Elder Bednar speaks at BYU-Idaho devotional, presides at groundbreaking for construction projects

Elder David A. Bednar, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and former president of Brigham Young University-Idaho, taught students and employees about the spiritual principle of gathering during a BYU-Idaho devotional held Tuesday, October 31. Elder Bednar, BYU-Idaho president Kim B. Clark, and other leaders then broke ground for a new auditorium and an expansion of the Hyrum Manwaring Student Center.

The new auditorium and Manwaring Center expansion represent the culmination of plans outlined during the transition from Ricks College to BYU-Idaho. Elder Bednar called the ongoing development of BYU-Idaho over the last few years "one of the most important educational events of the Restoration."

"The physical evidence of that marvelous miracle is found in the new and renovated buildings across the BYU-Idaho campus," Elder Bednar said. "The pace at and effectiveness with which these projects have moved forward defies rational explanation. The planning for and constructing of these new buildings and the remolding of existing facilities on this campus has required faith, inspiration, persistence and patience."

Elder Bednar taught all things are spiritual unto the Lord (D&C 29:34) and observed that the Manwaring Center and the auditorium will share a common spiritual purpose; they will both be primary places of gathering.

"The gathering of Israel is one of the fundamental principles of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ," Elder Bednar said. "The Lord gathers his people when they accept him and keep His commandments. The spirit of gathering is an integral part of the restoration of all things in this the dispensation of the fullness of times."

Elder Bednar used the scriptures to review several basic purposes of gathering, places of gathering and blessings of gathering. He explained how the Lord gathers His people to worship (Mosiah 18:25), to build up the Church (D&C 101:63-64), for a defense (D&C 115:6) and to receive counsel and instruction (Mosiah 18:7).

He named the primary places of gathering as into the Lord's restored Church (D&C 101:64-65), into holy temples (Alma 26:5-6), into stakes of Zion (D&C 109:59) and into families (Mosiah 2:5). He also discussed the blessing of gatherings as blessings of edification (Ephesians 4:12-13), preservation (Moses 7:61) and strength (D&C 82:14).

Elder Bednar taught how the spirit, purposes and blessings of gathering also occur on campus. "At BYU-Idaho you gather to worship the Father in the name of the Son, to build up the Church and the university, to find defense and protection and to receive counsel and instruction." 

Elder Bednar reminded the BYU-Idaho community to be grateful for the sacrifices of members of the Church worldwide who provide the sacred funds to upgrade the campus. 

"Sister Bednar and I returned last week from an assignment in Slovakia and Hungary," Elder Bednar said.  "The people with whom we met in those countries will likely never see or step foot in the remodeled Manwaring Center or the new auditorium. Please do not take these sacred resources, your choice associations and this beautiful campus for granted. Please be grateful for the singular opportunity you have to learn and work here - and for the responsibility that rests upon you as one who has been the recipient of great blessings."

Elder Bednar concluded with a promise to students, faculty, employees, administrators and the community that if they were to be intellectually modest, humble, grateful, obedient, and frugal "this university will shine forth ever brighter as a beacon of righteousness and of inspired educational innovation."

Elder Bednar offered a dedicatory prayer and was joined by President Kim B. Clark and other university and community officials on the land south of the John W. Hart Physical Education Building to break ground for the new auditorium.

The construction projects address two primary areas of university needs: facilities where students can gather together as well as build and inspire one another, and critically needed space for the Activities Program.

The auditorium, with some 15,000 seats, will primarily serve university needs, such as weekly campus devotionals, commencement ceremonies, and a variety of Activities Program events. The Manwaring Center expansion will be constructed on the building's north side, with an enclosed pedestrian connection to the neighboring David O. McKay Library.

In remarks before Elder Bednar's devotional address, President Clark said, "The construction of these two projects will require nothing short of a miracle.  Thus we need to exercise great faith in the Lord.  The Lord has the power to build buildings, but his great power is to build lives of faith, consecration and humility."

Next week's devotional speaker will be Elder Dallin H. Oaks, member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Devotionals are held every Tuesday at 2 p.m. in the Hart Auditorium with additional seating in the Hinckley Chapel, Taylor Chapel and Kirkham Auditorium. Devotionals are broadcast on KBYI-FM 100.5 at 2 p.m. and rebroadcast Tuesday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 5 p.m.