PREPARED AND ON TIME

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President Kim B. Clark, BYU-Idaho, Devotional, September 5, 2006

 

The Lord has commanded us to “seek learning by study, and also by faith.” An important part of the mission of BYU-Idaho is to help you fulfill that commandment in a very powerful way, now and throughout your life. Our classrooms will be a wonderful source of insight and new knowledge for you, but how well they work will depend very much on you. Where you set your personal bar for learning by study and by faith will have a profound impact on your education and on the education of those around you. Here are two things you can do to raise your personal bar.

 

First, always come to class prepared to be taught and to teach. Always do the assigned reading or the problems-before class. Think about what you have done and be ready to explain what you have learned and what you think. Always pray before class that you will have the Holy Ghost with you to teach you and guide you and help you contribute.

 

Second, be on time for class. Being chronically late to class is a sign of disrespect and selfishness. It disrupts the class and hurts other people. We are building a Zion university at BYU-Idaho, and being on time and being prepared are important. In Zion, people come prepared and they come on time. No one is late and unprepared in Zion. In Zion, we “teach one another.” And you cannot do that if you are late and unprepared. When you come to class prepared and on time, you are serving the Lord and everyone in the class. That means your personal preparation and attendance are acts of faith, humility, kindness, service, and love. 

 

Brothers and sisters, please listen to the Spirit and, under the Lord's direction, prayerfully raise your personal bar for learning by study and by faith. You will help to build Zion, and you will take important steps on the path of discipleship.