How I #HearHim: Elder Ronald A. Rasband

"The ways that I hear the Spirit of the Lord best in my life is by reading the scriptures and following promptings of the Holy Ghost."

Elder Ronald A. Rasband says that we can #HearHim through promptings that we receive while reading the Holy Scriptures.

Just as Joseph Smith was asked to #HearHim in the spring of 1820, we are asked to #HearHim today as we celebrate the Restoration of Jesus Christ’s Gospel. Our Savior still speaks to us. As we follow His commandments we will #HearHim. Share your experiences and act on what you hear as you feel the joy the Savior’s words bring.

[rosemarydodge]

I ran into some financial trouble recently. I was distraught, and wondered what I was going to do. I knew I needed to read that week's Come, Follow Me, so when I opened up to section 111, and came to verse 5, when the Lord says "Concern not yourselves about your debts, for I will give you power to pay them." I knew He was telling me it was going to be okay. Since then, things have already gotten better. I'm so grateful for the gift of the Holy Ghost, who teaches us truth and comforts us in ways we understand and in the moment we need Him the most.

[intjonmiller]

I had the very opposite and yet same experience. My brother had served a mission in Japan. He later married a Japanese woman. Hearing them speak was fascinating so I studied Japanese in high school. Three years of it. Little surprise then when I was called to serve in Japan, Tokyo North.

A little over halfway through my 10 weeks at the Missionary Training Center in Provo my assignment came into question when administrators realized I was assigned to an overseas mission and I was on prescription medication, which is problematic for practical reasons. That medication had been disclosed in my mission papers, but somehow overlooked? For a period of a week or two I didn't know where I would be serving or in what language. One day during my morning study I read a poem in a non-denominational book of Christian inspiration quotes and such. Hopefully my memory of it is accurate enough:

"Father, where shall I work today?'
My love flowed warm and free.
He pointed me out a tiny spot,
And said, 'Tend that for me.'
I answered quickly, 'Oh, no, not that.
Not any one would see,
No matter how well my work was done.
Not that little place for me!'
Now when he spoke, it was not stern,
He answered me tenderly,
'Little one, search that heart of thine;
Art thou working for them or me?

Nazareth was a little place,
And so was Galilee.'"

A little later that morning I was called into the MTC president's office. He explained that the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles had a special meeting and discussed my situation. I was reassigned to the New York New York North Mission, Japanese speaking. I was to help start a new Japanese language program there, as a response to the mission president's request for Japanese-speaking missionaries.

My Japanese language skills from high school studies had already been surpassed by everyone in my district, but they prepared me to develop even further than most do in that time. And I had more familiarity with the people and culture than most. I had been prepared.

What really brings this full-circle for me is that Elder Rasband was called as a general authority within days of my reassignment (April 2000). Up until the previous summer he had been serving as the mission president of the New York New York North Mission, where I then served and heard many wonderful stories from the older missionaries about his leadership. While I've never met him even then he had an influence on my life, and through me, others.

And yet until now I had no idea he had such a similar experience to me, being assigned (in my case reassigned) to the same mission, against our own expectations but unquestionably where we were supposed to be.

Thank you, Elder Rasband!

[kevinvargas]

This video brought memories about the time when I was called to serve in Honduras. My brothers served in Canada and the United States (we are from Mexico), so everyone expected I was going to serve in one of those places too. I did my best to accept my calling with joy, and later in my mission I was able to serve as a medical assistant and work very closely with my Mission President and his wife (because I was good speaking English). Because of that experience, I learned the Lord always calls you where he needs you to be.

[k_man]

I'm glad he did. I met a woman he baptized upon guessing a random address based on a referral card. She's been a member of the Church for a long time, happily married, and even helped someone whom I taught on my own mission.

[Cramerzzzzz]

Such a powerful message. I remember being called to serve and I was so certain I'd go to Japan. Of course I was called elsewhere, and it was the most impactful time in my life.

[thomascase]

I love hearing the testimonies from the living Apostles! Thank you Elder Rasband for your sweet testimony of the scriptures! I love the #HearHim videos!! So simple and so powerful. Thank you!

[pabloneubie]

Thanks for sharing Elder Rasband. I add my witness that a heart can be changed with the snap of "the finger of the Lord."

[cath]

I kept coming back here. I don't know but this msg is comforting and inspires me to read scriptures daily even just a bit of verses only. ♥️

[brotherwesterldr]

Thank you for sharing this experience. This encourages me to look to the scriptures to hear the voice of the Lord in times of disappointment and trial.

[BarbaraAustinUTSP]

Almost immediately I felt the spirit and became overwhelmed with tears. THANKYOU for your faith and sharing!

[a-aron]

Thank you Elder Rasband! There have been several instances in my life when I feel like a scripture was written specifically for me, as if the Lord was speaking to me in that specific time, and I’m grateful for those moments.

[jaklumen]

I've heard stories like Elder Rasband's, of individuals that were called to serve in areas that they didn't expect at all (especially when their hearts and minds were looking to a specific area), but I think it's very good that now, now we have a General Authority who relates his story of heeding the Lord's call, even if it didn't go the way he'd planned.

I didn't have an opportunity to serve a mission, but I am grateful for the missionary and ministry fellowship experiences I *have* had.

[ENFPSIS]

Wow truly beautiful! Every time I pray, I feel my soul lighten up and the joy it brings to be able to hear him, makes this so much better thank you for sharing!

[wildBcat]

Thank you, elder Rasband, for sharing this. My older sister was called to Italy, my older brother and younger brother to Brazil. So I was shocked when I was called to Tennessee. It took some time to accept it, but I am continually sharing with people how it was inspired that I go there. I had experiences and confirmations to attest to it. I was meant to go to that area. It just gave me further proof that the Lord is making the calling. I am grateful I was able to serve the Lord on a mission, and I can't wait to go with my wife someday.

[gloriathornton]

Elder Rasband! A few years ago, quite a few in fact, 15 last April, Elder Nash and Yourself came to Richland Washington. I was newly converted just three months. At Elder Nash's Gospel Principles Class, I was asked if Elder Nash could "quote me" and I was soon asked following this Class to Bear My Testimony. I did but I do not remember what I said. I do remember HOW I felt, so overwhelmed, in a good way...The Spirit Embracing Me Entirely while I tried to recover from The Fernandez's Glorious Hymn. Thank YOU Elder Rasband for being in the Seeds Of My Conversion, which I look upon often and with Love. Love and Light from Zion In Washington State.

[groovyguru]

As I’m prepping for my mission, I’m glad I can hear personal accounts from living apostles about their experiences.

[Rod_Johnson-Moroni-Saw-Me]

What an amazing testimony and humbling experience. I am hoping to have more of those to help build Zion. I so long to have a place prepared for the Savior when He comes, starting with my heart.

[BlueJayBirdSaint]

Really, I can testify that the answers we need at key moments in our life, can be received through simple random selection of verses from the Scriptures (or some other chosen source of inspiration).

[LDSTempleNews]

Love listening to our wonderful Apostles.

[cynthiacarter]

Elder Rasband, I am so grateful for your testimony and message. I was raised back East by my converted mom and dad. We were in the Eastern States Mission and had many missionaries in our home. My mother loved the missionaries and fed them often in our home. I like to think that maybe you were one of the many. Those missionaries were a blessing to our family so new in the gospel of Jesus Christ. They fed us with their testimonies and the Spirit that they carried with them.