Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening,
this post should take approximately five minutes to read from start to finish.
This post focuses on BYU (Brigham Young University) Devotional in June 2008, and it is called "Be Strong and of Good Courage" by Elder Donald L. Staheli. This post is part two, and I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the Devotional.
Elder Staheli has mentioned the following; "... Equally important in our pursuit of happiness and a secure testimony is the daily habit of reading and pondering the scriptures. The busier life becomes, the more difficult it is to stay connected to this important part of our spiritual growth. Yet making the scriptures a part of your daily life is another foundation stone of your testimony.
Elder Staheli has mentioned the following; "... Equally important in our pursuit of happiness and a secure testimony is the daily habit of reading and pondering the scriptures. The busier life becomes, the more difficult it is to stay connected to this important part of our spiritual growth. Yet making the scriptures a part of your daily life is another foundation stone of your testimony.
King Benjamin sternly admonished his people, “If you believe all these things see that ye do them” (Mosiah 4:10). Living to be worthy of the Spirit and then responding to its promptings is an essential ingredient to a strong and vibrant testimony. To be worthy of the Spirit embodies the bottom line of obedient living. To truly accomplish this is the quest of a lifetime.
... The important point is that Nephi had made the decision as to how he was going to respond to the Lord’s commandments. From that point forward he was steadfast. I suspect Satan worked on him, just as he does each of us today, yet the scriptures indicate that Satan was totally unsuccessful in affecting Nephi’s decision to do the Lord’s will. ... Great blessings come to those who follow Nephi’s example.
Understanding and responding to the principle of obedience has singular importance in preparing us for success and eternal happiness. As the Lord promised Joshua, He “will not fail thee, nor forsake thee” as long as you are striving daily to obey His commandments. ... The same is true of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
It gives us agency and ample freedom of choices, but the ultimate success of those choices depends on our diligence in keeping the commandments and covenants we have made with the Lord. As you pursue your educational goals, it is essential that you keep focused on your spiritual commitments.
The challenge with most of us is the tendency to become casual or to lose focus on those non-negotiable or non-compromising commandments from which promised blessings flow. ... Satan works constantly on this principle of blurring our focus relating to gospel principles.
He seductively encourages our casualness by helping us feel secure that “this won’t matter” or “that won’t taint my mind.” This is especially true as he casually leads young people down the slippery slope of immorality. I believe Satan has a dominant influence on the media - television, movies, and the Internet.
Each becomes seductive in its own way. ... It is clear that frequent exposure tends to legitimize that which we see and hear. It dulls our sense of conscience between the acceptable and unacceptable. It is Satan’s way of leading you down the slippery slope toward immoral thoughts and actions.
And those parts of the Internet that move you into pornography serve as the devil’s trump card. It only takes a few viewings of pornography and he has you hooked. Then he begins to work his evil power, because what you have seen and heard becomes paramount in your thought processes. And the more you see, the more addicted you become.
You young people, especially you young men, have become Satan’s target audience. ... Pornography can become one of the most destructive elements of your marriage. We plead with any of you who are in any way involved in pornography to see your bishop so that he can help you find your way out of the cesspool of filth that is designed to destroy you.
Be careful that you don’t let Satan use his influence to control your thoughts and actions, and ultimately your future. When you are able to recognize and overcome any personal irritants you may have toward certain principles of obedience, you will feel God endowing you with the power of the Spirit to resist the inappropriate things of the world that Satan would have you enjoy.
When we are able to declare as the people did to King Benjamin that there has been “a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually” (Mosiah 5:2), then we will be well on the road to success and eternal happiness.
The companionship of the Spirit and the strength of your testimonies will depend on daily nurturing of your faith, praying, studying the scriptures, and obeying the commandments. As you do so, you will be moving toward achieving the spiritual and temporal blessings the Lord has in store for you.
... The Lord wants each of you to find joy and happiness and success in your professional and vocational pursuits. But He wants you to do it in a way that your ambitions for success do not supersede your priority for living gospel principles.
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| "Decisions are constantly before us, to make them wisely, COURAGE IS NEEDED." - Thomas S. Monson. |
These are the years when you must take responsibility for who you now are and what you want to become. Think carefully about where you are. Remember, education is the key to the door of opportunity. The Savior’s parable of the talents is so applicable to you at this stage in your lives.
Jesus knows there are differences between you intellectually, emotionally, and physically. Therefore He only expects you to magnify and develop whatever talents and abilities you have. But He expects you to be accountable for your actions in so doing.
He will not measure your progress against others. He does not grade on the curve! Rather He blesses you for what you are doing to magnify whatever gifts and talents you have been given. ... Take control of your actions and prepare to succeed at whatever you are capable of doing.
... This is also a time in your life when counsel from others can help you decide what you should be doing that will move you toward achieving your full potential. ... As you recall, the Lord counseled Joshua to “be strong and of a good courage” as he took on his new responsibilities. That same counsel applies to you as you prepare to pursue careers that will take you to different parts of the world.
Periodically you will be placed in situations that will require you to “be strong and of a good courage” in order to stay true and faithful to gospel principles. ... Worldly standards will always be in a state of flux. The only true and unchanging standards are those set by the Savior and His teachings and principles of the restored gospel.
... Yet, with a few exceptions, once people understood our principles and standards and our desire to stay true to them, they respected us for them. As you have the courage to be true to your beliefs, your exemplary conduct will not go unnoticed.
While you will be tried and tested, your faithful adherence to the Lord’s standards will be seen as a beacon in the night to those around you. ... President Hinckley is an impeccable example of courageous leadership. He is steadfast and true to principle and courageously forthright in his convictions.
Yet with unwavering courage he has the ability to express his commitments to gospel principles in clear but acceptable terms to those not of our faith. Hopefully his example will help you to “be strong and of a good courage” when pushed to compromise your standards. You will be respected for your integrity.
And if occasionally you are not, you need not worry, because that is not the kind of association you will want or need in your future. “As the finest generation in the history of the Church,” much is expected of you (Gordon B. Hinckley, CR, April 1992, 96; or “A Chosen Generation,” Ensign, May 1992, 69).
And we have confidence you will live up to those expectations. ... As you keep His commandments and follow the counsel of the prophets and your leaders, He will be there to guide you through the challenges that lie ahead. He “will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” ..."
If you would like to read the whole Devotional, here is the link below.
Stay Tuned until next time.
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