In his interview with KSL, Elder Gilbert was speaking of his early days in the Missionary Training Center. He said he knew the church was good, that it would lead to happiness and there were amazing people in the church, but during his first morning in the MTC, he had “a moment of terror” where he thought “What have I signed up for?” He said he needed to know if the church was true and started to study the Book of Mormon “with a fervent, earnest desire to really have an answer.”

After he got to the end and read Moroni’s promise, he got down on his knees.

An answer did not immediately come.

“I just didn’t feel anything right away, and I was so disappointed, and I got back up into my chair … and I finished the Book of Mormon,” he said.

Photo supplied, Intellectual Reserve

He got to Moroni 10:32, which reads:

“Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.”

Said Elder Gilbert:

“And as I read that, I felt a light and a clarity and a conviction that I had never felt before,” he said. “That experience was poignant. I had it echoed throughout my life, and almost every time I’ve had a witness of the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, it’s been tied to the Book of Mormon, and specifically, it’s witness of Jesus Christ, and I’m so grateful that I can point people to that.”

There’s something instructive about this experience.

Ryan Comer, Standard-Examiner

Elder Gilbert could have stopped reading after getting down on his knees and not feeling what he expected to and hoped to feel. He could have said, “Well, that was a waste of time.” How many people would have? But he continued reading, and because he did, he put himself in a position to feel the spirit speak to him.

John 7:17 says, “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.”

Jesus is explaining very clearly that for anyone who wants to know whether doctrine is of God or not, the answer is to simply be obedient. Some will say they can’t be obedient until they know, but if obedience allows you to know, then why fight obedience? Do you really want to know?

Elder Gilbert continued to be obedient even after not feeling what he expected or hoped when he wanted to, and then he knew.

Across his various interviews, a common sentiment I heard shared by Elder Gilbert was that he understands the importance of pointing people to the Savior.

It’s interesting to me that this was also a sentiment shared by President Dallin H. Oaks, president of the church, during his devotional at BYU last week.

In my last column, I shared that I was going to discuss the various elements of President Oaks’ talk in upcoming faith columns. Elder Gilbert’s words dovetail nicely into what President Oaks shared.

Said President Oaks:

“I feel to emphasize the warning President Russell M. Nelson issued us: that ‘in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.’ One of the many reasons you will need the constant influence of the Holy Ghost is that you live in a season in which the adversary has become so effective at disguising truth that if you don’t have the Holy Ghost, you will be deceived. Many obstacles lie ahead. The distractions will be many. Even active members may sometimes have concerns about some historical, doctrinal, or social issues connected with the Church.

“I want to help all our members overcome present or future doubts. Whatever those doubts, the way to overcome them is to get closer to our Savior Jesus Christ. Again and again, He has taught us that He is the way.”

Obedience is how one has “the constant influence of the Holy Ghost.” Obedience is what helps you “get closer to our Savior Jesus Christ.”

Like many others, I have struggled over the years with various issues, like the ones President Oaks highlighted, but I came out of those struggles with a stronger, more resilient faith, in no small part because I turned to the Savior. I continued to do his will, to be obedient. I didn’t decide I would only be obedient if I received certain spiritual knowledge. I simply was obedient, and the spiritual knowledge came.

One of my favorite aspects of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the promise that everyone can receive the same witness that Elder Gilbert received, with the same “light,” “clarity” and “conviction” that he felt.

Elder Gilbert is an apostle now, but when he received that witness, he was a missionary, pretty well unknown to the rest of the world or the church membership. Yet his standing didn’t prevent him from receiving a testimony. It didn’t stop God from showing him that He was there. That should be extremely comforting to anyone who might be struggling to know what is true.

You don’t have to be an apostle, or have a certain standing in the church. You just have to do what Elder Gilbert did: be obedient.

God sees everyone, he knows everyone, and he will give knowledge to anyone who is obedient and determined.

Contact Ryan Comer at rcomer@standard.net.