>>WHAT A THRILLING
LIFE AWAITS YOU.
>>THE ACQUISITION OF KNOWLEDGE
IS A SACRED ACTIVITY.
>>A TRULY EDUCATED MAN
NEVER CEASES TO LEARN.
>>THE FUTURE IS IN YOUR HANDS.
THE OUTCOME IS UP TO YOU.
>>THIS BYU DEVOTIONAL ADDRESS
WITH BISHOP GERALD CAUSSE WAS
GIVEN ON DECEMBER 3, 2013.
♪♪
>>WELCOME,
BROTHERS AND SISTERS,
ON THIS CHEERY WINTER MORNING
TO OUR DEVOTIONAL.
THIS MORNING WE WILL HAVE
THE PRIVILEGE OF HEARING
FROM BISHOP GERALD CAUSSE,
FIRST COUNSELOR IN THE
PRESIDING BISHOPRIC.
WE ESPECIALLY WELCOME
SISTER CAUSSE WHO IS
SEATED ON THE STAND,
AS WELL AS THEIR FAMILY
MEMBERS AND FRIENDS WHO
HAVE JOINED WITH US TODAY.
BISHOP CAUSSE WAS BORN
IN BORDEAUX, FRANCE.
HE WAS SERVING IN THE FIRST
QUORUM OF THE SEVENTY AND AS A
COUNSELOR IN THE EUROPE AREA
PRESIDENCY WHEN HE ACCEPTED
THE CALL TO THE PRESIDING
BISHOPRIC IN APRIL 2012.
HIS CHURCH SERVICE INCLUDES
ELDERS QUORUM PRESIDENT,
BISHOP'S COUNSELOR,
STAKE PRESIDENT'S COUNSELOR,
STAKE PRESIDENT,
AND AREA SEVENTY.
BISHOP CAUSSE RECEIVED
A MASTER'S DEGREE IN
BUSINESS AND HIS CAREER HAS
BEEN IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY.
HE AND HIS WIFE,
VALERIE LUCIENNE BABIN,
HAVE FIVE CHILDREN AND
THREE GRANDCHILDREN.
AND NOW WE WILL HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY OF HEARING
FROM BISHOP GERALD CAUSSE.
>>MY DEAR BROTHERS
AND SISTERS,
IT IS A JOY AND A BLESSING
TO ADDRESS YOU THIS MORNING.
YOU ARE SUCH A REMARKABLE
GENERATION IN THE HISTORY
OF GOSPEL DISPENSATIONS!
RECENTLY I PARTICIPATED IN A
DINNER HONORING THE AMBASSADOR
OF A EUROPEAN NATION.
HE HAD JUST FINISHED
A FULL DAY OF VISITING
CHURCH SITES IN UTAH.
I ASKED HIM WHAT HAD
IMPRESSED HIM THE MOST.
HIS FACE SUDDENLY CHANGED,
AND HE RESPONDED IN A VOICE
CHARGED WITH EMOTION:
"WHAT TOUCHED ME MOST WAS THE
"VISIT TO THE BYU CAMPUS AND THE
"MISSIONARY TRAINING CENTER.
"WHAT BEAUTIFUL
YOUTH YOU HAVE!"
LAST YEAR WHEN THE LORD
DECIDED TO HASTEN HIS WORK,
IT WAS TO THE YOUTH OF THE
CHURCH THAT HE MADE THE CALL.
FOLLOWING THE ANNOUNCEMENT
BY PRESIDENT THOMAS S. MONSON
THAT THE AGES FOR SERVING
MISSIONS HAD BEEN LOWERED,
A WONDERFUL WAVE OF ENTHUSIASM
CAME ACROSS THE CHURCH.
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF YOUR
GENERATION ARE RESPONDING
TO THE CALL OF THE PROPHET.
PERHAPS THE CHANGE IN MISSION
AGE WAS A SURPRISE FOR MANY
PEOPLE-ESPECIALLY THOSE
OUTSIDE OF THE CHURCH.
SOME PROBABLY WONDERED,
"WHY WOULD THE CHURCH PUT
"SO MUCH RESPONSIBILITY IN
"THE HANDS OF INEXPERIENCED
"YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE BARELY
OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL?"
I REMEMBER ASKING THE
FOLLOWING QUESTION OF SEVERAL
MISSION PRESIDENTS:
"RATHER THAN YOUNG VOLUNTEERS
"OF 18 OR 19 YEARS OF AGE,
"IF WE OFFERED TO SEND YOU
"PROFESSIONAL MISSIONARIES
"WHO WERE OLDER AND HAD GREAT
"COMMAND OF THE SCRIPTURES,
"MISSIONARY LESSONS,
"MISSIONARY METHODS,
"AND LANGUAGE OF THE
COUNTRY-WOULD YOU TAKE THEM?"
THEY ALL ANSWERED
WITHOUT HESITATION:
"NO, THANK YOU.
"WE LOVE OUR
YOUNG MISSIONARIES."
WHAT IS SO BEAUTIFUL AND
POWERFUL IN HAVING A MISSIONARY
FORCE ESSENTIALLY COMPOSED OF
YOUNG MEN AND YOUNG WOMEN
WITHOUT MUCH EXPERIENCE?
THE SCRIPTURES ARE FILLED
WITH STORIES OF YOUNG
AND MODEST PEOPLE WHO,
HAVING GREAT FAITH AND BEING
MAGNIFIED BY THE POWER OF GOD,
ACCOMPLISHED
EXCEPTIONAL THINGS.
AMONG THEM WERE ENOCH,
WHO CONSIDERED HIMSELF
TO BE "A LAD" WHO WAS
"SLOW OF SPEECH";
JOSEPH SMITH,
WHO DESCRIBED HIMSELF AS AN
"OBSCURE BOY" AND
"OF NO CONSEQUENCE
IN THE WORLD";
AND THE VIRGIN MARY,
WHO MARVELED THAT SHE HAD
BEEN CHOSEN TO BECOME
THE LORD'S MOTHER, SAYING,
"MY SOUL DOTH
"MAGNIFY THE LORD,
"FOR HE HATH REGARDED THE LOW
ESTATE OF HIS HANDMAIDEN."
THESE GREAT YOUNG PEOPLE
HAD PURE AND HUMBLE HEARTS.
YET THE LORD MADE THEM
POWERFUL IN WORDS AND DEEDS
TO ACCOMPLISH HIS DESIGNS.
THE SCRIPTURE WAS
FULFILLED THAT SAID:
"GOD HATH CHOSEN THE
"FOOLISH THINGS OF THE WORLD
"TO CONFOUND THE WISE;
"AND GOD HATH CHOSEN THE WEAK
"THINGS OF THE WORLD TO
"CONFOUND THE THINGS
WHICH ARE MIGHTY."
MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS,
THIS SCRIPTURE IS NOW
TRUER THAN EVER BEFORE.
I OFTEN THINK OF THE
ENORMOUS CHALLENGES
FACING YOUR GENERATION.
YOU ARE LIVING IN AN OFTEN
HOSTILE WORLD AT A TIME WHEN
GREAT PERSONAL STRENGTH
MUST BE USED TO MAINTAIN
RIGHTEOUSNESS AND SUCCEED
IN ONE'S PERSONAL GOALS.
PERHAPS YOU FEEL TOO WEAK TO
OVERCOME SUCH CHALLENGES.
PERHAPS YOU FEAR THAT
YOU ARE NOT UP TO IT.
THERE IS NO SHAME IN THAT.
EVERYONE EXPERIENCES
THOSE FEELINGS AT
ONE TIME OR ANOTHER.
I ASSURE YOU,
THE LORD HAS THE POWER
TO TRANSFORM YOUR
WEAKNESSES INTO STRENGTHS.
THE PROMISE MADE BY THE LORD
TO THE APOSTLE PAUL IS VALID
FOR EACH OF YOU:
"MY GRACE IS
"SUFFICIENT FOR THEE:
"FOR MY STRENGTH IS MADE
PERFECT IN WEAKNESS."
AND LATER PAUL ADDED,
"FOR WHEN I AM WEAK,
THEN AM I STRONG."
THIS PROMISE,
THOUGH A PARADOX,
IS VERY REAL.
ALLOW ME TO DESCRIBE A FEW
PRINCIPLES THAT I BELIEVE
CAN HELP YOU RECEIVE
STRENGTH TO OVERCOME
THE CHALLENGES OF LIFE.
FIRST PRINCIPLE:
BUILD ON YOUR STRENGTH.
WHEN YOU LOOK IN THE
MIRROR EACH MORNING,
WHAT DO YOU SEE?
WE ARE SUCH A BLEND OF MULTIPLE
AND DIVERSE TALENTS,
TRAITS, AND ATTRIBUTES.
ALL OF US HAVE ABILITIES,
STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES,
AND INADEQUACIES.
HOWEVER, GETTING AN OBJECTIVE
AND ACCURATE EVALUATION OF
OUR OWN SELVES IS DIFFICULT.
WHILE SOME TAKE AN INDULGENT
AND EMBELLISHED LOOK
AT THEMSELVES THERE WILL BE
OTHERS FOCUS ON THEIR
WEAKNESSES AND DOUBT
THEIR OWN ABILITIES.
ONE OF THE MOST COMFORTING
TEACHINGS OF THE GOSPEL IS
THAT EACH SON AND DAUGHTER OF
GOD-EVERYONE OF US-IS BORN
WITH AN INHERITANCE OF GIFTS,
TALENTS,
AND ABILITIES THAT CAN HELP US
THROUGH OUR EARTHLY MISSION.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS,
"FOR THERE ARE MANY GIFTS,
"AND TO EVERY MAN IS GIVEN A
GIFT BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD."
WE CANNOT BE HAPPY AND
SUCCESSFUL IN LIFE WITHOUT
GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGING
THOSE GIFTS AND DOING ALL
WE CAN TO DEVELOP THEM.
OUR PROBLEM IS NEVER THAT
WE HAVE NO STRENGTHS;
THE PROBLEM COMES WHEN WE DO
NOT RECOGNIZE OUR STRENGTHS
AND BUILD UPON THEM.
A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO,
I SAW A FILM ABOUT
KING GEORGE VI,
WHO LED THE UNITED
KINGDOM THROUGH THE DARK
HOURS OF WORLD WAR II.
WHEN HE WAS FORCED TO
TAKE THE THRONE AFTER
HIS BROTHER'S ABDICATION,
HE DOUBTED HIS ABILITY
TO BECOME THE POWERFUL
LEADER THE COUNTRY NEEDED
IN THE FACE OF WAR.
GEORGE DIDN'T HAVE THE
CHARISMA OF HIS PREDECESSORS.
HE ALSO HAD A DISABLING
SPEECH IMPEDIMENT,
AND HIS MOST DREADED FEAR WAS
THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO SPEAK
TO THE NATION IN AN EFFORT TO
GALVANIZE THEM TOWARD VICTORY.
ONE SCENE DEPICTS GEORGE
WATCHING TELEVISION
AS HITLER STIRRED UP HIS
NATION TO ENGAGE IN WAR.
HITLER'S FEROCIOUS
RHETORIC AND PROCLAIMED
INVINCIBILITY CONTRASTED
WITH GEORGE'S HUMILITY AND
APPARENT VULNERABILITY.
HOWEVER, GEORGE REFUSED TO LET
HIS WEAKNESS OVERWHELM HIM.
INSTEAD, HE USED HIS
GOD-GIVEN GIFTS OF
DIGNITY, COURAGE,
AND PERSEVERANCE TO OVERCOME
HIS DISABILITY THROUGH LONG
AND EXHAUSTING THERAPY.
HE EVENTUALLY ADDRESSED THE
NATION IN A POWERFUL SPEECH
AND BECAME THE RIGHT MAN
AT THE RIGHT PLACE TO LEAD
HIS PEOPLE TO VICTORY.
LIKE GEORGE VI,
ALL OF YOU HAVE RECEIVED
REMARKABLE ABILITIES AND
STRENGTHS FROM THE LORD
ON WHICH YOU CAN BUILD TO
OVERCOME YOUR WEAKNESSES
AND BLESS THE LIVES OF OTHERS.
WITH A HUMBLE
AND HONEST HEART,
SEEK TO IDENTIFY,
DEVELOP,
AND APPLY FOR GOOD THOSE GIFTS
THAT THE LORD HAS GIVEN YOU.
SECOND PRINCIPLE:
RECOGNIZE YOUR
PERSONAL LIMITATIONS.
IN ORDER TO BECOME
STRONG IN THE LORD,
WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE
OUR PERSONAL LIMITATIONS.
FOR SOME,
ONE OF LIFE'S GREATEST
CHALLENGES IS ACCEPTING
THEIR OWN LIMITS.
BECAUSE OF PRIDE,
THEY PREFER TO SEE THEMSELVES
AS BIGGER, STRONGER,
AND MORE CAPABLE
THAN THEY REALLY ARE.
THEY WANT TO CREATE THIS
ILLUSION BOTH TO IMPRESS OTHERS
AND ESPECIALLY THEMSELVES.
I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE AN
EXPERIENCE FROM MY YOUTH.
WHEN I WAS 15,
I NOTICED THAT MY VISION WAS
GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE.
AT THE TIME,
FOR A REASON THAT I HAVE A
HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING TODAY,
I DIDN'T WANT TO
RECOGNIZE NOR ACCEPT IT.
I HID THE TRUTH FROM MY
RELATIVES AND TEACHERS
AND MY LIFE BEGAN TO GET
MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT.
BEING UNABLE TO READ
THE CHALKBOARD,
I HAD TO COPY OVER THE
SHOULDERS OF MY CLASSMATES.
WHEN ON THE STREET,
I WAS NO LONGER ABLE TO READ
SIGNS AND TRAFFIC SIGNALS,
WHICH CAUSED ME TO
TAKE THE WRONG BUS
MANY TIMES AND GET LOST.
SEVERAL MONTHS PASSED BEFORE A
MEDICAL CHECKUP IN HIGH SCHOOL
LIBERATED ME FROM MY SECRET.
I HAD TO RESIGN MYSELF
TO WEARING A MAGNIFICENT
PAIR OF GLASSES, WHICH,
TO MY GREAT SURPRISE,
MADE LIFE MUCH MORE
PRACTICAL AND PLEASANT
THAN I HAD IMAGINED!
ONE REASON WE MAY NOT WANT
TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR PERSONAL
LIMITATIONS IS THAT WEAKNESS
IS PERCEIVED BY SOCIETY
AS A FAULT OR A FAILURE.
THE WORLD VALUES THE
CULT OF THE INVINCIBLE.
SUPERHEROES,
FROM BATMAN TO SUPERMAN,
ABOUND IN OUR MEDIA.
THIS IDEOLOGY LEADS TO
DANGEROUS BEHAVIOR.
WE SEE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO
HIDE THEIR PROBLEMS UNDER THE
APPEARANCE OF STRENGTH THROUGH
BOASTING, AGGRESSIVENESS,
OR ABUSIVE BEHAVIORS.
SOME ARE SO OBSESSED TO
OUTPERFORM OTHERS THAT THEY
TURN TO DRUGS OR OTHER
STIMULANTS IN ORDER TO DO SO.
STILL OTHERS LOSE THEMSELVES IN
EGOTISM AND SELF-ADMIRATION.
THESE FORMS OF PRIDE
LEAD TO DISAPPOINTMENT,
INEFFECTIVENESS,
OR WORSE.
GOD IS NOT THE
GOD OF SUPERHEROES,
NOR OF PEOPLE WITHOUT
WEAKNESSES-SUCH
BEINGS DO NOT EXIST.
HE HELPS PEOPLE
LIKE YOU AND ME,
THOSE WHO RECOGNIZE THEIR
LIMITS AND THE WEAKNESS OF
THEIR CONDITION AND SEEK
HIS HELP AND GUIDANCE.
FAILING TO RECOGNIZE
OUR LIMITATIONS WILL
BLOCK OUR PROGRESSION.
ON THE OTHER HAND,
ACCEPTING THEM HUMBLY
LAYS THE FOUNDATION FOR
ETERNAL PROGRESSION.
RECENTLY, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY
TO INTERVIEW GAEL YONNET.
GAEL IS A FORMER BYU
STUDENT FROM FRANCE.
AT THE AGE OF 31,
WHILE HE WAS IN HIS FINAL
YEAR OF MEDICAL SCHOOL,
HE PARTICIPATED IN A SNOWBOARD
COMPETITION AT SNOWBIRD.
IT TURNED OUT TO
BE TRAGIC FOR HIM.
HE MISSED HIS SECOND JUMP AND
CRASHED FROM A HEIGHT OF 40
FEET ONTO THE ICY SNOW BELOW.
WHEN HE REGAINED CONSCIOUSNESS,
HE REALIZED THAT HE HAD LOST
FEELING IN HIS LOWER LIMBS.
AFTER FOUR YEARS
OF MEDICAL STUDIES,
GAEL UNDERSTOOD WHAT PAIN IN
HIS STOMACH AND NUMBNESS UNDER
HIS BELLY BUTTON MEANT--
HE WAS INDEED PARALYZED.
GAEL SAID THAT ON THE DAY
FOLLOWING HIS ACCIDENT,
HE AWOKE WITH FEELINGS
OF INTENSE DISTRESS.
HE THOUGHT TO HIMSELF:
"THERE ARE MANY
"SIMPLE THINGS IN LIFE,
"SUCH AS GOING TO THE BATHROOM,
"THAT I CAN NO LONGER
"DO ON MY OWN.
"IF THAT IS HOW I AM
"GOING TO HAVE TO LIVE,
"MAYBE IT'S BETTER
FOR ME TO DIE."
SHORTLY THEREAFTER,
HE MET ANOTHER PATIENT
AT THE HOSPITAL WHO
WAS A QUADRIPLEGIC.
THAT PATIENT CONFIDED IN HIM,
"I WOULD SO MUCH LIKE
TO HAVE ARMS LIKE YOURS."
THIS WAS A KEY
MOMENT FOR GAEL.
IF SOMEONE COULD BE
ENVIOUS OF WHAT HE HAD,
HE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL
TO STILL HAVE IT!
GAEL TESTIFIES:
"WE ALL WANT
"SOMETHING MORE.
"I BELIEVE THAT
"IS HUMAN NATURE.
"BUT I DISCOVERED THAT THE
"KEY TO HAPPINESS IS TO
"ACCEPT OURSELVES AS WE ARE,
"TO BE CONTENT AND TO
"LIVE WITH WHAT WE HAVE.
"I MISS MY LEGS TERRIBLY.
BUT, IN THE END,
"I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER CHOICE
"BUT TO MOVE FORWARD AND TRY
TO BE HAPPY WITHOUT THEM."
DURING THE TIME HE
WAS AT THE HOSPITAL,
HE LEARNED MORE ABOUT
PAIN AND ABOUT CARING FOR
PATIENTS THAN HE COULD
HAVE LEARNED IN SEVERAL
YEARS OF MEDICAL SCHOOL.
GAEL DECIDED TO SPECIALIZE
IN REHABILITATIVE MEDICINE.
TODAY, HE IS A RENOWNED DOCTOR
WHO WORKS WITH PATIENTS
SUFFERING FROM SPINAL INJURIES,
AMPUTATIONS,
STROKES AND SEIZURES,
AND MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS.
HIS PATIENTS PRAISE HIS
EMPATHY AND HIS ABILITY TO
UNDERSTAND THEIR PROBLEMS.
FOR GAEL,
THE ACCEPTANCE OF HIS
LIMITATIONS WAS THE
STARTING POINT FOR HIS OWN
EXCEPTIONAL PROGRESS.
NOW THE THIRD PRINCIPLE:
RELY ON THE LORD.
IN THE NORTHERN PROVINCES
OF CANADA THERE IS A VERSION
OF AN OLD FABLE ABOUT TWO
GEESE AND A TORTOISE WHO
HAD A STRONG FRIENDSHIP.
THE STORY GOES
SOMETHING LIKE THIS:
WHEN FALL ARRIVED,
THE GEESE PLANNED TO
MIGRATE SOUTH FOR THE WINTER.
ONE EVENING,
THE GEESE WORRIED ABOUT THE
SITUATION OF THEIR FRIEND,
THE TORTOISE.
"IT'S TOO BAD THAT
YOU CAN'T FLY,"
SAID ONE OF THE GEESE.
"YOU WILL CERTAINLY MISS US.
HOW WILL YOU SURVIVE?"
"I HAVE AN IDEA,"
RESPONDED THE TORTOISE.
"WHY NOT FIND A GOOD
"STICK THAT YOU CAN
"HOLD IN YOUR BEAKS?
"I WILL HOLD ON TO
"IT WITH MY TEETH.
"THUS, WHEN YOU FLY SOUTH,
I WILL FLY WITH YOU."
"DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG
"ENOUGH TO HOLD ON FOR
SUCH A LONG TIME?"
ASKED THE OTHER GOOSE.
"CERTAINLY.
I AM VERY STRONG,"
SAID THE TORTOISE.
A FEW DAYS LATER,
SOMEWHERE OVER MONTANA,
A FARMER RAISED HIS EYES AND
SAW SOMETHING UNBELIEVABLE:
TWO GEESE FLYING OVER HIS
HEAD WITH A STICK IN THEIR
BEAKS AND A TORTOISE
HOLDING ON TO THE STICK.
HE CRIED OUT:
"THAT'S INCREDIBLE!
WHO HAD SUCH A GREAT IDEA?"
KNOWING THAT IT WAS HIS IDEA,
THE TORTOISE COULDN'T
RESIST AND CRIED OUT:
"IT WAS I!"
AND THE TORTOISE FELL.
THIS STORY ILLUSTRATES
HOW PRIDE LEADS ITS
VICTIMS TO THEIR FALL.
IT WHISPERS TO THEM:
YOU CAN GET THERE ALL ALONE.
YOU JUST NEED A LITTLE
INTELLIGENCE AND STRENGTH .
THIS REASONING MAY WORK IN
CERTAIN ASPECTS OF OUR LIVES.
HOWEVER, IT IS OF NO VALUE IN
ACCOMPLISHING THE CORE
PURPOSE OF OUR EXISTENCE.
ARE OUR PERSONAL ABILITIES,
INTELLIGENCE,
AND WORK SUFFICIENT TO
ENABLE US TO FULFILL THE
MEASURE OF OUR CREATION?
CAN WE, BY OUR OWN EFFORTS,
RAISE OURSELVES TO THE LEVEL
OF PERFECTION REQUIRED TO
RETURN TO THE PRESENCE OF GOD?
CERTAINLY NOT.
TRUE WISDOM INCLUDES
RECOGNIZING OUR DEPENDENCE
ON OUR CREATOR AND HIS SON,
JESUS CHRIST,
TO REACH OUR FULL POTENTIAL.
WHATEVER OUR
PERSONAL CAPABILITIES,
WE KNOW THAT
"NO FLESH... CAN DWELL
"IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD,
"SAVE IT BE THROUGH THE MERITS,
"AND MERCY,
"AND GRACE OF
THE HOLY MESSIAH."
WHERE PRIDE SAYS,
"I AM THE ONE WHO DID IT,"
WISDOM PREFERS TO RECOGNIZE,
"GOD EMPOWERED ME
TO BE ABLE TO DO IT."
AFTER THE REMARKABLE
SUCCESS ON HIS MISSION
AMONG THE LAMANITES,
AMMON HUMBLY RECOGNIZED
THE HAND OF THE
LORD IN THESE TERMS:
"YEA, I KNOW THAT I AM NOTHING;
"AS TO MY STRENGTH I AM WEAK,
"THEREFORE I WILL NOT
"BOAST OF MYSELF,
"BUT I WILL BOAST OF MY GOD,
"FOR IN HIS STRENGTH
"I CAN DO ALL THINGS.
"YEA, BEHOLD,
"MANY MIGHTY MIRACLES WE
"HAVE WROUGHT IN THIS LAND,
"FOR WHICH WE WILL PRAISE
HIS NAME FOREVER."
RECOGNIZING OUR PERSONAL
LIMITATIONS DOES NOT MEAN THAT
WE SHOULD PUT OURSELVES DOWN
AND WALLOW IN OUR WEAKNESSES.
ACCEPTING OUR LIMITATIONS
IS NOT AN EXCUSE
TO LIMIT OURSELVES.
ON THE CONTRARY,
AS DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST,
WE ASPIRE TO THAT WHICH IS
BETTER AND MORE ELEVATED.
THE GOAL OF OUR EXISTENCE
IS TO BE RAISED TO A LEVEL
OF PERFECTION THAT WILL
ALLOW US TO RETURN TO
LIVE IN THE PRESENCE OF
OUR HEAVENLY FATHER.
WE FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT EACH
SON AND DAUGHTER OF GOD
POSSESSES IN HIMSELF OR
HERSELF THE POTENTIAL TO
INHERIT ALL THAT GOD HAS
AND TO BECOME SUCH AS HE IS.
BUT NO ONE CAN REACH
THIS ULTIMATE GOAL
BY RELYING SOLELY ON
"THE ARM OF FLESH."
IF WE RELY ONLY ON OUR
PERSONAL ABILITIES,
OUR PROGRESS IS AND ALWAYS
WILL REMAIN LIMITED.
HOWEVER, WHEN WE MOVE FORWARD
"IN THE STRENGTH OF THE LORD,
"OUR POTENTIAL FOR
PROGRESS KNOWS NO BOUNDS."
ANOTHER IMPORTANT POINT TO
REMEMBER IS THAT WE USUALLY
EXPERIENCE OUR GREATEST GROWTH
WHEN WE FACE DIFFICULT,
IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE, SITUATIONS.
THE ACUTE AWARENESS THAT WE
HAVE OF OUR OWN LIMITATIONS
PUSHES US TO HUMBLY SEEK
THE HELP OF OUR CREATOR.
AN EXAMPLE OF THIS IS FOUND IN
THE OLD TESTAMENT WHEN GIDEON,
HEAD OF THE ISRAELITE ARMIES,
PREPARED TO FIGHT THE
MIDIANITES WITH 32,000 MEN.
BUT THE LORD SAID TO GIDEON:
"THE PEOPLE THAT ARE WITH
"THEE ARE TOO MANY FOR ME
"TO GIVE THE MIDIANITES
"INTO THEIR HANDS,
"LEST ISRAEL VAUNT
"THEMSELVES AGAINST ME,
"SAYING, MINE OWN
HAND HATH SAVED ME."
SO, STEP BY STEP,
THE LORD ASKED GIDEON TO REDUCE
THE NUMBER OF HIS SOLDIERS
UNTIL ONLY 300 REMAINED.
IT IS WHEN IT BECAME IMPOSSIBLE
FOR GIDEON TO CONQUER THE
MIDIANITES WITH HIS OWN
STRENGTH THAT THE LORD
SENT HIM TO BATTLE AND
MIRACULOUSLY DELIVERED
THE ENEMY INTO HIS HANDS.
MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS,
YOU PROBABLY HAVE HAD
THIS TYPE OF EXPERIENCE.
THE LORD OFTEN PLACES
HIS SERVANTS IN
SITUATIONS WITH SEEMINGLY
INSURMOUNTABLE OBSTACLES.
IN THIS MANNER,
HE PUSHES US TO HUMBLE
OURSELVES AND TO RELY
SOLELY ON HIS STRENGTH.
HE MAKES US INSTRUMENTS OF HIS
MIRACLES AND THE MANIFESTATION
OF HIS POWER AND COMPASSION.
THAT IS PERHAPS THE REASON WHY
MISSIONARY WORK IS PERFORMED
BY MISSIONARIES WHO
ARE FOR THE MOST PART
YOUNG AND INEXPERIENCED.
IT IS ALSO, PERHAPS,
THE REASON WHY SO MANY
MEMBERS RECEIVE CALLINGS AND
RESPONSIBILITIES THAT OFTEN
APPEAR TO THEM TO BE BEYOND
THEIR STRENGTH AND ABILITIES.
I HAD THIS TYPE OF EXPERIENCE
A LITTLE OVER FIVE YEARS
AGO WHEN I WAS CALLED
AS A GENERAL AUTHORITY.
AT THAT TIME,
MY FAMILY AND I
LIVED IN FRANCE.
LIFE HAD SMILED ON US,
AND WE THOUGHT WE HAD RECEIVED
ALL THE BLESSINGS WE
COULD POSSIBLY WISH FOR,
BOTH WITHIN OUR FAMILY
AND MATERIALLY.
ONE EVENING,
COMPLETELY UNEXPECTEDLY,
PRESIDENT THOMAS S. MONSON
CALLED OUR HOME.
I CAN STILL REMEMBER THE SOUND
OF HIS VOICE AS HE SAID,
"BROTHER CAUSSE,
"YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED TO
"SERVE AS A SEVENTY UNTIL
YOU TURN SEVENTY."
WE VALIANTLY ACCEPTED THE CALL
WITH FAITH AND DETERMINATION.
BUT IN THAT FEW MINUTES
OUR LIVES HAD BEEN TOTALLY
TURNED UPSIDE DOWN.
MY CALL MEANT THAT WE WERE
GOING TO LEAVE OUR HOME
COUNTRY AND LIVE THE NEXT
26 YEARS WHEREVER THE
LORD WANTED US TO SERVE.
ADDITIONALLY,
I HAD ONLY A FEW DAYS TO
RESIGN FROM MY PROFESSIONAL
RESPONSIBILITIES IF I WAS TO
BE READY TO SERVE IN THE TIME
FRAME REQUESTED BY THE PROPHET.
THE NEXT MORNING,
I WOKE UP EARLY TO
GET READY FOR WORK.
I REMEMBER SITTING AT THE
KITCHEN TABLE EATING BREAKFAST.
SUDDENLY I FELT COMPLETELY
PETRIFIED, EVEN PARALYZED.
THE IDEA OF ANNOUNCING TO THE
PRESIDENT OF MY COMPANY THAT
I WAS LEAVING HIS EMPLOYMENT
SEEMED INSURMOUNTABLE TO ME.
I FELT TIED TO HIM
BY GREAT LOYALTY.
EVERYTHING WAS
MOVING TOO FAST,
TOO UNEXPECTEDLY.
OVERCOME,
I BEGAN TO PRAY FERVENTLY,
ASKING THE LORD FOR THE
STRENGTH TO DO WHAT
HE WANTED ME TO DO.
WHEN I REOPENED MY EYES,
I SAW AN ISSUE OF THE
LIAHONA LYING ON THE TABLE.
IT WAS THE OCTOBER 2007
GENERAL CONFERENCE EDITION.
OPENING IT AT RANDOM,
I FELL ON AN ARTICLE WHOSE
TITLE CAUGHT MY ATTENTION:
"LIVE BY FAITH
AND NOT BY FEAR."
I SAID TO MYSELF,
"THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I NEED!"
IT WAS A TALK BY ELDER
QUENTIN L. COOK IN WHICH HE
TOLD THE STORY OF HIS CALLING
AS A GENERAL AUTHORITY.
HE EXPLAINED THAT HE WAS NOT
FEELING UP TO THE CALLING AND
HAD ASKED FOR COUNSEL
FROM ELDER NEAL A. MAXWELL.
ELDER MAXWELL EXPLAINED
THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT
QUALIFICATION FOR SERVING
IN THE KINGDOM WAS TO BE
ABLE TO BEAR TESTIMONY OF
THE DIVINITY OF THE SAVIOR.
ELDER COOK THEN QUOTED THE
PROMISE THAT THE LORD MADE
TO HIS SERVANTS IN THE
DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS,
WHICH SAYS:
"WHEREFORE,
"BE OF GOOD CHEER,
"AND DO NOT FEAR,
"FOR I THE LORD AM WITH YOU,
"AND WILL STAND BY YOU;
"AND YE SHALL BEAR
"RECORD OF ME,
EVEN JESUS CHRIST."
IN READING THIS SCRIPTURE,
I EXPERIENCED A
COMPLETE CHANGE.
I KNEW WHAT I HAD TO DO.
MY RESPONSIBILITY WAS TO
BEAR TESTIMONY OF THE SAVIOR.
THE LORD WOULD TAKE
CARE OF THE REST.
THUS, I LEFT FOR WORK
WITH A REASSURED HEART.
THE INTERVIEW WITH MY EMPLOYER
WENT BEYOND MY HOPES.
I WAS ABLE TO TESTIFY
VERY SIMPLY OF MY LOVE
FOR THE SAVIOR AND OF
MY DESIRE TO SERVE HIM.
AT THAT MOMENT,
THE SPIRIT ENTERED THE
OFFICE WHERE WE WERE MEETING.
TOUCHED BY MY WORDS,
THE PRESIDENT ASSURED ME
OF HIS UNDERSTANDING,
HIS RESPECT, AND HIS SUPPORT.
HE LATER SENT A LETTER TO ALL
THE MANAGERS OF MY COMPANY
ASKING THEM TO DO THE SAME.
IS THERE ANY MORE BEAUTIFUL
EXPERIENCE THAN TO FEEL
THE INFLUENCE OF THE LORD
WORKING IN OUR LIVES,
TO KNOW THAT HE IS THERE,
CLOSE BY,
TO FEEL THAT HE MAGNIFIES
AND ENHANCES OUR
NATURAL ABILITIES,
THEREBY MAKING US
TOOLS IN HIS HANDS?
I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THERE
IS MUCH MORE JOY AND
SATISFACTION IN SAYING:
"IT'S THE LORD
WHO DID IT THROUGH ME,"
RATHER THAN SAYING,
"I DID IT ALL BY MYSELF."
FOURTH PRINCIPLE:
QUALIFY YOURSELVES TO RECEIVE
THE GRACE OF YOUR SAVIOR.
THE POWER THAT ALLOWS US TO
RAISE OURSELVES ABOVE OUR
MORTAL CONDITION AND OUR
HUMAN ABILITIES IS CALLED
THE GRACE OF THE SAVIOR.
AS ELDER NEIL L. ANDERSEN SAID,
"GRACE IS SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE
"AND POWER THAT CHANGES
"HOW SOMEONE SEES HIMSELF,
"INCREASES HIS CAPACITIES,
"AND MAGNIFIES HIS ABILITY
"TO BE AN INSTRUMENT IN
THE HANDS OF THE LORD."
GRACE IS ONE OF THE GIFTS
OF GOD MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH
THE ATONEMENT OF CHRIST.
THE LORD HIMSELF SPOKE
TO MORONI IN THESE TERMS:
"AND IF MEN COME UNTO
"ME I WILL SHOW UNTO
"THEM THEIR WEAKNESS.
"I GIVE UNTO MEN WEAKNESS
"THAT THEY MAY BE HUMBLE,
"AND MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT
"FOR ALL MEN THAT HUMBLE
"THEMSELVES BEFORE ME,
"FOR IF THEY HUMBLE
"THEMSELVES BEFORE ME,
"AND HAVE FAITH IN ME,
"THEN WILL I MAKE WEAK THINGS
BECOME STRONG UNTO THEM."
I TESTIFY THAT THIS POWER
OF GRACE IS OF DIVINE ORIGIN
AND IS REAL AND TANGIBLE.
EACH ONE OF US CAN ACCESS IT
ON CONDITION OF RECEIVING
THE ORDINANCES OF THE GOSPEL.
AS IS SAID IN THE
SACRAMENT PRAYER,
ONE OF THE PROMISES MADE TO
ALL THOSE WHO PERSEVERE IN
RESPECTING THESE ORDINANCES IS
"THAT THEY MAY ALWAYS HAVE
HIS SPIRIT TO BE WITH THEM."
THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD,
OR THE HOLY GHOST,
IS THE AGENT OF THE ATONEMENT.
THANKS TO HIS GENTLE INFLUENCE,
WE CAN FEEL THE LOVE OF
THE SAVIOR AND RECEIVE
HIS GRACE IN OUR LIVES.
WHEN THE SPIRIT ACCOMPANIES US
WE BECOME AWARE OF A POWERFUL
TRANSFORMATION TAKING PLACE
WITHIN US AS OUR WEAKNESSES
ARE TRANSFORMED INTO STRENGTHS
AND OUR NATURAL ABILITIES ARE
MAGNIFIED AND ENHANCED BEYOND
WHAT WE BELIEVE IS POSSIBLE.
THE SPIRIT SANCTIFIES US AND
PROGRESSIVELY RAISES US
BEYOND OUR MORTAL CONDITION.
MY YOUNG BROTHERS AND SISTERS,
I EXPRESS MY LOVE FOR YOU AND
MY DEEP ADMIRATION FOR THE
EXAMPLE AND STRENGTH YOU
ARE FOR THE ENTIRE CHURCH.
EACH OF YOU HAS BEEN ENDOWED
WITH A REMARKABLE SET OF
GIFTS, TALENTS, AND ABILITIES.
AS YOU BUILD UPON
THESE STRENGTHS,
HUMBLY RECOGNIZE YOUR
PERSONAL LIMITATIONS,
REMAIN FAITHFUL TO
YOUR COVENANTS,
AND PUT YOUR
CONFIDENCE IN THE LORD,
YOU WILL SEE YOUR WEAKNESSES
TRANSFORMED INTO STRENGTHS
THROUGH THE POWER AND
GRACE OF HIS ATONEMENT.
YOU WILL HAVE THE ABILITY
TO MEET THE CHALLENGES YOU
WILL FACE IN YOUR LIFE.
WITH PAUL YOU WILL
BE ABLE TO SAY,
"FOR WHEN I AM WEAK,
THEN AM I STRONG."
OF THESE THINGS I TESTIFY.
IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST,
AMEN.
♪♪
>>THIS BYU DEVOTIONAL ADDRESS
WITH BISHOP GERALD CAUSSE 
WAS GIVEN ON DECEMBER 3, 2013.
