Emeritus Seventy urges BYU-Idaho students to work toward greater happiness and success

Elder Joe J. Christensen, an emeritus member of the First Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, spoke to Brigham Young University-Idaho students about working toward greater success and happiness in a devotional address given Tuesday, February 12.

In the world today, Elder Christensen said, the good are becoming better, and the bad are becoming worse. Quoting Truman Madsen, he said, "You live in a generation where the tares are getting ‘tarier' and the wheat is getting ‘wheatier.' And the contest is real." Elder Christensen continued, "You likely are among the group of the ‘wheatiest,' or the very best, in the Church-but if you make a few poor choices, you could easily find yourself among the ‘tariest,' the worst."

He then gave six specific suggestions to help students be their best. The first was to take advantage of every opportunity to learn the gospel. Quoting a member of the First Presidency, Elder Christensen said, "Vain are the hopes of those who embrace the gospel, and then suppose they have nothing more to do but hold on to what they have. The great God never thought of raising up a society of ignoramuses, but of men and women of intelligence."

Second, Elder Christensen taught students to take advantage of educational opportunities and to do so honestly. "Avoid cheating in all its forms. Decide today that you will not cheat. Just because there are others doing it doesn't make it right. Ease your conscience. Set the example for all the other students. Others will learn to follow and develop the integrity our whole society needs so desperately," he said.

He next taught students to live up to the Lord's command to love one another. "If you are really serious about being happy and successful in your life, learn to love people and treat them as you would like to be treated. Along with whatever skills you learn from your education, develop the skills to relate well with others," he said.

Elder Christensen's fourth point was to not become involved in any type of pornography. "At the click of a computer mouse, you can be flooded with the vilest of immoral images, and watching such trash can become addictive. Your spirituality, your activity in the Church, and even your future marriage can be destroyed by it," he warned. 

The fifth point was to decide to always remain active in the Church. "That is a conscious decision you can make right now. You will not let anything sway you from remaining committed to the covenants you have made to be a solid and faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints," Elder Christensen said. 

Elder Christensen's final point was to always be worthy of a temple recommend and use it frequently.  "You know the questions your bishop and stake president ask. The questions deal with almost every major area of our physical and spiritual lives. We are asked to analyze ourselves in terms of honesty... obeying the Word of Wisdom, activity in the Church, morality, commitment to tithing, sustaining our leaders, and so on," he said.

Elder Christensen concluded with his testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.  "I know better today than I have ever known in my life that God lives, that Jesus Christ is the redeemer and is at the head of this Church, I so testify," he concluded. 

Next week's devotional speaker will be Ann M. Dibb, a member of the Young Women General Board.  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.