MAY 16, 2016 / DUSTINANDBRITTNEY@HAPPINESS-SEEKERS.COM
When I was serving a mission in Mozambique, Elder Richard G. Scott came to visit the members. During his time there, he spoke at a District conference that we packed with as many people as we could find—both active and inactive members, investigators, and anyone else who was interested in the prospect of hearing a modern day apostle speak.
I was so excited that these people whom I loved so much would get such an incredible opportunity.
Elder Scott got up to speak and had not been speaking long when the power went out—No lights, no microphone, and in the sweltering heat and humidity—no fans. Chaos ensued. People started getting up and walking out. Most others began talking with one another. Almost no one was paying attention to the soft spoken Elder Scott as he continued to speak.
I felt an anxiety as I looked around. I thought to myself, “Lord, how can you let this happen? This is such a great opportunity for these brothers and sisters, and if the power doesn’t come back on, they will miss it.” And to the majority who were leaving or were completely distracted, I thought: “Don’t you know that this is one of Christ’s modern apostles?”
But as I looked around the chapel I noticed that there were a select few who were leaning forward, looking intently at Elder Scott. They were straining to hear his message.
I left my silent pleadings and began to strain to hear as well.
And that’s when Elder Scott began to say things I never expected to hear an apostle share: He bore his witness of Jesus Christ and told those who were listening that he wanted them to never forget that an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ told them what he was about to say. He testified that he knew Jesus personally and began describing Christ’s immense love and sublime character traits.
Then, he sat down. Not much later, the electricity came back on, and he got up and gave the sermon he had come to deliver.
Few knew it, but we had just witnessed a miracle and a powerful metaphor.
In the midst of chaos and distractions, only a few in attendance continued to focus their attention on Elder Scott. As I looked around, I knew many of them. They were the ones who had sacrificed for the Gospel; they were the ones who had received a change in their countenances; they were the ones who were more than believers—they were the truly converted.
They didn’t just strain to hear an apostle’s words on that particular day. They were the ones straining to hear the voice of the Lord every day.
Their faith and diligence were rewarded by a gift that only they could fully appreciate. Many of the others were sitting right there and had no idea what they had just missed. And even if someone tried to fill them in, the apostle’s sacred witness would have been interesting, maybe even exciting, but they still wouldn’t have known the joy felt by the few who were prepared to hear Elder Scott’s sacred witness.
This experience makes me wonder, “In the midst of the chaos and distractions of everyday life, am I straining to hear the Lord’s voice and the voice of His servants? Do my actions reflect a proper prioritization of spiritual things? Am I ever so distracted by things of the world that I don’t even realize the precious blessings I am missing out on?”
And I’d just like to bear my testimony that if there is a sure way to hear the Lord’s voice, put our lives in order, and receive the blessings of Heaven, it begins with serious and frequent study of the scriptures.
By Dustin Phelps
AND A FEW GREAT COMMENTS:
Josh George
MAY 16, 2016 AT 1:51 PM
Great article. A couple of years ago I had the realization that we don’t have to wait for marvelous experiences with God. He is sending an almost constant stream of truth and light to us. When I recognized this, everything in the world seemed to change, and I started looking through purer eyes. Now I see God in almost everything I do. I feel the Spirit prompt me almost hourly, and if I listen and obey, I find greater and greater things. When I hear his servants speak, their message resonates with me, and pierces me on a whole new level.
Beth
MAY 24, 2016 AT 11:28 AM
I have heard Elder Scott bear his testimony on this topic in detail to us as missionaries on my mission in Uruguay, and in the MTC. In the MTC it was easy to understand him, in Uruguay on my 2nd day there as he spoke in Spanish, I had to strain to understand what he was saying, though he did eventually bear his testimony of the Savior in English because he wanted to make sure we clearly understood and could feel the spirit stronger. It was incredible – the same sweet, calm spirit of love that I felt then filled me again when I read of your experience. Thank you for bringing back memories of that great man and his unfailing testimony of Jesus the Christ. The experience you witnessed really gives me a lot of food for thought – am I still straining to hear and understand? Probably not. And I now have a very visual analogy to think of in my head – am I walking out? Getting distracting? making the effort? Thank you.
When I was serving a mission in Mozambique, Elder Richard G. Scott came to visit the members. During his time there, he spoke at a District conference that we packed with as many people as we could find—both active and inactive members, investigators, and anyone else who was interested in the prospect of hearing a modern day apostle speak.
I was so excited that these people whom I loved so much would get such an incredible opportunity.
Elder Scott got up to speak and had not been speaking long when the power went out—No lights, no microphone, and in the sweltering heat and humidity—no fans. Chaos ensued. People started getting up and walking out. Most others began talking with one another. Almost no one was paying attention to the soft spoken Elder Scott as he continued to speak.
I felt an anxiety as I looked around. I thought to myself, “Lord, how can you let this happen? This is such a great opportunity for these brothers and sisters, and if the power doesn’t come back on, they will miss it.” And to the majority who were leaving or were completely distracted, I thought: “Don’t you know that this is one of Christ’s modern apostles?”
But as I looked around the chapel I noticed that there were a select few who were leaning forward, looking intently at Elder Scott. They were straining to hear his message.
I left my silent pleadings and began to strain to hear as well.
And that’s when Elder Scott began to say things I never expected to hear an apostle share: He bore his witness of Jesus Christ and told those who were listening that he wanted them to never forget that an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ told them what he was about to say. He testified that he knew Jesus personally and began describing Christ’s immense love and sublime character traits.
Then, he sat down. Not much later, the electricity came back on, and he got up and gave the sermon he had come to deliver.
Few knew it, but we had just witnessed a miracle and a powerful metaphor.
In the midst of chaos and distractions, only a few in attendance continued to focus their attention on Elder Scott. As I looked around, I knew many of them. They were the ones who had sacrificed for the Gospel; they were the ones who had received a change in their countenances; they were the ones who were more than believers—they were the truly converted.
They didn’t just strain to hear an apostle’s words on that particular day. They were the ones straining to hear the voice of the Lord every day.
Their faith and diligence were rewarded by a gift that only they could fully appreciate. Many of the others were sitting right there and had no idea what they had just missed. And even if someone tried to fill them in, the apostle’s sacred witness would have been interesting, maybe even exciting, but they still wouldn’t have known the joy felt by the few who were prepared to hear Elder Scott’s sacred witness.
This experience makes me wonder, “In the midst of the chaos and distractions of everyday life, am I straining to hear the Lord’s voice and the voice of His servants? Do my actions reflect a proper prioritization of spiritual things? Am I ever so distracted by things of the world that I don’t even realize the precious blessings I am missing out on?”
And I’d just like to bear my testimony that if there is a sure way to hear the Lord’s voice, put our lives in order, and receive the blessings of Heaven, it begins with serious and frequent study of the scriptures.
By Dustin Phelps
AND A FEW GREAT COMMENTS:
Josh George
MAY 16, 2016 AT 1:51 PM
Great article. A couple of years ago I had the realization that we don’t have to wait for marvelous experiences with God. He is sending an almost constant stream of truth and light to us. When I recognized this, everything in the world seemed to change, and I started looking through purer eyes. Now I see God in almost everything I do. I feel the Spirit prompt me almost hourly, and if I listen and obey, I find greater and greater things. When I hear his servants speak, their message resonates with me, and pierces me on a whole new level.
Beth
MAY 24, 2016 AT 11:28 AM
I have heard Elder Scott bear his testimony on this topic in detail to us as missionaries on my mission in Uruguay, and in the MTC. In the MTC it was easy to understand him, in Uruguay on my 2nd day there as he spoke in Spanish, I had to strain to understand what he was saying, though he did eventually bear his testimony of the Savior in English because he wanted to make sure we clearly understood and could feel the spirit stronger. It was incredible – the same sweet, calm spirit of love that I felt then filled me again when I read of your experience. Thank you for bringing back memories of that great man and his unfailing testimony of Jesus the Christ. The experience you witnessed really gives me a lot of food for thought – am I still straining to hear and understand? Probably not. And I now have a very visual analogy to think of in my head – am I walking out? Getting distracting? making the effort? Thank you.
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