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 finding the joy of redemption in the opening devotional of Summer Semester 2008 on Tuesday, April 22.

"You and I live in a fallen world where we are tried and tested. There is much that is difficult and challenging in the world, but our Heavenly Father loves us so much that He has prepared a world for us in which there is also much joy," Elder Clark began. "Even during life's inevitable trials, we can find joy because of God's love for us."

In addition to the simple joys of life, Elder Clark taught, we can experience the greater joy of redemption that comes from being born of God through faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, sacred ordinances and covenants, obedience to the commandments, and the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost.

"The joy of redemption is spiritual in nature. It comes from heaven. It comes with remission of sin and brings validation of our eternal identity and purpose and of the perfect love of Heavenly Father and His Son for us," Elder Clark said. "The joy of redemption is not an event, but a process of spiritual re-birth that ultimately leads to exaltation in the kingdom of our Father."

As we seek the joy of redemption, Elder Clark warned, we must avoid the tendency to feel overwhelmed or to ignore the Lord's invitations to find joy in Him. "When we make these two mistakes... we deny the power of the Savior's Atonement and fundamentally misunderstand the purpose of mortal life. The Lord does not expect us to do all this alone. His invitation is to ‘be perfected in Him.' Nor does He expect us to do it all at once. But He does invite us to follow Him now," Elder Clark said.

Elder Clark also cautioned against being deceived by Satan's false versions of joy, comparing them to a mist of darkness that carries people into a path of destruction. "There are all sorts of messages and videos and voices coming at us from web sites, and channels, and outlets of the great and spacious building offering promises of joy and happiness," he said. "It may look like joy in the advertising-it glitters, and shines, and beckons-but it is counterfeit. The only joy in the great and spacious building is false joy. It may look glitzy on the outside, but on the inside it is hollow, cold, and dark."

Elder Clark closed his remarks by offering students three guideposts that would lead them to the joy of redemption: living a life of honor by following the BYU-Idaho Code of Honor, finding joy in relationships of love and service, and trusting in the Lord.

"Brothers and sisters, you were born to rejoice," he said. "May God bless you to have the joy of redemption in this life and a fullness of joy in celestial glory through the merits and mercy and grace of Jesus Christ, who is the Lord and Savior of us all."

Next week's devotional speaker will be Sister Kathleen H. Hughes, former first counselor in the General Relief Society Presidency. Devotionals are held every Tuesday at 2 p.m. in the Hart Auditorium with additional seating in the Taylor Chapel during Summer Semester.  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.