President Steven C. Wheelwright of BYU-Hawaii provided students with the three ingredients that make up the Lord's "Recipe for Success" during his May 6 in devotional the Cannon Activities Center.
President Wheelwright started his address by sharing a family story about the wonderful "Mom's Orange Rolls" Sister Wheelwright has perfected, and the experiences that two of their daughters have had with the same recipe: One daughter always has a great success, while the other creates what she calls "a sticky hockey puck," even though they follow the same recipe. He used this family anecdote "to create a framework with which to discuss an important gospel idea, [which he calls] the Lord's Recipe for Success."
Many different kinds of recipes allow us to make everything from concrete to medication. However, "depending on how closely you follow that recipe," warned President Wheelwright, "your results can range from divine to positively disgusting." Additionally, no matter what kind of recipe you are looking at, President Wheelwright taught that they each contain the same three ingredients as well as Gospel equivalents:
"These three common elements of any recipe — first, the small and simple things; second, our agency; and third, the consequences or results — are all discussed in the scriptures."
Examples from Alma, about the Lord doing His work through small and simple things, from Father Lehi about men having freedom to choose and from the law of heaven, which promises blessings based upon our obedience, are just some snippets from the scriptures President Wheelwright offered to teach these fundamental elements of any recipe.
He then asked students to imagine that they had a recipe box, filled with cards for both their favorite dishes and "a different aspect of your life." Among the cards in that box, said President Wheelwright, are three which "all contribute to our overall growth and development, and ultimately our eternal salvation."
• Sustaining the Lord's Chosen Servants: "This recipe is really an invitation to support and assist those who are in a position of authority to guide and serve us," he said. "To be fully supportive of our leaders means not only that we follow their counsel and guidance but also that we speak respectfully of them and their office. It means we actively support them by accepting assignments and working faithfully to carry out those assignments. Indeed, it means treating them just as we would the Lord Himself if He were here leading our ward or stake and giving us such counsel, guidance, and assignments."
• Honesty: "The Lord's standard with regards to honesty is very clear," he continued. "In fact, four of the Ten Commandments relate to various aspects of honesty, and the 13th Article of Faith states firmly, We believe in being honest."
President Wheelwright suggested the students use the people of King Lamoni as an example of honesty, because the scriptures tell us "they were perfectly honest and upright in all things" (Alma 27:27)
He said that like them, those at BYUH "too should be distinguishable because of our perfect honesty." He went on to recognize that this is no easy task, and that even the smallest dishonest act can carry an individual down the wrong path. But, "by following the recipe exactly, by overcoming the urge to take credit for something you really didn't do… and by refusing to rationalize away private sins, we will end up with wonderful results. That is the way blessings work. It is a divine law, as tried and true as the scientific laws that govern the baking of cakes and cookies and even orange rolls."
• Beware of Entertainment and Media: In his last few years as the leader of the Church, President Hinckley was greatly concerned with the issue of pornography. "During the last several years of President Hinckley's life, in every single general conference of the church, he discussed the importance of avoiding those things that would defile and disqualify us from having the Holy Ghost. Invariably, he would mention such things as music and lyrics, magazines and books, television and movies, and particularly the Internet. He always connected these things to the dangers of addictive behavior regarding pornography."
President Wheelwright invited the students to examine their past relationships with entertainment and media, and replace anything that has caused a loss of the Spirit or inappropriate thoughts. "If so, dump out the ingredients and start fresh," he encouraged. "Ask the Lord's forgiveness and seek His help in correcting the problem."
He also mentioned these three recipe cards, along with many others, should be placed in a recipe box he called "Putting the Kingdom of God First." "Obviously, putting the kingdom of God first means following His Recipes for Success precisely because almost exact just isn't good enough," he said. "Every time we knowingly accept deviations from the Lord's standard, no matter how small and seemingly insignificant, we will inevitably discover that we have put something other than the Kingdom of God first in our life. The Savior Himself taught, no man can serve two masters. We may be able to pretend to do so for a time, but eventually we will hate the one and love the other; or [we] will hold to the one and despise the other." (Matthew 6:24)
Using small examples from his own life, President Wheelwright pointed out that even the smallest things and choices will prevent us from putting the Kingdom of God first in our lives; but when we do, "the Lord will give us subtle hints to help us see how we are doing, though He will never take away our agency to choose for ourselves." The Lord, taught President Wheelwright, will always do the things that will be to our best benefit.
"Brothers and Sisters, I would invite each of you to re-examine those small and simple daily choices you make and determine whether you are following the Lord's Recipe for Success. If you're not sure what that recipe is, find out. Study your scriptures and seek counsel from the prophets. And if you find that you have been distracted, impatient or careless in your cooking, take the corrective steps needed to get back on track."
"Don't settle for a ‘sticky hockey puck' when you could have delicious orange rolls. Don't be afraid to ask for the Lord's help in the process. He will answer your prayers and bless your life immeasurably."
-Photo by Monique Saenz