Gerald N. Lund - Why Isn't God Answering Me?

Personal Testimony and Background

  • Introduction

    • Speaker expresses excitement about being present.

    • Acknowledges tendency to speak quickly.

  • Early Life

    • Converted to LDS Church at age 11, only member of family.

    • Grew up in Olympia, Washington; family circumstances: mother in sanatorium for tuberculosis, father worked on a tugboat.

    • Describes feeling of isolation; only visited by grandmothers.

  • Conversion Experience

    • State missionaries visited and shared Joseph Smith's story; speaker felt an immediate confirmation of truth.

    • Requested to join the church; parents agreed to wait a year for baptism.

    • Baptism occurred at YMCA swimming pool in Olympia, Washington.

  • Family Tragedy

    • Father died in a traffic accident; later baptized mother posthumously through temple work.

  • Health Challenges

    • Mother suffered serious health issues from tuberculosis, leading to surgery and significant recovery.

    • Emotional impact of seeing mother behind glass in the hospital, leading to stuttering due to stress and anxiety.

  • Education and Early Ambitions

    • Attended BYU and played football; reminisces about sports experiences.

    • Called on a mission to Mexico, faced initial concerns about speaking difficulties.

    • Received patriarchal blessing at 15 predicting "the Lord will lose your tongue."

    • Spiritual significance attributed to smooth mission experience during setting apart as missionary.

Personal Growth and Spiritual Principles

  • Testimony and Faith Development

    • Ignited a lifelong testimony of Joseph Smith and the principles of the gospel.

    • Importance of harmonic peace from the gospel, emphasizing life-changing principles.

  • Principle of Love and Frustration

    • Emphasis on taking love to loved ones and frustrations to the Lord as key to divine promise.

    • Definition of love as: "acceptance, affection, appreciation with the intent of helping someone else become their best self."

    • New Commandment: "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another as I have loved you" (John 13:34).

    • Distinction between different forms of love in scripture: "philos" vs. "agape" love.

  • Overcoming Natural Responses

    • Encouragement to rise above natural man/woman; use divine love that requires effort and selflessness.

    • Discussion of criticism vs. reproof: stress on discerning when it is appropriate to express criticism only when inspired by the Holy Ghost.

Expectations and Frustrations

  • Understanding Frustration

    • "All frustration comes from unmet expectation."

    • Link between frustration and unrealistic expectations.

    • Call for self-examination of expectations about the behaviors of loved ones.

    • Encouragement toward more effective strategies of prayer and love rather than harsh criticism.

  • Pain of Miscommunication

    • Describing issues of communication and emotional fallout caused by frustration-driven comments.

    • Reminder that loved ones often know foundational values and don’t need re-education on right and wrong conduct;

    • Negative comments lead to rejection rather than acceptance and love.

The Role of Divine Intervention

  • The Power of Prayer

    • Divine intervention is accessible through faith, aimed at real and sincere prayer.

    • Concept that prayer can lead to divine intervention and change in loved ones.

    • The role of patience in witnessing spiritual change.

  • Principles of Divine Intervention

    1. Softening the heart: Example of Nephi praying to the Lord to soften his heart.

    2. Strengthening: The Lord strengthens both individuals and situations through trials and faith.

    3. Raising others: God often raises up other people to assist in situations beyond one's control.

    4. Removing problems: God's timing in dealing with issues can involve gradual resolution rather than immediate solutions.

    5. Patience and long-suffering: The importance of enduring challenges and waiting for divine timing in the lives of loved ones.

Personal Anecdotes and Applications

  • Family Dynamics

    • Speaker shares personal instances dealing with his son's challenges post-mission.

    • Use of love and prayer instead of confrontation improved their relationship significantly.

    • Reflection on the struggles faced with expectations surrounding son’s behavior.

  • Effective Communication Strategy

    • Suggested to express unconditional love, maintain a listening ear, and gently advise without harsh judgment.

Conclusion

  • Final Reflections

    • Emphasizes the transformative power of love in relationships and the need for prayer.

    • Reiterates that divine intervention relies on our commitment to God’s methods, pointedly emphasizing the importance of patience and authentic love.

    • Ends testimony in the name of Jesus Christ, affirming the importance of divine principles in personal relationships and ongoing spiritual growth.