The Church Educational System (CES) Executive Committee visited Brigham Young University–Hawaii last week and on Sunday, August 26, two special devotionals were held with members of the committee as the speakers.
Members of two Laie Young Single Adult Stakes attended a devotional in the Cannon Activities Center and were privileged to hear from Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Elder Paul V. Johnson of the first quorum of Seventy and CES Commissioner, BYU–Hawaii President Steven C. Wheelwright, and Sister Kaye M. Workman, Laie Temple Matron. More than 3,000 young single adults attended.
In his address, President Wheelwright focused on interpreting impressions from the Spirit, and how sometimes the Spirit will not give one clear answer. In situations like these, you will be allowed to move forward until the Spirit tells you to stop. Out of the options you present to the Lord, one may not be wrong, and so the choice is left up to you. Sister Workman then talked about factors that detract from the Spirit. She touched on the importance of keeping your mind pure, which will allow you to have the constant companionship of the Spirit. Elder Johnson built on the two previous messages as he addressed the gathering on the purpose of the CES Executive Committee being on campus and the importance of their visit.
As the final speaker, Elder Oaks stressed the importance of studying the scriptures, especially today, in order to strengthen faith and endure trials. He also spoke on the need to follow the Lord and not seek for worldly praise, but to repent and remember the importance of the covenants we have made, and our eternal responsibility.
Members of the Laie Hawaii Married Student Stake gathered at the Campus Stake Center and had the opportunity to hear from a panel made up of BYU President Cecil O. Samuelson, LDS Business College President J. Lawrence Richards, President James Tidwell, a Stake President in Utah, President Craig D. Burton, a Young Single Adult Stake President in Utah, President Linda K. Burton, General Relief Society President, Elder Donald L. Hallstrom, a member of the presidency of the Seventy, and Elder Russel M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Elder Nelson conducted the devotional and asked each of the speakers to answer two questions: “What advice do you have for young marrieds?” and “What is the root of your testimony?”
Each answer incorporated relevant scriptures, and speakers often touched on similar topics. The nature of the questions allowed the speakers to share personal experiences to connect with the audience. Answers in response to the first question included finding a scripture that will sustain you as a family, put your spouse before yourself, make the temple a priority, prioritize gospel culture over worldly culture, and seek the kingdom of God first. Elder Nelson was the last to address this question and gave the advice that your role in marriage is to make your eternal companion happier than they could be without you. “If you want to find happiness, build it in your companion.”
In answering the second question about the ‘root’ of each individual’s testimony, some of the panel noted that the root of their testimony is continual experiences with the Spirit and associated with keeping covenants. President Craig Burton shared an experience in which he was asked in an interview what he thought of Christ. Being caught off guard, that question has stuck with him throughout life and he learned to “make Christ the center of every activity, every day.” Elder Nelson concluded the devotional with a story about the root of his testimony being when he “studied what it meant to say ‘I am a Child of God’.”