REXBURG—Sister Jean B. Bingham, former Relief Society General President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, encouraged BYU-Idaho students to make becoming like Jesus Christ their highest priority during her devotional address.
In her address, “Seek Ye First to Become Like Christ,” Sister Bingham taught that discipleship requires intentional effort. She invited students to consider how their desires and daily choices influence who they are becoming.
“Drifting-which is just another name for hiding-will not take you where you really want to go,” Sister Bingham said. “You must think deeply and pray earnestly about who you are, your potential, and the desires that ultimately guide your life.”
Sister Bingham acknowledged the competing demands students face, including education, employment, relationships, family responsibilities and spiritual growth. She encouraged them to prayerfully evaluate their priorities and choose activities that strengthen faith in Jesus Christ and help them fulfill their divine potential.
She also emphasized that following the Savior involves more than completing tasks.
“Becoming is more than simply doing; it is changing your heart to want to do things God’s way,” Sister Bingham said in her devotional.
In an interview with BYU-Idaho Radio, Sister Bingham explained how remembering their relationship with Heavenly Father can help students navigate feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt.
“You have a divine part of you from heaven, and if He thinks I can do it, then if I just keep working and trusting Him, then I can accomplish what I’m supposed to do in this life,” Sister Bingham said.
She encouraged students to help others recognize their worth through encouragement, kindness and looking for the good in one another.
For young adults seeking spiritual answers, Sister Bingham shared an experience from high school when classroom discussions led her to question her beliefs. Reading Mosiah 4:9 during a seminary assignment helped her recognize an answer to her prayers and strengthened her faith in God.
She reminded listeners that answers may come gradually rather than through a single dramatic experience.
“If you look for God’s hand in your life, you will see it, but you have to be looking for it, or else you could just completely miss it. Keep looking,” Sister Bingham said in the interview.
Sister Bingham’s invitation to students was to choose one thing they could do this week to become more like Christ. She explained that small acts of service, such as encouraging a friend or offering a smile, provide opportunities to follow His example and grow one step at a time.
Sister Jean B. Bingham will also speak tonight at 5 at BYU-Idaho’s “A Gathering for Women” event. Her message will focus on women’s divine heritage and responsibility to strengthen the rising generation, emphasizing scripture study, prayer, temple worship and service as ways to recognize the Holy Ghost’s guidance.