Yesterday and last night I experienced something to which I hope none of you can relate. I am writhing to you on the subject of receiving and acting on revelation and promptings of the Spirit.
Last night we had an elder in our zone go home. This elder had struggled while he was here in the MTC but we all thought he would make it.
Earlier in the day we had gym time-a chance for us to get some physical activity. When this elder walked into the gym, our eyes met and we said hi. In that moment I thought "I need to talk to him and see how he is doing." The next thought was "Nah, there will be time later. I need to go run."
Fast forward to the night. I finished up my nightly prayer and ran to the bathroom before going to bed. As I passed this elders room I saw the door open and a BYU cop in there talking to him. Again I felt the need to stop and talk to him, this time accompanied by the familiar warm sensation of the Spirit. And again it was followed by a discouragement-"the campus cop would just tell me to go away anyway, whats the point?"
I returned to my room and sat on my bed. The urge to go and offer my assistance returned and I decided to go and do, like Nephi said. Leaving the room, I hesitated and ducked back into the bathroom-same doubts. As I walked back to my room I almost turned in to speak with the elder but let my doubts win.
This time I knelt and prayed. As I poured my heart out to God I couldn't help but hear the voices outside my door. The word came over the radios and the campus cops escorted him out. I felt like President Monson running through the halls of the hospital only to find out he was too late. As one of the zone leaders was leaving I grabbed him and asked him to express our love to the elder. Too little, too late.
I do not know if this elder would have stayed because of my words, but I do know that I failed to do my duty as a disciple of Christ. The words of Elder Bednar rang in my head for hours. During an address given at the MTC he answered the question "How do I know if it is the Spirit or just my thoughts?" He quite passionately stated:
"Quit worrying about it! Quit stewin,' Quit fussin', Quit worryin' about it!"
Any thought or impression that leads you to do good is of God. When I had that thought in the gym, it was of God.
I encourage you, I urge you, I plead with you-when such thoughts come, act. Act right then. There is not time later, the time is now. Don't hesitate. Don't waste time worrying about if it is the Spirit or not. You cannot afford to lose that time. I know that this is the work of God. I know that if we act we can be the answer to the prayers of others. I also know the guilt that comes from failing to act. It is my sincere desire that others not have to feel it too. I share these things in the name of Jesus Christ , Amen
