True worship of Deity requires a person's devotion and attention every day and in every way, BYU-Hawaii's first lady, Margaret Wheelwright, told the audience at this week's devotional.
"The fact that we are all…at this university is evidence that we are devoted men and women interested in hallowing the Lord's name…but we are here because we want to try a little harder and reach a little higher in our quest for true worship," she said.
Sister Wheelwright broke down true worship into five elements, all beginning with the letter t. She said these components are like building blocks and that a person must be actively engaged to attain a state of spiritual well-being.
The first t stands for thoughts. There are two questions people can ask themselves to determine if they are consecrating their thoughts to the Lord, Wheelwright said. "First, what is the quality of our input? Input trash will not become output treasure," she explained. "The second question…is how do we interpret our thoughts?"
"This is not easy, but managing our feelings, combined with filtering our input, are critical as we try to worship every day and in every way, consecrating our thoughts to the Lord and His purposes," she said.
The second t is talk. "The words we speak, the tone we use, and the message we convey are all components of worshipping the Lord every day and in every way," she stated. "As we temper our talk, letting the Spirit direct our words…we can be a source of comfort."
The third t is time. "As hard as we may hope, wish, and even pray, [time] is not limitless," Wheelwright explained. "This simply reality then requires that we use our time wisely…. Only you know the state of your balance and what is the best use of your time."
The fourth t is talents. "Each one of us has been blessed with unique gifts and talents which come by the Spirit of Christ," she said. "There is a satisfaction I feel like no other when I know I am using one of my unique talents in a worshipful, consecrated way, in a way that helps the Lord's kingdom."
Those four t's are all supported by the fifth t: thankfulness, Wheelwright declared. "A thankful attitude can improve our lives from every single angle. An attitude of gratitude makes everything feel a little easier."
Understanding the five t's of true worship helps a person see more clearly the blessings that come from consecrating a life to the Lord and His purposes, Wheelwright said. "First, when we live this way every day and in every way, we begin to recognize the help of the Spirit in everything we do." She also said a person enjoys a peaceful, beautiful security as a result.
"Truly worshipping…will bring us joy and peace as we consecrate ourselves to the Lord and His purposes."