Dr. Rebekah Hunter shares insights about coming unto Heavenly Father

On August 4, Dr. Rebekah Hunter, an associate teaching professor and associate dean in the Department of Education addressed students and faculty about coming unto Heavenly Father.

She began by sharing a story about her second grade class, where one of her students ate a worm.

As a teacher, she asked her student why he had done that, and he told her that he took the worm from a classmate and swallowed it because he was upset.

She explained that in this story she needed to ask the what, how and why of the situation.

Today, I would like to use the inquiries of 'What,' 'How' and 'Why' to remind us of some of the essentials to coming unto the Father and receiving of His fulness, Hunter said.

She explained the what of divinity.

Hunter told the stories of many prophets and people who had different understandings of the character of God in the scriptures.

In all these descriptions God is portrayed as nonexistent, unknowable, unconcerned, uninvolved, controlling, permissive; in short, God is reduced to something changeable, convenient, and shaped to fit the desires of the human heart, Hunter said.

While people have struggled to understand who God is, learning for oneself is an important aspect of discipleship.

This is what type of being God is. This is what we worship an intimate, loving, protective, and encouraging Father and His Holy Son, Jesus Christ, who gave His life for us, Hunter said.

She then explained the how, using the word swallow, which in the scriptures describes the fulness in which something was done or experienced.

Let 'swallowed' describe how we come unto and worship God completely, wholeheartedly, without any reservation. Because when we do so, or at least seek to do so, the blessings are incredible, she said.

She emphasized that we can receive personal revelation and answer the why of our questions.

Through our covenant relationship with the Lord, we will be blessed with the ability to overcome the world, be united eternally as families, and ultimately receive all that the Father hath, she said.

Hunter encouraged everyone to act on her invitations.

'Let us, as a church and a people, and as Latter-day Saints, offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.' It is my prayer that we will do so, Hunter said, quoting Doctrine and Covenants 128.

Hunter concluded by emphasizing the importance of covenants and a relationship with Heavenly Father, promising blessings.