BYU Speeches: Teresa R. Bell – "The Hand of God in Your Life"
Date: April 1, 2025
Podcast: BYU Speeches
Speaker: Teresa R. Bell, Faculty Member, BYU Department of German and Russian
Episode Overview
In this uplifting devotional, Teresa R. Bell shares personal stories, scriptural counsel, and practical strategies for recognizing the hand of God in one's daily life. Addressing BYU students during a particularly busy time of the semester, she focuses on three time-tested practices: daily prayer, journal writing, and consistent study of one’s patriarchal blessing. Her tone is warm, personal, and often gently humorous, reminding listeners that spiritual growth is within reach and relevant to all.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Opening: Connecting Past and Present at BYU
- (00:35) Teresa opens with humor, referencing April Fool’s Day and sharing her history as a BYU student.
- She recounts her freshman experiences attending devotionals, highlighting the sense of community and importance of spiritual gatherings.
Main Theme: Recognizing God's Hand
- Teresa’s parents taught her early to “look for and recognize God’s hand” in her life.
- Today’s guidance is distilled into three proven concepts:
- Daily prayer
- Journal writing
- Studying your patriarchal blessing
1. Daily Prayer—Morning and Evening
(03:40–14:30)
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Morning Prayer:
- Teresa cites President Nelson: "Each new morning is a gift from God. Even the air we breathe is a loving loan from Him... Our first noble deed of the morning should be a humble prayer of gratitude."
- She shares Elder Joaquin Costa's advice to avoid the phone first thing in the morning, instead praying and reading scripture.
- “The first thing we do each day is the thing that always gets done. If you make prayer and Scripture study your first priority, you'll do it every day.” (08:43)
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Evening Prayer & Personal Testimony:
- Teresa recounts a powerful spiritual experience in Switzerland after her freshman year, when a sincere prayer seeking confirmation brought an overpowering sense of the Spirit.
- Quote: “The spiritual power I felt was so strong that I truly believed that if I opened my eyes, the angel Moroni himself might be there.” (11:32)
- She emphasizes reflection, repentance, and gratitude in evening prayer.
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Repentance as Daily Joy:
- President Nelson (2019): "Nothing is more liberating, more ennobling, or more crucial to our individual progression than is a regular, daily focus on repentance. Repentance is not an event, it is a process. It is the key to happiness and peace of mind." (13:17)
- Repentance, Teresa explains, isn’t just for big mistakes, but a “joyful daily habit that frees us from guilt and helps us experience Christ’s atoning power.”
2. Journal Writing—Recording God's Hand
(14:31–23:25)
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Teresa began journaling at age 10, inspired by her parents' habit.
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President Eyring’s Journal Question (via Lloyd Newell):
- “Have I seen the hand of God reaching out to touch us or our children or our family today?” (16:05)
- Teresa: “Somewhat unexpectedly, the more he recorded God’s goodness, the more he became aware of it. Beautiful blessings and minute miracles surround us, and they are clear to see if we take the time to look.” (16:38)
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Examples from Teresa’s Life:
- Recalling a BYU basketball game and her journal entry, she emphasizes how re-reading daily records can reignite memories of God’s presence, even in ordinary events. (19:01)
- She distinguishes journaling as a spiritual record, not just a recounting of events.
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On Memory and Record-Keeping:
- Referencing Peter Handke’s novel Repetition, she describes the “work of memory”—how recording experiences turns them into lasting memories and meaning.
- "When we record our experiences, they become memories we won't forget." (22:08)
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Advice:
- Overcome resistance or digital distraction.
- “Take a break from doom scrolling... Put your phone down and write down one way you saw the hand of God in your life every day.” (20:58)
- Journaling allows you to see your story through “the lens of God’s love.”
3. Patriarchal Blessings—Personal Revelation
(23:26–27:50)
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Invitation:
- “Every time you wonder what you should do with your life, study your patriarchal blessing... It is scripture just for you.”
- President James E. Faust: “If through our blessings we could conceive only a small part of the person God intends us to be, we would lose our fear and never doubt again.” (24:00)
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Family Examples:
- She shares stories from her father and mother—misinterpreted timing and unrecognized fulfillment of blessings—which underscore faith and patience in interpreting one's blessing.
- Quote: “Your blessing is unique to you. No one can interpret your personal scripture from Heavenly Father the way you can.” (25:30)
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Practical Study Method:
- Break your blessing into three categories on separate pages: Blessings, Commandments/Responsibilities, Warnings.
- “Review your Blessings page when you’re having a tough day... your Warnings page when you’re feeling confident.”
- Some statements may fit all categories; use relevant scriptures as cross-references for deeper understanding.
- Remind yourself your blessing isn’t a comprehensive life outline; it grows in meaning over time.
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On Worthiness and Possibilities:
- “All blessings are conditional upon worthiness, regardless of whether the blessing specifically spells out the qualifications.” – President Faust
- “A patriarchal blessing literally contains chapters from your book of eternal possibilities.” – President Monson (27:20)
Memorable Quotes and Moments
- “When someone reaches out with a hand of kindness, think of it as God’s hand. When someone expresses genuine love, think of it as God’s love. When you feel inspired to reach out to others, embrace the opportunity to be God’s hand in their lives.” (16:52)
- “What I had experienced was not yet a memory, and a memory meant not that what had been recurring, but that what had been situated itself by recurring in being remembered... I look on memory as more than haphazard thinking back as work.” (21:20 — quoting Peter Handke)
- “Be not cast down. Go forward unafraid.” (26:08) — Teresa’s own patriarchal blessing, a personal mantra
Key Segment Timestamps
- 00:35 – Introduction, BYU devotional connection, overview
- 03:40 – Principle #1: Daily prayer, stories and application
- 11:32 – Personal spiritual experience, Switzerland story
- 13:17 – Joy of repentance, President Nelson on daily repentance
- 14:31 – Principle #2: Journaling, spiritual record-keeping
- 16:05 – President Eyring’s journal question
- 19:01 – Example of journaling leading to spiritual discovery
- 22:08 – On recording experiences and creating memory
- 23:26 – Principle #3: Patriarchal blessings, family stories
- 24:00 – President Faust’s quote on blessings
- 25:30 – Personal revelation and interpreting your own blessing
- 26:08 – Teresa’s “go forward unafraid” mantra
- 27:20 – President Monson’s promise of “eternal possibilities”
- 27:50 – Three closing takeaways and testimony
Closing Takeaways
- Begin and End Each Day With Prayer
- Morning prayer of gratitude; evening reflection, repentance, and recognition of God’s hand.
- Keep a Daily Journal
- Write down one way you see God’s hand each day.
- Study Your Patriarchal Blessing Regularly
- Deepen your understanding of your purpose and blessings; personalize your study method.
Final assurance: “Choose today to start recognizing his hand in your life. As you do, you will come to understand his will for you, grow closer to him and our Savior, and gain a firm assurance that his hand is always with you.” (27:50)
For those seeking spiritual reflection and practical steps to feel God’s influence, Teresa Bell’s devotional offers reassuring, actionable wisdom—grounded in scripture, lived experience, and an earnest faith that God is present in every life.