Consecrated to Be Holy
By C.S. Bezas

Seminary teachers who consecrate themselves to the Lord's service receive special blessings inherent to their particular form of service. Their purpose is to consecrate their talents and efforts for the edification and instruction of the Lord's youth.

Our young women and men are living out the prophetic visions of ancient prophets. There will be more burdens, challenges, and responsibilities placed upon their shoulders than perhaps any other generation in the history of the world.

Ours is a time when the adversary rages in the hearts of men. Wicked individuals are insistent on pouring out filth in as many forms as possible and as swiftly are they are able. Satan and his angels are laughing (Moses 7:26).

We have been told by prophets that these young men and women in our homes and classes are among the most elect of the Lord's children. They are spiritual warriors from the previous estate who now cross the portals of our classrooms.

Yet chances are these same young "warriors" cannot see who they are nor their true nature ? yet.

Through Our Consecrated Efforts

Through our consecrated efforts, combined with those of others, the truth may be revealed to these valiant young men and women. The truth of who they are and their great missions may begin to unfold. Within their hearts, as they become spiritually in tune, they will begin to feel of their purpose and essential place in the Lord's plan for the latter days.

As this knowledge begins to yield itself to their hearts, change will come. Miracles will begin as they create a life for the Lord, focused on Him and His purposes.

Is this not a cause for celebration? Is consecration not a beautiful part of the process to help these young men and women find themselves? These children of God in embryo need us to dedicate ourselves to our lesson prep, our personal scripture study and to our personal prayers in their behalf.

As we desire to remain consecrated for them (and for us), the Lord's glory will more fully "rest down upon [us]" (D&C 109:12). We must desire this glory for our students and ourselves to be able to find the ability to live in such a dedicated way.

Eternal Perspectives Help

Sometimes our students' attitudes might appear immature, offensive, or otherwise less than desirable. Even so, these students are the Lord's next generation. As we maintain an eternal perspective each day in our service with them, we will be aided from on high in our consecrated efforts for them.

Although at times our students may challenge what we teach or even challenge us, we must remind ourselves that we are not finished in this eternal perspective, nor are they. For example, a high school freshman has only been old enough for baptism for six short years!

Yes, indeed, as we face challenging behavior in the classroom, an eternal perspective will help us remain balanced in our consecrated efforts.

In fact, we call on all students to enrich their daily lives with their own eternal perspectives, reaching for higher purposes than perhaps they've yet conceived or achieved. These youth are our hope and the Lord's promise for a bright future ? one in which they may have the opportunity to lead in preparation for the coming of Christ.

These youth presumably will have grown to maturity by then and will need through the years every bit of inspiration and wisdom we can muster for them in our classrooms today. These fourteen- to eighteen-year-olds may be the ones in their adulthood to greet the coming Lord. The lessons we give today must be the kind that will strengthen them for their tomorrows. Yes, keeping an eternal perspective will help greatly the consecrated teacher remain steady till the end of their tenure.

By Giving a Consecrated Heart

By giving the Lord consecrated hearts, he can then sanctify our minds. When our minds are sanctified, we are more in tune to the promptings of the Spirit. We are ready for new approaches. This will help us work better with all of our students, not just the easy ones.

As the gospel instructors (and perhaps parents) of these kids, it is most urgent we teach with consecrated hearts, lives, and purposes. We must live in such pure fashion that the Lord's glory will rest upon us and abide with our classrooms, wherever those may be.

An excellent scripture that speaks to creating such consecrated hearts can be found in D&C 121:45-46. The promises are tremendous!

"Without compulsory means." What a tremendous phrase. Much as a magnet will pull metal to its surface, a virtuous life inherently attracts the blessings promised above ? effortlessly. Can you imagine yourself teaching in this way, being such a teacher in the classroom? This is the result of living a consecrated life, a life dedicated to the path that the Savior Jesus Christ outlined for all who would follow.

Is there anything missing for you to be such a teacher?

The Resounding Result

The resounding result for all of us in this dedication is that when we are stumped in a lesson (perhaps by a question a kid has popped off), or when we are running out of time and challenged with making our point, the Lord will inspire us. Effortlessly, without compulsory means, the Spirit will abide with us, clarify our thinking, and enable us to fashion a moment that will aid our students for that day and perhaps for all eternity.

Consecration is important because consecration leads to sanctification. With sanctification, we are better able to see in others what God sees in them. It will take our teaching to another level and make us better able to understand our students' needs and to attend to them more perfectly.

By giving the Lord a consecrated heart (in other words, an obedient life), He will give us minds that are ready for new approaches to bless and uplift perhaps even the most puzzling of students. And after this manner, our young women and men will be benefited and better prepared for the perplexing times still ahead of them.

Summary

Are we consecrated and fully about the business of building a "house" unto the Lord, as mentioned in D&C 109:12?

That house might be the "house" of our classroom. That house might be the "house" of our students' souls. That house most definitely needs to be the "house" of our hearts as gospel teachers for the Lord.

As we bring consecration and dedication more fully into our lives as teachers, the Spirit will come to us with great force. We will become sanctified and holy. The experience will be undeniable. It will happen for us as we choose to follow a path of personal dedication and consecration to our Lord.

Some in the world might proclaim that this pathway is unbalanced. But by pursuing pure lives of care and concern for the things of the Lord, we are not out of balance. Rather, balance will come more fully into our lives. The Lord's glory will abide and reside within us.

This consecrated pathway is an individualized one, found through personal scripture study, fasting, and prayer. The joy that awaits such a consecrated soul is tremendous.

Just imagine the possibilities! All because we set about to dedicate and consecrate our activities and our classrooms to the Lord so that our youth might be blessed.