In his BYU-Idaho devotional, “A Better Covering,” Torrey Morrill encouraged students to turn to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ as they seek forgiveness, change and spiritual growth.
Morrill drew on the story of Adam and Eve, who made aprons from fig leaves after partaking of the fruit in the Garden of Eden. He compared their coverings to the ways people try to hide their own vulnerabilities, insecurities and mistakes.
“It is natural to want to cover ourselves, to cover anything that feels vulnerable, any mistake or disappointment, our inadequacies, anything that embarrasses us, and especially our sins,” Morrill said in his devotional.
In an interview with BYU-Idaho Radio, Morrill said his message grew out of his experience teaching a class on forgiveness. He noticed some students felt God was angry or disappointed in them and viewed repentance as painful or embarrassing. He wanted to return to the story of Adam and Eve to consider how God helped them grow.
Morrill said students may create their own “aprons” when they feel lonely, worry about fitting in or try to hide perceived weaknesses. These coverings can appear in relationships, among roommates or on social media when people try to present themselves in a certain way.
During the interview, Morrill shared a thought from French philosopher and Christian writer Simone Weil: “All sins are attempts to fill voids.” He explained that recognizing unmet needs can help people turn to God for guidance and see repentance differently.
Morrill said accepting change requires people to consider what they are willing to let go of, including things that may seem to offer security.
“Are you willing to give up the pride? Are you willing to give up the status? Are you willing to give up the false thing that gives you security that’s not actually giving you security?” Morrill asked during the interview.
During his devotional, Morrill pointed to the coats of skins God provided Adam and Eve as a symbol of a different kind of covering. He taught that people can turn to Christ through repentance and covenants, trusting that God wants to help them change.
He also shared his belief that the Holy Ghost can help people recognize when they need to make changes. In the interview, he suggested beginning with sincere prayer and asking God to help identify the ways a person may be hiding. Morrill said he hopes students recognize making mistakes is part of growth and God is pleased when they are willing to keep trying.
Morrill said preparing his devotional reminded him to trust God’s intentions in his own life.
“When I have always looked at God’s intentions as good, I’ve not had a problem changing. I can give my heart to God because He’s given His heart to me already through covenant promises,” Morrill said during the interview.
As he concluded his devotional, Morrill invited listeners to consider what they may be using to cover their own vulnerabilities and to turn toward the Savior.
“As we turn toward Him, repent, and honor our covenants, He changes us, clothes us with His power and leads us towards the person He knows we can become,” Morrill said.