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Title.
There are Many Questions Which are Asked in Life
A talk given September 14, 2008
Most of my remarks come from addresses given by President Howard W. Hunter, Elder Marion D. Hanks, President Ezra Taft Benson, and former BYU-Hawaii President Eric Shumway.
There are many questions which are asked in life. One of the most important questions ever asked to mortal men was asked by the Son of God himself, the Savior of the world.
To a group of disciples in the New World, a group anxious to be taught by him and even more anxious because he would soon be leaving them, he asked, “What manner of men ought ye to be?” Then in the same breath he gave this answer: “Even as I am” (3 Ne. 27:27).
The world is full of people who are willing to tell us, our lives. But we have so few who are prepared to say, “Do as I do.” And, of course, only One in human history could rightfully and properly make that declaration. Only he can say without any reservation, “Follow me; learn of me; do the things you have seen me do.
So, what manner of person should we be? What did Christ do, and what kind of character does that involve.
President Howard W. Hunter says:
He was gracious but he was not timid. He taught men the truth about his Father, the living God, and testified of him and of his own atoning mission, even though many who had followed him thereafter no longer walked with him.
He cried repentance and was baptized of John in Jordan, and taught all men to do likewise, and promised the obedient and faithful the blessing of the Holy Ghost.
President Hunter continues:
Christ knows the worth of souls. He came, as Isaiah had prophesied, and as he affirmed in the synagogue in Nazareth: “… to preach the gospel to the poor; … to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.” (Luke 4:18.)
He taught the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin and the lost son, and he lunched with accused Zacchaeus; admonished men to emulate the compassionate act of the demeaned Samaritan—(and said)“Go thou and do likewise.”
He exalted the humble Publican, who, in contrast to the self-righteous Pharisee, “would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13); and he confronted the accusers of the repentant woman.
So closely is he tied with his fellowmen that in one of the most powerful parables he taught that bread given to one of the least of his brethren is bread given to him, and so is any kindness or act of grace or mercy or service. To deny help to one of the least of his brethren, he said, was to deny him.
Elder Marion D. Hanks adds to the profile:
His message is one of hope and promise and peace to those who mourn the loss of loved ones:
“And ye now therefore have sorrow; but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.” (John 16:22.)
To the lonely and the hopeless and those who are afraid, his reassurance reaches out: “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” (Heb. 13:15.)
All about us are opportunities. There came the other day the story of the small boy who had lost his pet and who in tears beseeched his anxious mother for help. She reminded him lovingly that she had tried as hard as she could to find the pet without success. “What more can I do, son?” she asked. “You can cry with me,” he said.
“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” (Gal. 6:2.)
Elder Marion D Hanks Ensign, Jul 1973, 111
One of the greatest examples Christ has given us was shown at the end of his earthly ministry. As difficult as the atonement was he endured and fulfilled the will of the Father. We also must endure to the end.
What manner of person should we be, even as he is.
I have had the great pleasure of knowing wonderful saints from the islands of the Pacific. In the ward I grew up in, were many converts from many lands and places, and among them were many from Hawaii. My mission took me to Laie to study Japanese at what is now call BYU-Hawaii. While there I was privileged to get to know Eric Shumway, president of that institution. In 2004, as the 50th anniversary of that great place was approaching, he shared at a devotional some of his most cherished “Snapshots and Vignettes. I would like to share some with you today.
…. faith and courage was exhibited by a student many of us remember. She was Brenda Law from Hong Kong. She was stricken with a malignant brain tumor and languished for months in and out of therapy.
She had no family remaining in Hong Kong that she could go to. “BYU-Hawaii is my family,” she said.
Students from campus would go into the hospital to be with her during the agonizing days and nights of chemotherapy. One student who stayed up all night comforting Brenda through attacks of nausea and vomiting, wiping her forehead, face and mouth, told me, “It was such an honor for me to do that for Brenda because it seemed like I was doing it for the Savior.”
Brenda came back to school when she felt strong enough. The last time I talked with her was just before a last resort, high risk surgery. “I am so happy,” Brenda exclaimed to me. “The surgery is on Tuesday and I am so excited.”
“What are your chances,” I asked. “Oh the doctor says it’ll be a miracle if I survive, but it’s a last chance,” she said smiling. “You do seem very happy and upbeat,” I said. “Oh yes, if I live I come back to friends, if I die I go into the arms of Heavenly Father. It’s a win-win.”
Brenda did not survive the surgery, but the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on this campus and among our Chinese students seemed unprecedented in many of their lives.
What manner of person should you be, even as Brenda and all those who selflessly served. Men are that they might have joy. Joy comes in service to others.
President Shumway continues:
We have seen Brenda’s kind of faith and miracle reversed. About eight years ago we were informed that Eric Anderson, who had suffered since babyhood from Cystic Fibrosis, was in the hospital, his lung capacity almost gone and had only days, perhaps hours to live. Carolyn and I thought we must go see this living miracle once more before the miracle yielded up the ghost.
You see Eric was told when he was little that he would never participate in sports, never go a mission, never go to college, never get married or raise a family. He survived on priesthood blessings. When Eric first went to college his doctor wrote on his application to BYU-Provo that he was living on borrowed time. But Eric’s faith and the faith of others sustained him.
He went on a mission to Florida South Mission, but fell desperately ill and was given 72 hours to live. He recovered miraculously because of faith and the help of a world renowned Cystic Fibrosis specialist who treated him very aggressively. He completed a successful mission, married Arlene in 1986 in the MantiTemple, and became the proud father of four beautiful children all the while literally fighting for life and breath from day to day.
I shall never forget going into the hospital room. Eric was sitting on the bed, emaciated and struggling for breath, albeit he was serene, almost heavenly. He said to us “I’m so glad you came because I have just at this moment reached a milestone in my life.”
“What milestone is that?” I asked.
“Just this morning in my prayers I was able for the first time in my life to say to Heavenly Father, “Thy will be done” and really mean it. I have always held back that complete and final offering to the Lord, that He take my life if it is his will. I was completely and totally eager to do what He willed. His will was my will. I am free and at peace now.” Carolyn and I felt like we were on sacred ground when we walked out. We were sure we would never see Eric Anderson alive again.
How delighted and surprised we were when we heard that Eric was sustained in his effort to go back to the doctor in Florida that had saved his life on a mission. When he went to Florida he was only 108 pounds and was on four liters of oxygen. Three months later, he returned home running down the concourse, weighing 130 pounds and totally off the oxygen. He is truly a walking miracle. Eric is still walking and has served in several Church positions, continuing to be a light and an example wherever he goes.
Think to yourself: What manner of person should we be?
One last story from President Shumway:
. . . an especially dramatic moment occurred in the mid-70’s when Semisi Ha’unga, a student, died as a result of a neck injury in a pick up rugby game in the front field.
His death left his wife `Ahoika and four little girls alone in a foreign country. The sadness was almost too much to bear, but `Ahoika remained faithful and optimistic.
Eventually she had to return to Tonga with her children, receiving a small salary from a Church school where she worked. A widow and single parent with several children, `Ahoika eked out a living.
Mele Ha’unga, the youngest daughter recently graduated from BYU-Hawaii. I heard her speak about her mother’s amazing faith, hard work, and full-souled devotion to the Church, especially in keeping the law of tithing.
Mele said, “I remember one day in Tonga, Mom called a family council and told us children that we had just enough money from that particular paycheck to pay our tithing and the monthly bills, but there was no money for food. I remember complaining to Mom, ‘Why can’t we use the tithing money for food?
Heavenly Father has plenty of money. Your tithing is so small compared to what He has. Does God want us to starve to pay tithing money He doesn’t need?” “But Mom was adamant. `It’s His money, He may not need it, but we need to pay it back. It is our need, not God’s, to pay tithing.”
Mele spoke of the prayers of her widow mother and the anxiety of the children, when suddenly a man appeared at their home. It was their father’s brother, not a member of the Church. He was laden with foodstuffs from his garden pot, yams, sweet potato, green banana, and a roasted pig. Their was corn beef, bread. The sight of all this food made a deep impression, but it was their uncle’s story that moved them the most. He said, “I was working in my plantation today. At noon I lay down to rest under a tree. I slept and I saw your father walking toward me. When I saw him I knew instantly why he had come to me. You were hungry and without food.”
Thus, the widow’s faith was vindicated in front all of her children.
`Ahoika, still a widow, represents the millions of devoted latter-day saints over the world whose faith and trust in paying their tithing makes this school possible. As faculty, students, and alumni it lifts our stewardship, collectively and individually, to a higher level of consecration and promise before God that we are worthy, committed; that you and I are accountable before God, the Church, and all widows.
Ezra Taft Benson says
And what is His character? He has identified the cardinal virtues of His divine character in a revelation to all priesthood holders who serve in His ministry. You are familiar with this verse in section 4 of the Doctrine and Covenants, which was given a year before the Church was organized: “Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence.” (D&C 4:6.)
These are the virtues we are to emulate. This is the Christlike character.
Attaining a righteous and virtuous life is within the capability of any one of us if we will earnestly seek for it. If we do not have these character traits, the Lord has told us that we should “ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” (D&C 4:7.)
The Apostle Peter tells us that when we possess these traits we are not “unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Pet. 1:8; italics added.)
To know the Savior, then, is to be like Him.
God will bless us to be like His Son when we make an earnest effort.
President Ezra Taft Benson Ensign, Nov 1983, 42
So, today we have looked at some examples of men and women showing some of the traits of our Christ. Choose ye this day what manner of person you are to be. It is an all or nothing choice. You can’t say yesterday I was a little Christ-like, so today I’ll be wild and crazy. Being like Christ is a personally, what one naturally does, even when no one else is watching or will know what we do. So, begin you journey today, the Lord will help, so make good decisions. And step by step your heart will change.