Born in Pioche, Nevada, Elder Arvel Hemenway has overcome difficult obstacles throughout his life, and has become a man who has served faithfully in Church leadership positions, said Karen Hemenway, as she introduced her husband.
“He learned early that he was a child of God, and that he was worth something,” she said. “I am here to verify that fact. He is a loving father of our eight children and grandfather to 26 wonderful grandchildren, a great husband and still my best friend after 47 years of marriage.”
“One step at a time,” said Elder Hemenway, “this is how we can return to God’s presence. He used several stories, from his own life and from the scriptures, to illustrate his point, that our goal is to enter the presence of the Lord again—and that this is God’s glory, “To bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” (Moses 1:39)
On his way to his mission assignment in Australia, Elder Hemenway traveled via boat—a luxury liner. He was with several other missionaries, but when they found someone who wanted to listen to the gospel, Elder Hemenway taught the discussions. He was the only one of all the missionaries on the ship who knew them.
He didn’t think he was bright enough to succeed in obtaining a Ph.D, but with his wife’s encouragement to just take it one step at a time, he reached his goal.
One step at a time he also skied down a mountain slope. He went skiing after not having done so for awhile. Starting with the bunny hill, he went on to try a couple of steeper hills. Then a friend suggested, “Let’s go to the top of the mountain.”
Elder Hemenway wasn’t sure that he was ready, but he went with his friend. When they reached the top and he looked down, he knew he wasn’t ready—it appeared to be straight down. His friend took off, leaving him alone at the mountain top. After some thought, Elder Hemenway decided he could zig zag his way down the mountain and began the attempt. After a few successful zigs and zags, he made the mistake of looking down the mountain. That caused him to become disoriented and he began rolling and tumbling down the mountainside.
When he finally stopped, unhurt, other skiers who had watched the tumble applauded. He stood up, took a bow, and then went back to the little hills. Before the day was over, he returned to the top of the mountain, and without letting himself be distracted, zigged and zagged his way successfully down the mountain—one step at a time.
Our guide in returning to God’s presence, are the words of the prophets. He illustrated how the words of the prophets are more reliable than the limited knowledge and science of man.
He read a statement made by President David O. McKay 29 January 1935. He said that one day we would have radios in our pockets that would allow us to communicate with friends and family at any moment, at any time, from any place. The science of the time would have laughed at that statement.
Moses got his answers about what the creation was like by talking with the Lord—he prayed and was taken to a high mountain. (Moses 1:11)
When Joseph Smith received section 76 of the Doctrine and Covenants, he said his whole body was full of light—that he could see out the ends of his fingers. He also said he could explain more if the people were ready to receive it.
Elder Hemenway reminded us that light travels 186,000 miles per second. Nothing in the universe is faster. Universe is in precise balance. Alpha Centuri, the star nearest to earth is 4.5 light years away. There are 500 billion stars in the Milky Way, yet with all his creations, the Lord still knows us individually.
