By Adam Riggs
In order to return to a heavenly home, people must listen to guidance from the Holy Ghost and center their lives on the Atonement of Christ, said a BYU professor at Tuesday''s Devotional in the JSB Auditorium.
Joaquina Hoskisson, associate professor of Spanish and Portuguese, likened our earthly sojourn to her experiences in study abroad programs.
'We have left our heavenly home and familiar surroundings where loving parents watched,' she said. 'We were given a passport issued by the kingdom of heaven, with which, we are to travel throughout this strange land we call mortality.'
Hoskisson said people will meet many strangers on this trip through mortality who have different ethnic backgrounds, cultural backgrounds and religious beliefs. She emphasized that everyone is loved and cared for by Heavenly Father.
'With the promise of constant companionship of the Holy Spirit, the Lord has told us if we will but pay attention to it and obey that still, small voice, we can be guided through this wonderful adventure,' she said.
Hoskisson related an experience about her daughter that she said correlated directly to one''s existence on earth.
While in elementary school, her daughter desired to make the trip home from school by herself. At first, Hoskisson walked with her daughter, pointing out what she needed to do to be safe. When her daughter finally made the trip by herself, she didn''t come home from school at the time she was supposed to.
'When she returned, I was thankful to see her safe,' Hoskisson said. 'I asked her why it had taken her so long to get home from school and she simply replied, ''Mom, I took the shortcut.'''
Just like her daughter, many people think they can take a shortcut and not listen to the advice of more educated sources, she said. Sometimes people allow their pride and self-centered attitude to overcome their common sense.
'If we ignore the knowledgeable guidance and help given us to navigate through this life, we will strike out on our own,' Hoskisson said. 'We will surely squander much time, waste much effort and suffer numerous hard times.'
Also, Hoskisson talked about Christ''s role in a successful reunion with Heavenly Father.
'Christ''s atonement is very important to plan,' she said. 'Without his sacrifice there would be no way home, no way to be like him.'
Hoskisson relayed her testimony of the Holy Ghost and how people need to depend on it as their guide.
'Because our Father in Heaven loves us and wants us to succeed, he has not only given us his beloved Son to be our earthly guide, our director, but he has given us his word and the testimony of his Holy Spirit,' Hoskisson said.