BYU-Idaho University Communications Manager reminds students the Lord will prepare their pasture

 

Merv Brown, manager of University Communications for Brigham Young University-Idaho, taught students about the pastures the Lord will prepare for their lives in a campus devotional address given Tuesday, December 4.

Brown began by reminding students about the blessing it is to be at BYU-Idaho in this stage of their lives.  "The opportunity to study at a university where the Spirit of the Lord prevails is an unparalleled prospect," Brown said. "Blessings will flow as you apply what you have learned and experienced at this institution into your family, Church responsibilities, career, and community."

Brown mentioned how the scriptures talk of visions from ancient prophets that are taking place today.  "Now you are here, living what they could only have yearned for. If you are wise, the Lord can direct your paths and help you to fulfill your own personal destiny to its fullest. The field before you is green and fertile," Brown said.

Brown described his experience growing up on a farm in a rural Utah town with several acres of pasture around his home.  The pasture required a great deal of hard work and dedication to keep the animals Brown's father loved happy and comfortable.

"As I look back fondly upon those unpretentious and happy days of caring for this pasture, I am vividly reminded of two interrelating passages of scripture that have great significance and importance, " Brown said. "Hymns and great choruses have been created from their words and messages continue to be delivered from their text. Ironically, the words are simple; yet the imagery is powerful. They read: ‘The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.... (Psalms 23)' and ‘He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom.... (Isaiah 40:11).'"

Three fundamental elements are mentioned in the passages: shepherd, sheep and pasture, Brown said.

"The shepherd is one that goes before and leads his sheep. He knows how to succor their needs and wants because he fully comprehends them. Sheep have great need because of their inherent and natural limitations. The sheep follow their shepherd because they sense, and even seek, his great power, knowledge and ability to assist them. The pasture represents the world in which we live. And even more specific, it is integral to our individual lives and the path we must trod. In other words, our personal pastures are the individual situations of our lives," Brown said.

He then focused on the Lord's preparation of our own personal pastures as His sheep. "Just as sheep are limited in their capabilities, we likewise are placed into a situation, a pasture if you will, requiring us to ‘look to God and live,'" Brown said.

He shared three experiences of people whose pastures were prepared for them, Abish, a maid servant in the Book of Mormon, Brown's own experience with fine arts and President Clark's journey to BYU-Idaho. He also mentioned several action verbs found in the gospel, such as "ask," "seek" (Matthew 6:33), and "knock" (all three found in Matthew 7: 7-10); "trust" (Proverbs 3:5-6), "take" (Matthew 11:29-30), "look" (Doctrine and Covenants 6:36) and "give" (Luke 6:38).

"Brothers and sisters, I am grateful for a prophet on the earth today who guides us to truth and fulfillment. I bear my witness that the Lord ‘my pasture,' and ‘your pasture,' will prepare-ultimately helping us find the way back to his presence, Brown said.

Next week's devotional speaker will be Gerrit W. Gong, Assistant to the President of Brigham Young University. 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.