Elder Kim B. Clark, a former BYU-Idaho President and an emeritus General Authority Seventy for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, spoke to students on Tuesday in his devotional address titled “In the Hands of the Lord.”
In an interview with BYU-Idaho Radio, Clark discussed how the Lord requires effort of His followers to become as He is.
“He does prepare the way for you, but you do have to make choices,” Elder Clark said. “You have to do the work, but He definitely prepares things, no question about it.”
Elder Clark quoted President Russell M. Nelson to emphasize the point that, although difficult, turning to Jesus Christ is the best way to move forward through life’s trials.
“There’s nothing easy or automatic about becoming such powerful disciples,” Elder Clark said. “Our focus must be riveted on the Savior and His Gospel. It is mentally rigorous to look unto Him in every thought, but when we do, our doubts and fears flee.”
Elder Clark shared his experience of when he first got the impression back in 2004 that he’d have the opportunity to become the next president of BYU-Idaho, and the process he went through to change his desire after initially being uncertain about the calling.
“In time, the Lord worked on us so that, not only did we learn about it, but we kind of liked what we learned,” Elder Clark said. “The Spirit got involved and began to change our hearts. The Holy Ghost changed our hearts. It wasn’t just that we were willing to come, we actually wanted to come. We had a desire to be at BYU-Idaho.”
Here at BYU-Idaho, not only are students surrounded by angels, as Elder Clark said, but they also can be angels to others. Even a simple “hello” or a smile can go a long way, he said.
“If I’m on campus, I always have the students in mind, and when I pass them, I always say, ‘Hi,’ and I’ve had people write me notes,” Elder Clark said. “They’ve said, ‘I’m so grateful you took the time to say hello to me. I just felt the Lord knows who I am.”