Reviewing President Nelson's Devotional: The Tie Between Science and Religion
In a devotional given In BYU, President Russell M. Nelson gave insight about the vision that BYU has for the college of life science, and how the focus of BYU in teaching the truth, searching the truth and centering their education in God’s creations can help each student to confront the questions shared between science and religion. Based on these three concepts, ELC students can also be benefited by its appliance, giving each student the best tools to face the difficulties that learning a language could bring.
Trusting and believing is a decision, and here at BYU it is important to let the truths of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ be part of the learning experience for each student. President Nelson supported this vision by sharing a quote of Brigham Young which says: “If you can find a truth in heaven, earth or hell, it belongs to our doctrine. we believe it; it is ours; we claim it.” The life of a student can be very stressful, challenging for sure, and at times it could be overwhelming, giving to many students a desire to abandon or give up on such a beautiful and crucial cause. As ELC students we are not the exception, and like President Nelson shared: “there is no conflict between science or religion.” Which also could mean whatever science, career, and language we are learning. One of the missions of the ELC is to provide to their students opportunities to learn different skills such as applying to universities, study in practical contexts, and developing excellence in English. This is why the ELC is committed to teaching the truth, and we are willing to receive it and most important, find it.
“The glory of God is intelligence.” Finding or searching for the truth according to what President Nelson shared, has become a responsibility for all the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. At the same time it has become one of the biggest ways to prepare to receive or experience the glory of God:
And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. (Moroni 10)
It is believed that BYU asks and finds the truth. Each teacher works also as instruments of God, and this is because each building of BYU has been dedicated by a prophet of God. This means that BYU doesn’t only find the truth by providing the best material and knowledge, but by revelation. being blessed with the guidance of God, Ecclesiastical authorities, President Shane Reese, and all our teachers.
Why is this important for ELC students? BYU is also the only college that centers its education in God’s creations and His plan. This is the only place where we can connect our intelligence and the things we learn, with the glory of God. It teaches all the students how to know the connection between what they learn with God’s eternal purpose. The importance of connecting our knowledge with God’s is because according to the words of President Nelson, all the intelligence we develop on this earth “will rise with us in the resurrection”. This is because life comes from God, which means that everything that surrounds us is part of God’s creations, including our physical, emotional and spiritual knowledge.
For example, God has created a way for us to communicate. He even considers learning a language a “gift”. When Amaleki exhorted all men to believe in the gift of tongues, he said:
I shall deliver up these plates unto him, exhorting all men to come unto God, the Holy One of Israel, and believe in prophesying, and in revelations, and in the ministering of angels, and in the gift of speaking with tongues, and in the gift of interpreting languages, and in all things which are good. (Omni 1:25.)
Learning a language isn’t easy. Sometimes we think that is more a condemnation than a blessing, but the reason why learning a language is a blessing, it’s because it comes from God. That means that there is not a better way to learn than with Him. Here at the ELC, we learn from Him through inspiring teachers, who center their teachings in the same way as the College of Life Science, which are the creations of God.
In conclusion, the ELC has a bigger meaning than just learning a language. It is a unique School with an incredible variety of international students that all have one thing in common: Know the truth, and find it by learning the creations of God and His eternal purpose. President Nelson concluded his talk by sharing that there is not a better place where to face or find the questions between science and religion than the College of Life and Science of BYU. Which, compared to the ELC, could also mean that There is not a better place to confront the difficulties, questions, and processes of learning a language, than the English Language Center of Brigham Young University. God believes in us, BYU believes in us and we believe in them.