Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening,
this post should take three minutes to five minutes to read from start to finish.
This post focuses on a Brigham Young University (BYU) Devotional in January 1983, and it is called "Looking to the Future" by Elder Robert L. Backman. This post is part one, and I hope you will be able to learn something new while you are reading through this post.
Elder Backman has mentioned the following;
".. Aren’t you grateful for a gospel that encourages us to learn, study, grow, mature, magnify, increase, expand, progress forever? Our belief in eternal progression is one of the most satisfying and motivating principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
It signifies to me that, no matter how old I am, the future is still full of challenging growth experiences. It provides a magnificent obsession for all who believe. ... Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection. And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come.[D&C 130:18–19]
... Obviously God expects us to use our minds, to stretch our intellects, to think. Unfortunately, “some people would rather die than think and some do.” Yes, my young brothers and sisters, I encourage you to seek an education, stretch your minds, and develop your skills as much as you can.
Warning Must Be Sounded
... Yes, we want you to get an education, to achieve academic excellence, to master a trade or a profession, to gain economic and social advantages but we want you to do all that you do to prepare for life in the context of Latter-day Saint values.
The Lord counseled: And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith. [D&C 88:118; emphasis added]
Why an Education?
Most of us enter college primarily to help us in the job market or to gain social stature or to find a mate or to avoid manual labor. Sometimes we miss the real purpose of education.
... The highest purpose of education is to develop character. True education trains in discipline, self-denial, and self-mastery. True education awakens a desire to promote and conserve health of body and mind.
True education regulates the temper, subdues passion, and makes obedience to social laws and moral order a guiding principle of life. True education encourages service to our fellowmen. True education develops reason and inculcates faith in God.
True education motivates us to strive to live like our Savior. There is no end to the progress of man or a woman who seeks learning, who seeks the truth, even by study and also by faith. In fact, the Lord has told us in no uncertain words that, as we establish priorities in our lives, we should have no other gods before him.
Then he promised in the beautiful Sermon on the Mount, as correctly translated by Joseph Smith: “Wherefore, seek not the things of this world but seek ye first to build up the kingdom of God, and to establish his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you” (JST Matthew 6:38)
All what things? The Lord was speaking of the treasures of the earth, the things of this world.
Blessed with testimonies of the gospel of Jesus Christ, you and I can understand the purpose of life and our eternal goals. That blessed testimony gives us the proper perspective and motivation as we seek for wisdom and understanding. We have the truth and we practice virtue. That sets us apart from the rest of the world which tries to find truth without practicing virtue, and thus is ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth (see 2 Timothy 3:7).
... You will pray earnestly, sincerely, from the heart, seeking guidance for your life, building your faith in God and understanding of your relationship to him. You will fast purposefully, thoughtfully, prayerfully, regularly. You will live his holy principles, keep his commandments, the true test of your faith.
You will respond to calls to service in his kingdom, experiencing the joy that comes from such service. ... You will bear witness of the gospel through your words and actions, sharing the truth with your fellowmen. You will seek his Holy Spirit, knowing that the things of God are understood only by the Spirit of God.
You will be honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, doing good to all men. ... You will continue to seek anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy. You will be a devoted Latter-day Saint throughout your life. You will then be prepared for the future, prepared in all things to magnify the calling whereunto God has called you and the mission with which he has commissioned you. ...
Hail and Farewell
At the beginning of this new year, my beloved brothers and sisters, I pray with all my heart and soul that you will understand that, as children of God with knowledge of your identity, your relationship to him, your relationship to your Savior Jesus Christ, your understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the purpose for which we are here, each one of you will take advantage of every day to prepare for life, that you can enjoy it more abundantly.
God bless you with all you stand in need of as you study the principles to guide you through life. ... God bless you with the faith to know you truly are his sons and daughters commissioned to come to this earth when you have come because you have such great talents and abilities to build his holy kingdom.
God bless you to sense, in the great windup scene in which we find ourselves in this dispensation of the fullness of times, that you have an important role to play. God bless you to be where he can find you, that your lives can be rich and full and rewarding and fulfilling. The gospel is true! ..."
If you would like to read the whole Devotional either now or in your own time; here's the link below.
Stay Tuned until next time.
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