"Your Whole Soul as an Offering Unto Him" by Elder David A. Bednar at Ricks College Devotional, Jan 1999

In a talk given to the young people by Elder Richard L. Evans, he talked about the importance of being faithful and competent. He said that we can acquire those skills, the techniques, and the knowledge in these times. He also said that along with that, we can have a spiritual commitment and a solid faith and cleanliness of life. He stated that there is nothing that we can´t achieve. We can be diligent in both our spiritual and academic pursuits or to be both faithful and competent.

We should understand that our experience in college is not just and experience to endure and get through with the false expectation that someday we will magically be different on the day we graduate, that is totally false. A college experience is a period of time where we develop, prepare our minds and abilities for weighty responsibilities that will come in the future.

Elder Richardson taught us that Faithfulness is related with diligence which means to love the process of learning. Those are essential skills for a spiritual, happy and productive life.
He said that there are two reasons why we must be diligent. First, we have to be a diligent student because this will show our gratitude and appreciation to our family. Second, because we have make covenant with God and we have a responsibility with him and with the church to be better persons in order to be prepare to serve in this work.

Been diligent and competence is related to the principles of sacrifice because it requires us to willingly offer anything and everything that we possess for the sake of the gospel of the Savior, and so consecration that includes and encompasses sacrifice and much more, and develop ourselves and live for the gospel.

During our period of learning at BYU-I online classes, we are preparing for the consecrated offering that we will place upon God´s altar. We must be anxiously engaged in the process of learning and do many things of our own free will. By doing so, we will be blessed and we would be pleasing God.

Read full talk @ http://www2.byui.edu/Presentations/Transcripts/Devotionals/1999_01_05_Bednar.htm