BYU devotional: Building trust with the Lord, yourself, others
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(Click here for complete text of Elder Samuelson's remarks.)
(Click here for complete text of Sister Samuelson's remarks.)
PROVO, UTAH
Encouraging Brigham Young University students to temper their trials with trust, Elder Cecil O. Samuelson, BYU president and member of the Seventy, said informed and earned trust is integral to all that is good, necessary and uplifting.
Elder Samuelson was joined by his wife, Sharon, in speaking Tuesday at the university's first devotional of the winter semester.
"Failures of trust occur when we do not keep even small commitments as well as large ones," he said. "Dishonesty of any sort is a breach of trust and has potentially dire consequences not only for the offended but particularly for the perpetrator."
Twice during his address, he cited a quote from President David O. McKay: "To be trusted is a greater compliment than to be loved."
While love is held to be a very high virtue, Elder Samuelson said, "trust, on the other hand, is conditional in that it must be earned and be very easily and quickly forfeited."
He also quoted several times from a 1992 BYU devotional talk given by President Gordon B. Hinckley, titled "Trust and Accountability,"
President Hinckley mentioned BYU's honor and dress codes, ecclesiastical endorsements and other university standards as key to accepting what he called "a sacred and compelling trust" as part of the university community.
"It is not that we do not trust you," he said of the codes, endorsements and standards. "But we feel that you need reminding of the elements of your contract with those responsible for this institution and that you may be the stronger in observing that trust because of the commitment you have made. With every trust there must be accountability, and this is a reminder of that accountability."
Elder Samuelson listed four suggestions in helping achieve the necessary dimensions of trust in one's life.
* First, learn to trust the Lord. "We may not know everything about God, but we do know, as did Nephi, that He loves His children and He is completely trustworthy and keeps His promises" (1 Nephi 11:17).
* Second, learn to trust yourself. "A necessary component of being able to trust ourselves is repentance — sincere, regular and authentic repentance," he said, adding "we must forsake our sins if we expect to be trusted by others, but especially by ourselves."
* Third, learn to trust others. "When trusting is exercised wisely, like exercising faith, trust is increased, and increased trustworthiness on the part of well-intentioned others can be the result."
* Lastly, learn to trust the power of the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, which makes the first three relationships of trust truly possible.
"Becoming one with God and the Savior must be a primary goal for each of us and the reason for the expectations and promises explained to each of us long before we accepted the assignment to come to earth and be tested and trusted," he said
Elder Samuelson concluded with a testimony of supreme trusts and a challenge.
"God does live and He trusts us," he said. "Jesus Christ, His Son, likewise loves and trusts us so much that He gave His mortal life for us. President Thomas S. Monson and those who serve with him love and trust as well. May we never ignore or betray the sacred trusts bestowed upon us."
Speaking of the figurative darkness due to individuals falling to Satan's temptations and the pride and vanity of the world, Sister Samuelson encouraged students to follow the guiding light of the Savior and His gospel.
"Riches, power and status are all worldly aspirations which have been built up to great importance in the eyes of men, but these can take you down the path toward darkness if you let them," she said. "Live so that you are worthy to have the Holy Ghost as a constant companion to help guide you in your choices and in the paths you take which will lead you in righteousness and joy."
