Former Young Women General President teaches BYU-Idaho students to "sail a true course"  

Ardeth G. Kapp, former general president of the Young Women organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, gave the devotional address at Brigham Young University-Idaho Tuesday, May 15, teaching students how to "sail a true course" in their lives.

"As you well know, we cannot expect smooth sailing at all times," she said. "That would defeat the very purpose of our earth life experience. There will be storms along the way for each of us." In order to help students weather the "storms" in their lives, Sister Kapp offered three guidelines that would direct their decisions.

The first guideline was to build a seaworthy ship. Sister Kapp encouraged students to look inside themselves and see what effects their choices had on themselves. Integrity, she said, was the best way to build a ship.

"While our intentions may be positive, it ultimately is our actions that measure the safety and reliability of our ship. Integrity is learning to make our actions consistent with our knowledge of right and wrong. Let us say with Job, ‘. . . till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me'," she said.

The second guideline was to be a loyal shipmate. By being a loyal shipmate, Sister Kapp said that students would help and protect others.  "A loyal shipmate will stay the course, resist the temptations of Satan and, when needed, make course corrections as prompted by the Holy Ghost. While many today are being swept overboard by the storms of evil for the want of an ethical compass, you are called to be a dependable, trustworthy, alert signalman to stay your post, regain your footing quickly if ever you lose it, and help point the way for others who will follow," Sister Kapp said.

She also explained how students may be distracted from their duties even while they did worthwhile things.  "To be loyal to ourselves, and to the Lord, we must seriously ponder our priorities and how we use our time," Sister Kapp said. "I believe the adversary would, if possible, try to keep us busily engaged in a multitude of things-even good things-if it would distract us from the few things that make all the difference."

The third guideline was to sail a true course. Sister Kapp explained that life is full of course corrections and that students should constantly be monitoring the direction they are going.

"I believe many of the so-called storms in our lives are customized for our individual growth. We can expect tests at the point where we are most vulnerable," she said. "And by the Spirit we will know when we are on course and even more importantly, we will be prompted when we are not, and by the Spirit we will be guided to make course corrections along the way."

Sister Kapp concluded by urging students to follow Christ and improve themselves.  "It may help to remember that the storms of life are not meant to destroy us, but to keep the wind blowing so we do not become casual and in fact, become stronger. It is the turbulence of the sea and the power of the wind that keeps us turning to the Master."

Next week's devotional speaker will be Elder Merrill J. Bateman of the Presidency 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 Taylor Chapel.  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.