Content Warning: This article mentions suicide.
For Utah resident Craig Israelsen, life is full of adventure, perseverance and an overarching sense of service.
“I sometimes don't act like a 66-year-old ought to act. I can be a little goofy, a little random, kind of ‘ready, aim, fire,’ you know. And so, I appreciate that I'm being groomed by the Lord for whatever He wants me to do,” Israelsen said.
As a teenager, Israelsen recalled the teachings of his mother that formed him into the person he is today.
He remembered dreading early-morning seminary while growing up in California. His mother asked him an important question during this time.
“Craig, how can you expect the Lord to bless you if you won't do what He asked?”
Israelsen quickly changed his ways.
“And I just thought, ‘Oh, that is such a low blow, you know? I have no comeback for that,’” he said.
She also taught him that service is not always convenient, fun or easy — which is a lesson that has always been burned into Israelsen’s mind.
“It’s just part of my DNA,” he said.
As a man of many trades, Israelsen has sought to integrate these values into all that he does. As a teacher for most of his career, he taught personal finance at the University of Missouri, later moving on to Brigham Young University and now teaching part-time at Utah Valley University.
He has his own finance consulting company, writes books, publishes articles in magazines, is on the board for an addiction recovery program, travels the world, has run multiple marathons, is a sealer at the Provo City Center Temple and recently hiked Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.
However, with all of Israelsen’s accomplishments, he said that he feels like a sparrow among eagles. He said he is a work in progress; his ultimate desire is to be an instrument in the hands of the Lord.
Early in Israelsen’s career, he had a molding experience that deepened his desire to follow the guidance of the Spirit.
While he was teaching at the University of Missouri, one of his students died by suicide.
Asked to write a letter of sorrow to the family, Israelsen shared that he struggled because he did not know the student.
“I don’t want to have to write a letter like this ever again,” Israelsen thought. “And so, as I would go into the auditorium, I feel like I went in with a spirit that was just a little bit more attuned, hopefully, to any needs that might exist in that auditorium.”
As he has strived to live this way, he has been able to say and do things that have touched the lives of others in influential ways.
“I mean, it's just, it's just miraculous how the Holy Ghost can guide us,” Israelsen said.
Recently, while working as a sealer in the temple, a patron thanked Israelsen for some inspired words that he had shared.
“And all I can say is it's not me, bro,” Israelsen said. “That's the Holy Ghost communicating to you through whoever he needs to. I'm nothing special. I'm just a fellow sojourner.”
During his adventure of hiking Mount Kilimanjaro, Israelsen had the opportunity to be on the receiving end of an act of service.
The hike had been strenuous, and as he had scaled the 19,341 feet, he had experienced fatigue and severe nausea.
Reaching the summit brought unexpected sobs for Israelsen.
Hearing his cries, one of his guides, Herment, came to offer him comfort.
“He held me in his arms and just embraced me and held me in a way that I have never been held by a man. And not even by my wife. I mean, I was just the needy one. I'm not usually that guy, but I was,” Israelsen said.
He said it was a soul-softening experience for him. In that moment on the mountain in Tanzania, he was invited to be better.
“I'm not going to pat myself on the back, but I will say that I have no shame that I cried. None,” Israelsen said. “Because it allowed that Tanzanian brother of mine to embrace me. And apparently, I needed that.”
He explained that this has led him to open his heart a little bit to how much others need an embrace, a kind word or a smile.
He said he wants others to know that there is always room for others in his inn.