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PROVO — Elder Neil L. Andersen encouraged members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Tuesday to "educate their desires," or counsel with God about how they can achieve their righteous hopes.
Elder Andersen, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, shared the message during the church's Education Week, a yearly conference happening this week at Brigham Young University.
He said the church allocates over $1 billion to education each year, and thanked members for giving through tithes and other contributions to make this possible.
"Our education allows us to think more deeply, to better understand the world in which we live, to and to greatly improve our work opportunities," he said.
Elder Andersen quoted former prophet, President Joseph F. Smith, who said, "The education of our desires is one of far-reaching importance to our happiness in life."
He said desires come from within, not from others, and encouraged church members to consider how they are developing or "educating" their own righteous desires.
"I believe and hope that each of us here today wants to be good, and that we have declared our intentions to our Heavenly Father. You have already educated many of your righteous desires," Elder Andersen said.
He said these desires look different for each person, giving examples of praying for health for sick family members, finding a spouse and being worthy to live with God.
"We educate our desires as we refine and purify our already righteous desires. ... We then educate them in such a way that the attributes we live align with the desires of our heart," he said, adding that the process helps members shape their lives so their desires can be realized. He spoke about the power of the human mind, and said he has developed confidence in the "power and goodness of the Lord" to help desires become realities.
He said the process requires time and patience, but the grace of Christ, combined with members' "resolute righteous desires," allows them to become who they desire to be.
"We are on the quest to live eternally with God in our very secular and increasingly wicked world. We keep our feet firmly planted in our faith in Jesus Christ and our desire to be with him eternally, not allowing the distractions of our mortal life to overcome our efforts to become more and more like Jesus," he said, adding that keeping covenants made in the temple will help with this process.
Elder Andersen said temples are "one of the most powerful places" to find answers for how to shape desires, and that impressions there come from God. He told members to go to the temple and ask God to help them develop their individual desires.
"My promise to you is that as you thoughtfully prepare to enter the Lord's house with willing hearts, with real intent, awaiting the Lord's direction, you will receive the lifting power to educate your desires and strengthen you in your desire to become," he said.
