Sheri Dew tells students to live worthily, repent from sin

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    By Avery McKinney

    Sheri L. Dew, president and CEO of Deseret Book and former member of the Relief Society General Presidency, urged students in the Devotional on Tuesday, Dec. 9 to live lives worthy of power from on high.

    “You were born to lead,” Dew said. “You were born to help build the kingdom of God. You were born for glory. Everything you do in life should be measured against this great standard.”

    Dew said God wants a powerful people. She noted five ways God makes this power available. Dew, quoting President Boyd K. Packer, said studying the scriptures can change lives.

    “The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior,” Dew said. “In other words, the word of God transforms us.”

    Dew said there is power in the gift of the Holy Ghost.

    “The gift of the Holy Ghost is a gift of power,” Dew said. “The Holy Ghost inspires and heals; guides and warns, enhances our natural capacities; inspires charity and humility; makes us smarter than we are; strengthens us during trials; testifies of the Father and the Son, and shows us ”all things that we should do.””

    Dew said priesthood power is the power of God delegated to men on Earth, and urged students to partake of that power.

    “The power of the priesthood heals, protects, and inoculates every righteous man and woman against the powers of darkness,” she said.

    Dew said there is power in the house of the Lord, and told students to regularly attend the temple.

    “In the temple we learn to deal with Satan, how to live in the world without letting it stain us, how to fulfill our foreordained missions, and how to come into the presence of God,” Dew said.

    Dew said students should not expect temple attendance to solve all their problems.

    “Believe me, if fasting and prayer and temple attendance automatically resulted in a husband, I”d have one,” Dew said.

    Dew said there is power in the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

    “… Because of the Atonement, we have access to His grace, or enabling power–power that frees us from sin; power to be healed emotionally, physically, and spiritually.”

    Dew gave students tips for gaining access to this power.

    Dew told students to first have faith.

    “Faith is a principle of power that influences, to at least some degree, the Lord”s intervention in our lives,” Dew said.

    Dew also told students they must repent and obey to increase their access to godly power.

    “Repentance is, frankly, just plain smart, because sin makes you stupid, and it costs a lot too,” Dew said. “Stupid meaning deaf, dumb and blind to the ways of the Lord.”

    Dew concluded her remarks by telling students to diligently seek the Lord and his power

    “You are running the anchor leg of the relay because you were born to lead,” Dew said. “You were born for glory.”

    Students who attended the Devotional said Dew”s comments were uplifting.

    “I thought it was very good, but that”s what you would expect from Sheri Dew,” said Kevin Johnson, a freshman from Orem. “She”s an amazing speaker and has been for a long time.”

    One student said she appreciated Dew”s comments on repentance.

    “It kind of strengthened my testimony that I need to repent every day,” said Lauren Absher, a freshman from Duncansville, Penn., majoring in nutritional science. “I mean, I”ve heard a lot of people say you need to repent every day, but I never really thought that it would bring you happiness. She said the happiest people she knows are the people that repent regularly.”

    Another student said she admired Dew.

    “Sheri Dew is my hero,” said Mitzi Flade, a junior from Sun Valley, Idaho majoring in social science teaching. “She is beacon for womanhood.”

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