K: We're glad to be with you at devotional today. Our theme is natural leadership, the special form of leadership that President Henry B. Eyring has identified as the heritage of BYU-Idaho students and alumni. We appreciate the preparations many of you have made by participating on the devotional website. That will help us enjoy a richer learning experience.
H: There is no better place than BYU-Idaho to pursue a college education. As a BYU-Idaho student you can qualify for President Eyring's remarkable prophecy that, "The day will come that [your] capacity to influence people around you for good will have you singled out as one of the great leaders in whatever place you're in."[1]
K: President Eyring was able to make this prophecy because BYU-Idaho is unusually focused on its students, a rare quality highlighted in a recent Deseret News editorial. Everyone here is focused on your success as a student and a future "natural leader" in the Church and the world.
H: That includes not only your professors and other academic mentors, but all university employees. In fact, your team of academic supporters also extends to your fellow students, your parents, and even your ward members. In addition, there are thousands of BYU-Idaho and Ricks College graduates around the world who have committed to support you.
K: We know from experience what wonderful things are possible at this great school. Our three oldest children are BYU-Idaho graduates. We can see in their lives the fulfillment of the leadership prophecy of their grandfather.
H: Today we want to explore the things you can do to make the most of the marvelous opportunities here, as our children did. You should know that success will require your full, focused effort. Of course, we're ready to help you with valuable university resources. If you make the most of them, you're very likely to succeed. However, it's up to you to determine your destiny as a BYU-Idaho student.
K: Notwithstanding the great, global team supporting you, college is hard and sometimes overwhelming, even at BYU-Idaho. I'd like to invite Ashley Pereira to join me from Salt Lake City. Ashley is an online student this semester, studying Psychology. Ashley, can you tell us about your initial experiences at BYU-Idaho? What unexpected challenges did you face?
Ashley: I had recently returned from my mission and was going through the infamous post-mission phase. I felt lost, in my education and my social life, I was feeling homesick for my mission, I missed speaking Spanish and I especially missed the Mexican food.
K: Those experiences must have been disappointing and even frightening. What did you do?
Ashley: Luckily God knew me and my needs and so that semester to my surprise, I lived only a few apartments away from one of my mission companions. We were able to befriend and support one-another through that semester. Also, I was able to take a Latin Culture class that I loved with Brother Greg Palmer. He was kind and patient, and he taught me so much about Latin America. These two factors combined helped me to feel like I was still connected to my mission, while also moving forward
K: Thanks, Ashley. I'm so glad you had the courage to reach out to friends and professors. I wish that I'd sought help sooner when I was a student at BYU, in Provo. I worked my way through college as a dance instructor. I loved the work, and it supported Henry and me financially when we were newly married. But my grades suffered, particularly after I became pregnant with our first child, Emily.
H: I was busy with my graduate studies and didn't recognize Kelly's silent suffering. When she finally confided her distress, I immediately recommended that she seek help, as I had done when I got into academic trouble as a junior in high school. (That's a story for another time.)
K: Henry suggested that I meet with my professors and set an appointment for academic advising. I didn't know how to respond. Unlike him, I'd never had trouble in school. It had never occurred to me that there were people who could help me create an academic plan for graduating before the baby came. And I was afraid of talking with my professors. I assumed that they were busy and might not be sympathetic or helpful.
H: I finally woke up to the need to help Kelly with cooking meals and cleaning our apartment. I also suggested that she quit her job and focus on graduating. That meant taking out student loans. But, after prayerful consideration, we decided that it was the right thing to do at that critical time.
K: I'm very grateful for the help I received in finishing my college education. I discovered the university's academic advising and tutoring centers. And my professors proved more understanding and helpful than I expected. They didn't change my past grades, but they showed me how to study more effectively, and they built my self-confidence. I also received crucial counsel from an academic advisor, who pointed out an overlooked course required for graduation. I had to take sixteen credits in that final semester, while battling the nausea and fatigue of pregnancy. But our daughter Emily and I made it across the stage at graduation, one month before her birth.
H: I'd like to ask Professor Kendall Grant to join me at the pulpit. Some of you know Brother Grant as a wonderful member of our English department. But I knew him as my talented classmate and star athlete at Rexburg's Lincoln Elementary and Madison Junior High School. I wasn't surprised to learn that he joined the faculty at Ricks College, where his father was a renowned athletic coach and administrator when we were kids. Brother Grant, how do you feel about Kelly's story of fearing to reach out to her professors for guidance and help?
Kendall: I think many adults naturally resist asking for help. That inaction usually results in some lonely suffering. You know last night, my 4-year-old grandson came for supper and a family home evening of chopping and stacking wood. I cannot number how many questions he asked in that three hours. Interestingly enough, he got what he needed, most of what he wanted, and he brought a joy to the evening that we would not have experienced otherwise.
I think it is the same for BYU-Idaho. When honest questions by students, administrators, faculty, and staff, lead to honest understanding and wisdom, powerful teaching and learning experiences occur and a joy ensues. In fact, it gives many the opportunity to keep baptismal covenants, to act like the Savior, to become like the Savior.
H: Thanks, Kendall. You personify what was called The Spirit of Ricks when we were kids. Today we still enjoy that spirit of love and concern at BYU-Idaho, thanks to you and so many others, not only faculty members but all employees and many students.
K: I'd like to add a mother's testimony of the goodness of BYU-Idaho's team of professionals, particularly faculty members such as Brother Grant. While Henry and I were serving a mission with our family in Tokyo, we sent Emily, our oldest child, to BYU-Idaho, a place she nor I had ever seen.
H: I suggested that Emily enroll in Brother Grant's freshman English course. He not only reached out to Emily in the classroom, but also invited her to dinner at his home.
K: I was surprised and deeply grateful to have a BYU-Idaho faculty member caring for my daughter when I couldn't be there for her. In fact, Brother Grant continued to minister to Emily after she finished his class in the fall of 2005. That proved true even after we moved from Tokyo to Rexburg, in 2006. When Emily married, several years after graduating from BYU-Idaho, Brother Grant brought a wedding gift to Henry's office: a handmade vase and two cups, both beautifully painted.
H: Kendall's ministry to students apparently never ends. Just this past May, Emily received a custom-crafted card from Kendall and his wife, Susan, who also teaches at the university. They wrote this:
K: [Reading the card] "Just a note to tell you that we are cheering for you! Every time I see a boat, I think of the water-skiing metaphor we talked about when you came to BYU-Idaho. There are many days when we seem to be dragged around the lake with our noses under water. It makes all of us smile on those days when we get up and can just enjoy the skiing. Thank you for helping me learn from that metaphor."
H: [Reading the card] "We love you! The longer we teach, the more we learn--the most important understanding we have gained from you and other students is a love for the Savior. Because we can see perfectly through Him, it is more than okay to be who we are right now. We are exactly who God wanted us to be so that we can learn and grow toward Him as we help each other in this imperfect world."
K: As remarkable as this story is, Brother Grant was just one of many BYU-Idaho employees, Church leaders, and fellow students who reached out to Emily; the same was true of Henry Christian and Sarah, who followed Emily to BYU-Idaho. Many of those relationships remain strong even now, years after they graduated.
H: The tradition of special attention and help for BYU-Idaho students dates back to Ricks College days. Two of my brothers, Matthew and John, started their college education at Ricks. Both of them loved Ricks College. Matthew credits the wonderful people of this campus with providing the foundation for his success in life. In particular, our colleagues in the tutoring center helped Matthew with a calculus class that almost got the better of him.
[Video clip of Matthew discussing help received]
K: I'm grateful for Matthew's courage to share that personal story. Now I'll invite Catherine Molina to join me. Catherine is an online student joining us from New York. Catherine, what have you learned about succeeding in college? Have you had experiences like Matthew's or mine?
Catherine: Most definitely, I have learned that college success can come by having the wisdom to seek help as well as answering the call of those who seek our help. You also never know what more will come from helping another classmate. You may just end up making lasting friendships out of the most unexpected scenarios.
For example: a few weeks ago, I graduated from an EKG course. On my last day, one of the students asked me if she could borrow my notes to help her study for her national certification. I was in a rush to head home but I also had a couple of questions of my own to ask my professor. I was really annoyed that she was taking up the time that I could have used to help myself. Anyway, I helped her, got the answers that I needed from my professor and the best part is that eventually I gained a friend. She was so grateful that she bought me lunch and offered to help take care of my son if I ever needed time to study.
As I share this experience, a scripture comes to mind, "where much is given much is required" and "Are we not all beggars?" Don't we all cry out for help...?".
I noticed that just like we need to forgive others to retain a remission of our sins, we also need to teach others in order to retain what we've studied into our long-term memory.
Through service and diligent studying and rehearsing with my peers in study groups, I've become the kind of student that I always wanted to be. I'm a 34 yr old single mom back at square one in college. Back in 2000, as a 17-year-old freshman at Ricks College, I found myself elated at the idea that I could hang out with friends who shared my same values. I grew up in NY where although I shared great memories with my classmates, I didn't get to participate in as many activities with them because they usually involved things that were contrary to our gospel values. Throughout my first two years here I served in the student body, was active in my student ward, and participated in service projects. I became so involved socially that I neglected my studies and my grades eventually suffered. I never figured out how to balance social life and school life. I was placed on academic probation twice and was eventually academically suspended. So, I figured that since I had always wanted to serve a mission that I might as well go then since I would no longer be in school. After returning home from my mission an unfortunate series of events led me down to inactivity in the church. Years passed by and I lucked out in landing a successful career in Arizona despite my lack of a college degree. I rubbed shoulders with coworkers with master's degrees but they didn't know that I didn't have a college degree at all. Due to a family emergency, I eventually needed to return home to NY and abandon all that I had obtained for myself out there. Unfortunately, without that college degree, I struggled to find employment to provide for my son and me. So, that's when I realized that I had to return to school to complete what I had started 16 years ago. However, due to my awful grades, I had to petition and beg to be granted admittance back into BYUI. I was obviously accepted back in but it wasn't easy. Only I know what I needed to prove and to provide in order to be given this gracious chance to be here. Because I need to graduate as quickly as possible I can't afford to work full-time which means that I am living with very small means and ten times less comfortable than I was when I lived in AZ. I can testify that The Lord will provide for our basic needs when we do our part. I can sympathize with the apostles when they were told to not take a second thought for how they would provide for themselves. Be faithful and The Lord will provide.
K: Thanks, Catherine. You've done a great job of preparing for graduation and what comes next.
H: I'm also impressed by Catherine's diligence in making the most of her BYU-Idaho education. She said one thing that I'd like to follow up on. She described preparing thoughtfully in anticipation of seeking help from professors, advisors and other mentors. By doing that, she increased her likelihood of passing The Doorway Test.
K: The Doorway Test is this: When you appear, without notice, in the doorway or the e-mail queue of someone who might help you, especially a professor, are you prepared to be taught? That means several things. One is that you've done all you can for yourself.
H: Of course, your BYU-Idaho professors are here for you. They've chosen to work at this student-focused university because they love teaching and mentoring you.
K: But even with BYU-Idaho's relatively small class sizes, each professor has a hundred or more students to serve. They spend most of their workday preparing for and leading classroom discussions, along with grading assignments and exams. That leaves only a few hours, at best, to meet with students one-on-one.
H: Given their limited time, your professors will appreciate your efforts to come well prepared to be helped. Those efforts will include knowing the course syllabus, starting assignments early, seeking help from classmates, and then coming quickly for guidance, before you fall too far behind.
K: Don't be surprised or disappointed if your professor refers you to a tutor. Establishing a relationship with fellow students in the university's tutoring centers can be a great blessing, as it was to our brother Matthew.
B: Working with a tutor does not mean that you won't have personal, one-on-one access to your professors. It just means that you'll be better prepared for those special conversations, in which you'll be able to discuss your challenges and goals at a higher level.
K: When you approach your professor, it will also help if your motive is to learn, rather than receive leniency or get a grade changed. Your professor is likely to advise that you look forward, doing your very best from where you are now.
H: That might even mean sacrificing the final grade you had hoped for. But what matters, in the long run, is your commitment to learning and meeting deadlines with your best efforts. If you consistently do those things, your grade point average at graduation won't stand in the way of long-term success. You'll be a dependable learner who works well with others. That's what employers and graduate school admissions directors are looking for. It's also what you'll need to lead in your home, the Church, and your community.
K: Remember that, as a BYU-Idaho student, you have the birthright of "natural leadership," for which you can qualify. Listen to what President Eyring said about you in his foundational address, "A Steady Upward Course," given shortly after the creation of BYU-Idaho:
["A Light to the World" video clip]
H: The world rewards natural leadership ability. What the world needs more than mere brilliant minds and standout scholars is selfless, sensitive learners who can help others learn with them. And here's an important tip, based on a proven truth: You can be a leader of your fellow students even when you're struggling yourself.
K: Whether your confidence is currently high or low, reach out to fellow students in each of your courses, even if you're not assigned to do so by your professor. Ask if they'd be willing to be your study-buddy. That might mean as little as getting together for a few minutes after class or talking online to see if you understand the upcoming assignments.
H: There will be times when you and your study-buddies need extra help from one another. You may decide to meet out of class to do some challenging homework together. Much of the time, you'll find that you're helping one another, rather than one of you seeking a lot more help than the others.
K: It's not necessary to know everything or be a star student to help your classmates learn. In fact, you'll be most valuable to others if you teach and learn from one another at the same time. Sometimes you'll be the first to understand a particular concept, but sometimes you'll be glad that your partners saw something you couldn't.
H: Don't worry if you find yourself regularly giving more help than you receive. And don't shy away from giving help that goes beyond schoolwork, even requiring you to bear testimony of your faith in the powers of Heaven and to provide other forms of spiritual ministration. When that happens, you'll get the benefit of being a natural leader, something of greater and more lasting value than stellar exam scores.
K: Throughout your life, in activities that may have little to do with your college major, you'll remember and know how to apply principles of reasoning, communicating and collaborating that you learned in the process of working together with your classmates. You'll also know how to minister spiritually in situations that seem to be merely temporal, such as the workplace.
H: Slowing down to help others in their studies may be challenging for those of you who are used to getting top grades and believe that success in life requires such stellar grades. But our children Emily, Henry Christian and Sarah are among many BYU-Idaho graduates who are glad that they made time and even took apparent academic risks to help their classmates.
K: Our dear friend Elder Robert D. Hales has told this story about being helped by one of his classmates at the Harvard Business School:
[video clip of Elder Hales BYU-I devotional "Zion Revisited" address)[2]
"I can remember years ago coming out of my first accounting class and feeling like I had just come out of a class where a foreign language had been spoken. I didn't have a clue what a debit or a credit was and what it meant in terms of cash flow and a balance sheet. I didn't know where to turn. One of my best friends at the university (not a member of the Church) was studying to be a certified public accountant, and he loved accounting. I can vividly remember sitting down on a hillside on a grassy knoll, opening our books, and having him tutor me in the language of accounting and its objectives and purposes, which I would take with me into the business world for the rest of my life.
Harvey wasn't concerned or worried that I would get a higher grade or be able to pass rather than fail. He was helping a friend in need. You never forget such gestures of kindness and caring in life. It is more than an educational process to get a credit. This is how dear friends are bonded and a realization of why we are here in mortality."
K: In addition to Elder Hales' friend, Harvey, you might take two New Testament characters as your guide. One is Mary, the Savior's dear friend. While her sister Martha was earning great grades for the practical aspects of hosting, Mary attended directly to the things that the Savior had to say. She excelled in listening and lifting.
H: Another instructive character is the Good Samaritan. He was traveling a dangerous road called the Way of Blood, on which knowledgeable travelers rarely risked stopping. Yet the Good Samaritan didn't just brave the risk of personal harm. He also paid for the care of the wounded man. And he delayed his travel, probably sacrificing business he was on his way to conduct.
K: The Good Samaritan understood the Savior's teaching, "Whosever will lose his life for my sake shall find it."[3] I'm proud of Catherine and Ashley for being good Samaritans.
H: I wish I'd had that attitude toward learning and serving when I was a college student. I'd have gained a better education by focusing more on my classmates and less on my grades and on keeping my scholarship.
K: There's a better way to measure our individual and collective success at BYU-Idaho. It comes from the family motto of Church President Ezra Taft Benson. President Benson challenged his posterity to see that there were no empty chairs around their family table. He meant that each family member should be vitally concerned for the spiritual welfare of all others. That's also the way that Brigham Young instructed the pioneers to cross the plains - by caring for one another along the way.[4]
H: Of course we need to come to class with our homework done, ready to contribute to that day's discussion. But the real measure of success is coming well-enough prepared to help our spiritual sisters and brothers learn, and to notice who is struggling or isn't there at all.
K: That is what natural leaders do. They are good shepherds. And, in caring for others, they learn more than they could alone. Heaven multiplies their talents.
H: The world also recognizes and rewards them for their natural leadership. They "become legendary for their capacity to build people and add value wherever they serve."[5] That is the birthright of the students, alumni and employees of BYU-Idaho, if we live to be worthy of it. Let's do so. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Notes
[1] Henry B. Eyring, "A Steady, Upward Course," BYU-Idaho Devotional, September 18, 2001
[2] Robert D. Hales, "Zion Revisited," BYU-Idaho Devotional, February 20, 201
[3] Matthew 16:25
[4] Doctrine and Covenants 136:8
[5] Henry B. Eyring, "A Steady, Upward Course."