Avoid ‘spiritual crocodiles,’ Elder Nattress tells BYU students

Elder K. Brett Nattress began his remarks during a Brigham Young University devotional by sharing a photograph from a baptismal service in Papua New Guinea. 

In the photo, missionaries clad in white are baptizing villagers within the cove of a river. Many onlookers view from atop a high embankment while a number of men carrying spears and axes watch on the water’s edge.

Elder Nattress, a General Authority Seventy, explained that a young girl had died a number of days before the baptismal service after being attacked by a big crocodile. The villagers provided support and protection by surrounding those that had made the choice to follow the Savior and be baptized.

Despite the possible danger, the villagers made the choice to be baptized. “These Saints knew what it meant to ‘think celestial,’” Elder Nattress said, quoting President Russell M. Nelson’s invitation during general conference last October. 

Speaking to students and college gathered within the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah, on Tuesday, Jan. 16, Elder Nattress noted that the majority of his listeners won’t ever come nose to nose with a crocodile or be asked to exercise faith by entering muddy waters with danger lurking within the shadows. “Instead, you’ve gotten your personal crocodiles to take care of. These challenges may are available in many forms: exams, papers, social media, evil influences, illness, depression and, after all, relationships.”

Just just like the crocodiles, Satan will attempt to distract and destroy. “His destructive path results in heartache, disappointment and discouragement,” Elder Nattress said.

Knowing of those “spiritual crocodiles,” President Nelson has provided prophetic counsel, Elder Nattress said. He has taught: “Take charge of your personal testimony of Jesus Christ and His gospel. Work for it. Nurture it in order that it would grow. Feed it truth. Don’t pollute it with false philosophies of unbelieving men and ladies. As you make the continual strengthening of your testimony of Jesus Christ your highest priority, look ahead to miracles to occur in your life” (October 2022 general conference, “Overcome the World and Find Rest”).

Elder Nattress promised that those that strive to “think celestial” may have their testimonies of Jesus Christ strengthened.

As an example, he shared in regards to the Abol family in Madang, Papua New Guinea. Sister Abol spent seven years trying to find the gospel of Jesus Christ. She reads the Book of Mormon day by day to her five sons, Elder Nattress said, and he or she and her husband have been preparing for five years to attend the temple and be sealed as an everlasting family.

Every Sunday, the Abols and others of their village make the four-hour walk over two mountains and across five rivers to attend sacrament meeting. “There is just one reason these Saints endure a lot and sacrifice a lot each week. It is because they know that the gospel is true,” Elder Nattress said. “They decide to all the time remember Him. They strive to think celestial.”

Elder Nattress then shared three things individuals can do day by day that can make an everlasting difference of their lives. First, pray. Second, read the Book of Mormon. Third, find someone to serve. 

For good measure, Elder Nattress added invitations to partake of the sacrament and attend the home of the Lord.

“I do know these measures sound easy and straightforward to do, but I promise that if we’re faithful in these easy measures, we’ll find great joy and can be blessed with a rise of His Spirit to be with us,” even amidst difficult trials, Elder Nattress said.

When Elder Nattress and his wife, Sister Shawna Nattress, were serving as mission leaders in Arizona, Sister Nattress was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. While undergoing chemotherapy treatments, Sister Nattress met one other young woman undergoing chemotherapy, Raquel Kimball. 

Even though Raquel only had a five percent probability of survival from cancer that had metastasized to her spine, each legs, and all of her large bones, she lovingly ministered to Sister Nattress and their family, attending treatments, holding Sister Nattress’ hand, sharing her testimony, providing meals and even bringing her daughters over to assist clean the Nattresses’ home.

“Raquel Kimball taught us tips on how to have joy within the journey …,” Elder Nattress related, “especially when the journey is difficult. She has blessed our lives and countless others. She showed us what it means to think celestial.”

In conclusion, Elder Nattress once more invited listeners to hope, read the Book of Mormon and find someone to serve — day by day. “Imagine for a moment what would occur if every student — all 30,000 of you — did these three things day by day for the remaining of your lives? It can be transformational.”