It is great to be with you today. As we begin I invite your prayers on my behalf and for the spirit to be with us that we be taught and edified by the Holy Ghost.
Each semester I have the opportunity to address student volunteers who participate in our programs at Student Support. At these trainings I often ask how many of them were led by the spirit to volunteer. Each time I ask this question, more than half of those in the audience raise their hand. The next question I ask is how many of them were there because someone invited them to participate. At this point almost everyone else has raised their hand. To me this is miraculous and speaks to the type of students who come to this campus: Those who are led by the spirit and those who are invited by others to act.
Today, I wish to ask you these same questions. How many of you, whether you are a student or an employee, were led by the spirit to come to BYU-Idaho? Please raise your hands. Now how many of you came to BYU-Idaho through invitation or by the encouragement of others? Please raise your hands.
Each of us has been led or invited to be here at this institution at this time for a purpose. I have heard this same statement shared by those who lead this campus and I testify that this is true, you are here at this time for a reason.
I have two additional questions for you and I want you to write down the thoughts that come to your mind as you answer them. Why is BYU-Idaho here and why are you here at BYU-Idaho?
Now I need to be careful to avoid confusion. I don't want you to ponder on why the BYU-Idaho campus is located in Rexburg, in fact, I'm not sure any of us could come up with a good answer to that question, especially on the cold, freezing, windy days we have here. Instead, please ask yourself why does BYU-Idaho exist?
Your answers to these two questions will no doubt be varied and perhaps even humorous. Most of you came here to get an education, earn your degree and obtain a good job. Others of you came here to further develop your talents, to associate with other latter-day saints, to work or teach in a gospel-centered environment, or my personal favorite: to be anxiously engaged in finding your better half! One of the highlights I have enjoyed since I was hired on to create the Get Connected program has been seeing the number of people who have met and got connected eternally through our programs.
In terms of getting an education, it is important to emphasize that you could have attended a number of other colleges or universities to receive your degree. The same applies to those who work here. There are many other colleges and universities you could have chosen to work at. On a personal note, unlike the rest of my siblings, I did not attend this university. Because I chose not to attend here I was somewhat labeled the black sheep of the family. However, once I was hired on here at BYU-Idaho, my family called it my repentance process, and all was forgiven.
Elder David A. Bednar has said:
"You are blessed to be here at one of the Lord's Disciple Preparation Centers. BYU-Idaho is not just a university. You are not merely university students. Studying here involves much more than taking tests and performing well in academic classes--although your academic development and performance truly are important. But there are essential lessons to be learned and preparations to be made at this DPC by the Lord's latter-day disciples."[1]
Coming to this school is not just about our academic development. Much has been given to each of us and much is required. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has invested millions of tithing dollars in this school, which in essence is also an investment in you the students and all who work here. As recipients of these great blessings, you have a stewardship and a sacred responsibility to make the most of your time here and then go forth to build up the kingdom of God.
President Kim B. Clark has said:
"I believe two companion principles define our mission: discipleship and leadership. These principles will help prepare BYU-Idaho students for [their] roles in the Lord's kingdom and in the world. The development of 'disciple-leaders' is the focus of every aspect of BYU-Idaho."[2]
From this it should be clear that BYU-Idaho is here to help us strengthen our disciple-leadership.
Why Are We Here?
In 2002, when Elder David A. Bednar was serving as the President of BYU-Idaho he spoke at a Student Forum and talked about the miracle of BYU-Idaho and asked those in the audience "why are we here?" I invite you to listen closely to his words and to write down the impressions that come to your heart and mind.
In this video, Elder Bednar repeatedly states that you are to touch for good the lives of people everywhere for as long as the earth shall last. During this time of your life, you are here to develop your skills, learning and leadership, so that you can be a person who can influence others for good.
In D&C 58:27-28 it reads:
"Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;
"For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward."
I testify that each of us has the power within us to become the Lord's disciple leaders who will go out and make a difference in the lives of others.
With the remainder of our time today, I wish to share with you three principles that have strengthened my disciple leadership and trust that these principles will bless your lives as well.
Principle # 1: Serve Others
When Christ was upon the earth he spent his life serving others. In Matthew 20:28, it says, "the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister."
On the second floor of the Kimball building, there is a quote by President Spencer W. Kimball which says, "God does notice us; and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs."
President Kimball also said:
"It is by serving that we learn how to serve. When we are engaged in the service of our fellowmen, not only do our deeds assist them, but we put our own problems in a fresher perspective. When we concern ourselves more with others, there is less time to be concerned with ourselves! In the midst of the miracle of serving, there is the promise of Jesus that by losing ourselves, we find ourselves."[3]
Now, some of you might be thinking "how can I help others, what do I have to offer?"
In John chapter six we read of a boy who had but five loaves of bread and two fishes. He gave all that he had to the Savior who in turn provided a miracle wherein 5,000 were fed. Just like this boy, we too can give what we have to the Savior and he will help us to bring about miracles in the lives of others.[4]
President James E. Faust spoke on this saying:
"It has been said that this church does not necessarily attract great people but more often makes ordinary people great. Many nameless people with gifts equal only to five loaves and two small fishes magnify their callings and serve without attention or recognition feeding literally thousands."[5]
Now, how do we find those who are in need of our help? Elder M. Russell Ballard answered this question when he said the following:
"There is one simple daily practice that can make a difference for every member of the Church, including you boys and girls, you young men and you young women, you single adults, and you fathers and mothers.
"That simple practice is: In your morning prayer each new day, ask Heavenly Father to guide you to recognize an opportunity to serve one of His precious children. Then go throughout the day with your heart full of faith and love, looking for someone to help.... If you do this, your spiritual sensitivities will be enlarged and you will discover opportunities to serve that you never before realized were possible."[6]
As we pray and ask Heavenly Father to guide us to those we can serve we must listen to those impressions which come to us and then act upon them.
Act On Impressions
The following is a story that a former student shared with me. She had participated as a volunteer in one of our organizations and had watched the same video with Elder Bednar that we watched a few moments ago. She said:
"I was sitting in the Taylor chapel, and a video was played in which Elder Bednar stated, 'Yours is to touch for good the lives of people everywhere for as long as the earth shall last.' That struck me very vividly, and I felt as Joseph Smith said, 'that it seemed to enter with great force, into every feeling of my heart.'
"In high school there was a girl in my class that I didn't know particularly well but I always felt prompted to talk to her. I felt like I had never stepped out of my bubble to take the time to be her friend as I had felt in my heart I should. One day I woke up with an incredibly overwhelming feeling. I had the strongest impression that someone needed me at school that day. I had never felt such an impression and it frightened me so much that I pretended to be sick, and stayed home from school. The next morning I awoke with the exact same prompting 'Someone needs you at school today.' This time I decided to listen. "As I was walking in the hall, a friend approached me awkwardly and said, 'Sam committed suicide yesterday.' For two years I blamed myself for that event, condemning myself with thoughts of self-doubt because I didn't feel like I was worthy to make a difference. I didn't feel like I could have a future.
"But when I sat there and heard those words of Elder Bednar I knew that this was how the Lord saw me. Through Jesus Christ, I could be healed, made whole, and I could touch for good the lives of people everywhere-not just now-but for as long as the earth shall last. Suddenly, I knew I could become the kind of person the Lord wanted me to be, and I could serve in ways that I would never have imagined I would have the capacity to serve in before."
Brothers and sisters, I invite you to make it your life-long goal to ask in prayer each morning to be guided to recognize an opportunity to serve others, actively look for individuals to help, and listen for and act on the impressions you receive.
Principle # 2: Invite Others
Throughout his ministry Christ invited others to follow him, to keep his commandments and become like him. We can seek to bring others closer to Christ by influencing them for good and inviting them to act.
Each Tuesday, following devotional, I have the opportunity to gather with student leaders in our area for disciple leadership trainings. At one of these gatherings earlier this semester, I received an impression that I felt needed to be shared with the group. At that time we were wrestling with a shortage of volunteers in our Student Ambassador program. We only had 50 volunteers and needed 200 in a very short amount of time. At the end of the meeting I invited those present to do two things: First, pray daily to find individuals they could invite to participate in this program, and second, pray and ask Heavenly Father to bless others with the desire to serve and lead them to us. The next two weeks were filled with inspiring experiences for our students as they invited others one-by-one to act, or had the experience of others coming up to them and asking them how they could get involved. Our invitations and prayers were answered and our volunteer needs were met.
Let me emphasize the power of invitation through an experience that took place in the fall of 2001. Elder Bednar spoke to a group of approximately 250 students gathered for a student leadership retreat and invited them to dress up in their Sunday best for the next devotional and to also go out and invite five others to join them and have those five in turn invite four, who would invite three, who would invite two, who would invite one.
The power of inviting others was felt by President Eyring who spoke at that very devotional. In his remarks, he talked about students who influence and invite others to do good.
"The very fact that you dress nicely, I understand, at least is partly true because somebody may have said something to you. One of your friends may have suggested, 'Why don't we go dressed a little better for that meeting today.' Those of you in this room who did that...who said 'Why don't we do a little more so that the Spirit of God . . .'--you may not have used these words, but what you were saying was 'Let's go to that meeting in such a way that we might bring down the powers of heaven,' those of you in the room that had the courage to do that, to try to influence the persons around you, I'll make you a prophecy. I will simply tell you: The day will come that that capacity to influence people around you for good will have you singled out as one of the great leaders in whatever place you're in. They will not quite know why, but you will know that the reason you are being singled out is not because of your innate gifts as a leader but because you have done what the Savior would do--learned how to, and did, reach out to those around you to try to lift them, to help them to be better even when it might be a little bit difficult and you might not have been received very well."[7]
You can influence others for good by inviting them with love to act. Examples of invitations you can extend include: holding apartment prayer, better living of the Honor Code, serving others, inviting others to join you at church, at devotional, and attending the temple.You have the power to influence the spirit of this campus, including the attendance at devotional. You could make it a practice to invite others each week to devotional, and in turn invite them to invite others. Do this for as long as you are here at BYU-Idaho.
I testify that as you use the power of invitation to touch for good the lives of others you will bring down the powers of heaven and become a stronger disciple leader, one whom the Lord can rely on to assist with His work.
Principle # 3 - Trust in the Lord
In Proverbs 3:5 - it says, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding."
Let me share with you a few personal examples of how this has occurred in my life which also answers why I am here at BYU-Idaho.I had a verbal employment agreement before I ever left for graduate school. However, between my first and second year of graduate school the organization in which I would have been hired was restructured and those who wished to hire me were no longer in a position to do so. I started praying more earnestly to know what I should do for employment. The thought kept coming to me that I should return to Provo.
Most of my graduate school cohort was preparing to travel to Chicago for a national conference and job placement fair for our profession. Through prayer I had the strong impression that I did not need to go to Chicago, as I was to return to Provo upon graduation. However, I chose to ignore that impression and went to Chicago with my cohort.
My failing to heed this impression proved nearly fatal to my confidence and pride. I submitted countless resumes and had a number of interviews, but not one single school contacted me back. Later in humble prayer I again felt the impression that I should return to Provo.This time I trusted in the Lord and returned to Provo with no job and very little money. After a few weeks I was able to secure a one year temporary job at BYU.
Eight months later, I still hadn't found anything permanent and was praying to know what I should do. This time I received a distinct impression that I would soon receive a phone call and be offered a job. It sounded crazy, yet I trusted in the Lord.
A few weeks later the promised phone call came and I was offered a position as the Assistant Director of the Freedom Festival at Provo. I had volunteered with this organization throughout my undergraduate years at BYU and continued to assist them while at graduate school. Little did I know how much this opportunity, which the Lord led me to, would impact my life.
It was through my job at the Freedom Festival that I met a young lady named Jennifer Blake. She was a volunteer with the Festival and we ended up dating for a month or so before it ended.
By November it was time to start staffing our volunteer positions once again and I faced a major predicament. Jennifer was the only one who had experience with this particular responsibility and I knew I would need to contact her and ask her to continue to volunteer. I was nervous but to my surprise, she agreed to meet with me.
She was working full-time for housing at BYU so I invited her to meet me in the lounge of the Wilkinson Center on the BYU campus for lunch. When she walked into the lounge, I felt like I was suddenly in a movie....it was as if time stood still, there was a bright light, and there may even been angels singing. In that moment I received a spiritual confirmation so strong and clear I could not deny. I knew I was going to marry her.
Within one month after getting married we started to receive impressions that we would be leaving Utah. For us it was crazy to think about, we both loved our jobs and couldn't imagine leaving or doing anything else. However, in a short period of time, things changed and we felt we needed to look elsewhere for work. I looked for jobs everywhere but couldn't find anything in my area of expertise until I looked at the employment web site for what was then Ricks College. Sure enough, there was listing for a New Student Orientation position. I submitted my resume by mail, and seven days later received a job offer.
I invite you to trust in the Lord, and counsel with him about your choice of major, volunteer opportunities, internship opportunities, and careers and then be willing to go wherever the Lord may direct you to build His kingdom.
I testify that you will be blessed beyond measure as you put your trust in God and work to become what he wants you to become, do what he wants you to do, and go where he wants you to go.
Closing
I am grateful for a loving Heavenly Father and for the guidance and direction he has given me. I am grateful for the times that I have placed my trust in Him rather than lean on my own understanding. Being here at BYU-Idaho has been a tremendous blessing in my life and I am deeply grateful for the opportunities I and my family have had to touch for good the lives of others while serving in this capacity and I express my love and appreciation for my wife and my family's support during my time here.
Brothers and Sisters, I testify that the Prophet Joseph Smith saw God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. He restored Christ's true church upon the earth in these latter-days and is still involved in this work. I testify that we are guided by living prophets and apostles in our day and promise that we will be blessed as we hearken to their teachings. Most importantly I testify of the living, resurrected Christ. I have felt the pains of sin and have also felt the cleansing power of the atonement. I invite all to come closer to the Savior and be cleansed and perfected in Him. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Notes
[1] Elder David A. Bednar, "Brigham Young University-Idaho: A Disciple Preparation Center," BYU-Idaho Devotional, August 31, 2004
[2] President Kim B. Clark, "All-Employee Meeting," May 2007
[3] President Spencer W. Kimball, Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball, 2006, 79-88
[4] John 6:5-14
[5] President James E. Faust, "Five Loaves and Two Fishes," Ensign, May 1994
[6] Elder M. Russell Ballard, "Be Anxiously Engaged," Ensign, November 2012
[7] President Henry B. Eyring, "A Steady Upward Course," BYU-Idaho Devotional, September 18, 2001