The person you become is a matter of choice, said University Chaplain and Assistant Dean of Students Jim Slaughter at Tuesday's Devotional.
How you react to a difficult test and to embarrassment, the career you choose and who you marry all comes down to everyday choices and what we do when things don't go according to plan, said Slaughter.
"Let me caution you, simply because you make certain decisions does not guarantee you will end up exactly where you expect to be," he said. "The choice I am talking about is the type of person you want to be regardless of where life and vocation take you."
Slaughter suggested envisioning the specific characteristics of the person you want to become and tenaciously holding to that vision through adversity.
"Temptation to be less than you know you can be is always lurking and ready to present itself to you as an opportunity for personal gain or pleasure," he said. "Walking away from temptation when no one would know and being true to yourself and God is a test passed."
If you missed Slaughter's address, it can be streamed on demand at BYUtv.org and will be available on speeches.byu.edu.
Next devotional address
On Tuesday, July 8, Associate Professor of Biology and Assistant Curator of Fishes at the Bean Museum Jerry Johnson will deliver a devotional address at 11:05 am in the de Jong Concert Hall. Johnson's address will consider how we can develop spiritual eyes to see the great love and mercy that our Heavenly Father feels toward each of us.
