Brothers and Sisters, I'm so excited to have the opportunity to address you this afternoon. How blessed we are to be here at BYUI! Do realize what a blessing it is to receive a higher education? As you've heard many times already, there are so many young people all over the world with little chance of more than the most rudimentary education and no chance at all of a higher education. Did you know that only about 7% of the world's population has a college education?[1] But even more important than a higher education - you can get that in many places - you are here to learn in what has been called a disciple preparation center: to learn of temporal things through the lens of eternity, to strengthen your desire and willingness to serve the Lord by listening for and choosing to be obedient to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. You have the opportunity to begin each class and every activity with prayer and to request the presence of the Holy Ghost to guide your learning. You are on a sacred, dedicated campus where you can blossom and flourish as a disciple of Christ and where you can gain great strength to face and conquer the challenges that lie before you.
Indeed, it is a blessing to be here and how much is hoped for and expected of you! We hope that you will realize that your life is a gift and an opportunity to be an instrument in the hands of the Lord to do much good. Have you ever considered that you will have an increased capacity for the Lord's work because of your experiences here? Will you be ready? Will you have learned what you needed to learn or will you have squandered the time and opportunity? These are sobering questions. What exactly is expected of you? Of course, that varies from person to person, but certainly we all are expected to:
- Be humble and serious in your studies so that you can use your education to provide for a family or use your education to nurture your children,
- Be a light to those around you, wherever you go, that you would be happy, faithful, trustworthy, and humble,
- Serve others, lift the hands that hang down, and demonstrate to those around you that your faith in Christ and His Atonement gives you the strength to serve,
- and you are expected to help build the Kingdom of God here on the earth.
Your education here is not about how much money you'll make in your chosen career. Instead, it is about how you will develop to take advantage of all that is offered you--not only temporally, but also spiritually. Here is fertile ground to grow your soul. Here is a campus surrounded by strong stakes of Zion and a temple of the Lord, a place where you can test your faithfulness and your willingness to serve and learn of your Heavenly Father's great love for you. Your life will become an expression of your love for the Savior. Where much is given, much is required.
I would like to examine four temporal opportunities with eternal consequences that you will find here at BYUI: the honor code, non-proctored exams, learning by the Spirit, and working beyond your capacity.
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First, the honor code is always a subject of much debate among students. For some, it is just a necessary nuisance to be able to attend a church school. For some, it is an annoyance beyond compare. For some, it is an opportunity to sacrifice some small pleasures to be obedient. It is not a sin to wear capris or to wear a two-day stubble. These are simply requirements here at BYUI. The honor code is a test, a self-test which you can pass or fail and you will know your score. You were obedient to the honor code or you were not. When asked about the lack of adherence and/or enforcement to the dress and grooming standards by some students, President Clark has repeatedly stated, "We don't need more enforcement of the honor code. We need more obedience." There are many reasons that students break the honor code, and most are not acts of defiance. But whether it is broken by defiance, ignorance, or for other reasons, the rule is still broken and obedience is not given. You will not endanger your eternal salvation by breaking the honor code, but you will have lost an opportunity to show your appreciation for your opportunity to be here.
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Non-proctored exams is another subject of debate among many on campus. Some students appreciate the convenience of unproctored tests. Some think there is not enough oversight to ensure fairness. Though cheating on exams, homework, and projects should never happen among students here at BYUI, sometimes it does. Students sometimes forget who they are or choose to ignore that and in the heat of the moment make mistakes. No test or grade is so important that you should sacrifice your integrity for it. Every unproctored test you take is an opportunity to strengthen your honesty and integrity. Every homework assignment, group project, online course you take, or paper you write is an opportunity to be honest. Any work with your name on it should be your work. It should not be plagiarized or copied from a friend or website. If you use someone else's ideas, you should give them credit by using citations. You should not share homework or electronic files unless your professor explicitly says you can. These are simple things that when repeated over time will give you the strength to face the epidemic of dishonesty that is rampant in the world today.
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Perhaps you are here at an institution of higher learning so that you can learn principles of the temporal world that will help you secure a good and meaningful job when you graduate. Even more than that, you are here to learn to think. You are here to learn to think critically and develop your God-given intelligence. How do you learn? Who is the source of all learning? Of course, the Holy Spirit. Did you know that you can learn to learn by the Holy Spirit? Elder David A. Bednar gave a wonderful talk[2] in February of 2006 about learning by the Spirit. If you haven't already read it, I hope you will. He talks about the responsibility of the learner to act and to allow the Holy Spirit to bring the truth of what is being taught into the heart of the learner. He talks about how faith is a principle actor in the learning experience. Faith leads to action and the results of our action affirmed by the Holy Spirit give us courage to try again in an ever-expanding upward spiral. Using the Spirit to help you discern truth is a skill that you can develop while here at BYUI. We invite the Spirit into every classroom and we seek to connect eternal principles with your learning. There are devotionals every week dedicated to growing your faith and teaching you of God's love. The Spirit is a tremendous blessing from a Father in Heaven who wants you to succeed in your studies. By learning to learn by the Spirit while you are here, you will always have that blessing with you wherever you are and in whatever circumstance you find yourself. Whether it's a new job, a new child, or a new environment, you will know how to call on the Spirit to teach you what you need to know to succeed.
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You have been given a great opportunity to grow closer to the Lord as you study here at BYUI. Of course you'll start each class with prayer and you'll attend inspiring devotionals that will bring you closer to the Lord. But beyond that, you will face enormous challenges that will cause you to seek the Lord's assistance, if you are wise. Not only will you take harder and harder classes, you will hold important church callings, and you may choose to be involved in any of the hundreds of student activities that are available here. In addition to these undertakings, have you considered that the semesters here are only 13 weeks? That means that you will have to learn in 13 weeks here what you would have learned in 16-17 weeks at another university. Your classes will not run as they did in high school. You will cover material at lightning speed and be expected to learn much of it yourself. You may feel overwhelmed and discouraged. Learn to always, always do your best at everything you do--whether it is school, a job, a family or a church calling. Always, always do your best and then rely on the Lord to help you make up the difference. Of course, if you don't really do your best, you can hardly expect the Lord to fill in your gaps. But I can testify that He even does that sometimes. He wants you to succeed. He wants you to be the best person you can be. You have an ally and a friend in the Savior and He will help you if you do your best to help yourself.
Of course, all things temporal point to things eternal. The temporal lessons you learn here will all help point you in the direction of the temple. Here is a proving ground where you and the Lord can test your willingness to make and keep eternal covenants with the Lord in his temple. Let's examine the eternal consequences of the four temporal opportunities I have already mentioned.
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Take, for instance, the honor code we spoke of earlier. The dress and grooming standards are here to give you the opportunity to follow the counsel given and be obedient to the code of behavior you signed when you came here. Your adherence to the dress and grooming standards displays your willingness to follow those chosen by a prophet of the Lord to lead you. They are small things, but they allow you to show yourself and they display to everyone around you your level of commitment. Yes, more is required of you because so much more is provided for you to learn and become true disciples of Jesus Christ. Elder Bednar said,
My dear young brothers and sisters, the honor and dress codes are not obstacles designed by out-of-touch old people to hassle you during your time on the Ricks College campus. Rather, the honor code is a lesser law preparation to enter the house of the Lord and make sacred covenants, and the dress code is a lesser law preparation for how you will dress and should act after you have entered into those covenants. If you struggle at Ricks College to obey the lesser and preparatory guidelines contained in the honor and dress codes, then may I candidly suggest that you will not be prepared to make those covenants in the temple.
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Honesty and integrity are hallmarks of followers of Christ. Henry Eyring, the Advancement Vice-President, said, "Life is an unproctored test. There is no one watching to keep an employee from embezzling funds or a parent from failing to nurture a child; part of the challenge of performing well in the workplace or the home is doing so on one's honor. A university education that doesn't test for this kind of honor is of lower quality than it could be.
The world would reply, "Yes, these are all of these good reasons for un-proctored tests; but what about the risk of cheating?" At BYU-Idaho we have an answer. It was given more than one hundred years ago by Karl G. Maeser, one of the founders of BYU. He said this:
I have been asked what I mean by 'word of honor'. I will tell you. Place me behind prison walls--walls of stone ever so high, ever so thick, ever so far into the ground--there is a possibility that in some way or another I may escape; but stand me on the floor and draw a line of chalk around me and have me give my word of honor never to cross it. Can I get out of the circle? No. Never! I'd die first.
Our lives are not just lived for fun. Each of us has a purpose and has come here to accomplish eternal goals. The covenants we make with the Lord in the temple are demanding and serious and not to be taken lightly. Young people sometimes make temple covenants without realizing the seriousness of the commitment required of them. The covenants that you make with the Lord in the temple are binding in time and eternity. If you are deliberately honest in all you do here, you will be developing a strong sense of integrity and your word of honor will provide strength and security as you serve the Lord, both inside the temple and out. While you are here at BYUI, we are trying to provide you opportunities to live a higher standard to prepare you to live a life which is acceptable to the Lord as one who has covenanted with Him in the temple. The Lord expects much from His temple patrons.
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What about learning by the Spirit? Not only is learning to access the guidance of the Holy Spirit a temporal blessing, it has enormous eternal consequences. By recognizing that you are to act to obtain truth, you will know that no one will be responsible for your testimony besides you. Your testimony can be strengthened by others, but if you want to know truth of a spiritual nature just as with temporal things, you will have to act to obtain it. You will have learned that acting with faith empowers the Spirit to enlighten you. Elder Richard G. Scott gave a devotional on February 24, 2004 entitled, To Live Well Amid Worldly Decay, in which he asked students to respond to various statements without knowing beforehand what they would be. He said that the willingness to act and respond would give the Holy Spirit permission to guide their thoughts and inspire them. He also said,
It is a process that takes time to master, but its rewards are eternal in that you come to know the voice of the Spirit and can heed it forever.
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Are you feeling overwhelmed? As I mentioned, your classes will become harder, the demands on your time will increase, you may have responsibilities at work or with a family that demand extra time that you might want for study or leisure. How are you supposed to do all that is expected of you? You can do all that is expected of you and much, much more if you choose, through the power and Atonement of Jesus Christ. An interesting thing about the Atonement: though living your life is not all about you, the Atonement is all about each one of us individually. Christ atoned and died for each of us, for me and for you. In this unfathomable act, He delivered me and you from eternal damnation and provides strength for and relief from the trials we face. His act was to save us and to succor us. Why? He did it to be obedient to His Father and because He loves us. He loves me and He loves you. Do you know for sure that He loves you, or is it something you have heard many times but you're not really sure? Because of the experiences I have had over a lifetime, I can say without reservation or condition that I know my Savior lived and died for me and that He has strengthened me to carry whatever burden I have had to bear. He has loved me and taken care of me all the days of my life, though I didn't always see it as clearly as I do now. He loves you. It is the most powerful message of all time. When we realize the unbelievable power and mercy that accompanies his great love for us, we can truly begin to pattern our lives after His and become faithful and fruitful servants in His kingdom.
President Clark, when he first came to BYUI, said to the faculty, "We must work beyond our capacities. We must rely on the Spirit and the power of the Atonement. Working together we will know that it is the Lord who is accomplishing His work here." I testify that if you will call on your Heavenly Father when you are feeling overwhelmed that He will indeed lift you and help you accomplish the things you need to do. And in the end, you will know that it was the power of the Atonement and the direction of the Holy Ghost that brought you through. These kinds of experiences teach humility - not something most young people dwell on very much. I know I never did. But humility is the key to being teachable and our Savior needs teachable hearts to do His work.
We just celebrated Pioneer Day a few weeks ago. May I share my own pioneer-like experience with you when I went back to grad school? At the time, I was newly divorced with 3 children and living in North Carolina. Through many sleepless nights, I made the decision to take my kids and go to Utah State to finish a masters and PhD in Mathematics so I could teach at a university. We started across the country in an old Oldsmobile station wagon, which didn't get out of Tennessee before it started having problems. The trip was one adventure after another until we finally reached Logan and marveled at the beauty of the place. We were especially amazed at the number of LDS churches; it seemed like one on every corner. We were all excited to start over and make Logan home for a while. We were alone, I and three kids, and 2000 miles from any family that I had. I had no support group but the members of my ward. A part of me was terrified that I might fail and what would we do then. We certainly had no money to get back to the east coast.
I studied and studied for my classes, taught classes as a TA, and tried to be both mother and father to my children. It was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. There were many, many nights when I cried myself to sleep, begging the Lord to help me get through. I really did try to do my best, and though my efforts didn't always seem very effective, I did learn some Mathematics and my children survived. I know that there were times when the Lord held me up by my arms and gave me strength when I had none. I know that there were times when I couldn't remember something on a test and then it would come to my mind or I would remember how to figure it out on the spot. I can honestly tell you that I worked well beyond my capacity and that I relied on the Spirit and the power of the Atonement to complete my work there. I know how I got through the program, on my knees and by the blessings of a loving Heavenly Father who wanted me to succeed as much as I did.
As I've had time to reflect over the years since then, I can see that the Lord has been beside me in every trial and in every success. I have never seen a burning bush. I've only audibly heard a voice speak to me once in my life and that was a life-threatening situation that called for immediate action. Instead, I have tried to figure out what was the best thing to do and sought confirmation by prayer. Sometimes, foolishly, I haven't waited for an answer. Sometimes, I've felt like I wasn't really sure what was best, but I've learned without a doubt that the Lord would take care of us and that has built my faith to move forward and how the blessings have showered down!
You will have many opportunities for amazing spiritual growth here. Will you take them and become a fruitful tree in God's vineyard and produce an hundred fold or sixty fold or thirty fold, or will you turn away sorrowfully like the rich young ruler who chose other things to focus on? It is a thrill to be out from under your parent's watchful eyes and free to manage your own life. In your excitement to live your life, please remember that it is only when you do your utmost best to be a disciple of Jesus Christ that you will really be happy. It is only when you live your life in the service of the Master and your fellow man that you will find real joy. And then, how the Lord will bless you!
We are so blessed, both you and I, to be here where we have so many opportunities to learn life's most important lessons and where we can focus on and learn them in a dedicated and prepared setting. We hope you will grow strong here and then go out to stand tall and pierce the darkness around you with the Light of Christ. My message to you today is a message of joy and gratitude and of hope. Just as the Lord has loved me and taken care of my family and so richly blessed my life, He will just as surely bless yours. His promises are real. Practice obedience while you're here; strengthen your integrity while you're here; learn to learn by the Spirit while you are here; and always do your best to do whatever is required of you and trust in the Lord for the rest. Where much is given, much is required... and then so much more is given. This is my testimony in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Notes
[1] "If The World Were 100 People." 100 People: A World Portrait, 2012. http://www.100people.org/statistics_100stats.php?section=statistics
[2] "Seek Learning by Faith," David A. Bednar, February 3, 2006