In the campus devotional on Tuesday, Elder B. Corey Cuvelier of the Quorum of the Seventy spoke to students about having righteous desires and how to align life goals and daily habits with those desires.
Elder Cuvelier started his address by pointing out that in the scriptures, there are many instances when the Savior asks people questions similar to this: “What desirest thou?” Elder Cuvelier talked about how these questions shape growth, often through replacing faith with fear and trusting in God while following the commandments.
“When He asks the question, it’s not for His information — it’s for our transformation,” Elder Cuvelier elaborated. “The question invites us to look inward, think a little deeper and consider why and what we truly seek and what we most desire.”
Elder Cuvelier acknowledged that personal desires look different throughout all the phases of life and prescribed some “educating” of those desires. He explained educating desires as reframing a good desire into a great desire or choosing what desires to prioritize.
When he was on his mission, Elder Cuvelier noticed this in practice as he went from praying for blessings to praying to be a blessing. He attributed this change to reading inspiring accounts in the scriptures.
“Any spiritual blessing or experience requires our active participation.”
When people have strong righteous desires, Elder Cuvelier said that the effort to achieve that goal should also be strong. Reframing goals and effort to match each other looks varies based on situations but can include things like maintaining healthy, spiritual habits. He reminded the audience that gospel principles and associated habits can aid in secular pursuits as well.
Elder Cuvelier explained that he learned more about desires and priorities while playing soccer for BYU. He shared a time when he was pulled to the sideline in the middle of a game. His teammate was lying on the sideline with a severe reaction, and his coach wanted Elder Cuvelier to give him a blessing while the ambulance was on its way.
He reflected on this moment and others, saying, “I’ve learned that what once seemed urgent becomes secondary, and what once seemed small becomes sacred. When we align our desires with the Savior, our perspective changes.”
Elder Cuvelier concluded with a powerful, dual invitation. He admonished the audience to think of the Savior asking them the same question: “What desirest thou?” In order to get a true and personal answer, he then invited them to pray and listen for the Lord’s answer, promising that as they followed those instructions in faith, they would receive guidance, strength, peace and joy.
