NOT MY WILL, BUT THINE BE DONE

Grandfather Soliai had been the loving leader of the Black Village on one of the small dots in the Pacific called Samoa. Over the countless years of his life his family had grown to willingly follow his wise counsels. They had come to feel the calming influence of his words as they were spoken with love and concern for the betterment of, the village, his extended family.

One day in priesthood meeting, a discussion arose as to whether the home teachers should be fed during their visits. A hearty discussion with points and counter points being exchanged ensued:

Tradition demands that we always feed those who pay us the respect to visit in our homes!

If we feed the home teachers only one visit a night can be made!

Island hospitality demands that home teachers be fed!

For those families who are struggling, the obligation to feed the home teachers is a hardship!

Finally after all points had been made, the group reverently turned to Grandfather Soliai for the patriarchal and deciding voice on the discussion. Sternly and with great authority his words resounded in the small meeting room. “You must always honor the home teachers by feeding them, just as we feed all guests in our homes to show our respect and honor to them.”

Very meekly, a young returned missionary raised his hand and softly spoke these words. “Grandfather while I was on my mission the Prophet of God told us that the home teachers were not to be fed.”

Sternly and with great authority Grandfather Soliai’s words resounded against the walls of the small meeting room, “The Prophet said, you must never feed the home teachers when they come to visit.”

In this humble setting and in a very simple way the often taught principle was passed on to another generation, that no matter what our station or stewardship in life may be, there will always be a Higher Authority. Our beloved Savior expressed this principle powerfully in these last testimony words, “Not my will, but thine be done.”

It is staggering to contemplate:

How many wounds would be avoided,

How much pride would be eliminated,

How much sorrow would be cast off.

If good men and women everywhere could come to these fundamental understandings:

We have come to do His will not ours,

Agency is best used when given back to the Giver,

Mankind can be raised to greater heights through becoming a conduit of His light than by any other means or power.

Through this willing submissiveness we come closer to knowing that true discipleship:

Requires it to be His way we strive to trod,

Requires it to be His love we strive to share,

Requires it to be His light we strive to hold up.

May the Lord bless us with His abundant grace as we stumblingly attempt to do that which He sent us to do and bless us that we might with greater frequency do it in His way.