October Bishopric Message 2024

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

This week we have been blessed to start our studies of the Resurrected Christ’s teachings to His people in ancient America. As I studied 3 Nephi 11 and taught it with my wife to my children, I had several experiences that brought the idea to me that we must make changes and efforts in our own lives so that we can hear God and come to His Son.

​After the destruction that followed Christ’s death, the Nephites gathered at the temple. What a great place to be if your world falls apart! When they first hear the voice of the Father, they do not understand it. The second time they hear the mild and soft voice they still do not comprehend what it said. The third time they do understand. What changed? Verse 5 tells us that they “Opened their ears” and, “Their eyes were towards the sound thereof, and their they did look steadfastly towards heaven, from whence the sound came.” Even though they were at the temple,they still had to exert their best efforts to hear and understand the message of the Father to them. Are we not the same? So often we let the noise of the world and concerns over lesser things overpower the most important whisper of the still small voice with their constant buzz. Sometimes we even take these concerns, contentions, and fears into sacred spaces and times. When we are enveloped in this interference it can create spiritual dead spots where, even though we are surrounded by sacred things, we do not hear or understand the still, small voice sent from the Father. It is not enough to attend sacrament meeting, go to the temple, or hold mealtime prayers, if we want Christ and His message to get through to us, we must intentionally clear our heads by turning towards the source of the peaceful voice and intentionally open our ears to hear it.

What does this turning and opening look like? Your turning may take the form of forgiving a friend, ward member, or family member, so that the loud influences of anger and hurt feelings do not drown out the voice. It may mean intentionally putting away distractions in sacred times and spaces, so the voice does not have to compete with them. It may look like saying a silent, pleading prayer in the temple or sacrament meeting asking the Lord to help you put down your burdens and cares at his feet for a moment so that you can listen to Him and feel His love. It may even look like seeking mental and emotional help from a professional or spiritual guidance from your bishop to help you stabilize your world enough for you to look to and listen to The Lord. Sin also is very noisy, and repentance brings a relief and quiet that can open the floodgates of revelation.

Whatever it takes, we must do whatever is necessary to “Hear Him” more clearly. When we do, we will hear His call for us to come to Him and feel the power of His personal love and individualized sacrifice for each of us. That is what happened with the people in the account of Third Nephi. These interactions with Him will give us a witness that will change us. They will soften our hearts and make it more of a joy to live the gospel and become like Him. He will shape us to become people that can come home to Him to abide in His love and glory forever.

We love you Brothers and Sisters! Let us come to hear His words and feel His light!

The bishopric