Saints and Scholars

This is a little something a wrote in response to our Summer Reading assignment when I first came to BYU. I just found it from the school website under last year's NSO responses. Memories.....



I think Saints and Scholars share the quality of consecration and devotion. Saints consecrate their thoughts, acts, attitudes, and goals all to the higher authority of our Savior Jesus Christ. Men alone cannot achieve great things without the help of a higher power. "For the natural man is an enemy to God...and will be forever unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit...and becometh a Saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord‖ (Mosiah 3:19). I think the word ―yields‖ could also be replaced with, unless he ―consecrates his efforts to the building up of the Kingdom of God, by obeying the enticings of the Holy Spirit.‖ A scholar consecrates, or rather devotes, the majority of his time to studying, pondering, and forming an idea of life's unanswered questions. The scholar who consecrates his talents and knowledge to the Lord is promised ―truth and light‖ until he is ―glorified in truth and [knows] all things‖ (D&C 93:28; pg. 6). Again, the scholar is nothing without the help of a higher source. A disciple-scholar will incorporate the Savior's example into his life. His study of secular and spiritual knowledge will help him uncover the ―inner realm‖ of truth. Consecration is something that most of us do every day without realizing it. Whether it means refraining from anger, passing up a Football game on Sunday, or changing the T.V. Channel, each of us demonstrate the mindset of consecration in small ways. In order to get the most out of my education at BYU, I must have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. I must trust that my Heavenly Father knows what is best for me, and that in turn he will ―consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul‖ (2 Nephi 32:9). --Jessica, Alabama