Paul W. Lambert, religion initiative director at the Wheatley Institute, spoke at a BYU forum Tuesday in the Joseph Smith Building, calling lived faith the "greatest strength" for facing challenges in both daily and professional life.
In his address, Lambert outlined three major modern challenges and how to overcome them by living one's religion — whether Latter-day Saint, Evangelical, Muslim, Jewish or otherwise. He invited students to live their faith authentically to heal social division, restore meaning in their lives and foster moral virtue.
Along with this invitation, he shared a teaching from President Russell M. Nelson on religious identity, mainly that there is "tremendous strength" in seeing ourselves first and foremost as children of God.
"In other words, I’ve learned that my faith is my greatest strength in every aspect of my life: at home, in my community, in my citizenship and even in my professional career," Lambert said. "My faith in Christ is my greatest strength at all times, and in all things and in all places."
Three modern challenges
Lambert pointed out three main challenges each one of us face in the world today:
- Social Division
- Loneliness and Lack of Meaning
- Development of moral values and virtues
To address social division, Lambert shared that 8 in 10 Americans believe the nation is divided over core values, and nearly a quarter believe political violence may be necessary if things get too off track.
Lambert's research from the Wheatley Institute additionally suggested that a third of young adults report feeling lonely every day or several times a week, with Generation Z reporting the lowest levels of meaning and purpose in life of any generation.
Lambert also emphasized that virtue development is at risk, with 90% of Americans believing the nation's moral values are "in shambles," with four in five expecting things to get even worse.
A solution
Lambert shared research and data conducted by the Wheatley Institute which suggests a positive correlation with participation in religion and social cohesion, reduced loneliness and a greater sense of morality.
"What the research is telling us, and, more importantly, what prophetic direction is teaching us, is that YOUR lived faith and YOUR religious engagement are both YOUR greatest strength and society’s greatest strength," Lambert said.
The studies additionally suggested that individuals who attend religious services regularly are more likely to vote, volunteer, engage across differences and experience greater meaning and purpose in their lives.
"Religion is a load-bearing wall," Lambert said. "The load includes the key elements of flourishing society."
Lambert additionally shared research on how the influence of faith goes beyond broad societal benefits, encouraging BYU students to integrate faith in their future careers so that they may contribute at their full potential.
"When we live and act in harmony with our most important identity, we are best positioned to fully and meaningfully contribute," Lambert said.
He shared that when an employer creates spaces for employees to express their beliefs, there is a lower turnover, higher productivity and greater employee loyalty.
At the conclusion of the forum, Lambert gave three invitations to students:
1. Recognize and speak confidently about the positive power of religion.
2. Allow and encourage others to live their faith, building religious pluralism.
3. Live "YOUR" faith in every aspect of life.
"At all times, in all things, and in all places, it is YOUR lived faith and YOUR religious engagement that is YOUR and OUR greatest strength," Lambert said.
He encouraged everyone to remember that simple truth.