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REXBURG,
Idaho — “As with all gospel doctrines, principles, ordinances
and covenants, the roots of ‘sacred support’ tap into the
all-encompassing Atonement of our Lord and Savior,” Mike Cannon told
students in his devotional address Tuesday at Brigham Young
University-Idaho. “He and He alone is our only sure, unfailing source
of support that we know will always be there – come what may.”
A faculty member of the
Department of Communications at BYU-Idaho, Cannon challenged students to
give sacred support to everyone.
“[Sacred support]
includes support for one another, for the Lord and His Church, and for each
of us from a loving Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son who direct,
sustain, tutor, cleanse and comfort us through the Holy Ghost,” he
said.
He illustrated the principle of
support with a box supported by four pillars. The box represented the
listener and the pillars represented sources of support such as family,
friends and any other good things that offer support. Each support was then
removed one at a time.
“To outside eyes, it
appears as if we will fall,” he said. “But the man or woman of
Christ will still stand who has laid ‘hold upon the word of God,
which is quick and powerful,’ and will be led in a ‘strait and
narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery ... and land their
souls, yea, their immortal souls, at the right hand of God in the kingdom
of heaven,’” Helaman 3:29-30.
“This support comes from
internalizing spiritual things and having them become
part of us. Our foundation then rests upon the rock of our Redeemer, as Helaman said, ‘on whom for a blessing’ we
can call with confidence,” he said.
Cannon also advised students
that Satan offers no such support.
“There is never support
from the adversary, who works fiendishly and frantically for our misery and
desires to destroy you,” he said. “Peter describes the
adversary as a ‘roaring lion ¼ seeking whom he may devour.’
Satan despises you for helping vanquish him in the pre-mortal world through
the blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony. We cannot dabble in
darkness without taking huge risks. Conversely, we have nothing to fear as
we are faithful.
“If we have truly
internalized the teachings of Jesus Christ as true disciples who have ‘no
more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually’; who have
taken upon ourselves His name and undergone a mighty change of heart and
maintained a remission of sins through continual repentance; then we
qualify for the Lord’s sacred support and can count on it for
cleansing, comfort, direction, protection and strength. We will stand
strong, recover when we stumble, endure, overcome and prevail. And our
journey will be joyful, in spite of external influences and opposition. The
Savior, of course, is the perfect embodiment of all of this.”
Devotionals are broadcast live on Tuesdays at 2 p.m. and again at 7
p.m. on KBYI, 100.5 FM.
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