When Elder K. Brett Nattress reflects on his personal heroes — which include the current Church President, his own father and the collective group of a Book of Mormon battalion — he sees how spiritual mothers and fathers have blessed their lives and helped them survive physical, emotional and spiritual wounds.
Speaking at the Tuesday, March 24, devotional at Ensign College in Salt Lake City, the General Authority Seventy shared experiences from the life of Church President Dallin H. Oaks, from Elder Nattress’ own father and from the scriptural account of Helaman’s army of 2,000-plus young warriors. And he related how others helped shape their lives and their service.
“When I think of President Oaks, my father and Helaman’s stripling warriors, I see a thread of consistency that changed everything for these heroes of mine,” Elder Nattress said.
Simply put, someone invited them to come unto Christ and helped them to know that Jesus Christ is the answer, he explained. “But doing this, they obtained strength in and through the Savior of all mankind — trusting in Him and submitting to His will.”
The world is full of complex problems, Elder Nattress said, but as taught by President Oaks, the answer to those problems is simple: Jesus Christ.
“Brothers and sisters, the answer will always be Jesus Christ. He truly is the way, the truth and the light,” Elder Nattress said.
Strength through Jesus Christ
Elder Nattress cited two personal accounts shared by President Oaks in general conference messages, one from 1992, when he recounted being held at gunpoint six decades ago and felt directed not to make any rash action but instead speak to and reason with the young man.
Said Elder Nattress: “I am grateful that a young Dallin H. Oaks heeded this counsel — heeded the counsel of following the guiding influence of the Holy Ghost, 56 years ago in Chicago, the result of which saved a young man’s life and provided a path for President Oaks to prepare, unknowingly, to fulfill his foreordination to become the Lord’s Prophet.”
The other came in October 2025, when President Oaks related being a child when his father died. He spoke of his grandfather comforting him — promising, “I will be your father” — as well as the faith of his widowed mother and her “powerful” gospel teachings.
At this tragic time, the Oaks family found strength in the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, Elder Nattress said. Additionally, the Lord sent direction and hope to a grieving boy in the form of his grandfather, demonstrating one of many ways that the Lord sends spiritual guides to aid individuals along life’s paths.
‘A wounded warrior’
Elder Nattress related growing up with loving parents, including a car-enthusiastic father who spent his Sundays at the race tracks while the rest of the family attended worship services. “Then the miracle began,” Elder Nattress said, describing how the family’s bishop extended a simple invitation to Elder Nattress’ father: to serve as secretary in the Young Men organization.
The father accepted, changing his heart, priorities and life — even later becoming Elder Nattress’ bishop.
“A wounded warrior became a spiritual father to my father,” said Elder Nattress of Bishop Belcher, “and in doing so, he helped save our family.”
Trust in God
Elder Nattress also shared the story of Helaman’s stripling warriors, as found in Alma 53, 56 and 57. These young men were miraculously spared during battle so that not one of them perished, but “neither was there one soul among them who had not received many wounds” (Alma 57:25).
This isn’t a story of perfect young men, Elder Nattress said. It’s a story of “wounded warriors” who put their trust in God and, in so doing, received miracles.
“So when life happens, when tragedy strikes, we need to trust the Lord,” Elder Nattress said. “That’s where we will find our strength.”
Invitation and promise
In conclusion, Elder Nattress asked his listeners to reflect on those who have had similar impacts in their lives. “Who did the Lord send to you? Who has been a spiritual mother or father in your life?”
He followed with an invitation and promise: “Will you, in the next 30 days, find one person and help them draw near to the Savior and strengthen their testimony of His infinite Atonement? It might be a brother or a sister, a parent or a friend.
“Become a spiritual father or mother for them,” he continued. “Imperfect people can have perfect moments. Those perfect moments come in and through the Savior, Jesus Christ. We may feel imperfect at times, but we still move forward — trusting in the Lord. Then, miracles will happen.”
“When I think of President Oaks … and Helaman’s stripling warriors, I see a thread of consistency that changed everything for these heroes of mine,” Elder Nattress said. “Simply, someone invited them to come unto Christ. ...
“Imperfect people can have perfect moments. Those perfect moments come in and through the Savior, Jesus Christ. We may feel imperfect at times, but we must still move forward — trusting in the Lord. Then, miracles will happen.”
