BYU-Idaho stake president teaches students how to keep an "eternal perspective"  

Brad Foster, president of the Brigham Young University-Idaho 7th Stake, gave the devotional address at BYU-Idaho Tuesday, March 6. He taught students how to keep an eternal perspective that "will broaden your mind, enhance your vision and deepen your understanding of who you are and how to excel along this great journey we call life."

Foster reminded students life is not easy and that, despite our trials, "Heavenly Father has a plan for each of us and he will help us accomplish what we need to do in this life to fulfill his will in that plan."

Foster taught that by keeping an eternal perspective, or remembering the purpose of this life, people can overcome trials and remain faithful.  "In some of life's challenges," Foster said, "the Lord wants to see if we will just hang in there with him, if we will just endure."

In order to help students keep an eternal perspective, Foster gave students three things to remember.

First, Foster told students, "Don't get caught up in the world's definition of ‘perspective' or you will surely lose yours." Foster said that the world aims for wealth, which does not mean happiness.

"Now don't be mistaken, we want you to be successful; we want you to be competitive; we want you to be rewarded for your efforts. But please make sure that you don't equate your self-worth with your net-worth," Foster said. "The only people who believe money can buy happiness are those who haven't had money yet."

The second thing Foster said to remember was, "In this world of opposition, life will not be fair. Bad, sad and difficult things can and will happen to good people." Foster said that often bad things happen because of the bad decisions of others. He said that keeping an eternal perspective and remembering the ultimate plan of God will help students overcome bitterness from bad events.

To illustrate the point, Foster told a story about two teenage boys in his community who were killed in a car accident. He recounted how the community mourned and some people even doubted God for allowing two good boys to die.

"After much prayer and fasting to know how to counsel people, this truth was confirmed to me. I came to know that the Lord knew of this situation, that he did indeed have the power to stop it, but he didn't. Therefore, it was his will, and it would be okay," he said.

The final thing Foster told students to remember was, "Don't be discouraged. We can get through this together." Despite the bad things that happen and the difficulty of life in general, Foster said people must choose their attitude. He told students to look on problems as "nothing."

"...if you keep telling yourself it's nothing, it will be nothing. If you let yourself simmer and keep telling yourself it's something, then eventually it will be something," Foster said.

Another way to remain positive was to remember that "we are all in the same boat," Foster said.

Foster concluded by giving students two practical ways to improve their perspective daily. He told students that by studying the scriptures and being of service to other people, they would keep their eternal perspective in this life and remain faithful through trials and disappointment.

Next week's devotional speaker will be Elder L. Lionel Kendrick, emeritus member of the First Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Devotionals are held every Tuesday at 2 p.m. in the Hart Auditorium with additional seating in the Hinckley Chapel, Taylor Chapel and Kirkham Auditorium.  Devotionals are broadcast on KBYI-FM 100.5 at 2 p.m. and rebroadcast Tuesday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 5 p.m.