I am extremely humbled by this privilege and opportunity. In Proverbs it is taught, “Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.”[1] I always have not said the right things in the right moment. I remember too well a time when we were visiting with some friends and I observed the wife had that certain roundness of the tummy that reflected pregnancy. I mistakenly asked the wrong question; I asked when she was due. She frankly told me that she was not pregnant. Then trying to recover, I then said something like, Oh you must of just gave birth. She then explained that it had been several years past. So it is my personal prayer that my tongue be loosed and tame, that it may speak the Word of God, and as pronounced by the Psalmist, “The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.”[2]
The Father Prophet Lehi pronounced to his wavering son Lemuel, “O that thou mightest be like unto this valley, firm and steadfast, and immovable in keeping the commandments of the Lord.”[3] As we have a great opportunity to be at this inspired institution, I offer a similar invitation, O that we might like unto this valley, firm and steadfast, and immovable in becoming disciples of the Lord, Jesus Christ.
Why this valley? I think that we get quite a bad rap in Rexburg, or Iceburg as it sometimes referred to, as we approach the winter months. A former Student Life Vice President, Mack Shirley, annually joked about Rexburg in his welcoming address to new Freshmen, with pronouncements of: “Welcome to Rexburg, where we have two seasons in a year, Winter and July,” or “it’s the only place where you ski 10 months a year - the other two are too cold.” For those who come from the wooded and lush areas, Rexburg may appear to be somewhat of a little city planted in the desert. However, I firmly believe that this area is a choice place, one consecrated for a distinct purpose, and growing line upon line, precept upon precept, into fruition.
Principle Douglas M Todd, the early principle of newly named Fremont Stake Academy (the forerunner of our great University) when he resigned from his post, somewhat disappointed in its slow beginnings, prophetically pronounced, “This school will yet grow and surprise the world with its great men and women, because it was conceived in righteousness and dedicated to the service of God.”[4]
I am grateful to witness and be a part of the fulfilling of this great prophecy, as many students have gone into and blessed the world. However, simply being accepted and coming to BYU-Idaho does not comprise the fulfillment, just as simply standing on the court of a NBA franchise does not make one a professional basketball player. Becoming steadfast and immovable is a process, not an event. We are each here for a distinct purpose, aptly described in the mission statement of this University, and individually tailored by the Spirit.
Brothers and Sisters, this is a dedicated institution of the Lord. Seize the moment, and capture the opportunity that you have. Pray to understand why you are here, and you will then be given the preparatory opportunities and privileges that are yours.
As a new Freshman at Ricks College, back in the year 1971, I was assigned an advisor just as the practice is now. I was told to meet with my advisor often and take advantage of the opportunity to learn and grow from his vast experience. However, upon seeing the assignment of my advisor, I shied away from this opportunity and only met with him the required time each semester. Despite his offering to come to visit with him often, I rejected the opportunities. I now regret and wish I had taken advantage of a lost privilege. I wonder what lost opportunities of a personal relationship with that advisor and counsel I might of enjoyed, if I had but entered the open doors of invitation. My advisor was the newly appointed president, now an Apostle, Elder Henry B. Eyring.
What was lost during those first years at Ricks will never be regained, other than a lesson taught to seize the moments of privilege and opportunity, for we can never realize the magnitude of opportunities while they are seeds, only after they are planted, watered, and nurtured by faith and works. Perhaps part of my repentance requires a payment of counsel and advice to you this day. My desire is that not one of you cheat yourself, as did I. Brothers and Sisters, if we do not become like unto the strength of this valley, the Spirit of Ricks, it’s firmness, steadfastness and immovable nature, we will live below our privilege of being placed here by the hand of the Lord.
In becoming steadfast and immovable, I will focus on the following key principles of steadfastness:
- We must be fastened to Christ
- We must move to be immovable.
- Steadfastness requires full-time application.
1 - We must be fastened to Christ.
Your experience here at BYU-Idaho is centered on the principle that you leave here prepared to become a steadfast and immovable disciple of Jesus Christ. Elder David A. Bednar referred to this institution as a DPC, Disciple Preparation Center. This requires the center of your life to be built upon Him, of whom you covenant weekly to remember always, stating your willingness to take upon yourself His holy name, promising to always keep His commandments.
What is required to be steadfast in Christ?
Turn with me to 3 Nephi 11:1-7. On the American continent, when a great multitude was gathered together round about the temple in Bountiful, they were marveling one with another and conversing about this Jesus Christ. Note their center of conversation. Their great mourning, howling, weeping, and groaning had ceased, and now Christ was the center of their conversation. While in this mode, they heard a voice and "they cast their eyes round about, for they understood not the voice which they heard…nevertheless it did pierce them that did hear to the center insomuch that there was no part of their frame that it did not cause to quake; yea it did pierce them to the very soul, and did cause their hearts to burn."
So they heard and felt, but they did not understand, even a second time they did hear again, but they understood not.
But the third time, note what they did: “…open their ears to hear it; and their eyes were towards the sound thereof; and they did look steadfastly towards heaven, from whence the sound came.” The result, “the third time they did understand the voice which they heard.”[5]
Fastening ourselves to Christ requires us to look steadfastly upon Him, which brings about the consequential blessings of understanding. Looking steadfastly upon him requires acceptance of His invitations to “come unto me,” “take my yoke upon you,” “learn of me,”[6] and, “I would that ye should be perfect even as I am.”[7] We must look beyond the world to see what He sees in us. For the world or Satan would otherwise cheat us from becoming even as he is.[8]
My friend, Corwin Sutherin, was a pole vaulter in high school. He had never achieved a height beyond the 12-foot mark. Not in a meet, nor in practice. One day in practice after several failed attempts at 11 feet, 11 inches, his coach told him he was lowering the standard to 11 feet 6 inches. Knowing his ability to clear this height, Corwin easily cleared the adjusted bar. His coach then called him over, and asked him to look at the measurement. It was set at 12 feet six inches. By his coach setting the standard, higher than Corwin’s own expectation for himself, he achieved a level beyond his expectation. Corwin went on to surpass that level by another foot, earning a meet championship.
Our Eternal Coach, knows what heights we can become, even as He is, has sent His beloved Son, so that we might “look forward with steadfastness unto Christ.”[9] We must then fasten ourselves to Him by becoming like Him. We do this by learning of Him, so that we can always think as He thinks, speak as He speaks, and act as He acts. So often we try to find ourselves thinking that establishing our individuality is the prize of this life’s quest. In my early career involved in mental health, I often heard of people stating their struggles to find themselves. They sought to become different than everyone else by their fashions, philosophies, and actions. This is a message of the world, but Christ’s message is for each of us to become “even as I am.”[10] This process is dependent upon the First Principle of the Gospel, to have “faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ,”[11] “having a perfect brightness of hope.”[12] When we really understand why we are here, any trial and affliction is more easily resolved, knowing that life is but a moment in eternity, seeing things through the “lens of eternity.”[13]
I recall when working in the Dean of Students Office having a young man referred by the Testing Center for sporting a tongue piercing. When I met with the young man, he denied this, stating that he was playing with a rolled up wad of tinfoil from a gum wrapper, which they had mistaken for a piercing. (Sometimes I wonder if I have a neon light on my forehead, shining brightly the label, “I’m Stupid.”) I asked to see his tongue, and it was evident that there was a hole for which a piercing could be supported. He acknowledged that he had pierced his tongue prior to coming to Ricks College, but had not worn it since. After committing him to the Honor Code, I told him that this would serve as a warning, and I expected not to see him again. Some few weeks later, I had another referral from the Testing Center, and this same young man came in again for a report of same infraction. This time however, he did not lie but was argumentative, justifying his piercing as an expression of his individuality, and criticizing the institution and the Church for its judgmental attitude of putting a person down by what they wore rather than what they are.
After listening for a bit, I turned to the young man and read this quote from Elder Bednar: “I am convinced that students violate the honor and dress codes for two and only two reasons: (1) they either do not understand the codes, or (2) they choose to willfully rebel.”[14] I offered a question: Is it possible that you do not understand, or are you in a state of open rebellion? I asked if he understood why the Brethren have made statements about piercings. He replied that he did not understand. We then reviewed the statement from the Strength of Youth, and also scriptural reference of our body being a temple of God. Statements and scriptures that he had heard, but did not understand. Like unto the American inhabitants that we just read of, he needed to look steadfastly upon Christ for full understanding to occur.
I then asked him if he were a missionary, would he wear the piecing. He said no. I asked why not. He then had a great revelation and understanding come about as he replied, “Because I would be representing the Lord.” When he looked steadfastly to the Lord, and realized his desire to be fastened to Him, he understood. We concluded with our acknowledgment that we are always representing the Lord by the fact that we have taken upon us a covenant that we are willing to take upon us His name and always remember Him by keeping His commandments. This time when this young man departed from my office, I knew I would not see him again because he humbled himself, turned to the Lord, and his natural man weakness had become a strength. However, I did see this young man once more, many months after…but this time it was not with a letter from the Testing Center, but a letter from the Prophet, calling him to serve as the Lord’s servant.
President Howard W. Hunter posed to us the simple but profound prescription to solve any of life’s situations by simply doing this: “We should at every opportunity ask ourselves, 'What would Jesus do?' and then be more courageous to act upon the answer.”[15]
Fastening ourselves to Christ requires a constant analysis of comparing our thoughts, words, and actions with the standard of what the Savior would think, say, and do. And each week, the Sacrament Table becomes our weekly meet to measure our progress with the standard our Eternal Father has set and renew again our covenants. It requires us to pray always, lest we be deceived. It requires us to acknowledge the Lord in all of our doings.
2 - We must move to become immovable.
I don’t think that the state of being steadfast and immovable infers to a stable state. Becoming such requires steadiness in commitment, and we must have a continuous movement from our natural man characters towards those immovable traits of our Elder Brother. Nephi counsels us in 2 Nephi 31, “Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ.”[16] One cannot press forward without movement.
Think for a moment of the phrases of invitation by the Lord in our required movement of change. “Come follow me.” “Take upon you my yoke.” “Walk with me.” “Turn unto me.” “Press forward.” Come, take, walk, turn, and press are all action verbs requiring movement. But we must also be cautious that we are not simply going through the motions of Latter-day Saint activities, but are striving to become. Elder Bednar taught regarding this principle at the recent General Priesthood meeting:
In our customary Church vocabulary, we often speak of going to church, going to the temple, and going on a mission. Let me be so bold as to suggest that our rather routine emphasis on going misses the mark.
The issue is not going to church; rather, the issue is worshiping and renewing covenants as we attend church. The issue is not going to or through the temple; rather, the issue is having in our hearts the spirit, the covenants, and the ordinances of the Lord's house. The issue is not going on a mission; rather, the issue is becoming a missionary and serving throughout our entire life with all of our heart, might, mind, and strength. It is possible for a young man to go on a mission and not become a missionary, and this is not what the Lord requires or what the Church needs.[17]
In this same manner, you may be going to BYU-Idaho, but a deeper question resides, “What are you becoming?” While you are in this valley, it is critical to discover what makes it firm, steadfast, and immovable, so that you can become like unto it in your discipleship of Jesus Christ, This indeed is invaluable, and the greatest prize of the privilege of being here.
A student in my Book of Mormon class shared with us his unique placing by the hand of the Lord in coming to Rexburg, Idaho. He was accepted to attend Berkeley, near his home, accompanied with a generous scholarship. This was a great opportunity to go to this prestigious university, with great reputation in his field of study. His Bishop, however, counseled him to apply to the Church schools, and so he confusingly complied. Although he received his dream acceptance accompanied by scholarship, he decided to journey to Provo and to see if the Lord would have him be there. He sensed the discrepancy of feeling between campuses, but the Lord did not confirm that Provo was to be the place. In his words, “I was also accepted to BYU-Idaho, and I said in my mind, no Lord, not Rexburg.” The confirmation came, and he is having many experiences of changing, learning discipleship, and knows why he is here. So should be the discovery of each of us, but again, these are only seeds planted, and true fruit will be gathered when you as disciples, firm, steadfast, and immovable are planted throughout the Lord’s vineyard.
Movement is not a comfortable, nor easy process. The Lord knew of our natural man tendencies and requires us to become as “a [little] child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.”[18] This movement is contrary to the world perception of maturity. While the world measures maturity in degrees of independence, the Lord requires us to move to an understanding of our dependence on the Lord and to act accordingly. Like the student in my class, we must be submissive, seeking the Lord’s will in all we do.
When I started my first job following Graduate School, I was hired as a caseworker at the Youth Services Center in St. Anthony, Idaho, which served as the State institution for incarcerated delinquents. I was assigned to work at the cottage which housed the older youth on the campus. When introducing me to the inmates, the psychologist pronounced, “This is Mr. Miyasaki. He has a black belt in karate, so no one mess with him.” I didn’t quite know how to respond, so I didn’t and the legend began. By the way, the only black belt I had was used to hold my pants up. However, rumors flew, and I quite enjoyed the instant respect and fear. Then one night I was called to come in as there was a fight in the dorm. We decided that we needed to place one of the boys in lock-up until the situation cooled down. As I escorting this young man to the lock up room, we first entered a small locked cubicle that was a safety area between the hallway and the lock up room, with just barely enough room to have two people standing together. In these crowded quarters this young man challenged, “Okay, Mr. Miyasaki, let’s see what you got. It’s just you and me.”
A quick twinge of fear of exposing my lack of martial arts skill arose, but I quickly countered with, “Oh, you don’t want to do that because I going to plant this right foot into your left jaw.” He then replied, let me in lock up, I was just kidding. What he didn’t know was if he would of said go for it, I would asked him to kneel down. In contrast with my dependence upon a faulty image, again, the Savior has shown the perfect example of being steadfast and immovable in those situations that were most trying, For in his life despite the world judging him to be a thing of naught; “…wherefore they scourge him, and he suffereth it; and they smite him, and he suffereth it. Yea, they spit upon him, and he suffereth it, because of his loving kindness and his long-suffering towards the children of men.”[19] The Savior never faltered or relied upon worldly measures of power and strength in the end of his mortal existence, for He knew who He was and was steadfast and immovable, as His will had moved to be swallowed in the will of His Father’s. So it is the task of each of us to move to that same state.
3 - Steadfastness requires full-time application
King Benjamin declared to his people: “Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his…”[20]
King Benjamin clearly teaches that being steadfast and immovable is full-time, always abounding in good works. Always being a key word.
Steadfastness is not a process of latching on and off dependent upon circumstances and conveniences, but a full-time adherence to the gospel. Elder Henry B. Eyring taught at the recent General Conference, “So the great test of life is to see whether we will hearken to and obey God's commands in the midst of the storms of life. It is not to endure storms, but to choose the right while they rage. And the tragedy of life is to fail in that test and so fail to qualify to return in glory to our heavenly home.”
Now pay special attention to Elder Eyring’s next counsel:
However much faith to obey God we now have, we will need to strengthen it continually and keep it refreshed constantly. We can do that by deciding now to be more quick to obey and more determined to endure. Learning to start early and to be steady are the keys to spiritual preparation. Procrastination and inconsistency are its mortal enemies.[21]
The words “continually” and “constantly” reflect the full-time nature of a steadfast and firm disciple of Christ. What better preparation for future storms does one have than by living the standards of the Honor Code. In interviewing a young man who was preparing to go to the temple for eternal marriage, I asked him if he was morally clean in every aspect with prospective bride. He confidently pronounced, “We are clean.” I asked him how he maintained his cleanliness. He stated, “If you just keep the Honor Code and live by its standards, you can never be in a situation of being in violation with the Lord’s Code.”
Living by Honor Code standards prepares us spiritually, to not only face the tempests of life now, but lays the foundation for any storm we may face in the future, becoming firm and steadfast in this valley, at this institution, instills life-long, even eternal standards of righteousness.
A part-time application of being steadfast is aptly described in this Cowboy poem by Waddie Mitchell:
Out on the cliffs edge
further than he’d ever been before
he sat with legs a danglin
high above the valley's floor.
He was lost in thought while
drinking in the grandeur of it all
when a gust of wind unseated him
and he began to fall.
Twas a drastic situation
he didn’t dare think slow
for certain death awaited
in those rocky crags below.
So he called upon a Friend
I guess the only one he could
The one we all forget about
when things are going good.
He said “God if you help me now
I’ll quit my sinful ways
I’ll do the things you’d have me do
I’ll work hard all my days.
I’ll quit the booze and cigarettes
I’ll help my loving wife
I’ll spend time with my children
I’ll turn around my life.
I’ll work to help the needy
I promise to repent”
Just then a tree limb caught his coat
and stopped his fast descent.
And while hangin from the tree
that grew out on that rocky shelf
he looked skyward saying
“Never mind, I handled it myself."
Contrary to this character, we must remember from whence we receive all, and upon whom we are always dependent upon. King Benjamin taught wisely our status of “unprofitable servants” reminding us that He “created," and preserves us from day to day, by lending us breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another.[22]
Our will is what Elder Neal A. Maxwell pronounced as the only thing that is uniquely ours that we can offer as a sacrifice to the Lord. So our will, our desires should be continually consistent with His will. We always demonstrate our agency. President James E Faust taught, “We cannot hide what we are, try as we will. It shines from within us. We are transparent. When we attempt to deceive, we deceive only ourselves. We are like the emperor in the fairy tale who was deceived into thinking he was arrayed in beautiful garments, but he was in fact unclothed.”[23]
One of my all time favorite quotes comes from the wise Star Wars character Yoda. When young Luke Skywalker is struggling in an attempt to raise the star ship from the marsh, he states in a voice of self-doubt, “I’ll try,” to which Yoda responds, “Do or do not - there is not try.”
Becoming requires doing, not trying, requiring full-time, not part-time application.
The blessing of steadfastness
Brothers and Sisters, steadfastness is not just a catch word to incite momentary attention, but an eternal principle with eternal consequences and blessings. Nephi testifies that steadfastness will result in the declaration “ye shall have eternal life.”[24] Nephi further teaches that notwithstanding all persecution "behold, they are they which shall not perish. But the Son of righteousness shall appear unto them; and he shall heal them, and they shall have peace with him.”[25] The Lamanite prophet Samuel taught a great blessing of being firm and steadfast is freedom.[26] The great gift of redemption is a result of steadfastness as testified by Alma: “It is he that cometh to take away the sins of the world, yea, the sins of every man who steadfastly believeth on his name.”[27] And the Lord declared, “For even yet the kingdom is yours, and shall be forever, if you fall not from your steadfastness. Even so. Amen."[28] The Savior again pronounced, “He that remaineth steadfast and is not overcome, the same shall be saved.” [29]
May we be like unto this valley which shelters this sacred institution, and become steadfast and immovable disciples of Jesus Christ, is my invitation and my prayer, in the holy name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Notes
[1] Proverbs 21:23
[2] 2 Samuel 23:2
[3] 1 Nephi 2:10
[4] Douglas M. Todd, The Spirit of Ricks, David L. Crowder
[5] 3 Nephi 11:3,5,6
[6] Matthew 11:28-29
[7] 3 Nephi 12:48
[8] 3 Nephi 27:27
[9] 2 Nephi 25:24
[10] 3 Nephi 27:27
[11] Fourth Article of Faith
[12] 2 Nephi 31:20
[13] 2 Nephi 31:20
[14] Elder David A. Bednar, Devotional, September 1, 1998
[15] President Howard W. Hunter, Ensign, October, 1994
[16] 2 Nephi 31:20
[17] Elder David A. Bednar, General Priesthood Meeting, October, 2005
[18] Mosiah 3:19
[19] 1 Nephi 19:9
[20] Mosiah 5:15
[21] Elder Henry B. Eyring, General Conference, October 2005
[22] Mosiah 2:21
[23] President James E. Faust, Ensign Feb, 1982
[24] 2 Nephi 31:20
[25] 2 Nephi 26:8-9
[26] Helaman 15:8
[27] Alma 5:48
[28] (Doctrine and Covenants 82
[29] Joseph Smith-Matthew 1:11