Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
I originally found this story in the book Return: Four Phases of Our Mortal Journey Home by Elder Robert D. Hales (p. 89). It can also be found in the 2002 February issue of the Ensign.
Sometimes we feel that answers to our prayers and our pleading for guidance and direction should be given through dramatic manifestations, such as a voice from heaven or a visitation by an angel or a heavenly host. My personal experience is that answers to our prayers often come slowly over an extended period of time.As we act upon the feelings of our hearts, feelings of peace, comfort and confirmation grows within us, and we know that we are on the right course.
I learned this truth as a Regional Representative of the Twelve, while traveling with President Marion G. Romney to a stake conference for the selection of a new stake president. We had been driving in a car for over an hour, discussing the Church and priesthood administration. Along the way I asked President Romney a question and realized, in the moment I asked it, that it was not appropriate. The question was, “What is the most spiritual experience you have had as an Apostle of the Lord?” There was a pause. He answered, “I believe what Joseph Smith and Brigham Young taught, that if we would keep our most sacred spiritual experiences to ourselves, many more spiritual experiences could be shared with us.” There was a period of silence after he spoke, and then he said, “I owe you a better answer.” He explained that the greatest spiritual experience of his life had been when he had been on assignment from the President of the Church or the President of the Quorum of the Twelve, as we were that day. He said, “We will interview twenty-five or thirty priesthood brethren, and there will be more than one who will be qualified to be the stake president. But after we have done all we can do, we will get on our knees and pray to our Heavenly Father. We will tell Him of our feelings of who the new stake president ought to be and the reason why. We will tell him of the needs of the stake at this time. Then He will give us confirmation.
*Leaders to Leaders is a series of posts that share what leaders of the church have learned from other leaders of the church. This might include stories from general conference, accounts of one leader attending a stake conference with another leader, or simply recollections one leader’s interaction with someone they respected. There are great leadership skills one can learn by pondering these interactions. Listen to other stories in this series HERE.
