Samuel: an obedient young prophet
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An often-repeated story in the Old Testament is that of Samuel, who, three times during the night, went to Eli in answer to the calling out of his name. Twice, Eli merely told Samuel that he had not called him. However, on the third time that the boy came in response to having heard his name called out in the night, Eli "perceived that the Lord had called the child."
Eli instructed Samuel, "Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth."Samuel did as he was instructed. When " . . . the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, . . . Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth." (See 1 Sam. 3:1-10.)
At the October 1971 general conference, President Gordon B. Hinckley, who was then a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, said of this incident:
"From that day Samuel walked in obedience to the commandments of God and became the great prophet of Israel. He it was who selected and ordained both King Saul and King David. . . . "
President Hinckley said further: "It is not always easy to be obedient to the voice of the Lord. We may feel inadequate. . . . "
He spoke of experiences in his own life - as a missionary and later as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve - during which he felt comfort from having been obedient.
"I give you my testimony that the happiness of the Latter-day Saints, the peace of the Latter-day Saints, the progress of the Latter-day Saints, the prosperity of the Latter-day Saints, and the eternal salvation and exaltation of this people lie in walking in obedience to the counsels of the priesthood of God," he said.
