March 2025 Devotional
Sister Shima Baughman
Woodruff J. Deem Professor of Law, BYU Law School
"Guardians of Divine Agency"
The video will premiere on Friday, March 7 at 10 a.m. (MST/UTC-7).
About the Speaker
Shima Baughman is the Woodruff J. Deem Professor of Law at BYU Law School and a distinguished fellow at Wheatley Institute. She earned her juris doctorate from BYU Law School and started her legal teaching career at BYU in 2010. In 2013, she joined the faculty at the University of Utah Law School, where she taught for 10 years and served as associate dean of Faculty Research and Development. Her work has been heavily cited and featured in top media outlets throughout the U.S. She lives with her husband Ryan and five children in Salt Lake City.
Instructions for Discussion
Below are suggested questions you can ask students to reflect on to help with your discussion. You may be inspired to ask different questions based on the needs of your group.
- What is agency?
- Sister Baughman said, "[God] did not and does not use His power to stop us from choosing other paths. Indeed, God wants us to obey because we love and trust Him, not because we are compelled or fear Him." Why does God want our motivation to be love and not fear?
- How does obedience to God's commandments help us retain or even obtain more agency over time?
- Sister Baughman said, "As I reflect on the love Jesus Christ has for every one of us, I realize it is incomprehensible. It is immeasurable." How have you felt the love of Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father in your life? How has this love helped you through difficult times?