Letters to the Editor
Students need to ask what the Lord wants
I’m tired of the back-and-forth bickering of married students concerning the change in insurance. I’m a married student myself, and I have my point of view along with all of the married students.
One major thing that I think married students in general are forgetting to do is ask, “What does the Lord want? What is my personal revelation? Do I sustain and believe that President Hinckley is the prophet of this church? If so, do I remember that through the prophet’s direction, President Clark is called to the position that he is in now?”
Remember that President Clark took a huge pay cut to come and direct this university! Think of it logically, using both your mind and spirit.
Remember the council that every individual receives from Nephi that states, “I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm” (2 Nephi 4:34). In other words, Nephi is saying that he will not rely on just his own logic, but he will rely on the Lord.
Remember that personal revelation is a personal thing! Neither you nor I can receive personal revelation for another.
President James E. Faust said, “If worthy, we are entitled to receive revelations for ourselves, parents for their children, and members of the Church in their callings. But the right of revelation for others does not extend beyond our own stewardship.” (“Communion with the Holy Spirit,” Ensign, Mar. 2002, 2–7)
I hope and pray that we as married students will remember and hearken to the words of prophets and apostles both past and present in receiving personal revelation concerning the subject of married student insurance. I hope that we will act on our personal revelation but remember we cannot force our personal revelation
on others.
Allison Elison
junior
Gilbert, Ariz
Waiver conditions should be available
Recently, my daughter, a married sophomore and soon-to-be mother at BYU-I, asked that I look at the new Student Health Plan and offer my thoughts. As page one of the plan guide says, the premiums are “relatively low.” I know this is true because I purchase health benefits for employees as part of my work.
Relatively, however, is a relative term. If the choice a student father has to make is to ask his wife to work while raising his child in order to afford the coverage and thus stay in school, then the true cost is to choose between the counsel of a loving Heavenly Father that mothers not work outside of their home, or the mandate of a university to buy DMBA.
That a student must have insurance is reasonable today, but that she/he is compelled to buy it from a single provider is not. She and her husband have thoughtfully exercised their agency in a responsible way, purchasing private insurance some time ago. Perhaps her case would qualify for a waiver; is there a list of waiver conditions?
Admittedly, I am uninformed as to reasons for the mandated insurance, but sure that there are good reasons that kindly motivated and intelligent leaders have established it. From a distance, however, it seems the university should publish a complete list of acceptable waiver conditions so that this one form of relief is not seen as being arbitrarily applied, but uniformly.
Then, perhaps, trust should guide, not the underwriters’ demands, as students exercise agency in selecting what serves their needs, either within or outside of the university plan. Let them “be taught correct principles and govern themselves.”
Brent White
Twin Falls, Idaho
Student says “thanks” for insurance changes
I have been reading complaint after complaint about the insurance change, but I, for one, am grateful for it.
Due to recent changes in semester length and scholarship requirements, I have to go part-time at work. This will cause me to be no longer eligible to get insurance at work.
My family was very worried about the previous cost of school insurance, especially with me being the single breadwinner. However, with the inspired leadership of this college, the change was made for the better for my family.
I am also very thrilled about the size of the deductible. This way those who use and possibly over-use the insurance will pay the most. My family will be spared most of the expenses others will cause.
How can I not be grateful? I also do not believe that I am alone. For those of us who are grateful, I think the leaders who made the decision should be told, “Thank you so much.”
Damion Judkins
junior
Las Vegas, Nev.
Families should be able to make decisions
I have been very disappointed by the verbal attacks aimed at married students who do not support the insurance decision made by the university.
We have been labeled illogical, lacking in critical thinking skills, and controlled by our emotions. Several have gone so far as to question our faith and encourage us to seek our education elsewhere.
Did anyone stop to think that maybe this has become such a large issue because of our faith? My husband and I have prayed, and tried to accept this decision and support it. We went to the temple so we could think and receive inspiration in the Lord’s house, yet we still have not felt any peace.
I am against this decision because I have not felt that it is inspired by the Lord to help the students at this university and because it is not meant to benefit myself or my family.
I may be wrong, yet I have not heard the administration say once that this decision was prayed over and taken to the Lord. We were told at the meeting with administration that the numbers had been gone over thoroughly and checked and rechecked, but the Lord was never mentioned as the inspiration for this decision.
We have been told by General Authorities and the prophet of God to be self-reliant, and my family currently is. We have no need of aid from the university for our health insurance. But when we switch over to DMBA as a family and need to get any dental work, physical therapy or work from specialists, we may need to ask for financial aid from the university, when we wouldn’t have before, because these services are covered by our current provider.
I want to support the administration. I know that President Clark is the best that we can have on our campus right now. And I believe that every student has the right to health insurance. But let us decide what is right for our family from the personal revelation we receive according to our faith.
Grace Rindlisbacher
senior
Anaheim Hills, Calif.
Insurance policy stinks, poetically speaking
Because the girl I chose to marry
at the “I” did choose to tarry
a plan is thrust upon us, which
is for our good, but there’s a hitch:
Our agency it disallows
and burdens those with marital vows.
There have been some wise entreaties,
(like, “It don’t cover diabetes”
or “what about the self-employed?”)
but the answers leave me under-joyed:
“One-size-fits-all!” “It’s for your own good!”
“Tough luck!” “Sayonara!” “Just knock on wood!”
When Admin. and I do disjoint,
I wonder if I’ve missed the point.
If this is built on doctrinal land,
teach me so I’ll understand,
but this contention just won’t do.
Convincingly campaign or throw the shoe!
Jay M. Alley
alumnus
Rexburg
Whining about Honor Code reflects attitudes
People’s whining about the Honor Code says a lot more about them than it does about the policies here at BYU-Idaho. I don’t see the Honor Code as being terribly restrictive.
I can’t imagine a freshman coming to campus, reading the Honor Code and saying to him or herself, “Oh man, now I have to stop being a coffee-drinking fornicator and cover my body.” Really, the Honor Code should have been, for the most part, a part of our lives long before we came here.
The Honor Code doesn’t restrict our agency. We can still choose whether or not we stay out all night. It’s just that here, the consequences are more immediate.
I believe the Honor Code to be inspired by God and easy to follow, especially when I reflect on the more serious code we covenant to live in the temple.
Charlotte Goga
senior
Rexburg
