Warnings From the Lifeguard Tower
We listen to a prophet’s voice and hear the Savior too.
With love he bids us do the work the Lord would have us do.¹
The Lifeguard on the Shore
When Rachel walked through the door, I immediately noticed two red marks radiating down her neck and chest. Alarmed, I abruptly asked her what happened. Rachel, looking completely exhausted and exasperated, blurted out with frustration emanating from being, “People are so ridiculous!”
To help you make sense of this, Rachel is an Ocean Rescue Lifeguard. She often comes home thoroughly drained from being in the hot sun for 10 straight hours. That day was no different except for the agitated answer and rope-burn marks.
Apparently, a strong rip current manifested and pulled a swimmer away from shore. Almost immediately after rescuing this person, another person swam out in the same place with the same result. So, Rachel planted herself on the shoreline warning vacationers of the imminent danger. To my surprise, she said several people walked right past her, not heeding her words. After participating in six “saves” using a rescue can, the attached rope left its mark.
Why would people not hearken to Rachel’s words? Her attire, actions, and equipment clearly identified her as a lifeguard. Coupled with the seriousness of her warning, how could vacationers not heed her pleadings to keep them safe? It truly was baffling to me.
What makes this more incredulous are the other warning signs and information posted throughout the town in the stores, restaurants, and along the beach walkways. Do they not see the large blinking road sign and flags stating the days current danger as they literally cross the bridge coming onto the island?
As I considered this puzzling event and tried to relate, a sobering thought came to mind: Do I hearken to the words of the Lord? Do I heed the counsel given by our “lifeguard”, the living Prophet, or dismiss his invitations and walk straight into the seas of spiritual danger?
Listen to the Prophet’s Voice
The Savior calls his chosen seer to preach the word of God,
That men might learn to find the path marked by the iron rod².
President Ezra Taft Benson stated; “Learn to keep your eye on the prophet. He is the Lord’s mouthpiece and the only man who can speak for the Lord today. Let his inspired counsel take precedence. Let his inspired words be a basis for evaluating the counsel of all lesser authorities. Then live close to the Spirit so you may know the truth of all things.” He also taught that “[t]he most important prophet, so far as we are concerned, is the one who is living in our day and age. This is the prophet who has today’s instructions from God to us.” (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, 134.)
Since becoming President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I feel Russell M. Nelson has consistently provided counsel to encourage members to strengthen their faith in Jesus Christ, deepen their discipleship, and to remain on the covenant path. Do these things truly guide us to safe havens?
For example, in 2018, the new Prophet of the Lord emphasized and urged members to increase their capacity to receive personal revelation. Why? Because “in the coming days ahead we will not survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.” President Nelson also made a “course correction” to use the Church’s full name, even the name of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and announced “a new direction for its members saying: “It is time for a home-centered Church, supported by what takes place inside our branch, ward, and stake buildings.”
Most recall the compelling adjustments made in the Church during 2019 as we implemented the Home Centered, Church Supported experience studying the Come, Follow Me lessons in all our classes. It encouraged families to learn together during our third hour which became home centered. Individually, President Nelson invited us to strengthen our spiritual foundations by building on the rock of Jesus Christ as the world faced increasing challenges. Shortly after President Nelson presented these things to all people, the Pandemic erupted around the world.
Protection and The Temple
During the Pandemic, Sunday meetings were cancelled and the temples were closed. I rarely ever had the privilege of receiving the Sacrament. Yet, lucky for me, the mission I served was completely remote; so I continued administrating FamilySearch’s Genealogy Research Communities on Facebook and they were booming!
Ward and Stake family history activity also grew ten-fold as members joined our online classes and participated in online activities. I recognized these as great blessings during hard times. Yet, I desperately missed the attending the temple.
Now that the Pandemic has been swept aside and temples are being built at an incredible pace, I have done my best to follow President Nelson’s recent admonition at the closing of General Conference in April 2024:
“My dear brothers and sisters, here is my promise. Nothing will help you more to hold fast to the iron rod than worshipping in the temple as regularly as your circumstances permit. Nothing will protect you more as you encounter the world’s mists of darkness. Nothing will bolster your testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ and His Atonement or help you understand God’s magnificent plan more. Nothing will soothe your spirit more during times of pain. Nothing will open the heavens more. Nothing!”
“The temple is the gateway to the greatest blessings God has in store for each of us, for the temple is the only place on earth where we may receive all of the blessings promised to Abraham.”
Learning to Recognize the Lord’s Guidance
Over the years, being in the Lord’s house has led to wonderful experiences and have brought me the peace and reassurance the Savior’s protective hand embraces my family.
My first experience in the temple was in February 1990, just shy of my thirtieth birthday. I had been married for over seven years and had three young children, the youngest being just four months old. Since I had never served a mission prior to my marriage, and had married a non-member, I had never taken out my endowments or stepped foot in a temple, except during the Washington D.C. Temple’s open house.
Shortly before entering the the Lord’s house, I received my Patriarchal Blessing. I believe the close timing of these sacred experiences, was the source of the increased spiritual awareness and heightened discernment I felt.
Throughout the years since, the heightened moments of discernment and spiritual awareness have been unmistakably connected to my desire to serve the Lord. Some of these brought peace as I recognized that I had followed the promptings of the Spirit; others were humbling reminders of times I did not. Yet, each experience—whether marked by faith or by misstep—became a meaningful lesson in my spiritual journey.
Tearing my ACL was definitely one of misstep—literally and spiritually. It was early on a Saturday morning. My children were downstairs watching cartoons and I knew my husband would soon be back; so I began to get ready to go to my soccer game.
In an almost physical way, I was warned as I felt a peaceful presence standing before me asking this question. “Would you stay home if your children needed you?” Immediately I said, “Yes.” Suddenly, a new thought popped into my mind that said, “Your children are fine. They are safe downstairs.” The difference was this thought lacked the previous peaceful spirit. So, I continued to get dressed, because I really wanted to play. I tore my ACL on my first play in the game.
After the damage was done, I remember many times while anguishing through a year of rehab, rehearsing the events leading up to that fateful decision to play. I was caring for my father who had Parkinson’s at that time and needed my physical abilities; so, I had asked the Lord to warn me about getting seriously injured in a game and He did. Although I struggled during rehab, I received help in all aspects of my life as countless blessings renewed me when I needed it most.
A Spiritual Parallel
“For thus saith the Lord God: Him have I inspired to move the cause of Zion in mighty power for good, and his diligence I know, and his prayers I have heard.” (D&C 21:4-7)
After every General Conference, my son Jake teases me by asking who was my “favorite” speaker. He learned long ago that as each speaker steps up to the pulpit, I would always say they were my favorite and meant it.
In all honesty, for me General Conference can be a bit overwhelming. So many wonderful talks; so many inspiring messages to repeatedly review. I find it nearly impossible to keep even the main messages meant for me in my mind; meaning the messages which are direct answers to prayer I sought while preparing for General Conference. They are usually spiritually focused things I need to do, better understand, or consistently practice to become the disciple the Savior needs me to be. Yet, I have a tendency to overcomplicate implementing counsel, and a habit of focusing on too many things.
Consider President Nelson’s most recent General Conference message, his counsel to grow in confidence in approaching God by “diligently seek[ing] to have charity and virtue fill our lives”. I have read it and listened to it several times as well as several other talks hoping to embrace their full messages.
Often, I find myself being pulled out to “sea” as I expend great effort to remember all the principles to practice, becoming exhausted while treading the waters of what I perceive as implementation and action to the counsel received. Perhaps I need to learn not to swim faster than I have strength. (see Mosiah 4:27; D&C 10:4)
To keep from being swept out to sea, I strive to hearken to the instructions and warnings of the lifeguard (the Prophet’s invitations and counsel) coupled with consistently reading and studying the posted signs of information (the scriptures) in addition to applying my protective sunscreen and wearing my life vest (the Atonement, counseling with the Lord, and inviting the Holy Ghost) before heading to the beach (the world).
A Final Reflection
The prophet speaks; come listen and obey.
He is the man who holds the keys of priesthood pow’r today³.
Over the decades I have learned through trial and error that adhering to the Prophet’s counsel acts as buoys marking a safe channel to help us navigate the challenges of the last days, and can guide us steadily through the deep and dangerous waters of the world with the hope to keep us from drifting off course.
Just as rip currents are a common, dangerous threat along ocean shorelines. They are also quite deceiving since the water can look calmer from the beach. These deadly currents are much easier to spot when viewed from an elevated position, such as a lifeguard stand, sand dune, or beach walkway. Although they are always there, even on beautiful, calm sunny days, they usually grow stronger with in 2 hours before low tide. Understanding this could save your life, but without watchful effort, and paying attention to the time of the ever-changing tides, you could find yourself in trouble. This is why it is wise to heed the warnings of those who stands upon the tower and are able to recognize the danger. The lifeguards.
The other half of this equation is, if you know these things and still get caught in a rip current, it is best if you know the steps to take to get safely back to shore. Let us not ignore the lifeguards standing on the watchtowers. Let us not walk past the signs posted all around us. Let us instead listen—hearken—to the voice of the prophet with faith and patience.
The Prophet is the Lord’s mouthpiece. His counsel will keep us from being swept out to sea.
Lastly, if you are ever vacationing on the beaches of North Carolina’s Crystal Coast, please obey the signs and listen to the lifeguards!
“For by doing these things the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name’s glory.” (D&C 21:6)
Notes:
1-3: “We Listen to a Prophet’s Voice,” Hymns, 1985, no. 22
- Russell M. Nelson, “Rejoice in the Gift of Priesthood Keys”, Liahona, May 2024.
- Know Before You GO: Rip Currents; Rip Current Safety; 7 rip current myths debunked; Are Rip Currents Worse at High Tide or Low Tide? – Rip Current Science
- Russell Nelson, “Confidence in the Presence of God,” Liahona, May 2025.
- All Talks By President Russell M. Nelson and All Talks By Church Leaders found at org
- How to Create a Study Plan on the Gospel Library App: Go to Home – Study Plans – Jesus Christ – Atonement of Jesus Christ; you can also create a Study Plan to learn about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ
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