Elder Michael T. Ringwood, General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, delivered Tuesday’s campus Devotional address. He spoke about precious truths and gifts from Heavenly Father.
Ringwood asked how students would respond if President Russell M. Nelson asked what he could do for each individual student. Would they ask for a list of favors? A question that they had been pondering for a very long time?
In the Old Testament, that very thing happened. A prophet of God approached a woman, whose name we are not told, and asks “What is to be done for thee?” Or, in today’s language, “What can I do for you?” She answered, “I dwell among mine own people.” Or, as Elder Ringwood interpreted, “I have everything I need.”
Elder Ringwood was surprised by her answer. The women could have negotiated for anything she wanted, and she chose contentment. As he considered her answer, Elder Ringwood pondered if he would answer the same.
“Our Heavenly Father has provided us with great and marvelous gifts for our journey here in mortality to achieve the greatest quest of all: to come unto our Savior and gain eternal life,” he said. “These gifts help us navigate the tests and tribulations of life—the distresses, persecutions, famines, injuries and even death.”
Elder Ringwood identified six of the gifts God has provided for us to help lead to our heavenly home.
1. The gift of the light of Christ.
This foundational gift of the light of Christ gives us the ability to tell right from wrong as plainly as knowing the difference between day and night.
2. The gift of agency.
The gift to choose demonstrates Heavenly Father’s trust in us; using the gifts of the light of Christ and agency, we can choose to follow Christ’s path for ourselves.
3. The gift of commandments.
Without borders and boundaries, it would be difficult to know whether we are exercising our agency wisely and if our choices are leading us on the correct path.
4. The gift of Christ and his Atonement.
The gift of the Atonement allows us to make mistakes when we stumble and use our agency to make a wrong choice. We can have hope and receive forgiveness so we are worthy to enter Heavenly Father’s presence again.
5. The gift of grace through Jesus Christ.
The gift of grace allows us to be changed. This gift allows us to not only be forgiven of our shortcomings but to improve them and become better through Christ.
6. The gift of the Holy Ghost.
This gift gives confirmation in Christ and his church. Without this gift, we would have no way of knowing if the path that we are on will lead us to truth. This is essential to exercising the faith needed to continue on toward our destination.
Exercising faith and making use of the gifts God has given to his children, allows us to return home to our heavenly parents.
“No wonder [the woman in the Old Testament story], who could recognize a prophet when she fed one, answered his query about how he could repay her with the answer, ‘I dwell among my people,’ or ‘I have all I need,’” Elder Ringwood said. “All of this comes because we have the gift of the Holy Ghost to testify to us of the reality and truth of Heavenly Father’s plan. We truly do have everything we need.”
Next Devotional: Elder Ronald A. Rasband
Elder Ronald A. Rasband, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, will deliver the Devotional address on Tuesday, January 21 at 11:05 a.m. in the Marriott Center.
His remarks will also be broadcast live on BYUtv, BYUtv.org, KBYU-TV 11, Classical 89 FM and BYUradio.
