Today is one of the most important days for your life. As you prepare to leave the relative comforts of BYU–Hawaii, we hope you can look back at your time here with fondness and most importantly, you can see how the hand of the Lord guided you and directed you in your path forward.
At this commencement, BYU–Hawaii will award 355 bachelor’s degrees and nine associate degrees. Our graduates represent 33 countries, and range in age from 19 to 35 years old. Half of the graduates being celebrated at this commencement come from outside of the United States, and the other half represent 24 of the United States of America. 13% of our graduates are from Oceania, and 19% are from the Asian Rim. Nearly 90% of our graduates held at least one job at BYU–Hawaii or the Polynesian Cultural Center during their time here as a student. You are an impressive group, and maybe most impressive that you made it through some of you starting with Sister Kauwe and I as your President and ending with us as your President.
We are going to miss you. As you walked in today and I saw I recognized so many of you personally and I am so grateful for you, we love you, and we are going to miss having you here on this campus. With this last opportunity that I have to address you directly, I want to remind you of the words of our prophets, seers, and revelators—words that have been given to you personally, directly, during your time here at BYU–Hawaii.
First, the direction of Elder Ronald A. Rasband: he said, “If a young and busy college student were to come to me and ask for advice about his or her studies, my answer would be simple: ‘Give the Lord equal time.’ You might be thinking right now, ‘I just don't have time, Elder Rasband, I am already overcommitted. I have to get good grades here at BYU–Hawaii. I am taking too many credit hours already. I have tough professors who expect my full attention. I am working at the PCC. I feel like I barely have energy to get to Church on Sunday.
He continued in saying, "Sound familiar to any of you today? Well, know this: you cannot put your testimony on the shelf during your college years". He then said, "Give the Lord equal time in your university experience, then give Him equal time the rest of your life as you go back to all the countries that you are here in Hawaii representing. He then finished with a prophetic promise he said, "I promise you this today: as you give the Lord equal time as you pursue your higher education, the Spirit will enhance your academic pursuits. You will find you have extra time and capacity for your courses, and doors that will be opened for you that might have otherwise been closed." [1] It's an incredible, incredible promise that he gave you. Now, I know that Elder Rasband, he had this experience; he talked to you last year about this, and he shared his testimony firsthand. Two things I want to share from that experience.
So, first, what does equal time mean? Does it mean that we divide a 24 hour day into 12-hour blocks and devote 12 to just spiritual things and 12 to everything else. Does that work? I don't think that works, right?
As I have studied his words and pondered what they mean for me and you, it's become clear to me that giving the Lord equal time means that you learn how to devote every moment, to those things that will bless your life and align with the Lord's will and will prepare you to serve others. That's how you give the Lord equal time, you split every second of every day, by devoting it to things that will benefit you others and are aligned with the will of the Lord. So, I urge you, to seek the will of the Lord in your life, to seek that capacity to give Him equal time in every moment, and align your life with God's will. Let Him prevail in your life.
Second, he taught that you should give God equal time for the rest of your life as you return to countries that you represent here on campus. That means that you need to elevate your spiritual efforts consistently as your life goes forward. Great promises are tied to this commitment.
A second prophetic statement, a few years ago, President Henry B. Eyring visited our campus, many of you were here for that. Speaking of your future, he said: “I think the idea here is saying, go wherever you can build the kingdom of God and touch people’s lives in the way the Lord is trying to touch people’s lives and build the Church…" he continued saying "Very often the Lord will say yes, it is back where you came from. There is something you can do there, and it will be best for your family. He reminded us that’s the way to pray: ask your Heavenly Father, ‘Where can I go to be part of what you are doing, which is to prepare the kingdom of God for the day the Savior will come?’ ” [2]
So I just want to remind you that you personally have been prepared to bless the lives of your families and your communities. The Lord’s prophets, each member of the Church, your Savior Jesus Christ, and your Heavenly Father they have all worked, prepared a plan for you to have the opportunity to be here at BYU–Hawaii— for you to receive unique preparation to live and lead in across Asia and in the Pacific and bless the lives of others.
I want you to prayerfully consider this charge and this responsibility. The Lord will bless you when you use the gifts and talents you’ve been given in accordance with His will.
Finally, the words of our living prophet—our beloved President Russell M. Nelson—to you to the young adults of the church worldwide, he said:
“My dear young friends, I love you. I thank you. I believe in you. As the Lord’s prophet, I bless you to know the truth about who you are and to treasure the truth about what your glorious potential really is. I bless you to take charge of your own testimony. And I bless you to have the desire and strength to keep your covenants."
He then continues with a promise, he said: "As you do, I promise that you will experience spiritual growth, freedom from fear, and a confidence that you can scarcely imagine now. You will have the strength to have a positive influence far beyond your natural capacity. And I promise that your future will be more exhilarating than anything you can presently believe.” [3]
Now, if you’ve been listening to me at all these few years, this might be the fourth or fifth time you’ve heard this quote. That's because I know that it's true, and let me just tell you that your classmates are going to hear it again!
My deepest desire for each of you is that you will test these words—that you will honor your covenants, that you will seek and expect the miracles that President Nelson has promised. That the Lord has promised you.
I love you. I know that your Savior Jesus Christ loves you; that your Heavenly Father loves you. They have great things in store for you. And I pray that God’s richest blessings will be upon you and your families as you move forward in faith.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Notes
[1] Ronald A. Rasband, “Give the Lord Equal Time,” [Brigham Young University–Hawaii Devotional, January 28, 2025] byuh.edu/speeches
[2] Henry B. Eyring, ‘Sacred Places, Sacred Times,”[Brigham Young University–Hawaii Devotional, November 22, 2022] byuh.edu/speeches
[3] Russell M. Nelson, “Choices for Eternity”, [worldwide devotional for young adults, May 15, 2022], Gospel Library