|
|
REXBURG, Idaho – Elder Cree-L Kofford, a member of
the First Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints, encouraged students and faculty members to be “agents unto
themselves” in his devotional address at Brigham Young University-Idaho
Tuesday.
He
began by citing the scripture Moses 1:39, which “rests the reason for and
the need of the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Elder
Kofford said it is around this issue that the forces of good and evil have
drawn their battle lines. Heavenly Father’s plan recognized the
hallowedness of agency and encourages, motivates, and inspires its
followers to become like God. Satan plans, however, to “march his ideas and
his entreaties across their souls.
“All
that God can do for us, He has done and is doing, but inherent in the plan
of life is the fact that we have responsibility for ourselves,” he said.
“We are indeed an agent unto ourselves.”
In
an effort to draw all of God’s children from the paths of righteousness,
Satan has used deception from the beginning. His tools to destroy men have
included pornography, alcohol, tobacco, dishonesty, greed and power. That
plan, however, was only “marginally successful” because Satan had one fatal
flaw in his plan: he forgot about the power of womanhood.
“Throughout
that period, as men were bombarded with all of that Lucifer’s arsenal held,
the vast majority of womanhood remained as faithful daughters of God. They
were, by their nature, pure, clean, uplifting, strengthening and building.
Where men would falter, women would encourage. Where men would doubt, women
would believe. And in the process of this relationship, women inspired men
to be able withstand the entreaties of Lucifer, and thus his efforts
brought only marginal return,” Elder Kofford said.
At
some point, a careful plan was devised that would cause women to be dissatisfied
with womanhood of old and seek to substitute it with womanhood as defined
by Lucifer and his forces.
“In
place of modesty came immodesty. In place of superior standards came
mediocre standards. In place of lifting and building all of mankind came
becoming like mankind. Wifehood and motherhood became phrases to describe
duties not honors. Devotion to home and family was replaced by the desire
for status and power. A job, an office and a title replaced the nurturing
of children, the encouragement of husband, and the honor of motherhood,”
Elder Kofford said.
Secondly,
Lucifer determined to destroy individual self-worth. If he could make
people feel that they are not as good as others and that they have limited
worth, he could gain tremendous power.”
“Everything
is relatively easy if you’re a starting player on the school’s winning
basketball team, the quarterback on the football team, a cheerleader, the
most beautiful girl in school, or the most popular student on campus. But
what if you’re not? What if you’re just a normal, average, young man or
woman? You know the kind – a 2.5 GPA, one who studies hard to get a C plus,
a little overweight or underweight, shy, and a little unsure of yourself.
The kind who wonders: Does anyone even know I’m here? Does anyone care?
“Do
not let what the world tells you is important determine how you feel about
yourself. Do not let others set standards by which you are then judged and
found wanting. God loves you. He cares for you, each of you, individually.
Whether you are an honor student or not, whether you are an athlete or not,
whether you are popular or not, He cares about you just because you are you
and you have the divine within you. Hold on to that divine. Do not let
Lucifer’s plan aided unwittingly by mankind draw you to the conclusion that
you are less than you really are. Know this: I love you. The prophet loves
you. The Lord Jesus Christ loves you, and your Father in Heaven loves you.
After all, you are His child.”
Elder
Kofford was sustained a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy of The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints April 2, 1994, having
previously served as a member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy. He is
currently serving in the presidency of the Asia Area of the Church.
Devotionals
are broadcast live on KBYI 100.5 FM Tuesdays at 2 p.m. and are rebroadcast
Tuesdays and Sundays at 9 p.m. Next week’s devotional speaker is Rulon
G. Craven, a former member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy. # # #
|
