In his December 17 commencement address to over 250 BYU-Hawaii graduates, Elder Boyd K. Packer, Acting President of The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, used some of his own experiences in the Pacific 60 years ago to emphasize the increasing need for personal revelation in modern times.
Elder Packer, who was ordained an Apostle on April 9, 1970, told the graduates he was serving in the military when he originally stopped in Laie 60 years ago to see the temple. The next day in Honolulu he learned World War II had ended and hoped that he would soon be going home, "but that was not to be."
After spending another year in northern Japan, he reached the point where he thought he was due to be sent home, but instead was ordered to go to Osaka. He recalls being "frustrated, angry and disappointed. Looking back, it's interesting how the Lord works," Elder Packer said. "I hadn't gone to Osaka then, I wouldn't be standing here now in this capacity."
He described how in his new post he got involved with baptizing the first Japanese members of the Church after the war. "I learned to love my brother," Elder Packer said, "and the work of the Lord was opened in Japan. In due course, the missionaries came, but most of the missions in the Pacific were opened by Latter-day Saint servicemen."
"These are sobering times," Elder Packer continued. "You are going out into a different world than I experienced when I was 19."
"You won't survive spiritually, unless you know how to receive revelation," Elder Packer stressed, reminding the graduates as the Lord outlined in Doctrine and Covenants Section 1, The weak things of the world shall come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones .. . But that every man might speak in the name of God the Lord, even the Savoir of the world [v.19-20].
"I don't know if you know how to receive revelation, but you're not going to survive without it," he said again, pointing out that Elijah the Prophet in Old Testament times did not find the Lord in the lightnings and thundering "but in the still, small voice He spoke to him, and revealed to him, and answered his prayer."
"It's a noisy world, and you're going to have learn first...that revelation comes in the quiet times. It will come when the Lord can speak to our feelings."
"Go quietly into the world. Go quietly about your affairs," he continued, "and learn that in the still, small hours of the morning the Lord will speak to you. He will never fail to answer your prayers."
Elder W. Rolfe Kerr, Commissioner of the Church Educational System and a member of The First Quorum of the Seventy, who accompanied Elder Packer, earlier in the program told the graduates they had the opportunity to study at a "special institution that was created under prophetic vision."
"What are you going to do with the rest of your lives?" Elder Kerr asked. "You have come here to a very special place, with a very special purpose — to prepare you to glorify your Father in Heaven."
Elder Kerr also encouraged the graduates to continue learning all they can. "Learn all there is to know about the gospel of Jesus Christ. Learn all there is to know about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Additionally, I would urge you to learn all there is to know about your chosen occupations, whether that be in the professions, in science and industry, or within the walls of your own homes."
"I would urge you to learn all that there is to know about being good husbands and good wives, good fathers, good mothers, and ultimately being good grandfathers and grandmothers."