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Baker Devotional: Reaching our Prophetic Potential

V. Napua Baker, Vice President of University Advancement, used examples from the Church College of New Zealand’s (CCNZ) 50th Anniversary and the BYU-Hawaii Concert Choir trip to China and Mongolia in her devotional address on May 13 to show why the world needs students who are “becoming true followers of Jesus Christ — Genuine Gold!”.

After greeting students in “the mother tongue of 12 of the countries represented on this campus,” she reviewed President David O. McKay’s prophetic vision for such “Genuine Gold” students. “All the world is hungering for them!,” he said.

To help students along that path,” she taught six principles:

Seek the Lord in prayer: Baker recalled she learned the importance of prayer from her faithful and steadfast grandmother, who she described as, “a single mom, raised in the Church, [who] knew that her greatest strength and resource was a loving Heavenly Father to whom she prayed fervently for guidance and direction. Grandma trusted and believed in Him, and the Lord answered her prayers. It was from Grandma Emma that I learned I must pray always, a principle which has and continues to make an eternal impact on my life.”

Search the scriptures daily: Following a prayerful desire for help with the scriptures during her early years, Baker was led to Alma relating faith to a seed. “Brothers and Sisters, I was amazed! For I knew that the Lord guided me to Alma 32:27-28 in answer to my prayer. The process of learning to read and love the scriptures did not happen overnight. But gradually, line-upon-line precept upon precept, it began to take place. As stated, the word enlarged my soul, enlightened my understanding, and became delicious to me. Of this, I testify!”

Be faithful and obedient: While in New Zealand recently, Baker said she attended firesides, ceremonies and other events where the Spirit was strong and she heard many moving talks and testimonies. “On April 20, stake firesides throughout New Zealand were held in honor of the 50th anniversary of the New Zealand Temple and from April 24-28, nearly 4,000 people gathered to celebrate the 50th reunion of the Church College of New Zealand, which was a glorious celebration of gratitude and love, filled with joy… This is where we witnessed faith, obedience and submissiveness to the will of the Lord by true followers of Jesus Christ.”

Among those that spoke at this conference were Alton Wade, former CCNZ principal and President of BYUH, and Sister Barbara Wihongi, widow of another former CCNZ principal. Baker said she learned more of spiritual power from Wihongi. “The spirit strengthens your back so you can walk straight and with confidence. Peace comes from loving the Savior and following Him.”

Be worthy of the companionship of the Holy Ghost: “I know that there are times when the natural man in us prevails, and I say that from personal experience, especially when we react or respond with frustration or anger. But oh, the blessing of sincere repentance through the Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ provides us with the choice and process to become worthy again, for which I am very grateful.”

Worship in His Holy Temple: Baker spoke of the holiness and purity of the temple and encouraged the students to worship there often. “The holiest places on earth are the Lord’s Temples. He wants us to be spiritually worthy to attend the temple on a regular basis. The Temple helps us to keep our priorities straight. Temple instruction and ordinances help us to learn what Heavenly Father and His Son want us to learn in this mortal existence that we may become like them and be worthy to return home to live with them.”

Be charitable, which is the pure love of Christ: Quoting Moroni 7:45 and 47, part of which states, But Charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him, Baker taught the importance of having the pure love of Christ. She added the members of the BYU-Hawaii Concert Choir who toured China and Mongolia a year ago were “almost perfect” examples of this.

“In May of 2007, I had the privilege of accompanying the Concert Choir to China and Mongolia under the direction of Michael Belnap, a tour I shall always treasure… One of the blessings of the Concert Choir tour was the joy brought into the lives of children without families, some disabled, all at a children’s home. It gave our students the opportunity to sing to them, carry the little ones, play with them, and love them. When it was time to leave, it was difficult for the choir, but they left these beautiful children with their hearts touched with the pure love of Christ.”

“The love they [the students] shared for each other, for their choir director, Michael Belnap and his wife, for President and Sister Shumway, and for our Heavenly Father were sincerely expressed in their testimonies. Without question, on this tour they learned how to live and emulate charity, which is the pure love of Christ.”

Baker emphasized that all the students on this campus are at a unique institution with a special mission. “Brothers and sisters, and especially students, the Lord has a mission and a plan for all of us. You, the students of BYU-Hawaii and the Polynesian Cultural Center, are the elect! Let me say that again: You Are The Elect! In alignment with the missions of both these entities, you are here for a righteous and divine purpose.”

“With over 70 countries represented on this campus, you are here to learn to love all people regardless of color or ethnicity. You are here to learn together, to study together, to work together and to worship together in a gospel environment of peace and love. You are here to serve the Lord and to serve each other in your stakes, wards, and individual callings,” she said.

“My brothers and sisters, there is no other university or center like these upon the earth. It is here that you can become true followers of Jesus Christ — Genuine Gold — all the world is hungering for you!”

  — Photo by Ian Nitta