Walking the Path of Discipleship

Walking the Path of Discipleship

Bishop L. Todd Budge

December 15, 2022

 My dear brothers and sisters, it is an honor to have the opportunity to address you at Commencement. Commencement is an interesting word choice for a gathering that celebrates the conclusion of a course of study.  However, today we celebrate not only what you have accomplished but what you will yet accomplish and become.

I am joined today by my wife, Lori. We both graduated from BYU in December of 1984. However, we missed the commencement ceremony because it was held in April, and we had already left Provo to begin work in Tokyo, Japan. So today, finally, 38 years, six children, and 19 grandchildren later, we can formally celebrate our graduation along with all of you.

In one of his final devotional addresses as president of this university, Elder David A. Bednar proclaimed that the “primary and most important reason for the existence of Brigham Young University-Idaho” is to prepare students to become disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. He called the university a “disciple preparation center.” He declared, “In this special and sacred and set apart place, you and I have access to unparalleled spiritual resources that can assist us in developing and deepening our devotion as disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.”^[1] Looking back on our lives since graduation, we are filled with gratitude for the preparation we received at BYU to walk the path of discipleship.  Today, I would like to share what we have learned on our journey that I hope will bless each of you as you prepare to go out into the world.

In a recent devotional for young adults, President Russell M. Nelson taught that our identity as children of God, children of the covenant, and disciples of Jesus Christ “should displace, replace, or take priority over” all other labels or ways of identifying ourselves. He said:

I testify that this is true, and as you go forward from this place today with the new label of “college graduate,” I hope you will not forget your true identity as covenant children of God and disciples of Jesus Christ. This fundamental truth is foundational to all that I will share today. In his first address to the Church as a newly called Apostle in 2018, Elder Gerrit W. Gong declared:

Inspired by Elder Gong’s remarks, in a devotional address to BYU– Hawaii students the following year, I suggested things we should let go of and things we should hold on to in our quest to become disciples of Jesus Christ. As I pondered what I might say to you this afternoon, many of those same thoughts kept coming back to mind. And then, as I listened to Elder Gong’s October 2022 General Conference talk, there was something he said that caught my attention and confirmed that I needed to reemphasize those principles today with updated counsel from our dear prophet and other recent insights. Elder Gong reiterated, “Heaven can give us strength and wisdom beyond our own to know when to hold on and how to let go.”^[4] So, let’s consider together what to let go of and what to hold on to as you continue down the path of discipleship as graduates of this great university. First, may I suggest four things to let go of before you leave BYU–Idaho.

1. Let go of sin

First, let go of sin. This sounds obvious, but how many of us are still holding tightly to our favorite sins? President Nelson taught that we must be willing to give up even those sins in order to overcome the world.^[5] Like King Lamoni’s father, are we ready to give away all our sins so that we may know God and be filled with great joy?^[6] To give away all of our sins, we must give up the idea that following our way is better than following God’s commandments. Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”^[7] Which sins are you holding on to, or which sins have a hold of you?

Resolve today to turn to Christ. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love you and want you to be happy. President Nelson said, “They will do anything within Their power that does not violate your agency or Their laws to help you.”^[8] Through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, we can become free of the chains of sin both large and small. Let go of the sins which rob you of the joy He and our Heavenly Father desire for you!

2. Let go of guilt

Second, once repentance has taken place, let go of any remaining guilt.  The purpose of physical pain is to alert us to injury or disease. Likewise, the purpose of guilt is to cause spiritual pain or dis-ease, which alerts us to the need for repentance. However, once we have repented of our sins, we need to trust that the Lord has forgiven us and then forgive ourselves.  Lingering guilt can turn to shame and rob us of joy. Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf said:

 My dear friends, let us repent of failing to trust in God’s power and willingness to forgive us of our sins. I love Alma’s advice to his son Corianton: “Only let your sins trouble you, with that trouble which shall bring you down unto repentance.”^[10] If you have repented with full purpose of heart and real intent and continue to have feelings of guilt, try to let go of those feelings so that your guilt will not interfere with your joy.

3. Let go of grudges

Third, let go of grudges. In other words, forgive everyone. The failure to forgive others will rob us of joy and canker our souls. In Doctrine and Covenants 64, the Lord is recorded as saying, “. . . ye ought to forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin.  I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men.”^[11] We need to repent of not trusting God to mete out justice better than we can. God has not only commanded us to forgive everyone, but He has also commanded us to love everyone. How can we love the neighbor we have not forgiven? Letting God be the judge frees us to love others. Forgiving others blesses both the forgiven and the forgiver.

If there is anyone you have not forgiven, I invite you to let go of your judgment of that person, leave that to God, and allow yourself to love them instead. I testify that you will be much happier when you do.

4. Let go of your will

Fourth, let go of your will, submit it to God, and let God prevail. It can be very difficult to trust God’s plan for us when life is not going as we expected or desired, especially when our expectations and desires are righteous and are founded on true principles or promised blessings. For example, we may desire to be married but haven’t found “the one.” We may desire to have children but cannot. We may desire to find employment but have not. We may desire to be free of sickness and disease, but it persists; or we may desire to see a loved one gain a testimony, but they have not. The list goes on. In difficult circumstances such as these, we sometimes turn away from God rather than turning toward Him. Instead of trusting Him, we may blame Him or think He does not care. Paul taught the Hebrews, “For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.”^[12]  President Nelson said:

To be sure, there may be times when you feel as though the heavens are closed. But I promise that as you continue to be obedient, expressing gratitude for every blessing the Lord gives you, and as you patiently honor the Lord’s timetable, you will be given the knowledge and understanding you seek. Every blessing the Lord has for you—even miracles—will follow.^[13]

In a subsequent address, he taught us to expect these miracles.^[14]

My friends, His promises are sure.  If we truly believe this, we can learn to rejoice in our yet-unrealized promised blessings. In the middle of the wilderness, long before reaching the promised land, Lehi said, “I have obtained a land of promise, in the which things I do rejoice.”^[15] Lehi trusted God so much that he was rejoicing in a blessing he had not yet received. That is a very happy way to live! Do not let go of your righteous desires and God-given expectations. But do let go of your attachment to them as a condition of your happiness. Life is much more joyful when we choose to trust God and His plan for us.

Now, let’s shift gears and discuss four things prophets and apostles have admonished us to hold on to that will deepen our joy and discipleship.

1. Hold on to the Holy Ghost

First, hold on to the Holy Ghost. President Nelson pleads with us “to do the spiritual work required to enjoy the gift of the Holy Ghost and hear the voice of the Spirit more frequently and more clearly.”^[16] With Moroni, he exhorts us to “‘come unto Christ, and lay hold upon every good gift,’ beginning with the gift of the Holy Ghost,” which gift, he says, “can and will change your life.”^[17]

The Holy Ghost is our modern-day Liahona. As we exercise faith in Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost will tell us all things we should do. In other words, He will tell us what to hold on to and what to let go of. President Nelson warns that “in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.”^[18] It is a matter of survival. We hold fast to the Holy Ghost by faithfully, diligently, and patiently honoring our covenants with God and keeping His commandments. If you have let the Holy Ghost slip away, don’t give up! Pray to know what you need to stop doing or start doing to welcome the Holy Ghost back into your life.

2. Hold on to your faith

Second, hold on to your faith. When we have questions, we should not assume this means that we are abandoning our faith. Not at all! Questioning and doubting are not the same thing. It is perfectly acceptable to have questions about our doctrine, Church history, Church policies, etc. However, the lens through which we see these questions is the determining factor of whether our faith is strengthened or weakened.   Do our questions come from the perspective of doubt or from a willingness to allow the benefit of the doubt?

President Nelson recently taught the young adults of the Church:

He then pled with the young adults to nurture their testimonies. He told them to “. . . work for it. Own it. Care for it. Nurture it so that it will grow. Feed it truth. Don’t pollute it with the false philosophies of unbelieving men and women and then wonder why your testimony is waning.”^[19]

 Nurturing a testimony does not usually come from an either-or mindset, thinking that either it is all true or none of it is. A testimony comes from the witness of the Holy Ghost that the things we do know and understand are true. Nephi acknowledged that he did not know the meaning of all things, but he did know that God loves his children.^[20]

Nephi is a great example of one who was willing to move forward in faith despite having an incomplete understanding of the meaning of all things.

Like Nephi, I do not know the meaning of all things. However, my testimony is not simplistic or based on blind belief. My testimony is firmly rooted in the witnesses I have received from the Holy Ghost that God knows me and loves me, that Jesus is the Christ, that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, and that we are led today by apostles and prophets. These simple yet profound spiritual witnesses transcend the complexity of the arguments against the truth, and have blessed my life with peace and joy in Christ.

3. Hold on to the word of God

This brings us to the third thing to hold on to—the word of God. In the secular world, the first source we tend to go to for answers is the internet. But we need to keep in mind that the information we find there is often, in fact, misinformation, and it is subject to the interpretations and philosophies of men—or worse, it is based on an agenda designed to manipulate the truth.^[21]

Instead, in seeking greater light, we should go to the source of light and truth—the word of God as contained in the holy scriptures, in the words of His living apostles and prophets, and in answers received through personal revelation.

Nephi taught that “. . . whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction.”^[22] Isn’t that an amazing promise?

 I testify that there is power in God’s word. The secular knowledge you have learned at BYU-Idaho will bless your lives in many ways, but if not understood and applied in the context of eternal truth, that knowledge will not be sufficient to bring you the joy God desires for you.

4. Hold on to your covenants

Fourth, hold on to your covenants. President Nelson admonished us “to keep on the covenant path.” He said, “Your commitment to follow the Savior by making covenants with Him and then keeping those covenants will open the door to every spiritual privilege and blessing available to men, women, and children everywhere.”^[23] He also said, “Our covenants bind us to Him and give us godly power.”^[24]

As you partake of the sacrament each week, review the covenants you have made and recommit yourself to keeping those covenants. Making and keeping sacred covenants helps rivet our focus on Jesus Christ and His covenant promises. I testify that as we hold fast to our covenants, we will have the power to live joyfully. However, please remember, the covenant path is not a path of perfection but a path of repentance. God’s expectation of us in mortality is not perfection and never has been; if so, there would have been no need for Him to sacrifice His Son to pay the price for our sins. His expectation is that we continuously repent as we progress down the covenant path towards Him.

In conclusion, let’s summarize the four things to let go of and the four things to hold on to as you continue your journey of discipleship as BYU–Idaho graduates.

Regarding letting go: first, let go of your sins. Second, let go of your guilt once you have sincerely repented. Third, let go of any grudges and forgive everyone. And fourth, let go of your will, submit it to God, and let God prevail.

Regarding holding on: first, hold on to the Holy Ghost. Second, hold on to your faith. Third, hold on to the word of God. And fourth, hold on to your covenants.

I testify that as you steadily progress along the path of discipleship, holding fast to that which is true and letting go of that which is not, that you will find joy along the way. No, life will not always be easy, and you will have your share of trials, sorrows, and afflictions; you will also make your share of mistakes. However, I testify that Jesus Christ, through His great atoning power, will enable and ennoble you as you leave this university and go out into the world. I testify that through His strength you can indeed overcome the world!

My friends, as President Nelson recently reemphasized, “In coming days, we will see the greatest manifestations of the Savior’s power that the world has ever seen.”^[25] Conversely, Satan has never worked so hard to make us miserable like himself.^[26] “O be wise; what can I say more?”^[27] Hold fast to that which is of God, and let go of those things that will interfere with your happiness and take you off the path of discipleship.

God and Jesus Christ love you. I pray that you will look to God and discover the joy that He has prepared for you.^[28] That as you go forth from this place, you will do so with a deepened commitment and resolve to walk the path of discipleship and become true followers of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

^{[1] David A. Bednar, “BYU-Idaho: A Disciple Preparation Center,” Foundational Addresses, Aug. 31, 2004.}

^{[2] Russell M. Nelson, “Choices for Eternity,” Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults, May 15, 2022.}

^{[3] Gerrit W. Gong, “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today,” Ensign, May 2018.}

^{[4] Gerrit W. Gong, “Happy and Forever,” Liahona, Nov. 2022.}

^{[5] See Russell M. Nelson, “Overcome the World and Find Rest,” Liahona, Nov. 2022.}

^{[6] See Alma 22:15–17.}

^{[7] John 14:15.}

^{[8] Russell M. Nelson, “The Love and Laws of God,” Brigham Young University Devotional, Sept. 17, 2019.}

^{[9]  Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “The Merciful Obtain Mercy,” Ensign, May 2012.}

^{[10] Alma 42:29.}

^{[11] Doctrine and Covenants 64:9–10.}

^{[12] Hebrews 10:36.}

^{[13] Russell M. Nelson, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for our Lives,” Ensign, May 2018.}

^{[14] See Russell M. Nelson, “The Power of Spiritual Momentum,” Liahona, May 2022.}

^{[15] 1 Nephi 5:5.}

^{[16] Russell M. Nelson, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for our Lives,” Ensign, May 2018.}

^{[17] Ibid.}

^{[18] Ibid.}

^{[19] Russell M. Nelson, “Choices for Eternity,” Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults, May 15, 2022.}

^{[20] See 1 Nephi 11:17.}

^{[21] See Bruce C. Hafen and Marie K. Hafen, Faith Is Not Blind, Deseret Book, 2018.}

^{[22] 1 Nephi 15:24.}

^{[23] Russell M. Nelson, “As We Go Forward Together,” Liahona, April 2018.}

^{[24] Russell M. Nelson, “Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives,” Ensign, May 2017.}

^{[25] Russell M. Nelson, “Overcome the World and Find Rest,” Liahona, Nov. 2022.}

^{[26] See 2 Nephi 2:27.}

^{[27] Jacob 6:12.}

^{[28] See Alma 37:46–47}