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By Joel Randall, Church News
Young Woman General President Bonnie H. Cordon has a favorite life hack. But instead of originating from the internet, this tip comes from the Bible because, she said, “turning to the scriptures for a life hack is much more reliable than social media.”
The life hack? Two verses from the Old Testament: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
This passage in Proverbs 3:5-6, said President Cordon, “includes three important elements: first an invitation, a warning and a promise” — all of which invite readers to lean on the Lord’s guidance in their journeys.
The Lord “is eager to guide us if we will trust Him,” she added.
“I can’t think of anyone better to direct my life than our Savior Jesus Christ.”
President Cordon taught BYU–Idaho students and staff in the college’s second devotional of the winter 2023 semester on Tuesday, January 17. She spoke about commending oneself to the Lord and following His divine direction to reach full potential.
The Babies of the 2000s
Quoting from Frank W. Boreham, a Baptist preacher from England, President Cordon shared that many in 1809 focused their attention on battles in Europe. But not as many were aware of the births of heroes — like Abraham Lincoln and Alfred Tennyson — in the same year.
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Young Women General President Bonnie H. Cordon speaks Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023, at BYU–Idaho’s second devotional of winter semester 2023, in the I-Center in Rexburg, Idaho. Photo by Michael Lewis, BYU–Idaho, courtesy of Church News.All rights reserved.
“Which of the battles of 1809 mattered more than the babies of 1809?” President Cordon quoted from Boreham. “We fancy that God can only manage His world by big battalions … when all the while He is doing it by beautiful babies.”
President Cordon showed the photos of three babies born in 1940, the same year the Battle of France began and the Battle of Britain was fought. These photos, she revealed, were of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf and Elder Quentin L. Cook, who are all now members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. “Which of the battles of 1940 mattered more,” President Cordon asked, “than the babies of 1940?”
She testified that those in the congregation can also live up to their full potential as they recognize Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ know and love them.
“You are a force for good or ill depending on the roads you choose and the vision you see for yourself,” President Cordon said, “the vision God sees of you.”
Trusting in the Lord’s Blueprint
President Cordon told the story of the brother of Jared, who was commanded in Ether 2:16 to build barges “according to the instructions of the Lord.” Yet these instructions lacked information on light to see, air to breathe and ability to steer. “Why would a perfect God give them an incomplete blueprint?” President Cordon asked.
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Young Women General President Bonnie H. Cordon speaks Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023, at BYU–Idaho’s second devotional of winter semester 2023, in the I-Center in Rexburg, Idaho. Photo by Michael Lewis, BYU–Idaho, courtesy of Church News.All rights reserved.
The Lord, she concluded, may have done this to strengthen faith: “Maybe it wasn’t all about the light and the air, but the lack thereof was the opportunity for the brother of Jared to come to know Jesus Christ better as he sought revelation and more direction through prayer and diligent doing. Through this process, my friends, he came to know Jesus Christ.”
In Ether 6:4, the Jaredites “commend[ed] themselves unto the Lord their God,” putting their faith in God’s ability to allow a safe delivery across the waters. In the darkness and fierce winds of today’s difficulties, President Cordon said, one can similarly choose to trust in the Lord to direct one’s path.
She said, “Our trials, struggles and concerns may be the very catalyst for us to come to know our Savior better as we trust Him with all our hearts, commending ourselves to the Lord.” She saw this catalyst years ago as a college student.
‘Why Did He Not Direct My Path?’
Her last year studying at BYU in Provo, Utah, President Cordon was on track to become an elementary school teacher. But during her student teaching, she realized she didn’t like being in the classroom.
“Didn’t the Lord know that about me?” she said. “Why did He not direct my path to another major?”
As she prayed about this, “eventually a sweet peace came to [her] mind and heart: ‘Finish your degree, Bonnie, and you will have a career journey of joy.’” Despite not understanding the prompting at first, she decided to put her trust in Christ every day.
She admits there have been “tears, trials and uncertainty” — but looking back, she recognizes that the Lord has not only directed her paths but also walked with her through them.
“I didn’t know where life would take me as a graduating senior in college,” President Cordon said, “but I had faith. Faith enough to say, ‘I commend myself to Thee, Lord. I want to be about Your work.’ That one choice led me to a life of far greater joy than any career ever could have.”
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