By Stella Chu
In this world of isolation and negativism, we need help others feel love, trust, understanding and appreciation of their work, said mechanical engineering professor Robert H. Todd on Tuesday.
'How we decide we are going to treat others here and now can make all the difference in the world and in you,' Todd said.
When any one or more of those four needs are missing in our lives, we often act in a way that we should not, Todd said. When we see it happens to others, we can help by asking Heavenly Father for the Holy Ghost and for inspiration.
'Ask Heavenly Father if there is something you might do to help them feel more loved, more trusted, more understood or their efforts more appreciated,' Todd said.
We can also change both our and someone else's day by doing small acts of kindness such as be friendly, smile and greet people.
'Say hello as you walk across campus,' Todd said. 'Who knows, you might even get a date with someone,' he said.
Todd asked students to ponder the question, 'Have you ever thought carefully and deeply about what you really wanted to be when you grow up?'
Because of our moral agency, we are the ones who choose what we will become, Todd said.
'The choices that we make will make us what we will become,' Todd said. 'We are our own judges.'
By looking for good in others, for ways to lift others and for good others do to praise them, we can grow up to be like our Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ, he said
'The opportunity of this life, then, is to use our moral agency to choose to follow our Savior and to learn to love God and our fellow man as God loves us,' Todd said.
We are carving our soul each day, parents and teachers may guide, but we will decide if it is going to be a deformed one or a beautiful one.
''Yours is the responsibility. Nobody else can carve it for you,'' Todd said, quoting President David O. McKay. ''Each young man and young woman has the responsibility to carve his own character.''