Richard Houseman, dean of BYU Continuing Education, gave his devotional address Tuesday morning in the Marriott Center. He centered his remarks on a powerful spiritual pattern of going toward light, being filled with it and then sharing it.
“True disciple-scholars have faith and choose to go to the light Christ gives as they study and learn,” Houseman explained. “It is a great blessing to be at BYU where we are encouraged to go to Christ and to become bilingual in the language of both faith and scholarship.”
Drawing from Lehi’s dream in the Book of Mormon, Houseman taught how the tree of life and its pure, white fruit represent the love of God and Jesus Christ: the ultimate sources of light and joy.
Houseman taught that like Lehi and Nephi, the Book of Mormon invites all to actively seek Christ, the “Light of the World,” who promises to guide us through darkness and prepare the way before us.
Houseman, who earned a PhD in entomology, used examples from nature, like phototaxis in insects and the monarch butterfly’s relationship with milkweed, to teach how creatures instinctively seek light and strength.
Similarly, he encouraged the audience to choose to move toward Christ’s light, be filled with His protective and empowering spirit and radiate that light to others.
“When we choose to go to Christ, we can be filled by His powerful light that gives us strength we didn’t have before,” he said.
Houseman taught that through daily scripture study, temple attendance and feeling Christ’s mercy through repentance, disciples of Christ become spiritually strengthened.
“Even just a few minutes of reading, studying and pondering can quickly focus our attention on Jesus Christ and give us strength,” he expressed.
Houseman gave examples of when individuals are filled with His light, their joy naturally inspires them to invite those around them to feel a similar joy. He taught that there are so many simple ways to share light, explaining that “we send messages of light when we give, forgive and love others.”
He concluded with a reminder to BYU students to "Enter to learn; go forth to serve," and an invitation to not delay this service but to start now. He expressed that as students do, the light they receive and share will grow brighter
