Elder Anthony D. Perkins speaks at BYU devotional, challenges students to be peculiar
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- Elder Anthony D. Perkins speaks during a devotional Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, at the Marriott Center in Provo.
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- Elder Anthony D. Perkins speaks during a devotional Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, at the Marriott Center in Provo.
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- Elder Anthony D. Perkins speaks during a devotional Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, at the Marriott Center in Provo.
At Brigham Young University’s weekly devotional Dec. 3, Elder Anthony D. Perkins of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reminded students they are “peculiar people” and challenged them to overcome social fears that may keep them from living church rules.
In doing so, he brought up four commandments he said differentiated members of the church from the world: the Word of Wisdom, tithing, the Sabbath Day and moral cleanliness.
“Am I willing to be judged as peculiar or odd in the eyes of the world? … Am I willing to become a peculiar or valued treasure belonging to Heavenly Father and his Son Jesus Christ?” Perkins asked students.
Inside the Marriott Center on the second-to-last devotional of the fall semester, Perkins, the current church area president of the Middle East and Africa, expanded on his message by sharing his own experiences of when he stood out as a peculiar person yet managed to stay firm in his faith.
As a new associate early in his professional career, Perkins said he struggled with attending a weekly four-hour meeting on Sundays. When speaking with the managing partner, he admitted as much, telling him the Sabbath Day was for “God and our family.” From then on, his project leader rearranged the meeting so Perkins’ Sundays were free.
Later in his career, Perkins said, he was sent to China, where he was advised that, in order to be successful, he had to take clients to karaoke bars and drink “a lot of alcohol.” He chose not to and said he still found success.
“You may be tempted to break the Word of Wisdom to fit in socially, try something new or obtain a work promotion,” he said. “You may think that just a little sip will not hurt. I assure you that it will — spiritually and perhaps physically as well. I testify the Lord will bless you with ‘wisdom and great treasures’ as you choose to be peculiar in joyfully living the Word of Wisdom.”
Perkins also encouraged students to prioritize finding someone to marry and having children, saying marriage should be the cornerstone to life and should not be delayed in pursuit of career success.
He said becoming a peculiar person and keeping the commandments would bring spiritual strength and joy.
“If we choose to joyfully keep our covenants with the Lord — and are willing to be judged by the world as a peculiar people — then Jesus Christ will claim us as his peculiar or valued treasure when he pleads our cause before the Father,” Perkins said.
Sister J. Anette Dennis, first counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency, will speak in the final BYU devotional of the 2024 fall semester at 11 a.m. Tuesday.
