Priesthood Executive Council Secretary teaches BYU-Idaho students who they really are

Jeffrey C. Bateson, director of Translation Division of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the secretary to the Priesthood Executive Council, gave the final devotional address of Summer Semester 2007 at Brigham Young University-Idaho on Tuesday, July 10, teaching students how to know who they are.

"God has sent us to this earth so that He may prove or test us to see whether we are willing to do all that He commands us to do. Through a series of proving events, we show the Lord what is in our hearts and whether we will keep the commandments or not," Bateson said.

Obedience determines what is in a person's heart and what kind of person he is. Bateson taught these tests of obedience come from God to help students prove themselves, but also to help them know what kind of people they are.

"Abraham proved his obedience and his love of God in his willingness to sacrifice his son.... God came to know Abraham's heart, and...Abraham came to know his own heart. The experience fortified and strengthened his faith and his ability and desire to keep the commandments. You may not be successful in all ways, but the Lord will come to know your heart. He will come to know of your love for Him and to know how you will use your agency. Most importantly, you will come to know yourself, and your faith will grow into knowledge." he said.

Bateson told students these tests of character would continue throughout their lives, and they wouldn't always be announced before they happened.

"The tests of life won't be like those you are taking here at the university, where you know exactly how many tests you have to take, you know the exact date of each, and everyone in your class is taking the same test. No, these tests come to you as life unfolds, and they will be tailored to you and your own development and growth," he said.

Bateson also taught the test isn't always determined by what students do in public. Sometimes what is in their hearts is shown by what they do in private. But he also emphasized the help that God will help them if they seek answers to prayers.

"Not all answers to your prayers are ‘ah ha!' moments. You will necessarily struggle, reach, and strive for answers, but the answers will come. The Lord has your best interest in mind," he said.

He named several other gifts from God that can also give answers during trials, such as the ability to reason, spiritual gifts and the Holy Ghost. Bateson concluded by reminding students God does not want them to fail, that he will help them through trials, and thereby they will know who they are.

"Your Heavenly Father wants to prepare you personally to worthily return home and live with Him in eternal glory. He has a very personal interest in the experiences we have here in mortality. He has prepared a way for each one of us, and He will give us the experiences that, if we are faithful and obedient, will allow us to return home to live with Him," he said.

The opening devotional of Fall Semester 2007 will be held Tuesday, September 18 in the Hart Auditorium. Kim B. Clark, president of BYU-Idaho, and his wife, Sue, will be the speakers.

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.