I want to talk about the blessings of following the Spirit and share with you how following the Spirit has blessed my life.

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I have always been so proud to be Hopi. When I was young, I would bring kachina dolls to school for show and tell and write essays about topics that involved Hopi.  My grandfather tended to a field on the reservation and my grandparents still had siblings who lived in the villages of their birth. Even though my grandparents had lived in Phoenix for many years, they still considered Hopi their home. They often went home for traditional ceremonies or to take care of the field, and I went with them as often as I could. I loved the dances, the music, the food, and spending quality time with some of my cousins who also liked to go on these trips.

 

My friends and even my sisters would wonder why I wanted to go there. We usually stayed with my great-aunt in the home where she and my grandmother were raised. It was a mud house, nearly a century old, that had no electricity or running water. I usually went during the summer, so it was hot the days that I was there. There was no air conditioning, no video games, no mall, and none of the comforts I was used to, but, none of that mattered to me. I felt connected to my people and it felt like going home.
 

Looking back, I see how these visits laid a foundation that still influences my life today. I learned many valuable life lessons during this time, and I believe the quiet of the village also helped to quiet my mind and allowed me to feel the influence of the Spirit.
 

As I got into high school I didn’t spend as much time on the reservation. I had summer camps, young women activities, band, and other things that occupied my time. I eventually stopped going with my grandparents. I had only been to the reservation a handful of times after junior high school, but that all changed in 2020.

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When the coronavirus pandemic swept the world, I felt so much uncertainty. I had so many questions and concerns. Was it deadly? Would it end quickly? When would my kids be allowed to go back to school? What would happen at work? Store shelves were being completely emptied, and there were concerns about finding basic supplies. 

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Early in the pandemic I received a phone call from a cousin who I had spent a lot of time with on the reservation. He told me he and his sister wanted to take supplies to Hopi and asked if I wanted to help with the effort. I jumped at the opportunity! We gathered supplies and were blown away by the outpouring of support we received. We filled a moving truck with supplies and distributed them among the two villages our grandparents were from. We immediately realized so much more was needed. The challenges we faced in the city were magnified for the Hopi people because of their remote location, lack of running water and limited access to supplies. We immediately began to work and within near record time we had become an official non-profit. We were able to provide thousands of pounds of food, Personal Protective Equipment, hygiene, and other goods within our first year, and we continue our work today.

 

Following the Spirit to get involved brought so many blessings. I got to see firsthand how Heavenly Father opens doors for those who follow the counsel found in Doctrine & Covenants. “Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness”.

 

We were inundated with donations. We had food, toilet paper, hand sanitizer, masks, and disinfecting wipes when no one else did. The hearts of the children were turned to their fathers during this time. People showed up in droves to help. Many had family on Hopi and had no other way to help, so they volunteered. My heart was also turned to my fathers, and I was reminded of my love for Hopi. 

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This was the first step on a path that I could not have seen for my life. I began to focus on my ancestors and reconnecting with relatives I hadn’t seen in many years. It kindled a desire in me to do temple work and I began to research and find family names. It was a great blessing for my family and I to have a positive focus when there was so much negative. We saw God’s hand in our lives and the lives of others on almost a daily basis.

 

In November of 2021, a friend from my ward shared a podcast with me that she thought I would like. The podcast features guests who are faithful Native American and First Nations members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I listened to the first episode and immediately knew I wanted to be a guest. I reached out to the host online, and she agreed to have me on the show. I enjoyed the conversation with the host and we have since become great friends.

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This was another step in my journey. Once again, I followed the promptings of the Spirit and was blessed. I gained a new friend and started to see how I could serve my people not just on a physical level, but on a spiritual level as well.

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In 2022, I heard about an event taking place in Canada for Indigenous members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I was not able to attend, but I wanted to be part of something like that. When they announced the next event would take place less than an hour from where I lived, I was ecstatic. The 2023 Mesa Gathering was so special to me. It was the first time I had been in the temple with a room full of Indigenous people. The Spirit bore witness to me that I was taking part in the physical and spiritual gathering of Israel and that ancient prophecies were being fulfilled. My heart was full and I wanted more of this feeling.

 

In the fall of 2022, I had an unshakeable feeling that I needed to be a positive voice for Native Americans. I didn’t know what this meant or how to do it. I read my patriarchal blessing and there was a sentence that jumped off the page at me. It said, “He (Heavenly Father) is looking forward to using you to help build up his church and using you to be able to influence the people of this world to be able to know about our Father in Heaven.…”

 

These words felt overwhelming. How was I supposed to influence the people of the world? I didn’t know what to do, but I did know “that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.”

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I eventually decided to create a few social media pages that could be used to share uplifting messages for Native people.  At the end of 2023, I was asked to be part of a committee to create a podcast for Gathering of Tribes. Eventually it was decided that I would co-host along with my dad. I have learned so much and become closer to my earthly father, my Heavenly Father, and my Savior throughout this process.

 

So, why am I telling you this? I’m sharing with you because you have greatness in you. The Lord has called us all to do great things within His kingdom. I have been blessed to do some pretty amazing things, and I give the honor to my Savior, Jesus Christ, and my Father in Heaven. I didn’t know anything about running a nonprofit before we formed one. I didn’t know anything about how to host a podcast until I started hosting one. And I don’t think I still have the slightest inkling on how to influence the world. So why does the Lord use me and why has he given me these opportunities?

 

I think it’s simple: I am willing. Elder Neil A. Maxwell said, “God does not begin by asking us about our ability, but only about our availability, and if we then prove our dependability, he will increase our capability.” I have found this to be true in my life.

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THINGS WE CAN DO

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Ask then Actively Listen

We cannot know the will of our Father unless we talk to Him. Prayer is one of the most precious spiritual gifts we have, and it is given freely to all. We should kneel in prayer often and carry a prayer in our hearts. When we do this, we invite the Spirit to speak to us on a daily basis.

 

“Active listening is a communication skill that involves going beyond simply hearing the words that another person speaks. It's about actively processing and seeking to understand the meaning and intent behind them.”

 

To actively listen to the Holy Ghost, we need to put ourselves in the best position to hear him. We wouldn’t have an important or sensitive conversation with a loved one in the middle of a crowded, public place. Likewise, we shouldn’t expect to hear or feel the Spirit’s gentle touch if we are allowing spiritual noise to drown out his influence.

 

Active listening also means to actively seek answers. The Lord will not always allow the Spirit to whisper the answer in our ear. Instead, we are expected to put forth our own effort to receive answers through studying our scriptures and the words of our modern-day prophets. We may also seek counsel from trusted confidants such as a spouse, parents, church leaders, or respected friends. When we feel we have received our answer, we should then go to our Heavenly Father in prayer. If it is right, the Holy Spirit will bear witness. After we have received our answer and felt confirmation of the Holy Ghost, we should offer a prayer of gratitude for these things.

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Look for Opportunities and Act

Follow the promptings of the Spirit even if you don’t know how. When Nephi told his brothers Laman and Lemuel that the Lord commanded him to build a ship, they respond by saying, “Our brother is a fool, for he thinketh that he can build a ship, yea, and he also thinketh he can cross these great waters.” 

 

This response makes it clear that Nephi did not have experience with ship building or sailing across an ocean. However, Nephi faithfully and willingly responds to this command by asking the Lord, “Whither shall I go that I may find ore to molten, that I may make tools to construct the ship after the manner which thou hast shown unto me?”

 

He didn’t complain. He didn’t ask “why me?”. He didn’t remind the Lord that he did not have the skills to complete this task. He simply followed the instructions and asked how to begin. 

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In a church video called “Wrong Roads,” Elder Jeffrey R. Holland tells a story that shows how he and his son followed the promptings of the Spirit. They were on a less-traveled road and it was getting dark when they came to a fork in the road. They were unsure which direction they should go, so they decided to pray. Elder Holland’s son offered the prayer and felt confident they should go to the right. Elder Holland agreed. They only traveled a very short distance when they came to a dead end. They quickly turned around and got on the correct road.

 

His son asked, “Why did we feel after praying about it that the right road was … the correct one to take and it wasn’t?” Elder Holland replied, “I think that the Lord, his wish for us there, and his answer to our prayer was to get us on the right road as quickly as possible, with some reassurance, with some understanding that we were on the right road and we didn’t have to worry about it.”

 

The Lord doesn’t always give us immediate answers. Instead, he expects us to act in faith and he provides course correction as needed.

 

Let Go of Fear and Hold on to Faith

When the Spirit invites me to take a step -- or sometimes a giant leap -- I don’t allow my insecurities, my other responsibilities, or anything else to get in the way. My insecurities and weaknesses are there and they are real. There are times when the self-doubt feels all-consuming, but I push forward in faith.

 

The words of one of my favorite songs come to mind, “In perfect faith, I too believe in things I cannot see. I only need to trust in Him and follow where He leads. With faith secure in Jesus Christ, God’s own Begotten Son, I too go forth to do His will and miracles will come.”

 

Know Who You Are and Give Yourself Credit

Sisters, do not let doubt keep you from doing the Lord’s will. The mightiest of trees and the most beautiful of flowers can grow from the tiniest of seeds. What would happen if that seed said, “I’m just a seed and I cannot become anything else.” No amount of good soil, sun, or water would make it grow if it didn’t want to realize its full potential. You have divine potential that can only be fulfilled when you strive to live up to it.

 

You are not “just a mom,” “just a wife,” or “just a daughter.” You are not “just” anything. Moms are fulfilling the divine mission of bringing eternal spirits into the world to fulfill their mortal mission all while experiencing their own mortal trials. A wife is part of a covenant relationship that is the keystone to eternal families. A daughter is part of an earthly family that has the potential to become an eternal family.

 

Each of us sisters are daughters of Heavenly Parents with a royal birthright and divine purpose. Satan will try to make you feel small and insignificant. He will tell you that you are not good enough, strong enough, smart enough, or spiritual enough to do great things in the Lord’s kingdom. It’s not true. You are here on earth at this time for a reason. If you can say today that you have been “honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous” or have been “doing good to all men” you are building up the Lord’s Kingdom. Please recognize the good you have done and know that Heavenly Father is pleased with your efforts. A woman who knows she is already doing good will have a desire to do more.

 

Don’t give up!

Along with the successes, you may also experience missteps, trials, and failures. The social media pages I started were more work than I realized and did not take off. One of the first podcast episodes we recorded inadvertently published with a section that was supposed to be removed still included. Let’s just say that the chit chat, facial expressions and such were embarrassing and hilarious.

 

It’s okay to make mistakes. I have certainly learned a lot from my mistakes, and I expect to learn a lot more along the way. Whatever you do, keep going. Brad Wilcox said, “Don’t quit. Keep trying. Don’t look for escapes and excuses. Look for the Lord and His perfect strength.”

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Testimony

I testify that when we “look for the Lord and His perfect strength” in our lives we will find it. I know our Heavenly Father loves each of us. I have seen the hand of the Savior in my life and have been blessed each and every time I have followed the promptings of the Holy Ghost.

 

The work of gathering Israel has begun and we are called to do the work. If we choose to take up the call and “if we endure unto the end we shall be lifted up at the last day, and shall be saved in the everlasting kingdom of the Lamb.” I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.