President Boyd K. Packer, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and Elder David A. Bednar, newest member of the same, visited BYU-Hawaii for a special devotional on their way home from touring Guam and Indonesia on church assignment.
Elder Bednar spoke first to the full house of faculty, staff and students. He began with a reference to the invocation, which included the petition for a greater "desire for obedience." He then gave an account of a private conversation he had with the late Elder Neal A. Maxwell, who said that what distinguishes this generation today is a greater capacity for obedience.
"And unto him to whom much is given much is required; not expected but required," Elder Bednar added, quoting passages of scripture. "That greater capacity for obedience is a necessary prerequisite for the work that we are to do in this latter day.
"It is not a coincidence that we are here," he continued. "There is a divine design such that we are here at this time - with a greater capacity for obedience - to participate in the building of the Kingdom of God in all the earth."
With that challenge, Elder Bednar also gave this promise: "That obedience invites happiness, and that obedience invites greater light and knowledge in a world that grows increasingly dark."
Elder Bednar also warned against one of Satan's "subtle seductive strategies" - the mindset that we are here on the earth to be entertained. "Given the work that needs to be done, each of us has the responsibility to become a tool that can be used in the hands of the Lord - a sharp, strong refined instrument."
Again, with a challenge Elder Bednar gave a promise: "If you will simply ponder that requirement for each of us…I promise and testify that to each one of us will come individualized impressions - teachings from the Holy Ghost - about what I or you must do to continue to be that tool.
"I further testify and promise…that as we consider the perspective of the restoration, there will come even greater understanding about the tools that we must become and the roles that we must play," he continued. "[This work] is accomplished by the power of the Lord through us…and we are the tools that will be placed in his hands to be able to accomplish that work."
When President Packer took the stand, he referenced the devastation he and Elder Bednar witnessed in Indonesia from the recent earthquake and tsunami. Both of them agreed that words could not express the suffering of the victims of that natural disaster.
President Packer gave several other examples of destitution around the world and reminded listeners that "you are so blessed…But unto you whom much is given much will be required," he said, returning to a theme of Elder Bednar's talk, "not only in education but in your deportment and your behavior.
"Some of you who look at yourselves as being less or having less are the ones who are going to succeed most permanently and perfectly in life," he continued. "But as you go ahead in life, you are going to go like Nephi did…who went forward not knowing beforehand the things that he should do" (1Ne 4:6).
He gave an example from his life when he had a goal but could not figure out how he could get there. Finally, he went to President Harold B. Lee, who said, "Boyd, you want to see the end from the beginning. You're going to have to learn a few steps into the dark, and then the light will turn on before you."
"With that, I stepped into the unknown - into the dark - and the light went on, as it will with you," Elder Packer added. "You move forward but you move forward on the principles of the gospel. And you have an inner light," referring to the Holy Ghost.
President Packer also made a powerful promise, giving assurance to those in search of direction in their lives.
"We make all kinds of mistakes; it's kind of a trial and error in life," he said. "But as you move forward in life, you cannot make a major mistake - any mistake that will have any lasting consequence in your life - without having been warned and told not to do it."
Returning to another theme from Elder Bednar's talk, President Packer emphasized the importance of obedience in receiving that guidance.
"[Obedience] can be very tough," he said, "but it's the most protecting word, the most revealing word - you obey and you cannot go wrong, and you will be provided for."
President Packer concluded by invoking the blessings of the Lord upon the faculty, staff, and especially the students of BYU-Hawaii.
"You who are going ahead - not knowing right now which way you should go - always your life will be that way, but always you'll know step by step what step you should take."