Emeritus Member of the Seventy teaches about God's plan at BYU-Idaho devotional

Elder L. Aldin Porter, an emeritus member of the First Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, taught Brigham Young University-Idaho students about the importance of having an understanding heart as they learn about Heavenly Father's plan in a devotional address given Tuesday, November 14.

Elder Porter defined the basic parts of the Lord's plan as the premortal existence, agency, the war in heaven, the creation of the earth, the fall of Adam and Eve, the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ, priesthood keys and the afterlife, including the judgment day.  He said commandments are easier to keep when the plan is understood.

"The Lord has given us instructions and commandments to help us fulfill the destiny which He envisions for us," Elder Porter said.  "When the covenants of the Lord which you have taken seem restrictive or old fashioned, prayerfully ponder the Lord's plan. When the living prophets give counsel which you find contrary to your desires or your opinions, prayerfully ponder the Lord's plan."

Elder Porter warned students to be aware of evils around them, both blatant and subtle, that can divert from following the Father's plan of true and everlasting happiness.  "When you make decisions that you know are contrary to the covenants you have taken, when you choose to walk paths that lead you away from the marvelous destiny that has been laid out for your life, stop and know that you cannot fulfill your destiny through disobedience to His plan," Elder Porter said.

Next, Elder Porter reminded students about the significance of the Savior's atonement in the plan.  "Reject Him or ignore Him, and the great plan of happiness cannot function in your behalf," Elder Porter said. "His life was dedicated in His premortal existence, through mortality, and on into the eternal worlds to establishing the Father's plan to our blessing and benefit."

Elder Porter said agency means individual and personal choices can be made but consequences follow, whether we accept or reject the Lord's plan.  He also taught how exercising agency leads to personal growth.

"Individual progress is almost always dependent upon choosing to take action that is difficult and sometimes distasteful," Elder Porter said. "Progress is not always related to talent or to high ACT scores or to athletic or musical abilities. Personal progress is more highly correlated to your ability to exercise self control and discipline: to arise early even when you don't want to, to serious study and concentration when you would prefer to do little or nothing, to happily abide the elements of the Honor Code because you have agreed that you would do so, to cease doing those things which the prophets have clearly indicated will bring us pain and sorrow."

Elder Porter concluded by encouraging students to learn about and understand the Lord's plan through personal communication with the Lord, studying the scriptures, following the counsel of living prophets and obeying personal patriarchal blessings.  "Seek diligently to understand the plan of the Father," Elder Porter said. "It is simple. It is challenging. A child can learn its fundamentals. Yet, the brightest spiritually among us can profitably invest a good part of life seeking to understand God's principles of progress."

Next week's devotional speaker will be Bruce Kusch, BYU-Idaho Business Management Faculty. 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.