Don’t Miss This Devotional
Doubt Not, Fear Not
From a devotional address given to students at Brigham Young University–Hawaii on March 29, 2016. For the full address, visit speeches.byuh.edu.
Let us listen to the voice of the prophets. Let us rely on the words of God. That is how we can learn His mind and do His will without fear and doubt.
When I was 19 years old, I was called to serve in the Korea Busan Mission. Unfortunately, my mission was interrupted by a call to serve my country.
Military service is mandatory for all Korean young men, and we are required to join the army once we are called by our country to do so. Therefore, I needed to be released from my mission after one year and serve my country for three years.
After I had finished this three-year assignment in the military, I wanted to serve again as a missionary. But many people told me that I didn’t have to serve another mission. That sounded OK to me, and I started thinking about my future as I continued to seek the will of the Lord.
Later, when I was visiting with Bon Kyung Koo, a member of my ward and a good friend (who would later become my wife), I asked her opinion. Surprisingly, her answer was different.
“I know who Brother Choi is,” Bon said. “He is the one who will serve another mission.”
What a great compliment and confirmation! She had high expectations for me, which helped me elevate my thoughts to find out the will of the Lord. I recognized that my loyalty was to Him. I turned in my missionary papers and was called to serve in the Korea Seoul Mission for one year.
Elevate Your Thoughts
To find out and do the will of the Lord is simple when we humble ourselves sufficiently to elevate our thoughts and seek to know “the mind of the Lord” (Doctrine and Covenants 68:4). In Isaiah we read:
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8–9).
A way to know the mind of the Lord, however, is available to us:
“Behold, great and marvelous are the works of the Lord. How unsearchable are the depths of the mysteries of him; and it is impossible that man should find out all his ways. And no man knoweth of his ways save it be revealed unto him; wherefore, brethren, despise not the revelations of God” (Jacob 4:8; emphasis added).
Let us remember the words “save it be revealed unto him.” Heavenly Father reveals His mind and will to us when we elevate our thoughts and seek revelation.
“Doubt Not, Fear Not”
Before I finished my master’s degree in the United States, I applied for several jobs in Korea. I planned to return home as soon as I finished my education. I had interviews with some good companies in the computer field, but I had no offers before Bon, our little boys, and I left the United States.
Many people said that as the head of my family, I was silly to return to my home country without money or a job. But the choice was not difficult for me because even before becoming a student, I felt that I needed to return to Korea once I completed my education.
That feeling was confirmed earlier during my new-student orientation at Brigham Young University–Hawaii, where I understood clearly that my family and I needed to return to serve our home country and to strengthen the kingdom of God there (see Doctrine and Covenants 82:14). We made that decision in accordance with prophetic counsel.1
Nevertheless, I feared to return to Korea with no money, home, or job. We would have to live with my parents while I sought work. As I thought about these worries, I began to doubt whether I was making the right decision, and I began to look for excuses to stay in the United States. Fortunately, my faith to do the will of the Lord was stronger than my fear and doubt, and I did as He has directed: “Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not” (Doctrine and Covenants 6:36).
Once home, I thought I would be hired in a short time, but all my job applications were rejected. It became difficult to remain patient because I had expected to find employment easily and quickly with my credentials. I was disappointed, hung my head in shame, and started doubting myself again.
“What did I do wrong?” I asked myself. “Should I have stayed in the United States to look for a job? How can I take care of my wife and my two little children? My friends who told me to stay in the United States will laugh at me.”
I couldn’t find answers and thus was not happy. Despite that difficult time, however, I did not miss a single day of praying and studying the scriptures, and we held family home evening every week. As I did these basic things, I found the ability to push myself to remain faithful.
One day I went to the Church Distribution Center to buy a book. While there, I met a senior missionary couple. They said they had a friend who was the general manager of an American computer company opening an office in Korea. The company was looking for a manager.
I told them I did not have any work experience except for part-time jobs at the university. I was not qualified for the position their friend was trying to fill. “Let’s see if there’s another position,” the missionary couple suggested.
They gave me the contact information, and I called the general manager. He wanted to see me the next day.
During our interview, he said he was looking for a person exactly like me who knew the cultures of both the United States and Korea. He was looking for someone who could be a bridge between his company’s headquarters in Boston and New York and its office in Seoul.
I told him I did not have much experience but that I would work hard and do my best. When he asked how much I wanted to be paid, I suggested a small salary.
“Do not underestimate yourself,” he said. “You studied hard, and you are qualified enough for this position.”
He then offered me a salary that was double the amount I would have gotten from any of the companies that had rejected me during the previous two months. I also received excellent benefits and working conditions, which allowed me to spend time with my family and fulfill my Church responsibilities.
Obey and Be Blessed
I repented for not having been patient during this humbling process. Soon I was called as the Young Men president in my ward, and a year later I became a young bishop. My job was the perfect job because it allowed me time to fulfill the needs of my family and my Church assignments. I feel that my job was a blessing and reward for my decision to listen to the will of Heavenly Father and return to my home country. He had prepared the best job for me, though I didn’t know His plan or the blessing He had in store for my family and me (see Doctrine and Covenants 78:17).
As my wife and I listened to the promptings of the Lord and relied on the words of the prophets, we were led to Zion—our homeland—where we were blessed.
Let us listen to the voice of the prophets. Let us rely on the words of God. Let us heed the truth. That is how we can learn His mind and do His will without fear and doubt.