The Yamashitas spoke to students and community members about the importance of remembering who they are spiritually.
In response to the devotional talk, BYUH Religion Assistant Professor Jared Marcum said he would pray to remind himself of the Yamashita’s lesson, to remember “God’s plan and Christ’s role in it.”
Elder Kazuhiko Yamashita, a General Authority Seventy of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and his wife, Sister Tazuko Yamashita, delivered their devotional, titled, “Your Divine Potential” on March 23, 2021.
Elder Yamashita said students and members are on the frontlines of battle against the adversary as chosen spirits. He focused his message on helping students find their spiritual identity as children of God. To do so, people need to be tested on earth so they can return to God’s presence one day, he said.
Marcum, in the Faculty of Religious Education, explained the gospel is full of ways to remember Christ, like through the scriptures, the temple and the sacrament. “All are designed to remind us of our spiritual identity, our divine potential and the centrality that Christ plays in developing our divine potential,” he said.
Marcum said he would use his prayers to remind himself of God’s plan and Christ’s role in it, which he explained would help to brush away the distractions of everyday life that causes him to forget his identity.
Elder Yamashita stated during the devotional, Heavenly Father knew His children would struggle and forget their Father, so a Savior was needed to pay for their sins and show God’s children the way back to Him.
Marcum said the idea of having divine parentage is a simple, yet powerful idea. He shared while serving in the China Hong Kong Mission, he taught people about the idea of this divine parentage, and it made sense to them.
“It also comes with an understanding of the other parts of the plan,” Marcum explained. “Like Elder Yamashita mentioned, we are brothers and sisters, and our Heavenly Parents provided a way for us to become like Them.”
Marcum added the challenge is to remember that heavenly heritage and identity. “Satan is very good at providing distractions and temptations that cause us to neglect and then forget who we are,” he said.
Yamashita testified, “Jesus was willing to come to the earth, give His life for you, and take upon Himself your sins. He knew you must be free to choose to prove yourselves worthy of exaltation.”
“We need a daily practice of faith in Jesus Christ, always,” Yamashita said. “President Nelson told us as we repent and live in accordance with the commandments of God, the Atonement of Jesus Christ becomes a force for permanent change in our lives.”
To illustrate the need for a Savior, Marcum quoted Helaman 5:12 from the Book of Mormon as an example, where Helaman commits his sons, Lehi and Nephi, to remember Christ and His importance in their lives.
“Remembering Christ, His sacrifice and the strength and power that comes from Him is key to us developing our divine potential,” he said. “It is only through Christ that we can develop the faith, hope and charity that God has.”
Speaking to returned missionaries at BYUH, Yamashita said the most important souvenirs to bring home from their missions were outlined by President Gordon B. Hinckley in his quote:
- A testimony of the living reality of God, our Eternal Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.
- A greatly engaged understanding of the gospel.
- A love for the people among whom you labor.
- A greater love and appreciation for your parents.
- An understanding of the meaning of hard work.
- An enlarged understanding of the meaning and true worth and value of personal virtue.
- Increased poise, the ability to meet people, to converse with them, to talk with them.
- The courage to act.
- The faith to do.
- The humility to pray.
“Do not hide those souvenirs,” Yamashita encouraged. “Please continue to use those souvenirs you have taken from your mission field for your life.”
Elder Yamashita’s wife, Tazuko Yamashita, recalled a time the Holy Ghost came to her, repeating a gentle message of encouragement to serve a mission. However, Tazuko Yamashita said she realized at her age, she should be married. After worrying if she might miss her chance to be married by serving a mission, she remembered hearing the Holy Ghost say, “Don’t worry about your future, peace be unto your soul.”
Tazuko Yamashita repeated that message to students and community members. “As we live the gospel, follow the prompting of the Holy Ghost speedily,” she said. “Heavenly Father really loves you. Heavenly Father really knows your needs.”
Born in Tokyo, Elder Yamashita was sustained as a General Authority of the Church on April 2, 2011, according to the Church website. He currently serves as a member of the Pacific Area Presidency of the Church.
To see the devotional video, see here:
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