetings early and preparing for the messages that are presented to us.

Today's information was extra special at the weekly training meeting.  The mission president, President Hall, played the BYU-Idaho devotional talk of Elder Bednar that was given January 26th of this year.  What a powerful talk he gave to the BYU-Idaho students and how important it was to realize that he could be talking to any congregation of Latter-day Saints!

Elder Bednar titled his talk; “Repeat Over Again … the Same Things as Before.” In reference to this unusual title, he said he chose that title because his purpose was to explain the spiritual value and importance of repetitious learning and teaching.  In his primary example, he referred to the appearances of Moroni to the young Joseph Smith.  “In each of the four appearances of Moroni to Joseph Smith, the core message was identical. But in a line upon line and precept upon precept pattern of revelation and learning, additional knowledge and instruction were given in the second, third, and fourth manifestations: a foretelling of future events, a personal warning, and a commandment. All of the messages were the same, and were different, in a pattern of repetitious teaching and learning,” 

Repetitious teaching, Elder Bednar noted, is a hallmark in the ministry of any General Authority or auxiliary leader. “For example, he said; I frequently and repeatedly teach about and testify of the divinity and living reality of our Heavenly Father and His Only Begotten Son; of our resurrected Redeemer; of the basic doctrine, principles, ordinances, and covenants of the Savior’s restored gospel; of the reality of the latter-day Restoration; and of the essential nature of priesthood authority and keys. …

“Repetition is a vehicle through which the Holy Ghost can enlighten our minds, influence our hearts, and enlarge our understanding.”

“Consider how often we hear exactly the same words in the ordinance of baptism, … in conferring the gift of the Holy Ghost and confirming a new member of the Church, in the sacramental prayers, and in temple ordinances.”  He indicated that we sometimes close our minds when a speaker identifies his subject before his talk and we simply say something like, "I've already heard that".  We really short change ourselves, and the tutoring of the Spirit, when we turn off the speaker because we think we have already had that lesson! 

The Spirit then cannot work with us in "repetitious learning" because we choose not to listen.  I've done that and I won't do that again!  I have need to repent and allow the spiritual learning to take place, as I have grown and changed from various life's experiences.  

Elder Bednar concluded by teaching us this marvelous fact;  In a spirit of practicing what he was teaching, he repeated a warning and a promise he gave on the campus on other occasions: in 2006 when he spoke at a devotional assembly and presided at the groundbreaking for the BYU–Idaho Center, and in 2010 when he spoke in another assembly at the time the center was dedicated.

Drawing from the address of 2006, when the school was Ricks College, Elder Bednar repeated the warning and promise:  “In the authority of the holy apostleship, I now raise a voice of warning and make a solemn promise. If the day ever were to come that intellectual arrogance, a lack of appreciation, and a spirit of demanding entitlement take root on this campus—among the students, faculty, employees, or the administration, or within the community—then in that day the spirit of Ricks will be well on the way to being extinguished—and the heavenly influence and blessings that have prospered this institution and the people associated with it will be withdrawn. Conversely, as long as intellectual modesty, humility, gratitude, obedience, and frugality continue to characterize those who learn and serve at BYU–Idaho, then this university will shine forth ever brighter as a beacon of righteousness and of inspired educational innovation.”

I am convinced that the message he had for the students and faculty and employees of BYU-Idaho, pertain to all of us in the Church, and for mom and me, specifically, in our mission.  The Lord has blessed us in so many ways during the course of our lives and we must acknowledge those blessings through our thoughts and words and actions.  The Lord is not required to bless us, but these experiences that we have that bless our lives must be acknowledged on bended knee!  

We are not the same today as we were a year ago, or 5 years ago or 10 years ago.  As we have applied the learning that has been given to us, or that is made available to us, we are better prepared to see Him as He really is, because we are not the same!  I am grateful for the Gospel in my life and the opportunity I have to grow and strengthen my testimony every day...  I don't want to diminish the Spirit's influence in my life by marginalizing "repetitious learning" opportunities.  It just does not make any sense to do that.  Is anyone ready for a talk on Home Teaching?, Visiting Teaching?, Sabbath Day observance?, Magnifying callings?, ....