Quick to Observe

To my daughter, 

                In the Book of Mormon when Ammaron came to the young boy Mormon, who was ten years old at the time, he said this: “I perceive that thou art a sober child, and art quick to observe” (Mormon 1:2). He then gave him a mission to fulfill later concerning the records of the people. I love this description of Mormon, “quick to observe”, because it has a double meaning as taught by Elder Bednar. He said, “As used in the scriptures, the word observe has two primary uses. One use denotes ‘to look’ or ‘to see’ or ‘to notice’…. The second use of the word observe suggests ‘to obey’ or ‘to keep’—as is evident in the Doctrine and Covenants: ‘But blessed are they who have kept the covenant and observed the commandment, for they shall obtain mercy’ (D&C 54:6; emphasis added).” He continued, “Thus when we are quick to observe, we promptly look or notice and obey. Both of these fundamental elements—looking and obeying—are essential to being quick to observe.”

I want to encourage you today to seek to develop this gift to be “quick to observe”. We should first be aware of those around us, looking for needs that we can help with or ways that we can serve or lift others. Your mother is a very good example of this kind of observing. For example, on our recent trip as she was helping out in the chaos of the choir rehearsal she noticed a lady who was very stressed out and who desperately needed to find her kids quickly. But she wasn’t getting any help from those in charge and was in tears. Your mom who was volunteering was able to help her and run find her kids for her quickly so she could leave to get them fed and be back early for the next rehearsal to fulfill her responsibilities. Your mom observed a need and then did what she could to fill it. On the same day she talked with another lady who was going to Disneyland on Monday with the group but had no information and had done no planning for the trip to the park. So your mom spent a long time gathering up the information that we had used and put together a packet with maps and details for this lady to help her make the most of her visit to the park with her kids. She observed a way she could help and then did what she could. I hope you will follow her example and seek to always be observant of what is going on around you and how you can be a blessing to others.

                Second, we should seek to observe the commandments quickly and follow the counsel of the prophet and promptings of the Spirit without hesitation. Recently I listened to the biography of President Dallin H. Oaks, and in it a story was told of a time when he was driving to southern Utah with his grandson. The grandson was at the wheel going down the freeway and President Oaks was reading in his seat. Suddenly he said to his grandson to slow down, which he did. Very soon thereafter there was an unexpected child in the road, and his having slowed down he was able to stop in time to not hit the child. Sometimes obeying without hesitation is that important—we must follow immediately. When I was on my mission in Toulouse, France, the Bishop of one ward I was in was from Guadeloupe, and he told about how he had come to learn about the church. He was investigating the church as a student in France, and eventually had decided to be baptized. But when he told his mom, who was back in his home country, she was very opposed. He was about to be baptized on a certain weekend, and she begged him to just wait a little longer. He agreed and was going to put it off, but then he woke up that weekend and felt the Spirit tell him them he needed to absolutely be baptized that day. He felt it was urgent, and he told the missionaries and was baptized. The next day his mom showed up, having flown unexpectedly from Guadeloupe all the way to France just to stop him. He felt that he probably would not have ever been baptized if he had waited, changing the course of his whole life. This is a dramatic example, but it teaches well the point that we must be quick to observe the things the Lord wants us to do. I know you are trying to make good choices in your life and I urge you to seek to be quick to observe like young Mormon.

Love,

Dad