Pres. Eyring counsels BYU students on deliverance

PROVO, UTAH — Unique tests challenge everyone, but each person can draw on heavenly help, President Henry B. Eyring told Brigham Young University students, faculty and staff at a campus devotional 15 January 2008."You are precious children of our Heavenly Father. In the life before this, you were his pupils," said President Eyring, second counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.In his first address to the BYU student body as the newest member of the First Presidency, President Eyring said no two people ever encounter the same set of circumstances and that he sought inspiration to know what help God wanted for those gathered in the Marriott Center."I wish to bear witness of God's power of deliverance," President Eyring said. "There will be tests that stretch us ... to feel the need for help."President Eyring outlined three areas to access the power of deliverance: Dealing with the death of a loved one; the struggle against fierce opposition, physically and from enemies; and, third, to escape the effects of sin.Speaking of the tragedy death can bring, President Eyring said life ends early for some, and we are tested by loss. "We can feel overcome with pain and sorrow with the death of a loved one," he said. But the Savior, through the Atonement and Resurrection, has the power to deliver us from such a trial. President Eyring emphasized that Christ knows our grief, quoting from Alma in the Book of Mormon:"And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem. ... And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people."With emotion in his voice, President Eyring told the students and faculty gathered that Christ knows what each person faces."The Savior understands and feels your personal grief," he said. "He knows you perfectly. He knows what you can do to invite the Holy Ghost to comfort you."President Eyring listed ways to invite the Holy Ghost's companionship: Give humble prayers, serve others, testify of Christ and keep the commandments.Facing struggles of opposition, President Eyring recounted how magnificent the human body is and that just keeping it functioning is a test. He pointed out that each person faces illness and aging within but there is opposition of enemies from without as well."There is hatred and anger in the world — sometimes directed at us," he said. But whether the opposition comes from physical problems or facing enemies, we have access to the Lord's counsel, he said. He counseled those in attendance that deliverance requires repentance, which, in turn, requires humility.The Savior showed us humility in the Garden of Gethsemane, he said. And while he asked his Father to remove the cup, he knew and trusted his Heavenly Father because he was powerful and infinitely kind.Daniel Thrower, a part-time music teacher at BYU, said Eyring heavily emphasized humility. "He brought out humility a lot — how trials don't produce humility, but it depends on how we endure them."Closing with the third area of advice, President Eyring said, "All of us will struggle to feel free from the effects of sin. Only the Savior had the power to escape sin." Each person needs to become clean and know that they are clean. If we are able to do this, we will see the Lord's face with joy and pleasure, he said.President Eyring didn't want his discussion to be a downer about trials, rather, he said it was to "give you and me hope" for happiness at the day of judgment. Ending with a powerful testimony, President Eyring said, "God lives and loves us; I know that. His plan of happiness is perfect and it is a plan of happiness."Students Katy Lund, a junior from Salt Lake City, and Katie Younger, a senior from Midland, Texas, felt President Eyring hadn't changed as a member of the First Presidency."It was different to hear the title before his name," Lund said, "but he brought the same spirit. He's the same approachable man."Younger agreed with Lund's sentiment. "He's the same humble witness. It's not like he was promoted."