Chapter 5 is entitled
"Awakening Unto God." It's been so interesting in my
life of almost seven decades to watch hundreds,
maybe thousands, as they awaken unto God. Some, it's almost startling. Something happens--a
death in the family, a tragedy--and suddenly they
realize that the things of God are very important to them. Others, it's almost
gradual, as if the sun is coming in the window,
and they awaken unto God. I had an experience
just a couple of years ago with a young man
who was 18 years old, and his name was Luke de la Mar. He lived in our stake,
and my grandchildren knew him very well. He had a time of
rebellious living. And then suddenly, he
unexpectedly and sadly was diagnosed with
a brain tumor. He spoke in a sacrament meeting. Here's what he said: "I know that my family spent
countless hours pleading to Heavenly Father that I would
be humbled and have a desire to change. They hoped that I would have
an Alma the Younger experience but would never have
imagined that instead of being visited by an angel,
I would be visited by cancer. I've learned that our Heavenly
Father's blessings often come in ways that are not our ways. It may seem strange, but even
if I were able to go back and change my
situation, I wouldn't. I'm really grateful for cancer
because it has brought me back to my family and convinced me
of the power of God in my life." I've always been
struck with that. "It's convinced me of the
power of God in my life." That's really what
awakening to God is. We suddenly realize that
our prayers are answered. We feel closer to God when
we keep His commandments. We awaken unto God. I would hope that as
we are in this class and reading these
different experiences and these doctrines,
that we try to apply them deeply in our lives and see how
it affects us in our spirit, in our mind, in our heart. I promise you that as you
make a conscious effort, even though we're far from
perfect--and you should be patient with yourself--but as
you make a conscious effort to move closer to God, He
will wrap His arms around you and move closer to you. And you, and I, will
awaken more fully unto God.