Elder Allan F. Packer
of the Seventy:
“When I was a young
man in high school, one of my passions was American football. I played middle
linebacker. The coach worked the team hard, teaching us the basics. We
practiced until the skills became natural and automatic. During one play
against our biggest rival, I had an experience that has helped me over the
years. We were on defense. I knew my assigned opponent, and as the play
unfolded, he moved to my right into the line of scrimmage. There was a lot of
noise from players and fans. I reacted as the coach had taught us and followed
my man into the line, not knowing if he had the ball. To my surprise, I felt
the ball partially in my hands. I gave it a tug, but my opponent didn’t let go.
As we tugged back and forth, amid all the noise I heard a voice yelling,
‘Packer, tackle him!’ That was enough to bring me to my senses, so I dropped
him on the spot. “I have wondered how
I heard that voice above all the other noise. I had become acquainted with the
voice of the coach during the practices, and I had learned to trust it. I knew
that what he taught worked. “We
need to be acquainted with the promptings of the Holy Ghost, and we need to
practice and apply gospel teachings until they become natural and automatic.
These promptings become the foundation of our testimonies” (“Finding Strength
in Challenging Times!” Ensign or Liahona, May 2009, 17).
