Kathleen H. Hughes, former first counselor in the General Relief Society Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of  Latter-day Saints, encouraged Brigham Young University-Idaho students to "grow up unto the Lord" in a devotional address given Tuesday, April 29.

Sister Hughes explained this concept using the Book of Mormon account of Nephi and Lehi, the sons of Helaman, who remained firm in their testimonies of the gospel throughout their lives.

"As we read further into Helaman, we learn that not only did these boys grow to adulthood knowing, loving, and serving the Lord, but that they stayed in the same path throughout their lives. It is to this idea-this staying put, staying true, enduring-that I want to devote my visit with you today," Sister Hughes said.

One way students can remain firm in the gospel, Sister Hughes said, is to engage in meaningful fasting and prayer.

"Frequently, we are not in a place where we can vocalize our prayers, but as Amulek teaches us in Alma 34:27: ‘...let your hearts be drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare and also for the welfare of those who are around you.' And often, when we read about prayer, fasting is attached with the conjunction ‘and.' These two acts are the means by which we build our testimony. And both of these acts require our time and thought," Sister Hughes taught.

Sister Hughes' husband, Dean, then spoke briefly to help illustrate this principle by sharing a personal experience from his college years when his testimony was shaken, and then later strengthened through prayer.

"Prayer was absolutely real to me," Brother Hughes said. "I had established a relationship with God that had lasted since my childhood. I believed in prayer, and I didn't have to talk myself into that belief. I knew I couldn't live without praying."

Exhorting students to take advantage of their time at BYU-Idaho, Sister Hughes then pointed out some of the blessings of being a student at the university.

"You are so blessed as women and men to be able, here at BYU-Idaho, to have the opportunity to meet together every day in an environment that builds faith. Your professors and friends can speak freely about the gospel and testimony in your classrooms; you have religion classes where testimony is shared; your church meetings are close at hand. Not all people who attend a university have so supportive a situation. And someday, you, in all probability will not be in such a tightly-knit environment of people of your own faith," she said.

Sister Hughes concluded by outlining the blessings of regular temple attendance. "You now have a beautiful new temple here in Rexburg, just dedicated in February of this year," she said. "Use it; enjoy it; let your lives be blessed by it and because of it. There is something each of you can do in the temple. Let temple visits become a regular and frequent experience for you. The temple will then be part of the pattern that will help you to continue to grow up to the Lord."

Next week's devotional speaker will be D. Rex Gerratt, president of the new Twin Falls Idaho Temple. 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.