Congratulations, graduates. With the help of your loved ones, including dedicated members of the BYU-Idaho community, you have achieved a long-held, invaluable goal. You have obtained learning and increased wisdom that will bless you and those you love throughout your lives. This evening we joyfully honor you.
As you complete your university studies and make your way in the world, you will be blessed to encounter many people who do not fully share your testimony of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In fact, some will doubt or even deny the existence of a benevolent God, the Father of our spirits.
Faith in God is declining among some people, especially those who enjoy high temporal standards of living. By way of illustration, in 1956 the citizens of the United States of America approved monetary currency bearing the statement “In God We Trust.” Even now, in this age of electronic payments, many of us still carry the declaration “In God We Trust,” written on a coin or a piece of paper currency.
Sadly, though, the rise of electronic payments and the decline of physical currency coincides with a similarly pronounced drop in spiritual faith. In the 1950s, belief in God was more common than not. In fact, memories of World War II and the fear of all-out nuclear war humbled many people. Only a benevolent, all-powerful God seemed capable of saving the world from annihilation.
Fortunately, peace miraculously prevailed, and the world’s wealth grew unimaginably. But, perversely, the temporal benefits of prosperity led to pride. Among skeptical people, exponential advances in science and wealth seemed to confirm human independence of God and religion.
Yet the declaration “In God We Trust” is one we need to apply now more than ever. Increasingly, we will be questioned about our faith. Some of the inquiries will be genuine and well-intended. But others will feel like—and perhaps be—veiled attacks on our beliefs and practices.
In such a case, we may be tempted to reply with reasoning, seeking to prevail in debate. But that activity is an intellectual swamp which can never be fully drained in this life. Worse still, the swamp is full of spiritual alligators and poisonous snakes. To those who may attempt to pull us under murky, stagnant spiritual waters, we do well to give this reply: “I have feelings and experiences that give me faith which is unshakeable and powerful in my life.”
Taking the spiritual high ground is possible only by cultivating and exercising pure faith, like that of a child. We can lift ourselves and other would-be believers with testimony of the spiritual truths that are most fundamental yet unprovable in this life. Among those truths are these:
The Savior was conceived mortally by miraculous means. He lived a perfect life and atoned for our sins. He rose from the tomb and stands ready to bring us to our heavenly home, through the whisperings of the Holy Ghost. And modern prophets hold the keys to qualifying for that eternal reward.
The result of such pure testimony may not be the spiritual conversion of the hearer. But, as we engage in conversation with those who are pure in heart and seeking truth with real intent, a seed may be planted. Some people will be inspired to leave the spiritual swamp and plant the seed of belief in their hearts. We can be there to help them nurture the seed.
The spiritual swamp will not be drained until the Savior’s return. As long as we live, we must guard against even a momentary return to the edge of the swamp. I have found high ground in giving service and then writing about the thoughts and feelings that come in performing that service. I know that many of you do the same, thanks to sweet experiences you have shared.
In God we can and must trust. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. We Saints are not perfect. But the Holy Ghost can guide us and bear testimony to our declarations of true doctrine. When we do so, our words will be confirmed, and we will join the Lord and our fellow laborers in the joy of the spiritual harvest.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.