Elder DeGraw's Farewell

Elder DeGraw's Farewell Talk:

Good afternoon. I am nervous to speak to you this morning, but I am also grateful for the opportunity to share some thoughts with you. I need to take a minute to thank those of you who came today to support me. I have the greatest family and friends.  I want to thank my ward family, as well. In the past 4 years, since my family moved into our neighborhood, you have made a huge impact on me and who I am. I have watched you and learned from your examples. I have had great leaders and great friends in this ward. Your examples help me to know who I want to become. Thank you for the positive impact you’ve had. It is going to be hard to leave, but I am eager to meet and learn from the people in Scottsdale Arizona. I am excited to serve a mission.

I was surprised to be called to Scottsdale Arizona.  However, in the moment I opened my call, I had the Holy Ghost confirm to me that that is exactly where I am supposed to be. As I have studied and talked to people about my mission, I have felt that confirmation again and again. I feel like there are individuals in Arizona waiting specifically for me to come serve there. They need me. I have also felt the prompting that I need them, and that this experience will bless me in ways that I can’t imagine. I have felt a love for the people and area where I will be serving grow stronger every day, and feel grateful for this call.

It is probably because of these very feelings that I was drawn to an article that was recently published in the Deseret News titled, “Elder Holland shares 'the missionary speech of all time' at Seminar for New Mission Presidents”. At this Mission President training, Elder Holland told a story of a young man from Idaho who “one night stormed out of the house and set off to join an infamous motorcycle gang. He succeeded in that resolve and for 20 years became immersed in a culture “of temptations yielded to and degradations explored,” never contacting his parents, who feared that he was dead.

Eventually ending up in Southern California, he one day was sitting on the porch of a rented home when he saw two LDS missionaries making their way up the street.

“With a rush of memory and guilt, regret and rage, he despised the very sight of them,” Elder Holland recounted. “But he was safe, because he kept all visitors at bay by employing two Doberman Pinschers who viciously charged the gate every moment that anyone came near.”

The dogs startled the missionaries as they passed by and continued on, “our man on the porch laughing at the lovely little drama he had just witnessed, wishing only that the gate hadn’t restrained his two dogs.”

Then, the two elders stopped, looked at each other, conversed a little, “likely said a silent prayer,” then turned around and approached the gate.

“The Dobermans on cue charged the gate again, hit it, snarling, frothing, and then stopped in their tracks,” Elder Holland said. “They looked at the missionaries, dropped their heads, ambled back to the front steps and lay down.”

The man on the porch was speechless as they missionaries opened the gate, walked up the path and greeted him.  “One of the elders said, ‘Are you from this part of California?’

“The man said, ‘No. If you want to know, I’m from Pocatello, Idaho.’

“There was a pause. ‘That’s interesting,’ the elder said. ‘Do you know the [such-and-such] family in Pocatello?’

“With a stunned look, our biker paused, and then, in very measured words, said, ‘Yeah, I know them. They are my parents.’

“‘Well, they’re my parents too,’ the missionary said. ‘God has sent me to invite you to come home.’ ”

The younger brother had been born after the older boy had left home. The elder brother did not even know of him.

“Mom and Dad have been praying for you every morning and night for 20 years,” the younger brother said. “They were not sure you were alive, but they knew if you were, that someday you would come back to us.”

The wayward son invited the two in, and they talked for the rest of the day and some of the night. He did return home, returned to Church activity and, in March 2015, was married and sealed in the Boise Idaho Temple.

Commenting on the account, Elder Holland said, “This is a story of the role of Almighty God, the Savior of the World, and the Holy Ghost involved in the work of the ministry to which we’ve been called.

“The Holy Ghost prompted those parents to keep praying, to keep believing, to keep trusting. … The Holy Ghost inspired that rebellious boy to come to himself like the prodigal he was and to head for California. … The Holy Ghost influenced that younger son to serve a mission and be willing to accept a call to Southern California. … The Holy Ghost inspired one of my brethren in the Twelve, who was on the assignment desk that Friday, to trust his impression and assign that young man for service not a great distance from his native-born state. The Holy Ghost inspired that mission president to assign that young missionary to that district and that member unit. The Holy Ghost led those missionaries to that street, that day, that hour, with big brother sitting on the porch waiting, and, with Doberman Pinschers notwithstanding, the Holy Ghost prompted those two elders to stop, talk and in spite of their fear, to go back and present their message. …

“And, through the elders, the Holy Ghost taught repentance and brought true conversion to one coming back into the fold.”

Elder Holland said the young elder, without realizing it, gave the missionary speech of all time, when he said to his brother, “God has sent me here to invite you to come home.”

Elder Holland concluded by saying, “We are sent by God to invite His children home.”

I particularly like, as Elder Holland points out, that this story exemplifies Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost working together to forward the work here on earth. I’ve been studying a lot about the first vision, and restoration recently, and have been comforted and amazed by the number of times that I have noticed the Godhead working in harmony to further the progression of the gospel of Jesus Christ here on earth. It was the Holy Ghost that impressed deep questions on the boy Joseph’s mind. It was the Holy Ghost who urged him to seek answers in the bible, and lead him to the Epistle of James, first chapter and fifth verse, which reads: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”  It was the Holy Ghost who was also present in the Sacred Grove, where God the eternal Father, and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith.

Elder Jeffrey R Holland said, “The greatest event and the most important accomplishment in the course of all human history is the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ and the eternal triumph that provided over physical and spiritual death for everyone who has lived, now lives, or ever will live upon the earth. The greatest event since that divine sacrifice and the next greatest accomplishment in making that Atonement fully efficacious in the great plan of salvation was the appearance of the Father and the Son to the boy prophet Joseph Smith in the New York springtime of 1820. Had we never had what we have come to call “the Restoration,” the great plan of salvation would have been forever thwarted, and the full blessings of the Atonement would not have reached most of God’s children, past, present, and future.”

What happened on that spring morning in the Sacred Grove is the most important event that’s ever happened, only second to the Atonement of Christ. And what was it that lead to that sacred event? A young farm boy seeking revelation to his hearts deepest questions.

When speaking of James 1:5, Joseph Smith said, “Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart. I reflected on it again and again, knowing that if any person needed wisdom from God, I did; for how to act I did not know.”

Joseph Smith didn’t know what he should do. Remember, he was just 14 years old when he wanted to know what church to join. His honest seeking had amazing results: the First Vision, the Restoration of the gospel, and so much more.

His experience was quite extraordinary, but the way he sought answers teaches some great patterns for how we can receive revelation ourselves. There are so many valuable lessons we can learn about personal revelation from the first vision.  I would like to talk about five questions we can ask ourselves that can help us in our quest to hear, understand, and respond to heaven’s voice.

Question 1: Have I “studied it out” (see D&C 9:8)? Have I done my homework?

When young Joseph wanted to know which church was true, he did more than simply ask. He put significant effort into seeking an answer. He speaks of “serious reflection,” of attending “several meetings” of various churches “as often as an occasion would permit,” and of “laboring under the extreme difficulties” of his dilemma (Joseph Smith—History 1:8, 11).

So many times we want revelation on important questions without putting much effort into the revelatory process.  Someone might ask, “Which college should I go to?” without researching the school or visiting the campus. A single adult might ask if he or she should marry a certain person after—or even during—the first date. Heavenly Father wants us to gather adequate information in our decision making.

In most cases, the Lord wants us to make decisions based on righteous principles and then ask Him if our decision is right. Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles put it this way: “Persons who try to shift all decision making to the Lord and plead for revelation in every choice will soon find circumstances in which they pray for guidance and don’t receive it” (“Our Strengths Can Become Our Downfall,” Ensign, Oct. 1994, 13). Sometimes Heavenly Father trusts His righteous children to make good choices on their own—trusting that He will protect and guide them as necessary.

2. Have I looked to see if the Lord already provided the answer?

As part of “studying it out,” Joseph did his best to find out if there was clear counsel from the Lord on what Church he should join. There just wasn’t a whole lot available, and after exhausting all his resources, he realized “it was impossible” for him “to come to any certain conclusion” on his own (Joseph Smith—History 1:8). It was after these efforts that Joseph went to pray in the Sacred Grove.

When we’re seeking guidance, we too can look for what the Lord has revealed on the matter. All too often, we ask to receive revelation on things the Lord has already made clear. We’re blessed today to have so much that Joseph didn’t have in his time—for instance, modern-day scripture, prophets’ teachings, general conference, priesthood blessings, and guidelines in Church resources such as For the Strength of Youth.

When we have questions, we can always pray. But it just may be that the Lord has already placed an answer out there for us to find—we just have to be open to receive it.

3. Have I searched the scriptures?

Many answers to life’s greatest questions come as we are searching the scriptures. “One day” Joseph was “reading the Epistle of James,” It was in this sacred, private moment, with the scriptures open, that the words entered his heart “with great force” and he received the guidance he was seeking.

President Henry B Eyring has said, “We will find answers in the scriptures. The Lord seemed to anticipate all of our problems and all of our needs, and he put help in the scriptures for us—if only we seek it.”

Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has taught: “When we want to speak to God, we pray. And when we want Him to speak to us, we search the scriptures; for His words are spoken through His prophets” (Oct. 2006 general conference).

4. Have I sought the Lord’s answer in a humble, reverent way?

When Joseph finally decided to ask of God, he did so in a way that showed his humility and reverence for the sacred experience he wanted to have. He went to the woods, to a place he had planned in advance, where he could be alone. There he “kneeled down” , prayed vocally, and offered up “the desires of [his] heart” (Joseph Smith—History 1:14–15).

We don’t need to be alone in a grove of trees, but we can do simple things to show how important the prayer is to us. Kneeling, pondering before and after our prayer, and expressing gratitude all help.

5. Am I willing to act upon the revelation I receive—even if it is not the answer I was expecting?

The answer that Joseph received surprised him—“it had never entered into [his] heart” that all of the churches could be wrong (Joseph Smith—History 1:18). However, he accepted that answer and lived by it, even when opposition and persecution arose—almost from the moment he stepped out of the Sacred Grove—and did not cease until his death.

In some cases, learning the will of God is the easy part—following it can be more challenging. President Henry B Eyring said, “If you have had trouble getting answers to your prayers, try asking today, “What is there that you would have me do?” That prayer will be answered if you are sincere and if you listen like a little child with REAL INTENT TO ACT.”

Answers Will Come

As a result of Joseph’s experience, he was able to say, “I have learned for myself” (Joseph Smith—History 1:20). This can be our goal too. Through the Holy Ghost, we can learn for ourselves.  Revelation may not always come easily, and sometimes God may require us to make a decision and act before the answers come. But we can be assured that He will guide us when we need it, just as he guided Joseph Smith.

Share testimony of…

Joseph Smith, restoration

President Monson

Jesus Christ

Heavenly Father

I truly believe the Book of Mormon is written for our day. I know it is true and that Joseph Smith translated it by the Power of God. This book is a huge blessing and it pulls me closer to our Savior. I am grateful for His sacrifice and His love for all of us. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.