By my observation, you serve a really unique student body. I was having a discussion with President [John S.K.] Kauwe [III] about this [student body] this morning. Your student body is humble. Your student body is meek. Your student body is grateful. By contrast to most Gen Z’s who feel entitled. What a blessing it is to serve this group of 3,000 students who genuinely appreciate the blessing and opportunity it is to learn at this institution on the beautiful island of Oahu, and in this lovely community of Laie.
Aloha, brothers and sisters. It is wonderful to be here with you. It really is my pleasure to serve with President Kauwe and his beautiful wife, Monica and their family. I am certain, brothers and sisters that they were called for this time and for this purpose. President Kauwe has assembled a magnificent team to lead this institution forward.
I think Kevin must be a master at Rubik’s cubes. Is it true? You can probably solve one really fast. Huh? See he can. I’ve never been able to do one of those things, but he’s being shy about it. I think that’s your secret skill.
All of these things are going to come together for the good of these students, these disciples of Jesus Christ. These young people who are being educated here. I’m sure of it.
Recently, I’ve had the opportunity to travel to places where I have met some of your BYU–Hawaii graduates. They are bright and capable. They are fulfilling this university’s experience [and] purpose to prepare lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ. [As] you see sisters in the Philippines, Mongolia, and Indonesia. When I got to Indonesia last, this dear sister and her husband are both BYU–Hawaii graduates. She has been called to a relatively new calling called an Area Organization Advisor for Indonesia. She’s called by the Area Presidency and has responsibility to give instruction to all new stake Primary, Young Women and Relief Society leaders across that country. It is a significant and vital role that she plays. I was so pleased to see that she was a BYU–Hawaii graduate as was her husband. When I traveled to Mongolia, I learned that two of the three stake presidents there are BYU–Hawaii graduates and this was one of them. These young people are fulfilling the prophecy President David O. McKay made when he broke ground for the Church College of Hawaii. He said this, “[Leaders are]…what this school is going to produce. They’ll be leaders. Leaders not only on this island, but everywhere…You mark that word, and from this school, I’ll tell you, will go men and women whose influence will be felt for good towards the establishment of peace internationally.” [1]
Sisters and brothers, you are producing leaders who are faithful disciples of Jesus Christ who are leading in their homes, in their communities, and in their nations. Well done!
I am an emissary of love and gratitude from the CES (Church Educational System) Executive Committee and Board of Trustees. We recognize the tremendous undertakings you have made, reaching for the stars these last five years with President Kauwe leading the charge to be the BYU–Hawaii of which prophets have prophesied. We know that over the course of the last several years, you’ve undertaken a complete evaluation and revision of the BYU–Hawaii curriculum. Congratulations on credit reductions across all programs, your interdepartmental collaboration on curriculum, and the increased emphasis on careers for your graduates.
The median size of a major at BYU–Hawaii began at 58 credits. It is now 48. Over the last five years, there has been a net reduction of six majors, 15 minors, and 240 course offerings on this campus. The Board of Trustees is aware of all of this and is very pleased. You have improved BYU–Hawaii’s stewardship of sacred resources, ensuring that the programs lead to timely graduation and effective career placement, allowing even more students to live and lead in Asia, Asia North, the Pacific, and the Philippines.
I offer my personal commendation, and I bring the commendation of the entire CES Board of Trustees for this undertaking and the significant outcomes you have achieved. We know that departments and educators have had to give up some favorite programs and courses in order to achieve this higher objective. Thank you for thinking big and broad and focusing on your energies on the mission of BYU–Hawaii. Thank you for your flexibility as we undertake this new and exciting rebuild of the [David O.] McKay Center complex and the entire BYU–Hawaii campus.
I have seen and heard the enthusiasm that President Kauwe has for this project, but I also perceive that he feels an extraordinary sense of responsibility to see to it that the resources committed by the Board of Trustees are used wisely. Thank you for helping him in fulfilling his stewardship. This is really a glorious season for BYU–Hawaii.
The start of a new academic year has always been a fond time for me. I love Septembers and I love summer turning into autumn. I find myself longing for that change which comes with cool evenings and crisp mornings and the need for a sweatshirt. I don’t think you mark seasons in that way here on the island, do you? But perhaps you feel a fondness for the students that are returning to campus and a sense of advancement and new opportunities. The fall, a new semester, it’s a season of change.
Now, you’ve all heard the term, rootbound. Rootbound actually refers to a plant that has roots that have formed into a dense, tangled mass that allows little or no space for further growth. How does a gardener deal with a rootbound plant? Well, that gardener gently trims the roots that have grown through the drainage hole of the pot in which the plant is growing. And then she carefully removes the plant from the pot. Next, the gardener gently teases the roots of the plant by gently loosening them with her fingers or a small knife. And then finally, the gardener puts the plant back into a new larger pot with fresh potting soil. Then she waters and watches the plant thrive.
Some of you probably feel like a plant that has been uprooted. A new academic year undoubtedly brings new changes—changes in assignments, course changes, timing changes, location changes, road closures, and the like. So perhaps, it feels like your roots have been loosened and teased a little bit. Perhaps there’s a little bit of discomfort in that change, but you have been put into a new pot with new soil. We can become rootbound individually and sometimes as a university or as a department or team. Change is like loosening the roots because the Lord doesn’t want us to be rootbound. We are part of a living Church and a continuing restoration and that will inevitably bring change and growth into our lives as we participate in it. We can’t stay stuck in our comfortable pots. There is no growth in comfort and no comfort in growth. It’s a phrase we used over and over again with our dear missionaries in Peru.
I think this analogy from C.S. Lewis is fitting. Imagine yourself a living house. God comes into rebuild that house. At first, perhaps you can understand what he is doing. He’s getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on. You knew those jobs needed doing and so you not surprised. But presently he starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is he up to? The explanation that he is building quite a different house from the one that you thought of. Throwing up a new wing here and putting on an extra floor there, running up towers and making courtyards. You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage, but he is building a palace.
In 2021, I was tending to the need of my family, enjoying my grandchildren, and I had returned to the practice of law after my husband, Doug and I had returned from serving as mission leaders in Peru. In April of that year, a most remarkable change happened in my life when I was set apart and sustained as the General Relief Society President. That calling was humbling, invigorating, daunting and wonderful all at the same time and put me like I had never been before in a position where I really had to trust the Lord. And then several months into my service as the Primary General President, just when I was starting to get the lay of the land and had my sea legs, President [Russell M.] Nelson called me into his office and asked me to serve as the General Relief Society President. Comfortable? Absolutely not. I’d never served as a Relief Society President before. I am thankful every day for the growth of being born, of my being repotted. Change, I think it is evidence of our Heavenly Father’s interest in you, and certainly evidence of His interest in the student body you serve. So, I hope you will see the changes that are taking place here in your assignments, in your physical location, on campus, and how you accomplish your work as refreshing and inspired and empowering and an opportunity for growth.
Our beloved prophet, President Russell M. Nelson has asked, “Are you willing to let God prevail in your life?...Are you willing to let whatever He needs you to do take precedence over every other ambition?”. [2] My dear friends, will you let the response to that question be evidence to Him of your willingness to let Him prevail in your life? I testify that He will prepare you to return to Him and dwell in His presence if you will let Him prevail in your life.
Well, this is a meeting of employees, and I know there are a number of missionaries here as well. All of you have a title and job description, correct? Even you senior missionaries have some kind of job description. Some of you are employed to address the admission needs of students or to help them to graduate. Many of you teach them in the classroom. Some of you prepare food for the students and others are employed to maintain the buildings and the beautiful grounds here on campus. All of you are employees or serve as service missionaries but how many of you are educators? Will you raise your hands if you’re an educator? Oh, brothers and sisters, try again. How many of you are educators? All of you should have your hands raised. Each of you who interacts with a student on campus is an educator. And though it might not be spelled out in your job description, I hope you will see every interaction with the student body as an opportunity for teaching and learning.
Mormon was described as “quick to observe”. [3] Therefore, Ammaron came to Mormon when he was only 10 years old and instructed him that when he was 24 years old, he was to go to the place where Ammaron was going to hide the plates. And he was to get them and engrave upon the plates the things that he had observed. Like Mormon, we can seek for the gift of being 'quick to observe.' [4]
Elder David A. Bednar taught about the gift of being quick to observe in a 2005 devotional address. He explained that the spiritual gift of being quick to observe is vital for us because being quick to observe is a prerequisite to and preparation for the gift of discernment. [5] As educators, that is all of you, being quick to observe and having the gift of discernment will allow you to nurture; well, first to identify and then to nurture the good in these students over whom you have stewardship.
President Steven L. Richards once explained, “The highest type of discernment is that which perceives in others and uncovers for them their better natures, the good inherent within them.” [6] I invite you to be quick to observe, seeking the gift of discernment to recognize the good in these students, helping them discover it for themselves. I also invite you to be quick to observe the needs of the students, many of whom are so far away from home for the very first time in their lives.
What might you observe? Well, perhaps you’ll observe a student who’s always sleeping, and the gift of discernment will help you know; whether the student needs a friendly reminder about early to bed and early to rise or whether the students sending their work money home and not eating a healthy diet sufficient to maintain energy. Or maybe you will observe a student who is never listening and always talking loudly. The gift of discernment will help you know whether the student needs a friendly reminder about classroom etiquette or a trip to a health clinic to have their hearing checked.
My scenarios may be unlikely, but my point is this, that as you are quick to observe and cultivate the gift of discernment, you will be in a position to help these students succeed, not just in their academic pursuits, but in all things. So, let us be quick to observe the good in these students. Let us be quick to observe their potential. Tell them what you see and help them see it in themselves. There are no lawyers in my family, but I had a college girlfriend whose dad was a lawyer, and she told me I thought she thought I could be a lawyer, and I believed her. Your personal interest in the students here at BYU–Hawaii is an important part of their experience here. Please do not underestimate the value of being quick to observe how good they are and what their specific needs are. I testify that the effort in which you are engaged here at BYU–Hawaii is important, and I hope you will find it joyful.
Now, we have established that you are all educators. In his most recent address, which President Kauwe talked about and which you all receive. It was an address given to religious educators by D. Todd Christofferson and it was there that he emphasized the important role religious educators play in developing lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ. In his talk, he refers to the CES resource called ‘Strengthening Religious Education’, which provides “the purpose of religious education is to teach the restored gospel of Jesus Christ from the scriptures and modern prophets in a way that helps our students…become lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ who make and keep covenants…” [7]
Now, sometimes we think about religious educators as those who teach in our institutes of religion. Of course, they are religious educators. But I hope that for our purposes for today, all of you will see that you are religious educators too. All of us can influence the student body to develop faith in and a testimony of Heavenly Father and His great plan. Each of us can strengthen the students’ ability to find answers, resolve doubts, and respond with faith, giving them reason for hope. And all of us can help BYUH students become lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ who make and keep covenants.
Why that last phrase, ‘who make and keep covenants’? Isn’t discipleship of Jesus Christ enough? Of course not. The path of discipleship is a covenant path which leads to exaltation. Let us be careful, brothers and sisters, to not use shorthand for the task before us. We are to develop lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ who make and keep covenants. We choose to make covenants with God at baptism and become covenant women and men. Then we make additional covenants with Him in the temple where we bind ourselves more fully to the Lord and He binds Himself more completely to us. Of course, a covenant is a promise with God, but it is not a transactional promise. It’s not a ‘this for that’ [or] like a piece of property that I buy or sell by covenant or promise. Instead, I hope you will think of covenant promises with God as transformational.
At baptism, we take the Savior’s name upon us, and we promise to serve God and keep His commandments. Then we are confirmed and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. [8] As we keep that baptismal covenant, we receive the blessing of ‘always having His Spirit to be with [us]’. [9] Our promised blessings as covenant women and covenant men are not of short duration or limited. They are everlasting, that’s why a covenant relationship with God is transformational. Transformed by our covenant relationship with God, our relationship with others is transformed. We have a new understanding of them. We recognize their divine nature. We interact with them in our homes, at work, at this university, even at the grocery store with the love and power of God. For me, that is what it feels like and looks like to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. So, when we keep the covenants we’ve made with God, we are blessed in our discipleship of Jesus Christ. Covenants and discipleships go hand in hand.
Last October, President Russell M. Nelson taught, “Now is the time for us to make our discipleship our highest priority.” [10] How can we support our students in making discipleship their highest priority. President Nelson answered that question immediately after issuing the invitation to make discipleship our priority. He talked about covenants and the blessings of temple worship. He said, “Regular worship in the temple will help us. In the house of the Lord, we focus on Jesus Christ. We learn of Him. We make covenants to follow Him. We come to know Him. As we keep our temple covenants, we gain greater access to the Lord’s strengthening power. In the temple, we receive protection from the buffetings of the world. We experience the pure love of Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father in great abundance! We feel peace and spiritual reassurance, in contrast to the turbulence of the world. Here is my promise to you: Every sincere seeker of Jesus Christ will find Him in the temple. You will feel His mercy. You will find answers to your most vexing questions. You will better comprehend the joy of His gospel. ” [11] What a glorious from President Russell M. Nelson, who brothers and sisters, I am sure is the Lord’s mouthpiece on the earth today.
Your discipleship of Jesus Christ and that of our students will be strengthened by making and keeping temple covenants and worshiping there. It is deliberate, you know, the location of this grand university adjacent to the house of the Lord. As educators, you can influence the decision of our students to be endowed, thereby strengthening their discipleship of Jesus Christ. If you have ecclesiastical responsibility to issue invitations to prepare for the temple, I hope you will. Some of our sisters and brothers are waiting for an invitation. The General Handbook says that in order to be endowed, one must be “at least 18 years old, have completed high school, has been a confirmed member of the Church for at least a year, and have a sincere desire to make and keep covenants.” [12] Sisters need not wait until they have a marriage proposal or a mission call in order to be endowed. Brothers, well we hope they serve missions, but what always comes before mission service? Melchizedek priesthood ordination and endowment.
Most of your students here meet the objective criteria. They’re 18. They’ve completed high school and they’ve been confirmed members for at least a year. The thing that you as educators can influence, the needle that you can move is their desire to receive and honor temple covenants, and to worship in the house of the Lord. So, how will you move that needle? How will you influence their desire to receive and honor temple covenants? I hope it’s a question that you will take to the Lord. Certainly, one way you can move the needle is being quick to observe, but another is for you to have your own testimony of the truths President Nelson has taught about the blessings associated with covenant making and covenant keeping.
Here are some of my favorite teachings President Nelson. President Nelson has explained, this was in a talk called ‘The Everlasting Covenant’, “Once we make a covenant with God, we leave neutral ground forever. God will not abandon His relationship with those who have forged such a bond with Him…Once you and I have made a covenant with God, our relationship with Him becomes much closer than before our covenant…Because of our covenant with God, He will never tire in His efforts to help us, and we will never exhaust His merciful patience with us.” [13] That perhaps is my favorite part because I’m certain that I test His patience all the time. But His patience doesn’t run out for me. I love this one. He said, “Every woman and every man who makes covenants with God and keeps those covenants, and who participates worthily in priesthood ordinances, has direct access to the power of God.” [14] The power of God is priesthood power. The General Handbook explains that “God’s priesthood power flows to all members of the Church—female and male—as they keep the covenants they have made with Him.” [15] If you want to understand more completely, the blessings associated with making and keeping covenants, study the word of President Russell M. Nelson. I have a daily devotional with him. You may think that that is a special perk afforded to the General Relief Society President but it’s one that’s afforded to all of us. I listen to one of President Nelson’s talks every morning when I get ready for the day and it inevitably steals me for the challenges of the day and creates a level of optimism in me that I might not otherwise have. So, I’m going to show you how to create your own study plan so that you can have your own daily devotional with President Nelson. I trust that as you do, you will become more conversational about the promises available to covenant keepers and be able to communicate what you know to the students upon whom you have influence.
So, I’m going to walk you through it. You go to your Gospel Library app. If you have your phones, pull them out. I took this screenshot shortly after Elder Bednar had given his talk, ‘Things as They Really Are 2.0’. So, you’re going to have a different banner on the top there. [Video] Scroll down on your homepage until you get to what is ‘Study Plans’. You’ll see there’s a place to start a new plan. So, you click on ‘Start Plan’ and it gives you several options. The one that’s probably at the top is the one from President Nelson. Then when you hit ‘Start Plan’, all of the talks he has given since he became the prophet in 2018 are delivered there to you, including [and] importantly the ‘Everlasting Covenant’. Now that’s one that was recorded in the Liahona. You would not have heard that talk. He gave it in a general conference leadership session. I heard it but then it was recorded later in the Liahona. So, you can all read it and find it. There’s lots of important ones but for the sisters here, the influence of women talk that he gave two years ago in our Relief Society devotional is right there for you. You don’t have to go searching in other places for it.
I have done this study plan dozens of times. I’ve also listened to all 114 of President Nelson’s general conference talks, the ones he’s given over the years. It has strengthened my testimony about prophets, seers, and revelators. I knew who he is, who he says he is, a prophet of the Lord. I know it more deeply now, having listened to those talks and having heard prophetic voice develop. It’s a privilege to stand before you, brothers and sisters, and tell you that I know that I’m sure that he’s the Lord’s mouthpiece on the earth today. So, I hope you’ll join me in listening to the words of President Russell M. Nelson. Get them into your hearts, get them into your minds. That is one of the most sure ways I can think of you [and] think for you to influence these students here and help them become lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ who make and keep covenants.
Here's another one of my favorites. It’s ‘Overcome the World and Find Rest’, he said, “The reward for keeping covenants with God is heavenly power—power that strengthens us to withstand our trials, temptations and heartaches better. This power eases our way. " [16] Sisters and brothers, it’s not about us having power in the worldly sense. It’s about being able to draw upon God’s power, which He will make available to us when we make and keep covenants. What do our students need to go back to their homelands and thrive self-reliant in a position to form families and to lead in their homes and in their communities and in their nations? They need to be disciples of Jesus Christ who make and keep covenants and know how to draw upon the power of God to accomplish the work He requires of them. I can’t think of a better way to describe it other than capacity enhancing. Now that I’ve been here on campus, you know, I’m very regular. There’s nothing extra special about me, but I have a big task. I have a big ask to lead the women of the Church. How else could I do what’s required of me but in drawing upon God’s power, which He will make available to me as I keep the covenants that I have made.
Brothers and sisters, I’m sure of. I was so pleased when I attended the temple last night to see so many of your beautiful students there serving. They are indeed disciples of our Savior, Jesus Christ. For those that are not yet there, let’s get them there. Do everything in your power to bless their lives by helping them to see the blessings associated with making covenants in the house of the Lord. I looked up last night as I concluded the session at that beautiful chandelier in the celestial room here. I had the opportunity before we left Arequipa, Peru. The temple there was not yet finished, but I had the opportunity to assist in placing each of the crystals on the chandelier that would hang in the celestial room. That’s how I learned that those chandeliers do not come pre-assembled. With glove hands, I put every crystal, not everyone, but many of them onto the chandelier for Arequipa. That’s how the beautiful chandelier here in Laie would have been put together, one crystal at a time. Every one of those crystals matters. Every one of those crystals must be in its designated place so that the light shines.
Brothers and sisters, you are here for a reason and the students that are here in this season are here because the Lord’s hand is on them. The Spirit of the Lord is present here in this glorious place. I know that He will bless you in your efforts to build lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ who make and keep covenants. I testify that our Savior lives, that He knows each one of you. He loves each one of you, and He is very interested, sincerely and genuinely interested in these young people that are coming to this institution. Thank you for your efforts to bless their lives. Thank you for being faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. Thank you for your commitment to building the kingdom of God on earth in this day and time. President Nelson is the Lord’s mouthpiece on the earth today. We’re led by 15 prophets, seers and revelators. Of that, I am sure. I leave my testimony of these things with you in the sacred name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, amen.
Sources:
[1] David O. McKay, “Groundbreaking & Dedication of CCH/BYU–Hawaii” [groundbreaking at Brigham Young University–Hawaii, February 12, 1955], speeches.byuh.edu
[2] Russell M. Nelson, “Let God Prevail,” Ensign or Liahona, October 2020, 94
[3] Mormon 1:2
[4] Mormon 1:2-4
[5] David A. Bednar, “Quick to Observe” [Brigham Young University devotional, May 10, 2005], speeches.byu.edu
[6] Conference Report, April 1950, pp.162-63
[7] D. Todd Christofferson, “Lifelong Disciples of Jesus Christ” [Church Educational System Religious Educators Conference Devotional, June 12, 2025] broadcasts.ChurchofJesusChrist.org
[8] Doctrine and Covenants 20:37
[9] Doctrine and Covenants 20:77
[10] Russell M. Nelson, “The Lord Jesus Christ Will Come Again,” Ensign or Liahona, October 2024, 121
[11] Russell M. Nelson, “The Lord Jesus Christ Will Come Again,” Ensign or Liahona, October 2024, 121-122
[12] General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 27.2.2, Gospel Library
[13] Russell M. Nelson, “The Everlasting Covenant,” Liahona, October 2022
[14] Russell M. Nelson, “Spiritual Treasures,” Ensign or Liahona, October 2019, 77
[15] General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3.5, Gospel Library
[16] Russell M. Nelson “Overcome the World and Find Rest,” Liahona, October 2022, 96