I am grateful to be with you at such an important time of your life. Congratulations to you for your choice of attending Brigham Young University-Idaho and for your commitment to the values of this institution. I also offer my congratulations to your parents for their sacrifice in making your education possible. I hope you will always be respectful and appreciative for the roles your parents played to bring you to this moment. You are here because of choices you have made and commitments you have met. You decided to live your life in such a manner that would qualify you to matriculate at this wonderful university. You made choices in your early life regarding moral standards, spiritual commitments, and academic excellence. And these choices continue to provide the foundation principles that can successfully guide you throughout the rest of your lives.
As you leave this outstanding university you will be able to put on your resume "graduate of Brigham Young University-Idaho." This will undoubtedly be the most important item on your resume up to this date. However, it is just the beginning of your life-long resume—the resume the Lord calls "the Book of Life"—the resume the scriptures tell us we will be judged by. As in the past, the content of your final resume will be the result of choices.
Every hour of every day you are making choices. You choose the thoughts you think, the passions you feel, and the actions you allow yourselves to perform. Some of these choices will be the most important choices of your lives. In fact many of them will be life defining.
Perhaps the most important choice you have made is the value system that has governed all your past choices. And the most important choice you will make in the future is what value system will govern all your future choices.
As long as your value system is anchored in the doctrines of the gospel, you will continue to make choices that will guide you through this life and reward you with both temporal and eternal blessings. Those of you who have a belief in Christ and His atoning sacrifice will choose differently than those who do not adhere to such principles and doctrines. Such value systems will be the basis for personal revelation and will guide you as to what is included on your final resume, the "book of life."
Now you are about to leave the security and safety of these hallowed halls to finish writing your resume. Some of you will move on to graduate school. Some will be doctors, politicians, educators, scientists, businessmen, businesswomen, and some will move into that most important role of mothers, nurturers and guardians of the future. Whatever your pursuit, as you write your final resume, protect and nurture your governing value system.
You have already proven yourselves to be bright, inquisitive, focused, and ambitious. You have earned your diploma and that distinction will always be yours. But rest assured-life begins with graduation. Your diploma speaks of the past, but your future choices and actions will speak for the future.
I suggest three choices, all of which will sustain and protect your governing value system, will have eternal consequences, and all of which can find themselves on the final resume you present to the Lord.
First I would say, choose faith. Yes, faith is not a gift given without thought, desire, or effort. It is earned. It is a reward. It is a choice.
We live in a time of conflicting messages. From our modern prophets we are taught to remain pure, steadfast, and honorable. However, conduct previously considered wrong or even outrageous is now becoming both acceptable and mainstream. Isaiah warned of these difficult times as reported in both the Old Testament and the Book of Mormon: "Wo unto them that call evil good, and good evil, that put darkness for light, and light for darkness, that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"[1] And yet that is exactly what has happened. Pornography, casual sex, living together before marriage, so-called recreational drugs, and many other immoral and degenerate practices are becoming acceptable in the world we live in. The continual bombardment of such messages often causes confusion, doubt, and pessimism, each attacking the fundamental truths we believe in-attacking our faith in God, our hope in the future, and our optimism for both now and the future. This is our world.
And so today, within this challenging environment, we do stand each moment of each hour of each day making choices that define the tomorrows of our lives. The choice is yours and that choice is faith. As you are faced with conflicting messages, sometimes attacking your well-established value system, I say choose faith. Choose faith over doubt, choose faith over fear, choose faith over the unknown and the unseen, and choose faith over pessimism.
The Lord in the 88th section of the Doctrine and Covenants admonished, even commanded, that we continue to study and learn. He said, "Seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom."[2] That includes literature, history, mathematics, business, all matters of sciences, and so on. However, sometimes learning without faith can result in misunderstandings or even a sense of intellectual arrogance or egotism.
There are indeed those who have let their intellect undermine their spiritual moorings. There are those who would substitute their own knowledge for the knowledge of God. We see that even today by those who constantly attack and ridicule sacred truths and covenants. Alma had Korihor to deal with. The Savior had the learned lawyers, the scribes, the Pharisees, and the Sanhedrin to deal with. Today we have their modern parallels with agnosticism, atheism, pessimism, secularism, and so on.
Jacob warns with these words: "O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish."[3]
Yes, the Lord admonished us to continue learning, to be the best we can in whatever field we pursue. But He gave us a safeguard to our learning. Finishing the Lord's admonition in the 88th section of the Doctrine and Covenants to "seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom," the Lord clarifies that we should "seek learning, even by study and also by faith."[4] Studying the best books but then also learning by applying God's inspiration, with prayer and scripture study, validates our learning, provides tempering, and sustains our faith. Do not be deceived because you cannot prove the doctrines or the revelations in centimeters or in a test tube. The Lord does not use the metric scale or a chemistry lab to measure faith. With all your learning and intellectual enlightenment, do not lose your grip of the iron rod. The Lord gave us the sure sign of truth and knowledge through personal revelation as revealed by the teacher and testifier of eternal truth, the Holy Ghost.
Alma's classic discussion on faith in the 32nd chapter of Alma gives five choices to ensure the development and preservation of our faith: "But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words. Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, . . . it will begin to swell within your breasts."[5]
"And behold, as the tree beginneth to grow, ye will say: Let us nourish it with great care. . . But if ye neglect the tree, and take no thought for its nourishment, behold it will not get any root; and . . . it withers away, and ye pluck it up and cast it out."[6]
Perhaps you can apply Alma's teaching of faith to the everyday challenges you are likely to confront.
- If confusion and hopelessness weigh on your mind, choose to "awake and arouse your faculties." Humbly approaching the Lord with a broken heart and contrite spirit is the pathway to truth and the Lord's way of light, knowledge, and peace.
- If in doubt, choose to "experiment upon [His] words." The Savior explained, "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself."[7]
- If your faith is weak or unsure, choose to "exercise a particle of faith." The Lord has stated, "To some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. . . . To others it is given to believe on their words, that they also might have eternal life."[8] If your faith is weak or unsure, choose to lean on the faith of another-a parent, a bishop, a trusted friend.
- If tragedy and tribulation fall upon you or conflicting messages assault your beliefs as the fiery darts described by the Apostle Paul, choose to "not cast [the seed] out by unbelief." Remember, we receive not a witness until after the trial of our faith.[9]
- If your faith is proven and mature, choose to "nurture it with great care." As strong as our faith is, with all the mixed messages attacking it, it can also be very fragile. It needs constant nourishment through continued scripture study, prayer, and the application of His word.
And so the choice is yours. When your testimony or well-established value system is under attack, which it probably will be sometime in your life, choose faith. You are responsible for your own faith. You are also responsible for a lack of faith.
Second choice: choose humility and its companion gratitude. In the recent months and years we have personally witnessed the tragedies of pride, self-service, and self-aggrandizement. It is clear that the lack of humility and gratitude often leads to egotism, arrogance, or greed. Today we have plenty of role models of the so-called successful who have lost their spiritual moorings of good and right because of lack of humility and gratitude. One only has to look at those who for their own self-interest and gratification have promoted themselves at the expense of their friends, family, and community.
As you enter into the next phase of your lives you will have varying degrees of success. Some of you are going to be doctors, will excel in education or politics, or will hold other prominent positions. What a heavy burden prominence places on the successful for success is not always easy to carry. In all your success, don't forget your roots. Most of you or your parents or your grandparents came from very humble beginnings. They have laid the foundation of your success through their personal and sustained sacrifices. They have instilled in you the virtues that will carry you through your future.
As you enter the workforce or this new phase of life, you will likely discover that humility is often misunderstood. Not many corporations or institutions include humility as a value statement or desired characteristic of management. Some may even see it as a weakness. Not so. Humility is the fountain from which the waters of gratitude flow. My experience has been that truly great achievers have never forgotten their roots; they have never forgotten the sacrifices made in their behalf and they cease not to be grateful. That humility and gratitude manifests itself in how you accept success and how you treat the less successful. I repeat: that humility and gratitude manifests itself in how you accept success and how you treat the less successful.
The Fourteenth-Century philosopher/poet Shams-ud-din Muhammad Hafiz said it best: "Greatness is always built on this foundation: the ability to appear, speak and act, as the most common man." Be grateful for the heritage that has brought you to this point in your life. Accept your gifts with humility and gratitude. Further, it matters not who you are or how lofty your credentials appear, humility and gratitude are the ingredients to happiness and success.
The Book of Mormon gives this inspired counsel, "And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; . . . always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive."[10]
A story is told of an encounter between the Prophet Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. In the presence of a rather large group of brethren, the Prophet severely chastised Brother Brigham for some failing in his duty. Everyone, I suppose somewhat stunned, waited to see what Brigham's response would be. After all, Brigham, who later became known as the Lion of the Lord, was no shrinking violet by any means. Brigham slowly rose to his feet, and in words that truly reflected his character and his humility, he simply bowed his head and said, "Joseph, what do you want me to do?" The story goes that, sobbing, Joseph ran from the podium, threw his arms around Brigham, and said in effect, "You passed, Brother Brigham, you passed."[11] Brigham, one of the greatest leaders of the 20th century, the "Lion of the Lord," displayed his greatness through his humility.
King Benjamin warned that we must become "as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon [us]."[12]
Whatever our station in life, whatever our achievements-no matter how great-a humble and grateful heart is still fundamental to our faith. Don't let your worldly successes or earthly learning become a substitute for spiritual wisdom, divine direction, and a humble and grateful heart. Count your blessings and give thanks.
The Savior is our supreme example of the power of humility. After all, His humbly submitting His will to the Father brought about the greatest, and even the most powerful, event in all of history. Choose humility and gratitude.
As an introduction to a third choice, I now relate a personal experience about others who set a path for me to follow. I attended graduate school at Indiana University. My first day in an economics class was with a well-known professor who had the reputation of being tough, demanding, and for a number of other reasons was somewhat feared. As this was the first day in his class, he asked each of us to stand and introduce ourselves, giving our name and the university we graduated from. When it was my turn I gave my name and said I had just graduated from Brigham Young University.
The professor stopped the introductions and said something like this, "It is wonderful to have another great student from Brigham Young University in this class." Now he did not say this about the very capable students from Indiana, Minnesota, Harvard, or other respected universities. He then asked, "Do you know ‘so and so' from BYU?" I knew him. He went on, "Do you know ‘so and so' from BYU?" I knew him. Then he named others, some of whom I knew and others I did not. Then he said they had all been outstanding students and great examples.
As I savored the undeserved limelight for those few moments, I was grateful for a string of LDS students who had preceded me at Indiana University. I was grateful for the impressions and influence these students had made on the life of this professor, and probably others. I was determined not to mar the reputation of myself or those who had left such a legacy of example. This legacy was a motivation to me throughout my schooling at Indiana and my professional life. These accolades came because of a value system reflected in the lives of the students, a value system based upon the principles and doctrines of the gospel, a value system included and taught in the curriculum of BYU. At Indiana I was grateful for the footprints that had been left and the candles that had been lit. You also can leave footprints and light candles.
The Savior has said, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works" (Matthew 5:16). The Apostle Paul charged Timothy with these words: "Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity."[13]
As graduates of Brigham Young University-Idaho, you are already identified as one who has high standards. You are a marked person. You are known to not only have unusual standards, you are expected to live them. What a privilege to be so known and to so live! You will find great joy being a light and an example to others. So, third and final, choose to be a light and an example.
And so as you complete your final resume as a graduate of Brigham Young University-Idaho, be prepared to include:
- I choose faith. You are responsible for your faith and your testimony. Protect it.
- I choose humility and gratitude. Be grateful for and humble about your blessings and accomplishments. You may in fact be very lucky.
- And I choose to be an example. Be an example of righteous living. Be an example of humility, and be an example of gratitude.
If you are able to put these three things on the resume you present to the Lord, you will be faithful to your value system and have a wonderful, productive life. You will have challenges and trials, yes, but you will be equipped to deal with the adversities of mortality, living life with confidence and gratitude. As a new graduate of Brigham Young University-Idaho, start now to prepare your final resume.
My prayer and blessing for you is that each of you will prosper in all your righteous endeavors and that you will find success and happiness in all that you do as you pursue your dreams beyond this wonderful institution. This I pray for in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Notes
[1] 2 Nephi 15:20; see also Isaiah 5:20
[2] D&C 88: 118
[3] 2 Nephi 9:28
[4] D&C 88:118
[5] Alma 32:27-28
[6] Alma 32:37-38
[7] John 7:17
[8] D&C 46:13-14
[9] Ether 12:6
[10] Alma 7:23
[11] Truman G. Madsen, "Hugh B. Brown-Youthful Veteran," New Era, Apr. 1976, 16
[12] Mosiah 3:19
[13] 1 Timothy 4:12