Elder David A. Bednar addressed BYU students May 10 about the need to "become quick to observe and be truly discerning."
Speaking during the weekly BYU devotional in Provo, Utah, Elder Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve asked students to think about an "underappreciated spiritual gift — the capacity of being quick to observe."
That blessing is vitally important for "you and me in the world in which we do now and will yet live," he said.
"When we are quick to observe we promptly look or notice and obey," he said. "Both of these fundamental elements — looking and obeying — are essential to being quick to observe," he said.
Citing Nephi as an example, Elder Bednar said the ancient prophet would not have "seen what he desired to see, he would not have known what he needed to know, and he could not have done what he ultimately needed to do" if he had not been quick to observe.
"Brothers and sisters," Elder Bednar added, "the same truth applies to you and to me."
Being quick to observe, he said, is "a simple gift that blesses us individually and in our families and extends blessings to so many other people. Each of us can and should strive to be worthy of this significant spiritual gift."
Elder Bednar said being quick to observe is vital today. "Simply stated, being quick to observe is an antecedent to and is linked with the spiritual gift of discernment. And, for you and me, discernment is a light of protection and direction in a world that grows increasingly dark. . . .
"We can only hope to obtain that supernal gift of discernment and its light or protection and direction if we are quick to observe — if we both look and obey."
Elder Bednar said, quoting President George Q. Cannon and President Stephen L. Richards — both late members of the First Presidency — that the gift of discernment operates basically in four ways.
First, he said, "discernment helps us detect hidden errors and evil in others."
Second, "it helps us detect hidden errors and evil in ourselves. "
Third, he said, "it helps us find and bring forth the good that may be concealed in others."
And fourth, "it helps us find and bring forth the good that may be concealed in us."
Discernment, he said, is so much more than recognizing right from wrong.
"It helps us to distinguish the relevant from the irrelevant, the important from the unimportant, and the necessary from that which is merely nice. The gift of discernment opens to us vistas that stretch far beyond what can be seen with natural eyes or heard with natural ears. Discerning is seeing with spiritual eyes and feeling with the heart — seeing and feeling the falsehood of an idea or the goodness in another person. Discerning is hearing with spiritual ears and feeling with the heart — hearing and feeling the unspoken concern in a statement or the truthfulness of a testimony or doctrine."
Observing and discerning also enable Church members to assist others who are seeking to press forward with steadfastness in Christ, he concluded.
"Blessed with these spiritual gifts, we will not lose our way; we will not wander off; we will not be lost."
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