A student asked about agency and revelation in terms of making decisions:
-"Act and not be acted upon." He said Elder Bednar frequently speaks about this topic and to look for it.
-No matter the situation, we can always act in some way or another.
Landon Davis asked about whether to live in or out of Utah when starting a career:
-He asked where Landon's wife wanted to live and started talking about his wife being from Florida and wanting to live in Florida. He ended by saying that he wouldn't make that decision a big part of deciding where to start a career.
A student asked about what the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve thought about BYU's motto "Enter to learn, go forth to serve."
-Elder Andersen said that every decision ends up being between good and evil. Service is not principally determined by where you work. A lot of life is just work. There is an opportunity to serve while we work.
What do the Apostles talk about?
-He spoke of the importance of families.
-The number of converts is not as important to the Lord as is righteous people being across the world.
A student asked about behavior:
-Feeling guilt easily is a blessing.
-Understand yourself.
-Take a hold of the Iron Rod and don't beat ourselves over the head with it.
A student asked about women balancing family and career:
-Education for women is critical.
-The purposes of life today are the same as they were a hundred years ago or in a different part of the world. We need to try and see through our culture and generation. Families are of utmost importance.
-"Do the best you can." - Hinckley
-There is a nurturing power of women that cannot be denied.
-Everyone's situation is different, there is no prescribed solution.
He spoke directly to the sister's in the classroom specifically about missions (two sisters just received mission calls to New York South and Washington Tacoma):
-Tacoma Mission is doing amazing things with teaching investigators in the Chapel.
-"You'll meet a lot of interesting people in New York."
A student asked about studying scriptures with his spouse and asked for suggestions (He asked Sister Robison from the Young Women General Board to talk about it first):
-Study 10 minutes at a time (Chunking - Elder Bednar)
-Ongoing thread more than a specific study time
-Make it a habit
-Wife likes to study by going through book, he likes to study topic by topic
-He prays with wife night and morning
-Establish routine for daily scripture study.
A student asked about going through the temple:
-It took him a few years to "get it."
-Try to feel the sacredness, even if you don't understand everything.
-Be patient with the learning process.
A student asked about difficulties with exams and success in school, life, and church:
-Stability is important to be a leader in the Church.
-Success is not a qualification. Goodness is.
-Grades are only one determinant of one's success.
-Some people take tests better than others.
-Don't feel sorry for yourself.
-Desire to be financially stable.
-The Lord has no more love for him than he does for each of us.
A student asked about being an example to their family who is not very strong in the Church:
-Be grateful for who you are and the family you have.
-Love them and think about all the good and determine what pattern you will set for your family.
-Praise them for their goodness.
-Set your own course.
-Eventually the child will become the parent.
-Be easy on them, they're even better than you think.
A student asked about supporting his wife in her Church calling:
-Women are harder on themselves typically than men.
-Keep letting her know you love her.
-Help her, she deserves it.
Maddie Mills asked about overcoming temptation:
-Scriptures are powerful. Memorize some.
-Memorize some hymns.
-Pump positive thoughts into your mind.
-Pray
-Think about the right things you've done.
-Remember back the times you've felt His love.
-Retold a story (General Conference) about talking with a missionary who wanted to go home. "You do know that God loves you."
-Referenced a war story from Elder Nelson about being blessed - "I knew that God knew that I knew."
"Do not underestimate who you are and what your future is, despite being currently surrounded by so many outstanding people."
I feel very blessed to attend BYU and be able to meet and hear from an Apostle of the Lord in a classroom setting for an hour and a half.
- Matt
