BYU-Idaho President Henry J. Eyring and Sister Kelly C. Eyring spoke to students in a devotional on Tuesday.
Sister Eyring began her remarks by expressing her love for the students. She then spoke of the importance of challenges to facilitate growth, especially during the upcoming semester.
“We can be sure that there will be opportunities to grow and experience joy,” Sister Eyring said. “If you think about any time in your life that you have really felt joy, it is because you have overcome something that might have seemed difficult or maybe even felt impossible.”
When speaking about the devotional in a recent interview with BYU-Idaho Radio, Sister Eyring reflected on her time serving alongside President Eyring as mission leaders in Japan.
“I felt heaven’s help in overcoming my initial fear,” she said.
Sister Eyring also spoke about the importance of reaching out to others and treating ourselves and our neighbors with kindness.
“We are a family here at BYU-Idaho,” she said. “I hope you will be watching out for each other, looking for opportunities to smile or lift one another. That is a way we can honor our Heavenly Father.”
When her children come to her with struggles, Sister Eyring often councils them to look outward and serve others.
To illustrate how we can work to lift and serve those around us, even when we might be different from one another, Sister Eyring shared the story of Peach and Blue. Blue helped Peach see the world in ways she could not alone, and although they were different, the two became good friends.
In the interview, Sister Eyring shared her experience of becoming close friends with a roommate during college. They had different interests and religions, but they became close friends.
“We were two very different young women,” she said. “But we had a wonderful friendship, and I am so grateful for that time. She really taught me to see things differently as we talked in our room together and I came to really love her for what she stood for and what she believed.”
President Eyring began his message by expressing gratitude for vaccines, guidance from church leaders and medical professionals and cooperation from students and community members.
When interviewed, he said gratitude is important during this time.
“You can look at it as the glass half full or the glass half empty,” President Eyring said.
He cited the consequences of the Spanish Flu in comparison to COVID-19.
“There are five times as many people population wise that died in that pandemic because we didn’t have those vaccines,” President Eyring said. “So, you can see what you choose to see.”
During his address President Eyring quoted the Savior’s council to be one; ‘I say unto you, be one; and if ye are not one ye are not mine.’
He has noticed that at BYU-Idaho is a place where there is very little competition, and lots of examples of students striving to love one another.
When speaking about the importance of honor, President Eyring told the story of Elder Robert D. Hales, as an inspiring example of an honorable life.
In his devotional address, President Eyring cited Adam and Eve, Noah, Moses and Joseph Smith as examples of, “doing the right things when the costs seem too high or even unfair,” and receiving blessings as a result.
“Certainly, the greatest sacrifice for honor was our Savior’s bravery in confronting the Jewish Scribes and Pharisees,” President Eyring said. “…His honor and the mission given by His Father in Heaven required Him to stand firm, knowing the consequences.”