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“Spiritual
comfort” is an issue of utmost importance, said new Brigham Young
University President Cecil O. Samuelson in his devotional address Tuesday
at BYU-Idaho.
“All
of us who believe in Jesus Christ take some consolation in the assurances
of the Savior that he will assist and help us in times of need –
in other words, he will bring us comfort,” said Samuelson, who also
is a member of the LDS Church’s
First Quorum of Seventy.
Sensing
his apostle’s discomfort before he left them, Christ told them he
would send a “Comforter” in his absence. This Comforter, the
Holy Ghost, would be with those who remembered him and kept his
commandments, he said.
“For
the Comforter to fulfill his comforting role, we need to be qualified and
prepared to receive these very special ministrations. Exercising faith and
truly repenting of our sins are essential prerequisites along with the
ordinances of baptism and confirmation,” he said.
While
these steps are necessary, “they may not, however, be fully sufficient
until we have made some very specific adjustments in our lives and are
qualified to have these blessings impact and affect us in ways that may be
more deep and significant than we had previously understood.”
President
Samuelson noted that a heavy emphasis is placed on having childlike faith,
but on occasion being childlike may be confused as being childish.
“Our
faith should be simple and straightforward and yet must not be passive or
unprepared,” he said.
He
repeated nine suggestions President James E. Faust, second counselor in the
LDS Church’s First Presidency, gave to qualify more fully to receive
the blessings of the Holy Ghost. They include: live so that we can merit
the guidance of the Spirit; never be complacent and always try harder;
exercise more faith; purge ourselves of personal aggrandizement; beware of
pride and flattery; be humble and submissive; always try to act to promote
that which is good for others; learn to enjoy the fruits of the Spirit; and
do works of righteousness.
He
continued, “The question that we might often have, which I believe is
not only understandable but also honorable, is: ‘How can I really
know when I am being directed or led by the Spirit?’ ”
To
help, he listed four questions one might ask to determine whether certain
revelation is coming from the Holy Ghost or some other source: First, is
the feeling or impression you have consistent with the pronouncements of
the Lord found in the scriptures? Second, is your inspiration consistent
with the statements and counsel of the living prophets? Third, is the
prompting you feel consistent with your own stewardship and scope of
personal responsibility?
Fourth, does your answer infringe on the agency of someone else?
Another
challenge to achieving comfort is timing and patience. “In our urge
to progress and achieve, including those precious things that come only
from the Spirit, we might be a little like the man who was reported to have
prayed: ‘Dear God, I pray for patience, and I want it right
now!’”
He
concluded his remarks by saying, “The Lord’s promise that we
can be truly comforted is more significant than we know. The Gift of the
Holy Ghost is one of the fruits of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ that
can make our plea, ‘Lead me, guide me, walk beside me, help me find the way. Teach me all that I must do to
live with him someday’ a reality in our lives.”
Elder
Samuelson began his tenure as the 12th president of BYU May 1. A native of Salt
Lake City, he served at the University
of Utah as professor of
medicine, dean of the School of Medicine
and vice president of health sciences. Prior to his call as a full-time
general authority, he was senior vice president of Intermountain Health
Care.
Devotionals
are broadcast live on KBYI 100.5 FM Tuesdays at 2 p.m., and are rebroadcast Tuesdays and Sundays at 9 p.m. Elder Harvey Gardner, former member
of the Fifth Quorum of the Seventy, will speak at the next devotional Nov.
11.
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