It is a privilege for me to be invited to speak at a BYU-Idaho devotional. I have been on this campus before when my husband was invited to speak. I felt then, and I feel now, that this is a special place where the Spirit of the Lord can be felt in abundance. You, who are studying and working here, have prepared and qualified yourselves to attend this university. You are here by divine design. In making the decision to attend this school, you sought to follow the promptings of the Spirit. It is not a coincidence that you are here at this time to "seek learning, . . . by study and also by faith."[1]
The education you receive will magnify you to be an influence for good wherever life may lead you. It will enable you to provide economically for yourselves, for your families, and for the relief of the poor both temporally and spiritually--a work which will bless you with a remission of your sins.[2]
President Joseph F. Smith taught, "He [or she] that hath the privilege of learning and embracing the knowledge of God, and the way of life . . . is more fortunate than the finder of wealth, or of the hidden treasures of the earth. . . . His mind is free to accept the plain and precious truths revealed for the redemption and the life of man from the fountain head, and his heart is--or should be--wholly devoted to the great and glorious cause of human redemption."[3]
Your education is a means to help you prepare to return to the presence of God, to become like Him, and to inherit all the glorious blessings He has promised His beloved sons and daughters who are true and faithful. You are here to achieve academically and spiritually to prepare yourselves for greater opportunities, to face the challenges that lie ahead of you, and most importantly, to fulfill your divinely instituted roles in your homes and families. President Smith also taught, "To the Latter-day Saints, salvation itself, under the atonement of Christ, is a process of education... Knowledge is a means of eternal progress."[4]
Essential to your eternal progression is your willingness to establish homes here in mortality that will go on into the eternities. The Lord has commanded His people, "Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God."[5] The Lord is talking about a blueprint for temples. But what could be more significant to your happiness in this life and your eternal well-being than to establish a house built according to the pattern the Lord has set for His own house? Your educational experience will be priceless if it increases your ability to establish a home that will be a sacred place; a home that will be a bit of heaven on earth; a home that will reflect the covenants you have made with God, at baptism, in the ordinance of the sacrament, and in His holy temple. I testify that by continually seeking the Spirit of the Lord, you may move forward with faith and successfully establish such a home. He will show you the way, and you may expect miracles.
As I look out over this beautiful audience of students, my heart swells with joy and excitement for you because I see in you the promise of thousands of temple marriages, faithful homes, and eternal families. Some of you may already have begun your families. Others of you may just be trying to get the courage to speak to someone who has attracted your attention. But all of you are among the faithful who are called upon to organize yourselves, prepare every needful thing, and establish homes where prayer, fasting, faith, learning, glory, and order are a reality--homes that truly become houses of God. You have left home, some of you for the first time. You have a fresh opportunity to begin now.
Organize Yourselves
According to the Father's plan, we are organized in families. All of you are "beloved spirit son[s] and daughter[s] of heavenly parents... Gender is an essential characteristic of [your] individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose."[6] God instituted laws whereby His spirit children could advance and become like Him.[7] "Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God [and] the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children."[8] You learned your first lessons in the premortal world,[9] lessons of faith and good works.[10]
God gave you agency. You chose to follow His plan, accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, and come to earth--even if it meant facing fears; anxieties; emotional, social, and physical sicknesses, weaknesses, and deficiencies. You agreed to deal with difficult circumstances that could derail your determination, deceptive messages that could challenge your faith, and temptations that block eternal progression. And yet when the Savior laid the foundations of the earth under the direction of His Father--the place where we would dwell, obtain a physical body, and gain experience--you and "all the sons [and daughters] of God shouted for joy."[11]
God's order for families continues in mortality, beginning with Adam and Eve. "God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and...said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth."[12] "God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife."[13] "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh."[14] Marriage is God's plan--the plan by which we organize ourselves if we are to truly become like Him.
Elder Bruce R. McConkie taught, "When we as Latter-day Saints talk about marriage we are talking about a holy celestial order. We are talking about a system out of which can grow the greatest love, joy, peace, happiness, and serenity known to humankind. We are talking about creating a family unit that has the potential of being everlasting and eternal, a family unit where a man and a wife can go on in that relationship to all eternity, and where mother and daughter and father and son are bound by eternal ties that will never be severed. We are talking about creating a unit more important than the Church, more important than any organization that exists on earth or in heaven, a unit out of which exaltation and eternal life grow; and when we talk about eternal life, we are talking about the kind of life that God our Heavenly Father lives."
As you organize your lives according to the Father's plan, you keep the Savior and His gospel at the center of your lives. You walk with faith in Jesus Christ and the power of His Atonement to help you repent, change, and overcome your challenges. You keep the covenants you made in sacred priesthood ordinances, and you live worthy of the Holy Ghost. You organize yourselves to receive eternal blessings.
Prepare Every Needful Thing
To prepare the most needful things, we prioritize that which is of greatest importance. This season of your lives is a time to actively develop wholesome, healthy friendships. It is a time to date, to court, and to marry in the temple.
Consider how some of the Lord's instructions to His people apply to relationships. "Therefore, cease from all your light speeches, from [excess of] laughter, from all your lustful desires, from all your pride and light-mindedness, and from all your wicked doings... See that ye love one another; cease to be covetous... Cease to be idle; cease to be unclean; cease to find fault one with another; cease to sleep longer than is needful... Clothe yourselves with the bond of charity... Pray always."[16]
The Father's promise for eternal life also applies to relationships. "Press forward [along the path of ordinances and covenants] with steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men, ... feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end."[17]
We cannot allow ourselves to be so enamored with the allure of the things of the world, material possessions, images of worldly perfection, or the attractions of sin and immorality that our hearts turn away from Jesus Christ and that carnality and lust consume our ability to love others. We bridle our passions that we may be filled with love.[18] We do not trust worldly philosophies over the commandments of God.
If you feel you are not prepared or worthy for a temple marriage, you can change. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of repentance. Be true to your sacred covenants. Remember that you bear the name of Jesus Christ. Keep God's commandments and remember Him always. Learn to be Christlike, and set an example of faith and good works. Follow His example of loving-kindness, humility, and service to others. Look to the temple, and always be worthy of a temple recommend. And when you make a mistake, repent quickly!
When I was growing up, my home life was difficult; and when I was a teenager, my parents were divorced. But I was blessed by the inspired teaching of a faithful and exemplary Laurel teacher. She taught the truths of celestial marriage, temples, and eternal families. As a young single adult, I looked for worthy role models, and I dreamed of the kind of family that I hoped to have one day. I can testify that a happy home is not an outdated impossibility but a reality that can be achieved by a devoted couple who will strive sincerely to live a Christ-centered life, who will keep all their covenants, and who strive to have the Holy Ghost always to be with them. Prepare every needful thing.
Establish a House
Wherever you live--married or single, in an apartment or single family dwelling, rich or poor--you can begin now to put into practice the Lord's temple blueprint in your home and in your heart.
Establish a House of Prayer
The prophet Amulek taught that prayer is essential for repentance and for the well-being of homes and families: "Exercise your faith unto repentance, that ye begin to call upon his holy name, that he would have mercy upon you... Humble yourselves, and continue in prayer... Cry unto him in your houses, yea, over all your household, both morning, mid-day, and evening." He says to cry over crops, fields, and flocks. Your prayers could be over education, assignments, and exams "that ye may prosper."
Pray about your relationships. Amulek teaches, "Let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you." But he gives this warning: if you do not act in accordance with your prayers, "your prayer is vain, and availeth you nothing... If ye do not remember to be charitable, ye are as dross, which [is] cast out, (it being of no worth) and is trodden under foot of men."[19] In other words, pray to find a worthy eternal companion, but then don't sit home playing video games. Be aware of others, create uplifting friendships, serve selflessly, date virtuously, and find true joy. A house of prayer is one in which the pure love of Christ is manifest continually in the welfare and service of others. Establish a house of prayer.
Establish a House of Fasting
Fasting blesses those who are in need and develops spiritual strength in those who observe this sacred law. When you fast in faith and humility, petitioning the Lord, you witness miracles. The Lord has promised those who keep the fast, "Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rearward... And the Lord shall guide thee continually."[20] Establish a house of fasting.
Establish a House of Faith
Faith in Jesus Christ is the first principle of the gospel.[21] Faith is a principle of power and of action. By acting with faith in Christ, we can do all things that are necessary to obtain salvation, no matter how difficult the road may seem. We honor the faithful pioneers because they walked with faith in every footstep and endured hardships with the fire of faith burning brightly in their hearts and minds. Our challenges are different. Some of you are pioneers in your families, leading the way for your loved ones to follow. You may be exercising faith in Christ to develop a testimony, to live in accordance with the standards of the Church, or to overcome addictions, abuses, disorders, or illnesses. Some are exercising faith for family members who are struggling. Doing hard things has the power to strengthen our faith when we look to the Savior. By the power of His infinite Atonement we may be forgiven of sin, healed from all pain and sorrow, and enabled to do whatever the Lord may require of us. With faith in Christ we never give up. With faith in Christ all things are possible. Establish a house of faith.
Establish a House of Learning
The place where you reside ought to be a place to learn "of things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth,"[22] even when formal education is complete. Gospel learning is essential for the spiritual well-being of every household member. Parents help their children learn to have faith in Christ, to repent, to understand baptism and receiving the Holy Ghost.[23]
I have witnessed the power of gospel learning in our home. Reading the scriptures individually and together, especially the Book of Mormon, brings a spirit of peace and protection, love and unity that strengthens relationships, provides direction, and heals wounded souls. Establish a house of learning.
Establish a House of Glory
A house of glory is where the presence of God may dwell. As newlyweds, our first home was across the street from the Mesa Arizona Temple. By virtue of its proximity, we were blessed by its heavenly power. As daylight turned to darkness, the light of the temple filled our tiny apartment, creating a glorious night-light. When our first baby would waken during the night, I cared for her needs by the glow of that sacred light. For me it became symbolic of the peace, the power, and the protection that fills our hearts and our homes when we seek to establish a house worthy of the glory of the Lord.
You have a temple that sits as a beacon on a hill, continually shining forth the glory of God in holiness. But you do not need to live next door to a temple to enjoy its glory and heavenly power. Be kind and gracious. Seek holiness. Be clean. Repent speedily.[24] Sanctify yourselves, and be worthy of the power and protection of the Lord's glory. By doing so, He promises, "And the Lord will create upon every dwelling-place... a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for upon all the glory of Zion shall be a defence. And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and a covert from storm and from rain."[25] Establish a house of glory.
Establish a House of Order
A house of order is established on priesthood ordinances and the sacred covenants we make in those ordinances. "And this greater priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God... In the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest."[26] In such a home is the power to overcome all evil. Walk faithfully, keep your covenants, and the promise is that you will be prepared to see the face of God and live.[27] Establish a house of order.
Establish a House of God
The Father's plan for His sons and daughters is glorious. The greatest blessings in time and in all eternity are promised to men and women who are prepared, who are worthy, and who marry by proper priesthood authority in holy temples. The Lord revealed to Joseph Smith, "Ye shall come forth in the first resurrection... and shall inherit thrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers, dominions, all heights and depths... it shall be done unto them in all things whatsoever my servant hath put upon them, in time, and through all eternity; and shall be of full force when they are out of the world; and they shall pass by the angels... to their exaltation and glory in all things, as hath been sealed upon their heads, which glory shall be a fullness and a continuation of the seeds forever and ever. Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting, because they continue."[28]
Conclusion
I testify that the Lord will bless you as you sincerely strive to establish your homes and your families after the pattern that the Lord has set. Look to the temple as your guide, and be true and faithful to the covenants you have made. And even if you feel that your life has not gone according to your plan, trust in His promises that the faithful will one day inherit all that the Father has and will stand in glory in the eternities.
A young woman who is very precious to me shared her feelings about waiting patiently for promised blessings. She said, "The scriptures, the words of the prophets, and callings in the Church help you become what you look for in a future companion. I have found that as I've focused on preparing myself and serving others, it makes the waiting much easier. Instead of dwelling on what I don't have, I focus on what I am working towards."
Remember that the Lord's commandment is to all His Saints. Organize yourselves, prepare every needful thing, and establish a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God.
I testify that Heavenly Father knows you. He loves you, and His plan for you is perfect for you. Listen to the promptings of the Holy Ghost. Walk with faith in Christ. By the power of His Spirit, you will find true joy and peace in this life and a fulness of joy in the life to come.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Notes
[1] Doctrine and Covenants 88:118
[2] Mosiah 4:26
[3] Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith [2011], 313-21
[4] Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith [2011], 313-21
[5] Doctrine and Covenants 88:119
[6] The Family: A Proclamation to the World, Ensign, Nov. 2010, 129
[7] "God himself, finding he was in the midst of spirits and glory, because he was more intelligent, saw proper to institute laws whereby the rest could have a privilege to advance like himself." Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, 2007, 210
[8] The Family: A Proclamation to the World, Ensign, Nov. 2010, 129
[9] Doctrine and Covenants 138:56
[10] Alma 13:3
[11] Job 38:7
[12] Genesis 1:27-28, Moses 2: 27-28
[13] The Family: A Proclamation to the World, Ensign, Nov. 2010, 129
[14] Genesis 2:24
[15] Elder Bruce R. McConkie, "Celestial Marriage" BYU Speeches 1977
[16] Doctrine and Covenants 88:121, 123-126
[17] 2 Nephi 31:20
[18] Alma 38:12
[19] Alma 34:17-29
[20] Isaiah 58:8, 11
[21] Articles of Faith 1:4
[22] Doctrine and Covenants 88:79
[23] Doctrine and Covenants 68:25
[24] Doctrine and Covenants 109:20-21
[25] 2 Nephi 14:5-6
[26] Doctrine and Covenants 84:19-20
[27] Doctrine and Covenants 84:22-23
[28] Doctrine and Covenants 132:19-20