An earlier version of this article was published with the incorrect date for the devotional.
Looking back at President Russell M. Nelson's 2019 BYU devotional address, students shared the
meaning and relevance his message still has for them five years later.
The 2019 address is the only BYU devotional President Nelson has delivered as President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“There is no group we would rather be with today than you. I wish to discuss five truths that I feel impressed to share with you,” President Nelson said, addressing the campus community.
Though his devotional, titled "The Love and Laws of God," was delivered seven years ago, BYU students still find the five truths President Nelson shared relevant today.
“Literally the best and coolest prophet ever and I think it’s so cool that he’s celebrating 100 years of life," Annabelle Baker, a BYU student and teacher at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, said. "The first truth that we should ever know and what starts off the devotional is that we are sons and daughters of God.”
President Nelson continued his discourse by revealing how this truth has more depth than it seems on the surface.
“You are the children whom God chose to be part of His battalion during this great climax in the longstanding battle between good and evil,” President Nelson said.
The second truth President Nelson shared in his 2019 devotional address is that "truth is truth."
“I think that’s really good to say. Truth is truth. You know, as a scientist we really use facts and stuff. What’s here, what’s not here” BYU student and lab assistant Kathryn Blasini said.
After lamenting about modern notions that truth is relative, President Nelson went on to discuss the third truth about God's perfect love for everyone.
“I think that’s hard for me to understand, just how perfect His love is and how unconditional it is, how He just gives it to us,” Baker said.
The discussion on God's love moved on to a law that took the form a fourth truth.
“The Lord Jesus Christ, whose Church this is, appoints prophets and apostles to communicate His love and teach His laws,” President Nelson said.
“Something that I really love is that those prophets and ministers are there for everyone. They’re there to help us and guide us in these times,” Baker said.
Though the first four truths are based upon love and laws of God, the fifth and final truth is based on action that President Nelson implored BYU students to take.
“The last thing he really said is to ask. Pray to God and ask, is this true, it never hurts to ask,” Blasini said.
Reflecting on the fact that this is President Nelson's only BYU devotional as prophet, students said it inspires a new perspective on his other messages.
“I thought it was really cool to rewatch it and something I hope to do better is to go back and watch old devotionals and stuff. I think you can get a lot of great information out of it” Blasini said.