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Brent
M. Strong, a faculty member in the foreign language department at
BYU-Idaho, spoke on four principles of personal development as found in
Luke 2:52 at the campus devotional Dec. 10.
Although
the scriptures don’t say much about the life of Jesus Christ from the age
of 12 until he began his ministry at age 30, Strong said what they do say
has been a guide for his life.
The
scripture reads: “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour
with God and man.”
First,
as the Savior did, we must increase in wisdom, Strong said.
“Are
you doing all you can while here at BYU-Idaho to increase in wisdom and
prepare yourselves for what the future will certainly bring? I hope so.
That is what the Savior did between the ages of 12 and 30.”
Next,
the Savior increased in stature. Strong spoke of the alarming increases in
heart attacks, diabetes, strokes and other maladies, many of which are
directly related to lifestyles.
“Are
you healthy, and are you focusing on things that will make you healthy
throughout your lives? . . . I
am personally positive that our wonderful Word of Wisdom goes far beyond
our traditional avoidance of coffee, tea, alcohol and tobacco. May your
focus during these critical early years in your life bring you to a correct
understanding of the importance of increasing in stature as I know the
Savior did.”
The
Savior also increased in “favor with God and man.” Strong noted several
principles behind social graces
– or increasing in favor with man – including dress, language and
manner of address.
“There
is little doubt in my mind that while he was growing up, the Savior
mastered the social customs of his time and place. He certainly knew how to
carry himself as he ministered throughout the Holy Land. How are you doing
in your attempts to increase in favor with man? . . . Watch closely and
listen carefully to our leaders and emulate their social behavior.”
Finally,
we must grow in favor with God, which deals with testimonies and feelings
toward sacred things.
“Do
you pray morning and night? Do you read the scriptures every day even when
you are not taking a religion class? Are you honest? No matter what you
are, if you are not honest, you are nothing. What do you do when you are
all alone and there is no one except you and the Lord to see your behavior?
That is when the real ‘you’ can be seen. It’s not when you are out in
public and putting on airs as so many people do. Maybe the most important
thing we can do in this life as we mature is to be in favor with God. It
has been my experience that when that is happening, almost every other
aspect of our lives falls into place.”
Strong
was born and raised in Idaho Falls and served for 22 years in the U.S. Air
Force. Initially trained as an
intelligence officer, he saw duty in Germany, at the Pentagon and in
Southeast Asia where he completed 42 airborne combat missions in the
Vietnam War.
The
latter part of his military career was spent as an educator at the U.S. Air
Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. and at the German Air Force
Academy near Munich, Germany. He joined the Ricks College Foreign Language
Department as a German instructor in August 1989.
Strong
returned in July after serving as mission president of the Slovenia
Ljubljana Mission, which covers most of former Yugoslavia.
Weekly
devotionals will return to the Hart Auditorium January 7 at 2 p.m. Overflow
locations will be in the Hinckley Chapel, Taylor Chapel and Kirkham
Auditorium. BYU-Idaho President David A. Bednar and his wife, Susan, will
be the speakers at the first devotional.
Devotionals
are broadcast on KBYI-FM 100.5 at 2 and 9 p.m. # # #
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