Dr. Debbie Hippolite Wright, a professor in the Department of Social Work, stressed the importance of following promptings to those in attendance at Thursday's university devotional at the Cannon Activities Center.
Born and raised in New Zealand, Dr. Wright's first visit to the campus came at the invitation of an older sister "to come to paradise," and "baby-sit her toddler" as well. Being an au pair was quite an eye-opening experience, she said, and she was more than ready to return home when the time came.
"I had no intention of ever returning to Hawaii," she exclaimed. "I had enough!"
As she sat on the plane to return home, she said she had an impression that she "would return to BYU-Hawaii and that this campus would play a pivotal role" in her life. Before she knew it, she had graduated high school, applied to BYU-Hawaii, and was admitted as a full-time student, "all the time feeling determined and settled about my decision."
Dr. Hippolite Wright concluded three things from that experience.
"First, we receive promptings and direction from the Spirit and we are blessed if we recognize and act upon those promptings. Second, we have defining experiences in our lives which have eternal ramifications. Third, we must be open to the Lord's will for us," she said.
President Gordon B. Hinckley, she said, has a saying: "Promptings are a personal message from the Lord to you." As a missionary in the Philippines Davao Mission, she recalled, she and a missionary companion were shopping one day when a clear, emphatic voice came to her and told her to leave, which they did. Upon their journey home, they heard the news on the radio that a bomb had exploded in the store they had been in less than a half hour earlier. Thirteen people lost their lives in that explosion, but they were spared because they heeded the promptings of the spirit, she said.
Highlighting a talk from Elder Dallin H. Oaks helped her explain her second point, saying that the paths we choose set the direction for our lives, adding that the decisions we make and the way we respond to experiences defines the type of people we become.
"These experiences become spiritual benchmarks which either help solidify our commitment to the Lord or set us on a path of what Elder Oaks calls ‘destructive deviations,'" she added.
Describing the many dire situations of the biblical prophet, Joseph, she pointed out that even though Joseph was rejected by his brothers, sold into slavery, accused of a crime he didn't commit, and cast into prison, he never blamed the Lord. He wasn't bitter over being unfairly treated. Rather, she said, he held to what was right and never got discouraged by his situation in life. He stayed true during each of these defining experiences which solidified his commitment to the Lord.
As she elaborated on the final point, being open to the Lord's will, she suggested that this step may be the most one difficult to follow.
"Sometimes we don't want to do what the Lord wants us to do, as it might not make sense given our limited human view," she said. She then suggested two attributes needed in accomplishing this task: first, developing faith by acknowledging the Lord is in charge, and second, developing humility.
Summing up her talk, Dr. Hippolite Wright shared a story about her great-grandmother, Wetekia Rukuku Elkington. When Wetekia was 14 years old, she had a dream where she envisioned two Caucasian men in top hats and black coats, who, when they prayed, raised their right hand to the square. As she relayed the dream to her father, he told her it was a good dream.
Later, they learned that missionaries, traveling in pairs, were teaching a new religion and using a new book of scripture. After hearing this, Wetekia believed that these missionaries were the ones like in her dream. Her father sent for missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to come to the island and teach their people about the new religion. In 1892, Wetekia's father and many relatives were baptized.
"This decision has had eternal ramifications for not only her and her own posterity but many others," she said. She also added that many descendants have served missions, been married in the temple and served faithfully in the Church. She added, "Truly, the impact of her decision still continues. Two of Wetekia's great-great-grandchildren are current students at BYU-Hawaii," she said.
Dr. Hippolite Wright encouraged all devotional attendees to strive to be faithful by following the Lord's commandments, setting a pattern to follow for the rest of their lives.
"I pray that we will live up to our legacy by heeding the promptings of the spirit, being open to the Lord's will for us and may we make our experiences here at BYUH defining ones for our spiritual growth," she said.