Emeritus member of the Seventy speaks about the love and power of the Savior at BYU-Idaho devotional 

Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone, 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 and employees about the love and power of the Savior at the Tuesday, August 1 devotional.

Elder Featherstone began by reciting Doctrine and Covenants 45, which explains how Jesus is our advocate with the Father and is pleading our cause before Him. "I love the Savior for the quotes we get from the scriptures... I cannot think of the Savior without feeling a little humbled," he said. "I feel like less than the dust of the earth being in His presence when I kneel and pray to God the Father through our advocate, the incomparable Christ. I feel He is an advocate for me and for you."

Elder Featherstone shared a story about his grandson Joshua, who learned about the atonement of the Savior in Primary.  Joshua's Primary teacher explained how Jesus was spit upon and scourged, about the cruel spikes driven into His hands and how they hung Him on the cross. 

Then the Primary teacher became emotional as she explained: "He did this for all of us, for all humanity."  After hearing this, Joshua slowly raised his hand and said, "Teacher, I would do that for all humanity."  Elder Featherstone said, "I believe you would, Joshua, and I believe we all would too."

Elder Featherstone also mentioned how much power the prophets and apostles have in their testimonies. "Satan can never win; do you realize that? The incomparable leaders like modern apostles and prophets are the generals in the Lord's army... If I were Satan, I wouldn't want to be posed with an army of men enlisted by the Savior," Elder Featherstone said.

One night, while contemplating his calling in the First Quorum of the Seventy, Elder Featherstone came to the realization he needed to become more like Christ.  "I thought, ‘I must love and forgive every soul that walks this earth,'" Elder Featherstone said.

Elder Featherstone weaved many scriptures and poems from memory into his address relating to the power of the Atonement, repentance, prayer, righteous living, and the strong testimonies of prophets.

"I memorize a lot of things, especially if I want to keep them with me always," Elder Featherstone said.  He mentioned how the principles of justice and mercy are intertwined, and how the Savior was prepared to suffer the collective weight of all sins.  "The Atonement not only covers the guilty, it covers the innocent... I'll love Him forever for that," Elder Featherstone said.

Elder Featherstone shared several stories of repentance.  One story of note was about helping a man that he met while at a Regional Conference for the Church.  The man was addicted to smoking, so Elder Featherstone suggested they both fast until the man no longer had a desire to smoke. He fasted for three days until he received a call from the man, who was touched by his act of service.  "I would do it all over again if it would bring someone to the temple," Elder Featherstone said.

He concluded by sharing a medley of scriptural advice from the Savior, using phrases such as "Fear not, little flock," "Go your way, and sin no more," and "Lo, I am with you always."

Next week's devotional speaker will be Gaye Strathearn of the BYU Department of Religion. Devotionals are held every Tuesday at 2 p.m. in the Hart Auditorium with additional seating in the 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.