Down, set, hike.
On the afternoon of Wednesday, September 30, 1998, a little
league football team in Inkom, Idaho, was out on the field
for its midweek practice.
And it began to rain lightly.
But that was of no concern to a group of boys who loved
playing football.
Suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, an absolutely
deafening--
[THUNDER]
--crack of thunder split the air inseparable from the flash
of lightning that illuminated, literally electrified, the
entire scene.
Instinctively, they started running for the concrete
pavilion adjacent to the park.
Some of the boys began to cry.
Many of them fell to their knees and began to pray.
Through it all, A. J. Edwards lay motionless on the field.
Brother David Johnson rushed to the player's side.
He shouted to coach and fellow ward member Rick Shaffer, "I
can't get a pulse.
He's in cardiac arrest." These two men, rather miraculously
both emergency medical technicians, started a life-
against-death effort in CPR.
Cradling A. J.'s head as the men worked was the young
defensive coach of the team, 18-year-old Bryce Reynolds.
As he watched Brother Johnson and Brother Shaffer urgently
applying CPR, he had an impression.
I am confident it was a revelation from heaven in
every sense of the word.
As he held this young deacon in his arms, he realized that
for the first time in his life he needed to use his newly
conferred Melchizedek Priesthood.
Young Bryce Reynolds had been ordained an Elder
just 30 days earlier.
Whether he audibly spoke the words or only uttered them
under his breath, Elder Reynolds said, "A. J. Edwards,
in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the power and
authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood which I hold, I
bless you that you will be OK, in the name of
Jesus Christ, amen."
As Bryce Reynolds closed that brief but fervent blessing
offered in the language of an 18-year-old, A. J. Edwards drew
his first renewed breath.
Now not every prayer is answered so immediately, and
not every priesthood declaration can command the
renewal or the sustaining of life.
Sometimes the will of God is otherwise.
But young men, you will learn if you have not already, that
in frightening, even perilous, moments, your faith and your
priesthood will demand the very best of you, and the best
you can call down from heaven.
You must be ready and worthy to act.
That is why the Lord repeatedly says in the
scriptures, "Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord."
Brethren, the day may come, indeed I am certain it will
come, when in an unexpected circumstance or a time of
critical need, lightning will strike, so to speak, and the
future will be in your hands.
Brethren, sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do
wonders among you.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
[MUSIC]