January 16, 2008  

BYU-Idaho president gives opening devotional address of Winter Semester 2008, teaches students about the power of the temple

 

Elder Kim B. Clark, a member of the Fifth Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and president of Brigham Young University-Idaho, taught students about the importance and power of the temple in the opening devotional address of Winter Semester 2008 on Tuesday, January 15. 

 

Elder Clark began his address by describing the perilous times in which we live as a great war between good and evil. This war is "a central part of the testing and refining experience of mortal life. It is a spiritual war in which there can be much anxiety and worry, much suffering and pain, much despair and fear. I know that some of you are worried about what might come, and some of you are struggling even now in the battles of the Great War," he said.

 

The Great War, Elder Clark continued, is fought in the hearts of men with the temptations of appetite, pride, and greed. He reminded students that of the many tactics of the enemy in this Great War, the most sinister is silence. "The principle of silence, or the code of silence, in the face of evil has been the foundation of secret combinations and the works of darkness since Cain murdered Abel. But silence has also become part of the culture of society," he said.

 

Elder Clark pleaded with students to never remain silent when friends and family fall victim to temptation. "If you reach out in a spirit of love and humility, you can help the spiritually wounded find the Savior. If you need to, call for the medics: talk to your bishop, call the Dean of Students, tell someone who can do something that you have a friend in trouble. Don't be silent. Don't leave the wounded on the battlefield," he said.

 

To avoid the temptations on the battlefield, Elder Clark taught, we must draw upon the power of temples, including the new Rexburg Idaho Temple set to open next month. "The temple is a house of learning, especially about the plan of salvation. We learn many wonderful things in the temple about our Heavenly Father, about His Only Begotten Son, about the plan of redemption, and about our divine nature and destiny," he said.

 

He concluded with his testimony of the power of temples and the truths taught within them. "Come to the temple! Prepare now and come! Come to learn the blessed truths of salvation; come to partake of sacred ordinances and enter into eternal covenants; come to be sealed in an eternal family; come to receive glorious promises and blessings of capacity and protection and strength come for peace; come to serve and love; come for the Savior--to be in His presence, to feel of His love and His power," he said.

 

Next week's devotional speaker will be Margaret Wheelwright, wife of Brigham Young University-Hawaii president Steven C. Wheelwright. 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.