Robert Pothier
Service Missionary
Robert Pothier graduated from BYU in 1967. While going to school he supported his wife and children by managing the lodge at Zion National Park in the summers and operating his own pizza business during the school year.
He began his career as a manager with Marriott Corporation in Washington, D.C. He then went on to be a loan officer for Bank of America in California, a seminary teacher in Arizona, and CEO of Rockford Corporation in Phoenix for 12 years. His entrepreneurial spirit has lead him to several business ventures mixed with work in venture capital. From 2006 to 2011 Brother Pothier and his wife, Marva, served a 5 ½ year service mission at BYU-Idaho. Brother Pothier was given the assignment to create the Entrepreneurial Center which is now a part of the Research and Business Development Center. He continues to work with the university as a volunteer and now oversees a similar independent operation which he established in Ghana in 2014. Brother and Sister Pothier will be leaving in March to serve the Church for six months in Ghana as Self Reliance Services/Perpetual Education Fund volunteers.
While Brother Pothier has served as a missionary in the Central States Mission, a bishop, and a high councilor, he most often finds himself happily serving as a scoutmaster or in other capacities with the young men.
Brother and Sister Pothier are the parents of 9 children and soon to be 38 grandchildren. Their first great grandchild was born in October. Brother Pothier's greatest satisfaction is in mentoring young people, especially his own children, as they build businesses of their own.
How very grateful I am to be here today. For nearly 10 years my wife and I have had the privilege of serving on this campus. We have grown to love all that this school stands for. How we treasure our association with such outstanding students and the opportunity to learn from the wisdom and example of committed faculty and employees. I want to thank the administration for allowing us to be involved over such a long period of time.
It has been such a blessing to us and our family. I love devotionals and the spirit that each of you bring. Devotionals have had a significant impact on my life.
During my freshman year at BYU, my testimony blossomed. I developed a deep love for the Savior, the prophet Joseph Smith, and the restoration of the gospel, and I had a real desire to serve a mission. The fall semester at that time, ended late in January but, my 19th birthday was not until the end of March. I was confused about my timing and spent many hours in fasting and prayer to know the Lord's will. By Christmas I still had not received an answer; so I registered for another semester.
On the second day of the semester, I was on my way to the field house for the first devotional when I received a strong impression, "Sit in front."
Elder A. Theodore Tuttle of the Quorum of the Seventy was the speaker and the first words out of his mouth were, "If there is any one in this audience who is thinking about going on a mission, go now!" There was my answer.
After the devotional I called my parents, checked out of school and, before returning to my home in Idaho, I met with both my Bishop and Stake President. Then, as was required in those days, I drove to Salt Lake for an interview with a General Authority.
The authority I was assigned to was A. Theodore Tuttle, the very man who had spoken at the devotional a week earlier. I told Elder Tuttle of my experience and he said, "As I arose to give my talk I was impressed to give that advice." The rest of the talk had nothing to do with missionary work.
I tell this story for two reasons: first, to emphasize how important devotionals can be in your lives if you come prepared and open to be taught by the Holy Ghost and second, to demonstrate that God is aware of each of you and your desires. He will answer your prayers and fulfill the righteous desires of your hearts. I know this is true!
We are taught in the Doctrine and Covenants 112:10, "Be thou humble and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand and give thee answers to thy prayers." 1
Qualifications
How can we qualify to receive this promise? In Psalms 37:4 we read, "Delight thyself also in the Lord and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." 2
What are the desires of your heart? Are they in harmony with your spiritual goals? Ask yourself, "If your desires are granted, where will they take you? Are those desires being influenced by the Lord through the Holy Ghost or by the world?" If a course correction is needed and you are humble and ask sincerely, the Lord will help you make those necessary adjustments.
Foundation
Once our desires are in order, we must build our lives on a firm, unchanging foundation, the foundation of Jesus Christ. Helaman counseled his own sons, "And now my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea when all his hail, and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build, they can not fall." 3 What a great promise.
We know trials will come and temptations are all around us, but we can be prepared, guided and protected by building our foundation on Jesus Christ his life his teachings, his plan for us and his Atonement.
You must understand the Atonement. The price has been paid for your sins and the path to forgiveness is through honest and sincere repentance. If you have established a firm foundation and are striving to live as the Savior taught, you can have true, unwavering confidence that the Lord will lead you by the hand and help you achieve the righteous desires of your heart.
Some of you have been born into families where a foundation in the gospel has been taught and practiced. Others have not enjoyed a strong gospel background. Regardless of your heritage, you can decide for yourself and your own family where your devotion will lie and to whom you will look for guidance. Each of you can become a "transition person," by choosing a righteous path for yourself and your posterity.
My wife's parents, Henry and Ella Poelman were "transition people." Both Henry and Ella came from somewhat uncommitted families who were still learning to consecrate their lives to the teachings of the Church. Henry and Ella each made great personal sacrifices to complete their high school education and had no hope for college. At an appropriate time they were engaged to be married and set their wedding date.
One night, the Bishop asked to meet with Henry. Henry and Ella drove together to the church and Ella waited in the car. During the interview the Bishop asked Henry if he would serve a mission. When Henry shared this request with Ella, they had a major decision to make. They found a secluded place and knelt together in prayer to counsel with the Lord. The decision was made that night that they would build their life on the Savior with a total commitment to do His will. That decision has made all the difference.
Henry served two and a half years in the Netherlands. Upon his return Henry and Ella were married in the temple, and raised six faithful children. Each of you can be a "transition person." Your choices can bless the lives of your children and generations, to come, as promised, even to the third and fourth generation.
Once your life is built on the foundation of Jesus Christ, you must be worthy to receive answers to your prayers and be directed by the Spirit through revelation. Julie B. Beck, former General President of the Relief Society taught, "The ability to qualify for, receive and act upon personal revelation is the single most important skill that can be acquired in this lifetime."4
Next to the Atonement, the gift of personal revelation through the Holy Ghost is one of the most powerful gifts the Lord could give us. The Holy Ghost knows all things and can reveal to us all things we need to do to fulfill our personal mission. Personal revelation is your lifeline to the guidance of the Lord.
In Doctrine & Covenants 121:45-46 the Lord tells us how we can have the power of the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost.
"Let thy bowels also be full of charity toward all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the Priesthood shall distill upon thy soul as the dews from heaven. The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever." 5
Once again, what a great promise. If virtue garnishes your thoughts unceasingly, then your confidence will be strong and you can know that God will direct you. With a foundation built upon Christ and his Atonement and with the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, you will be blessed to make good decisions.
You must have a firm testimony that you have been foreordained to fulfill a specific mission during this earth life experience. You were "called and prepared from the foundation of the world according to the foreknowledge of God, on account of [your] exceeding faith and good works"6It is your challenge in this life to come to know and understand the specific mission assigned to you. Each choice you make can lead you closer to or farther from accomplishing that mission. As President Russell M. Nelson recently taught, "...you must learn to do hard things ...even impossible things". 7 That is what you have been put on earth to do in these last stages of the last days. As you partner with the Lord nothing will be impossible that is in harmony with his plan and will. He will guide you in the journey if you seek His help.
Decisions
You are at a point in your life when you are making some very important decisions.How can you gain the faith and testimony you will need to do those impossible things?What do you need to study to effectively prepare for your mission?Some of your decisions will affect both your mission and the happiness you experience as you devote a lifetime to accomplishing it.
Who should you marry? How can you make your spouse a true partner in your journey?When should you start a family? How can you manage your responsibilities amid so many demands on your time?
You must have the faith that God will lead you and answer your prayers.Turn to Him and seek His will in your decisions.Do your best to qualify for personal revelation by living a virtuous, Christ-Centered life.You don't have to be perfect, but you must have a strong desire for His guidance and try your best.
Marriage and Family
The establishment of an eternal family is important to the Lord's plan and to your happiness. It tells us in The Family: A Proclamation to the World that "marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children."
The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God's commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force...
Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. 'Children are an heritage of the Lord' (Psalm 127:3)...
...Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.8
Partner with the Lord
What a great responsibility it is to find a companion, then to marry and create an eternal family. It is essential that we partner with the Lord in these crucial decisions. I testify that through your faith and obedience, God will direct thy path and give thee answers to thy prayers. Please listen to the Lord and His prophets. Do not be influenced by the values and voices of the world. Prayerfully and with the Lord's guidance, choose your love and then love your choice; then establish together an appropriate relationship, one of trust and equality.
A man must treat his wife and a wife must treat her husband with kindness and respect. As problems or challenges arise, they must be solved together with each one expressing his or her own feelings while the other listens with an open mind, and strives to understand.
Value the Difference
Are men and women different? Of course they are. The differences are intentional. So, do you truly value that difference? Each spouse brings to a marriage a unique and valuable perspective and together a man and wife can make much better decisions. I know that this is true. Some of the worst decisions I have made in life were a result of not considering my wife's concerns. We have come to understand that when we both feel good about a path, we can unite in our pursuit of that path and accept the consequences, knowing it is in accordance with the Lord's plan. This is the pattern of the brethren as they counsel together and a good one to follow.
Priesthood Leadership Clarified
Sometimes we are confused about the Priesthood and the responsibility men have to use it to bless and lead their families. This can open the door to unrighteous dominion.
President Boyd K. Packer stated,
In the home it is a partnership with husband and wife equally yoked together, sharing in decisions, always working together.While the husband, the father, has responsibility to provide worthy and inspired leadership, his wife is neither behind him nor ahead of him but at his side.9
Then, as a family grows, President James E. Faust explained, "Every father is to his family a patriarch and every mother a matriarch as coequals in their distinctive parental roles."10
Having Children
When a couple marries, their desire to follow the Lord's plan will requires them to make choices concerning having children. Elder Neil L. Anderson gave wonderful counsel to us in the 2011 October General Conference. He stated,
It is a crowning privilege of a husband and wife who are able to bear children to provide mortal bodies for these spirit children of God. We believe in families, and we believe in children... The prophets in our day have declared 'The first commandment that God gave Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God's commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force,'...
We express deep gratitude for the enormous faith shown by husbands and wives (especially our wives) in their willingness to have children.11
My wife and I see that faith demonstrated in your lives. We are touched by your faithfulness as you share the care of your children and support each other in your demanding schedules of school, work, church callings, etc. How we love you young people. You are such an example of faith and obedience. There are few your age in the world who demonstrate such great faith.
Decisions Regarding Children
Elder Anderson gave this very wise counsel, "When to have a child and how many children to have are private decisions to be made between a husband and wife and the Lord. These are sacred decisions—decisions that should be made with sincere prayer and acted on with great faith." 12
The world will discourage you from having children or encourage you to seek other goals first. Many do not understand the privilege and blessing it is to have a family. Elder Anderson shared a comment made on the blog of a Christian woman of another faith.She wrote:"Motherhood is not a hobby. It is a calling. You do not collect children because you find them cuter than stamps. It is not something to do if you can squeeze the time in... It is what God gave you time for." 13
Managing small children is a demanding, often an exhausting and selfless task.Another story tells of a young mother who once boarded a bus with her seven children.The bus driver asked,"Are these all yours, lady? Or is it a picnic?""They are all mine." she replied, ..."And it's no picnic."14
There are many demands and sacrifices associated with having a family, but life was not meant to be a picnic. It was meant to be a challenging journey, a test demanding great effort and dedication, which gives us the opportunity to grow. We are proving to the Lord our commitment to His plan and our willingness to make personal sacrifices for the good of others. It is an opportunity to prove ourselves worthy to have spirit children of our own. As we are obedient to these commandments both the earthly and the eternal rewards are indescribable. We are blessed with a fullness of love and joy that cannot fully be understood unless it is experienced.
Early Pothier Family
Marva and I were blessed to be able to have children and we are grateful beyond measure that we had each one. The challenge of having lots of children and little money made sacrifice and selflessness a necessity but these became our favorite trials and have brought our most treasured rewards.
Doctor Story
Elder James O. Mason, a former General Authority Seventy told of a meeting he had with Elder Spencer W. Kimball. He explained his plans to become a doctor which left no alternative but to postpone having a family. Elder Kimball listened patiently and then responded in a soft voice, "Brother Mason, would the Lord want you to break one of His important commandments in order for you to become a doctor? With the help of the Lord, you can have your family and still become a doctor. Where is your faith?"15
Just like paying tithing, brothers and sisters, it is a matter not of time, money or convenience; it is a question of faith. Elder Mason did become a doctor and added two more children to his family while in school.
One of the greatest regrets some of our older acquaintances have expressed is that they did not have more children. In his last conference talk Elder L. Tom Perry declared,"The older I get, the more I realize that family is the center of life and is the key to eternal happiness." 16
Not All Are Able
Not all are blessed with the opportunity to have children, or the number of children they desire. This is a source of much pain, sorrow and adjustment. We need to be thoughtful in our interactions and never judge another's motives, decisions or circumstances.
The size of families and timing of children must be very carefully and prayerfully decided between a husband and wife, and the Lord. The Lord knows your mission, trials and capacity and will guide you and give you answers to your prayers.
Through your selfless choices to follow the Lord's plan you can feel confident that He will direct your life and make you equal to your assigned mission while enjoying the beautiful fruits of family life. You must live by faith, not fear. As President Gordon B. Hinckley promised, "It will all work out,"17 and it does.
Personal Testimony
Our personal experience has been one great miracle. It defies all worldly logic. With a very basic education I have been blessed with opportunities beyond my wildest dreams, which has made it possible for me to support my wife and our nine children."For eye hath not seen nor ear heard, neither entered into the heart of man the things that God has prepared for them that love him." 18
Fruits and Blessings
What pure joy we experience as we gather our family and see the loving, relationships of siblings and grandchildren. It gives us great satisfaction and is one of the most beautiful fruits of gospel life.
"Happiness is the object and design of our existence; Joseph Smith explained, and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness and keeping all the commandments of God"19
Summary and Conclusion
Brothers and Sister, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding, acknowledge him in all things and he shall direct thy path." 20 How very grateful we are that we listened to counsel, and were prayerfully directed by the Spirit beyond our own understanding. Each couple must use their agency to make hard choices but as we counsel with the Lord we can be directed to fulfill our individual mission in harmony with His will, whatever our circumstances.
Listen To Prophets and Follow
The Savior declared, "whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same." 21 To this, Elder David A. Bednar added, "May we hear and heed the eternal truths taught by the Lord's authorized representatives. As we do so, I promise our faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ will be fortified, and we will receive spiritual guidance and protection for our specific circumstances and needs."22
The Lord promised, "Whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trails, their troubles and their afflictions and shall be lifted up at the last day." 23
The love I have for my wife, Marva, our children and grandchildren, is beyond any words I can express. The joy they are to me is "pure joy," and I know that the family is central to the Lord's Plan of Happiness. I testify that God is aware of each of you. He knows the desires of your heart and he will lead you by the hand and give you answers to your prayers.In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
1. Doctrine & Covenants 112:10.2. Psalms 37:4.3. Helaman 5:12.4. President Julie B. Beck, "And upon the Handmaids in Those Days Will I Pour Out My Spirit," Ensign, May 2010, 11-12.5. Doctrine & Covenants 121:45-46.6. Alma 13:3.7. Elder Russell M. Nelson, CES Devotional Talk, January 2016.8. The Family: A Proclamation to the World," Ensign, Nov. 2010, 129.9. President Boyd K Packer, "The Relief Society" Ensign 28 May 1998:73.10. President James E. Faust, "The Prophetic Voice." Ensign 26 May 1996:6.11. Elder Neil L Anderson, Ensign, Nov 2011 (includes quote from "The Family: A Proclamation to the World," Ensign, Nov. 2010, 129).12. Elder Neil L Anderson, Ensign, Nov. 2010.13. Rachel Jankovic, "Motherhood Is a Calling (and Where Your Children Rank),"July 14, 2011, desiringgod.org.14. See "Jokes and Funny Stories about Children," thejokes.co.uk/jokes-about-children.php.15. E-mail from Elder James O. Mason, June 25, 2011; (told by Neil L Andersen, Ensign, November 2011).16. Elder L Tom Perry, Ensign, May 2015.17. Gordon B Hinckley, Jordan Utah South regional conference, priesthood session, 1 Mar. 1997.18. 1 Corinthians 2:9.19. Joseph Smith, (An essay recorded in the Journal History [HC5:134-35} Aug. 27, 1842) TPJS:255-56.20. Proverbs 3:7.21. Doctrine & Covenants 1:38.22. Elder David A. Bednar, "Chosen to Bear Testimony of My Name", Ensign, May 2015.23. Helaman 36:3.