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Dean of continuing education uses insect analogies to encourage students to seek Christ’s light

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Richard Houseman speaks to students at the Marriott Center on June 10. He is the dean of continuing education for BYU. (Dakota Reagan)

Richard Houseman, dean of continuing education at BYU, spoke to students about following the light of Jesus Christ at the weekly campus devotional on Tuesday, June 10.

Houseman previously served as the worldwide manager of missionary in-field services for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and as a mission leader in the Brazil Recife Mission.

He also taught entomology, the study of insects, as a professor at the University of Missouri.

Using his knowledge of entomology, Houseman used analogies of various insects to teach the importance seeking out Christ’s light and going toward it in our thoughts and actions.

He began his address by describing the relationship between insects and light.

“Many insects demonstrate positive phototaxis, meaning they go toward light,” Houseman said. “Moths are especially attracted to light and demonstrate a positive phototaxis. They navigate towards light with a consistent, faithful response.”

He continued by explaining some insects, like cockroaches, have a negative response and reject light.

Houseman then posed two questions to encourage students to reflect on their relationship with spiritual light: “When directed to follow Christ, how do we react? Do we go to Christ’s light like a moth, or do we shy away from Him like a cockroach?”

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Houseman stresses the importance of going toward Christ's light. He expanded on his message using examples from insect behavior. (Dakota Reagan)

He expressed that as disciples of Christ, we can also be filled with the light of Christ. The analogy of the monarch butterfly was used to teach this principle.

Houseman explained monarch butterflies avoid predation through cardenolides, a compound that makes them taste bitter and toxic. Cardenolides come from the absorption or consumption of milkweed plants.

“Like monarch caterpillars and butterflies become filled with powerful protection when they are in contact with milkweed, we can be filled with power and protection if we stay close to Jesus Christ,” Houseman said.

Houseman continued by describing the ways we can be filled with the powerful light of Jesus Christ in our everyday lives, which included consistent study of the scriptures and words of latter-day prophets, participating in temple ordinances and engaging in daily repentance.

He concluded his point about being filled with the light of Christ by inviting students to help fulfill BYU’s mission.

“Becoming BYU will require individual reflection and spiritual growth individually,” Houseman said. “I invite each of us to become filled with more light than we currently have inside, and become individually engaged with achieving the vision of becoming BYU.”

His final point was about sharing the light we gain with others.

“Sharing light is one of the most important reasons to be filled with light,” Houseman said. “In fact, we often feel a compelling desire to share light because we want others to feel what we are feeling.”

To bring this point home, Houseman discussed fireflies.

He explained fireflies can manipulate the intensity and frequency of the light they emit to send specific messages to other fireflies.

“Just as fireflies share messages of light from within, we can share light that is within us,” Houseman said. “We control the intensity, frequency and duration of the light we share.”

He went on to explain we can send messages that exemplify the light of Christ when we choose to give, forgive and love others.

“It is such a blessing to be at BYU, where our motto reminds us to love and serve others,” Houseman said. “We ‘Enter to Learn’ so that we can ‘Go Forth to Serve’ in many ways. Please don’t wait until you go forth at the end of your time at BYU to serve others as Christ did.”

Houseman concluded his address with his testimony of Jesus Christ’s influence.

“I testify of Jesus Christ. He is where we go to find light and to be filled with strength,” Houseman said. “I testify that when we go to Christ’s light, are filled with His light, and share His light with others, we realize that it truly is the most desirous above all things, and the most joyous to the soul.”