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Quick to Observe

DAVID A. BEDNAR

S ister Bednar and I are delighted to be


with you. She and I have been anxiously
engaged in university life for more than 30
This morning I want to talk with you
about another seemingly simple and perhaps
underappreciated spiritual giftthe capacity
years, and we love the young people of the of being quick to observe. I will also attempt
Church. Time spent with you this morning is to explain why appropriately seeking for this
a sacred privilege for us. I now seek for and blessing is vitally important for you and for
invite the assistance of the Holy Ghost as I me in the world in which we do now and will
speak with you about essential spiritual truths. yet live.
In October 1987 Elder Marvin J. Ashton, a
member of the Quorum of the Twelve, spoke The Spiritual Gift of Being Quick to Observe
in general conference about spiritual gifts. I All of us have learned important lessons
recall with fondness the impact his message from the central characters in the Book of
had upon me at that time, and the things he Mormon. As we read about and study the
taught then continue to inuence me today. lives of Nephi, Laman, Alma, King Noah,
In his message Elder Ashton detailed and Moroni, and many others, we discover things
described a number of less conspicuous spiri- we should and should not do, and we realize
tual giftsattributes and abilities that many of more completely the kinds of people we should
us might not have considered being spiritual and should not become.
gifts. For example, Elder Ashton highlighted In my study of the Book of Mormon I have
the gifts of asking; of listening; of hearing and been especially impressed with a particular
using a still, small voice; of being able to weep; description of Mormon, the principal compiler
of avoiding contention; of being agreeable; of of the Nephite record. The specic depiction of
avoiding vain repetition; of seeking that which
is righteous; of looking to God for guidance; of
being a disciple; of caring for others; of being David A. Bednar was a member of the Quorum of
able to ponder; of bearing mighty testimony; the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ
and of receiving the Holy Ghost (see Marvin of Latter-day Saints when this devotional address
J. Ashton, There Are Many Gifts, Ensign, was given at Brigham Young University on
November 1987, 2022). 10 May 2005.

INTELLECTUAL RESERVE, INC. speeches.byu.edu 1


2 Brigham Young University 20052006 Speeches

this noble prophet to which I would direct our Thus when we are quick to observe, we
attention is contained in the rst ve verses of promptly look or notice and obey. Both of these
the rst chapter of Mormon: fundamental elementslooking and obeying
are essential to being quick to observe. And the
And now I, Mormon, make a record of the prophet Mormon is an impressive example of
things which I have both seen and heard, and call this gift in action.
it the Book of Mormon. I now want to present several examples of
And about the time that Ammaron hid up the the lessons that can be learned when you and
records unto the Lord, he came unto me, (I being I are blessed to be quick to observe.
about ten years of age . . . ) and Ammaron said unto I have a dear friend who served as a stake
me: I perceive that thou art a sober child, and art president. The patriarch in the stake over
quick to observe; which he presided had experienced some
Therefore, when ye are about twenty and four health challenges and was unable to perform
years old I would that ye should remember the in his calling. The ailing patriarch had dif-
things that ye have observed concerning this culty moving about and dressing and caring
people. . . . for himself, and his strength was limited. One
And behold, ye shall . . . engrave on the plates Sabbath afternoon this good stake president
of Nephi all the things that ye have observed visited the home of the patriarch to encourage
concerning this people. him and check on his well-being. As the stake
And I, Mormon, . . . remembered the things president entered the home, he found the patri-
which Ammaron commanded me. [Mormon 1:15; arch dressed in his suit and white shirt and
emphasis added] tie, sitting in a recliner in the front room. The
stake president greeted the dear patriarch and,
Please note that the root word observe is knowing how hard it must have been to dress
used three times in these verses. And Mormon, himself, graciously suggested to the patriarch
even in his youth, is described as being quick that it was not necessary for him to get dressed
to observe (Mormon 1:2). As you study and up on the Sabbath or to meet visitors. In a kind
learn and grow during your time as a univer- but rm voice, the patriarch reproved the stake
sity student, I hope you also are learning about president and said, Dont you know that this
and becoming quick to observe. Your future is the only way I have left to show the Lord
success and happiness will in large measure how much I love Him?
be determined by this spiritual capacity. The stake president was quick to observe.
Please consider the signicance of this He both heard and felt the lesson, and he
important spiritual gift. As used in the scrip- applied it. Reverence for the Sabbath day and
tures, the word observe has two primary uses. the importance of respect and appropriate
One use denotes to look or to see or to demeanor and dress took on added importance
noticeas we learn in Isaiah 42:20: Seeing in the ministry of the stake president. The
many things, but thou observest not; opening spiritual ability to see, hear, remember, and act
the ears, but he heareth not (emphasis added). upon that lesson was a great blessing in his
The second use of the word observe suggests lifeand in the lives of many others.
to obey or to keepas is evident in the Before attending her sacrament meetings,
Doctrine and Covenants: But blessed are they Sister Bednar frequently prays for the spiritual
who have kept the covenant and observed the eyes to see those who have a need. Often as she
commandment, for they shall obtain mercy observes the brothers and sisters and children
(D&C 54:6; emphasis added). in the congregation, she will feel a spiritual
David A. Bednar 3

nudge to visit with or make a phone call to importance, he was not going to sit as he com-
a particular person. And when Sister Bednar municated with his Heavenly Father. So once
receives such an impression, she promptly again Elder Haight worked to standand was
responds and obeys. It often is the case that successful. I shall never forget the spirit I felt
as soon as the amen is spoken in the bene- as I listened to Elder Haight pray. I hope on
diction, she will talk with a teenager or hug a that occasion I was quick to observe a power-
sister or, upon returning home, immediately ful lesson about the dignity and the humility
pick up the phone and make a call. As long as that should always attend our prayers. In my
I have known Sister Bednar, people have mar- present calling I am blessed by Elder Haights
veled at her capacity to discern and respond to example and feel a deep sense of gratitude for
their needs. Often they will ask her, How did what I saw and felt and learned that day.
you know? The spiritual gift of being quick Sister Bednar and I are acquainted with a
to observe has enabled her to see and to act returned missionary who had dated a special
promptly and has been a great blessing in the young woman for a period of time. This young
lives of many people. man cared for the young woman very much,
Your president, Elder Samuelson, par- and he was desirous of making his relation-
ticipates each month in a Church Board of ship with her more serious. He was consider-
Education meeting in Salt Lake City. President ing and hoping for engagement and marriage.
Hinckley serves as the chair of that board. Now this relationship was developing during
The counselors in the First Presidency, several the time that President Hinckley counseled the
members of the Quorum of the Twelve, and Relief Society sisters and young women of the
other General Authorities and general auxil- Church to wear only one earring in each ear.
iary leaders also sit on that board. During my The young man waited patiently over a
years of service at Brigham Young University period of time for the young woman to remove
Idaho, I also was blessed to participate in her extra earrings, but she did not take them
monthly board meetings. out. This was a valuable piece of information
At the conclusion of the June 2004 board for this young man, and he felt unsettled about
of trustees meeting, President Hinckley called her nonresponsiveness to a prophets plead-
upon Elder David B. Haight to offer the bene- ing. For this and other reasons, he ultimately
diction. It was the last board meeting in which stopped dating the young woman, because
Elder Haight ever participated. At the age of he was looking for an eternal companion
97, Elder Haight had some difculty as he tried who had the courage to promptly and quietly
to stand and offer the prayer. obey the counsel of the prophet in all things
After several attempts to rise to his feet, and at all times. The young man was quick to
President Hinckley courteously said, David, observe that the young woman was not quick
it is all rightsuggesting, I believe, that it was to observe.
permissible for Elder Haight to remain in his Now before I continue, I presume that
chair and offer the prayer. some of you might have difculty with my last
Elder Haight responded in a voice that example. In fact, this particular illustration of
was both rm and appropriate and said, the young man being quick to observe may
President, I must stand! even fan the ames of controversy on campus,
There was simply no way that mighty resulting in letters of disagreement to the Daily
Apostle was going to sit and pray in the Universe! You may believe the young man was
presence of the First Presidency and his too judgmental or that basing an eternally
colleagues of the Twelve. And of greater important decision, even in part, upon such
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a supposedly minor issue is silly or fanatical. Why the Spiritual Gift of Being Quick to
Perhaps you are bothered because the example Observe Is So Vital Today
focuses upon a young woman who failed to Let me now address the question of why the
respond to prophetic counsel instead of upon a spiritual gift of being quick to observe is so vital
young man. I simply invite you to consider and for us in the world in which we do now and will
ponder the power of being quick to observe yet live. Simply stated, being quick to observe is
and what was actually observed in the case an antecedent to and is linked with the spiritual
I just described. The issue was not earrings! gift of discernment. And for you and for me,
Now one nal example. I have long been discernment is a light of protection and direc-
fascinated by the nature of the interaction tion in a world that grows increasingly dark.
between the Spirit of the Lord and Nephi Much like faith precedes the miracle, much
found in chapters 11 through 14 of 1 Nephi. As like baptism by water comes before the bap-
you recall, Nephi desired to see and hear and tism by re, much like gospel milk should be
know the things his father, Lehi, had seen in digested before gospel meat, much like clean
the vision of the tree of life (see 1 Nephi 8). In hands can lead to a pure heart, and much
chapters 11 through 14 the Holy Ghost assisted like the ordinances of the Aaronic Priesthood
Nephi in learning about the nature and mean- are necessary before a person can receive
ing of his fathers vision. Interestingly, 13 times the higher ordinances of the Melchizedek
in these chapters the Spirit of the Lord directed Priesthood, so being quick to observe is a
Nephi to look as a fundamental feature of prerequisite to and a preparation for the gift
the learning process. Nephi repeatedly was of discernment. We can only hope to obtain
counseled to look, and because he was quick that supernal gift of discernment and its light
to observe, he beheld the tree of life (1 Nephi of protection and direction if we are quick to
11:8); the mother of the Savior (1 Nephi 11:20); observeif we both look and obey.
the rod of iron (1 Nephi 11:25); and the Lamb President George Q. Cannon, who served
of God, the Son of the Eternal Father (1 Nephi as a counselor to four presidents of the
11:21). Church, taught powerfully about the gift
I have described only a few of the spiritu- of discernment:
ally signicant things Nephi saw. You may
want to study these chapters in greater depth One of the gifts of the Gospel which the Lord has
and learn from and about Nephis learning. promised to those who enter into covenant with
As you study and ponder, please keep in Him is the gift of discerning of spiritsa gift which
mind that Nephi would not have seen what he is not much thought of by many and probably
desired to see, he would not have known what seldom prayed for; yet it is a gift that is of exceed-
he needed to know, and he could not have ing value and one that should be enjoyed by every
done what he ultimately needed to do if he had Latter-day Saint. . . .
not been quick to observe. Brothers and sisters, Now, the gift of discerning of spirits not only
that same truth applies to you and to me! gives men and women who have it the power to dis-
Quick to observe. Prompt to watch and to cern the spirit with which others may be possessed
obey. A simple gift that blesses us individu- or inuenced, but it gives them the power to discern
ally and in our families and extends blessings the spirit which inuences themselves. They are able
to so many other people. Each of us can and to detect a false spirit and also to know when the
should strive to be worthy of this signicant Spirit of God reigns within them. In private life this
spiritual gifteven the capacity of being quick gift is of great importance to the Latter-day Saints.
to observe. Possessing and exercising this gift they will not
David A. Bednar 5

allow any evil inuence to enter into their hearts discernment operates basically in four major
or to prompt them in their thoughts, their words or ways.
their acts. They will repel it; and if perchance such First, as we read under the surface,
a spirit should get possession of them, as soon as discernment helps us detect hidden error and
they witness its effects they will expel it or, in other evil in others.
words, refuse to be led or prompted by it. [Gospel Second, and more important, it helps us
Truth: Discourses and Writings of President George detect hidden errors and evil in ourselves.
Q. Cannon, comp. Jerreld L. Newquist (Salt Thus the spiritual gift of discernment is not
Lake City: Deseret Book, 1974), 1:19899] exclusively about discerning other people and
situations, but, as President Cannon taught, it
Can we recognize how crucial this spiritual is also about discerning things as they really
gift is in our lives today and how being quick are within us.
to observe is a powerful invitation for the Third, it helps us nd and bring forth the
blessings of discernment? good that may be concealed in others.
President Stephen L Richards, who served And fourth, it helps us nd and bring forth
as a counselor to President David O. McKay, the good that may be concealed in us. Oh, what
has provided additional instruction about the a blessing and a source of protection and direc-
nature and blessings of discernment: tion is the spiritual gift of discernment!
The teachings of Presidents Cannon and
First, I mention the gift of discernment, Richards concerning the power of discernment
embodying the power to discriminate . . . between to detect hidden evil and to identify good that
right and wrong. I believe that this gift when highly may be concealed become even more impor-
developed arises largely out of an acute sensitivity tant to you and to me in light of a specic
to impressionsspiritual impressions, if you will element of Lehis vision. In the vision various
to read under the surface as it were, to detect hidden groups of individuals were pressing forward
evil, and more importantly to nd the good that that they might obtain the path which led unto
may be concealed. The highest type of discernment the tree of life (see 1 Nephi 8:21). The strait
is that which perceives in others and uncovers for and narrow path came along by the rod of iron,
them their better natures, the good inherent within even to the tree (see 1 Nephi 8:20). The mists
them. . . . of darkness described in the vision represent
. . . Every member in the restored Church the temptations of the devil which blind the
of Christ could have this gift if he willed to do eyes of the children of men and lead them into
so. He could not be deceived with the sophistries broad roads so that they are lost (see 1 Nephi
of the world. He could not be led astray by pseudo- 12:17). Now please pay particular attention
prophets and subversive cults. Even the inexperi- to verse 23 in 1 Nephi 8, and let us liken this
enced would recognize false teachings, in a measure scripture to our day and the challenges we
at least. . . . We ought to be grateful every day of our face in an increasingly wicked world:
lives for this sense which keeps alive a conscience
which constantly alerts us to the dangers inherent And it came to pass that there arose a mist of
in wrongdoers and sin. [CR, April 1950, 16263; darkness; yea, even an exceedingly great mist of
emphasis added] darkness, insomuch that they who had commenced
in the path did lose their way, that they wandered
As we integrate the teachings of Presidents off and were lost. [1 Nephi 8:23]
Cannon and Richards, we learn that the gift of
6 Brigham Young University 20052006 Speeches

I repeat again for emphasis the truth that leaders: If all you know is what you see with
discernment is a light of protection and direc- your natural eyes and hear with your natural
tion in a world that grows increasingly dark. In ears, then you will not know very much. His
these latter days you and I can press forward observation should help all of us to appropri-
safely and successfully through the mist of ately desire and seek these spiritual gifts.
darkness and have a clear sense of spiritual Observing and discerning also enable us to
direction. Discernment is so much more than assist others who are seeking to obtain the path
recognizing right from wrong. It helps us to and who desire to press forward with stead-
distinguish the relevant from the irrelevant, fastness in Christ. Blessed with these spiritual
the important from the unimportant, and the gifts, we will not lose our way; we will not
necessary from that which is merely nice. wander off; we will not be lost. And we can
The gift of discernment opens to us vistas only hope to obtain the supernal gift of dis-
that stretch far beyond what can be seen cernment and its light of protection and direc-
with natural eyes or heard with natural ears. tion if we are quick to observe. As Alma taught
Discerning is seeing with spiritual eyes and his son Helaman, See that ye take care of these
feeling with the heartseeing and feeling the sacred things, yea, see that ye look to God and
falsehood of an idea or the goodness in another live (Alma 37:47).
person. Discerning is hearing with spiritual I declare my special witness that Jesus is the
ears and feeling with the hearthearing and Christ, our Redeemer and our Savior. I know
feeling the unspoken concern in a statement that He lives. I invoke His blessing upon each
or the truthfulness of a testimony or doctrine. of youthat indeed you may desire to be and
I frequently have heard President Boyd become quick to observe and truly discerning.
K. Packer counsel members and priesthood In the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.

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