Brothers and Sisters Aloha,
I pray that today we might be united through the Spirit and that individually the Spirit will impress upon our minds the message the Lord wants us to personally hear. I know our lives will be edified if we act upon personal promptings from the Lord.
I want you students to think back to your first week at BYU-Hawaii attending New Student Orientation. For some of you it may be as recent as three weeks ago, or perhaps a couple of years ago, but the message remains true and constant for us all. The President’s Official Welcome event is where members of the administration, Hawaiian Studies program, Student Association leaders, and advisors engage in a ritual of encounter - a chant – to welcome all new and returning students. “Hiki Mai” was written by the respected Latter-day Saint Kupuna Cy Bridges; the words were deeply inspired by our Heavenly Father for each one of us. We call to the newest and youngest members of our university Ohana these words of encouragement.
Hiki Mai-Hawaiian words
“come forward and appear you precious flowers (or young ones)… each of you are taking up the challenge of not simply climbing a high mountain but you have chosen to climb the highest and most majestic mountain of all…You are the most precious adornment (lei) worn around the neck of your ancestors. Come forward come forward for there are many roads for you to choose. Be sure to follow the voice of the Good Shepherd, for he will always keep you, protect you and show you the way.” (Translation by Cy Bridges)
Then it is you the incoming students who unite your voices with those of the chanters standing before you and together we sing, “Aloha e, Aloha e, Aloha e” Hiki Mai is a welcome chant of love sung with love.
In my own Maori culture of Aotearoa, New Zealand a vital component of the rituals of encounter is the Karanga or a welcome call from an older woman of position from the hosting tribe. The Karanga welcomes visitors but also makes clear what the objectives for the relationship will be for the duration they are together. Anciently this was to avoid mishap and possibly war from arising between tribes because of miscommunication, misuse of hospitality, violations of tribal customs and so forth. My devotional talk today is my Karanga to you; it is a personal greeting of love and welcome, but it also conveys admonitions from the host people of this institution.
My perspective is not a common one. I first came to BYU Hawaii as a brand new freshman, only a teenager. I cried myself to sleep the first night in the dorms. I felt alone without friends and missing my large noisy family—it was the first time away from home.
As a faculty member for many years I relished being in the company of students who were some of the smartest, most humble, kind and spiritual people I have met. Faculty here feel a solemn responsibility to see that their teaching is high quality, the courses and material are relevant, and students are engaged in their learning outcomes.
Now as an administrator, current responsibilities allow me to collaborate with dedicated professionals on policy and procedural matters which impact the health and well-being of students within legal parameters. All the while upholding the gospel values foundational to our institution within the rapidly changing environment of higher education. Each opportunity I have had here at BYU Hawaii has challenged me and brought unique blessings and miracles.
In this year’s Faculty and Staff meeting President John S. Tanner made this statement: “this is our moment in time to be here at BYU-Hawaii.” Then he framed a powerful question which I echo today, how will you take advantage of this moment in time? Do you know why the Lord wants you here? Will you squeeze out as much good from this experience as you can?
Admonition One: Prioritize Spiritual Education
In the Hiki mai chant the mountain referred to is education; in the scriptures mountains are symbolic of temples where we obtain the highest form of education. The words in Hiki mai invite us not simply to climb a high mountain but to climb the highest mountain, where those who are worthy ascend and receive the greater spiritual knowledge. There are many scriptural examples of the Lord giving guidance and subsequent promises to his people on top of a high mountain.
On Mt. Sanai Moses received explicit instruction from the Lord and great promises if the children of Israel would do what they were commanded. [1] The brother of Jared had done all that he could do to figure out an answer to his barge lighting problem before he asked the Lord on Mt. Shelem for the solution he could not figure out for himself--to make the stones emit light. [2]
If you are homesick or facing difficulties whether they be financial, grasping academic concepts, roommate or family concerns you cannot resolve on your own, the House of the Lord is a place for peace, refuge, and answers.
President Monson has said, “until you have entered the house of the Lord and have received all the blessings which await you there, you have not obtained everything the Church has to offer. The all-important and crowning blessings of membership in the Church are those blessings which we receive in the temples of God. [3]
Do you accept the challenge to climb the highest mountain of all? Or will you settle comfortably at base camp at the foot of the mountain?
Listen to the blessings, found in D&C 109:22, that apply to the acquisition of this type of learning;
“And we ask thee, Holy Father that thy servants may go forth from this house armed with thy power, and that thy name may be upon them, and thy glory be round about them, and thine angels have charge over them.” [4]
What glorious blessings, to go forth armed with the Lord’s power, to be endowed with his name (and all which that entails), and to be in the watchful care of angels-truly worth climbing the highest mountain! I know this promise is sure.
Admonition Two: Be Guided by the Spirit
It has been said that, “you face the world at its worst”. [5] Some of you may be navigating complex terrain given what the world is throwing at you, but those who have gone before you call out encouragement to accept the challenge and continue onward and upward. You can be triumphant even if you trip and fall. There is no doubt that there are many roads for you to choose, but you are here at BYU-Hawaii because you have heard the voice of the Good Shepherd through the Spirit and followed it. It is because of your love for Him that you have responded with faith. Like travelers of old who traversed the unknown, you were brought here in this wide expanse of the Pacific. Whether your homeland is a tiny island, hardly a speck on a map, or an imposing land mass, you have been called out of the world. BYU-Hawaii is an advanced leadership training program and has been charged by prophets of God to build leaders who have character and integrity and who will lead in their homes, communities, nations, and professions and in building the Kingdom of God.
Several of you are guided daily by the Spirit in the academic area in large and small ways, for example, deciding on a major, what to read to prepare for your test, responding to the prompting not to cheat, and so on. Let me tell you about a young man who attended BYU-Hawaii a little while ago, he was a returned missionary who had served in Iceland. The Icelandic language is an incredibly difficult language to learn, but he was able to master it. After his two years were completed he enrolled here and described always having an interest in Japan - its art, language, and culture. He said, “I enrolled in Japanese 101 and thought pridefully that because I learned Icelandic I would be able to learn Japanese easily.”
However after a month the young man described himself as being at the bottom of the class. “Nothing seemed to stick to my mind, and when it finally did I was so far behind the rest of the class, I almost felt like withdrawing and taking the bad mark on my record.” He went on to say he was sitting in the library one day and he felt like he should pray. He spoke to the Lord and asked Him to help him learn Japanese. He uttered this tender plea, “Thou helped me learn Icelandic to bless others in Iceland, if thou would help me learn Japanese I will use it for whatever purposes thou would have me do in thy service.” The impression that came was that he should study the Book of Mormon in Japanese and study it in the same format that he did Icelandic. The words, characters and pronunciation came faster than they did relying on his own abilities. The purpose of the class changed; rather than the reward at the end of the class of a good grade, it was to prepare to serve the Lord and his children.
In an address to Church Education System educators Elder Bednar said, “It is in the sincerity and consistency of our faith-inspired action that we indicate to our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, our willingness to learn and receive instruction from the Holy Ghost”. [6] As we consistently keep our commitments even our honor commitments we are acting in faith and can be taught by the true teacher, the Spirit of our Heavenly Father. [7]
Education is designed to enlarge and develop powers of the spirit and educate you for eternity…you prepare to make a living, but more important still, you prepare to live toward perfection, toward exaltation, and toward Godhood.” Spencer W. Kimball
Admonition Three: Keep your Commitments
A newly married sister in a student ward once shared with me that she had been called as the pianist in her ward. She humbly confided in me saying, “I’m not very good, but I told the Bishop I would do it.” She went on to explain that she spent her Saturdays practicing hymns on the piano, so she would be prepared for sacrament meeting the following day. To show her dedication she would spend a minimum of four hours, and sometimes many more, each Saturday searching for an unoccupied piano on campus, so she could rehearse hymns until she was satisfied that her playing would help set the proper tone for the coming Sabbath meetings. Her seemingly simple commitment was taken seriously.
Commitments prepare people to make and keep sacred covenants. Before coming to BYU-Hawaii you made commitments that involved promising to keep various covenants and I invite you to humbly review these and never to become complacent in your efforts to fulfill them. Keeping them in the forefront of our mind and heart helps us to live in agreement with the Lord’s commandments.
Upon signing the Honor Code, we reaffirm our commitments as Latter-day Saints to keep the commandments, to maintain standards of honesty, to be modest in dress and grooming, and to uphold university policies. We also promise to be actively engaged in our wards, to fulfill Church callings and assignments, and to assist others to do the same.
“Wherefore be not weary in well doing for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great” [8]
Elder M. Russell Ballard encouraged that even though;
“Sometimes we are tempted to let our lives be governed more by convenience than by covenant. It is not always convenient to live gospel standards and stand up for truth…But there is no spiritual power in living by convenience. The power comes as we keep our covenants.” [9]
Admonition Four: Don’t Give Up, Don’t you Dare
Several years ago our family lived in Salt Lake City, Utah, for a short time, and while there, I served in the Young Women program in our ward. It was a profound learning and growing experience for me. One of my most vivid and memorable experiences was participating in a hike with the Olympus 7th ward Young Women. The chosen hike was the summit of Mt. Aire in Millcreek Canyon. Our guide was a sister in the ward, named Amy, who was a trained search and rescue professional who would lead us and ensure that we would safely reach our destination and also return home safely that afternoon. When this hike was proposed I thought to myself, “it’s a convenient location, with the trailhead only about a 15 minute drive from our house – how challenging could it be?”
Besides the relatively close proximity to civilization, the expected duration for the hike was only about two hours and again I figured, (for a novice hiker), that seemed reasonable. How bad could a two hour trek be? The girls were enthusiastic and eager to listen to Amy as she provided information about appropriate hiking clothing and shoes. She also reminded us to carry a light jacket and gave us a suggested quantity of water we should bring. Although it seemed like an inordinate amount to haul, I thought it best to comply since she was an expert and knew what she was talking about, but I couldn’t help ask myself, “how much is that water going weigh?”
Let me tell you what I learned about Mt. Aire during the hike. First off it should be called Mt. “No Air” or Mt. “Give Me Oxygen.” This is due to the fact that the summit is about 8,600 feet above sea level. For comparison sake, the Koolau Mountain Range here around us rises to a height of approximately 3,000 feet above sea level.
From the base of Mt Aire to the summit is a vertical climb of 2,000 feet. For those of us from sea level, a hike to over 8,000 feet in altitude presents very noticeable changes. You quickly observe a lack of available oxygen and the thinning of the air makes you feel out of shape, lethargic, and light-headed.
Let me share what I remember most about that mountainous climb. The 16 and 17 year old Laurels started out in front with Amy and stayed up with her all the way. They set a grueling pace for the rest of us (well for me). They seemed as sure footed as mountain goats, steady on their feet and moving with ease and elegance. Periodically they would stop to let the remainder of the group catch up, rest, and take a sip of water. It was easy to see they were more experienced and comfortable not only with the terrain but with themselves.
At the beginning of the hike I started somewhere in the middle of the pack but as it got steeper the air grew thinner. It became more difficult for me to fill my lungs with oxygen, but no one else seemed affected like I was. I tried to pretend everything was OK, but I started breathing through my nose and mouth to force more oxygen in to my lungs. Each step became more laborious, and I was preoccupied with looking for a place I could stop for a few seconds to catch my breath. I was not engaging in conversation or appreciating the majestic scenery for which the Utah canyon-scapes are famous. I was focused on staying alive.
All the while the Beehive girls flitted around checking out the flora and fauna like they were romping in a field of daisies laughing and having a wonderful time—you know the awe and joy that God’s creations hold. They were having a blast with not a care in the world. Not wanting to spoil their fun I waved the girls on, and they ran up ahead to join their friends but then a few minutes later they ran back to check on me.
One little girl said, “would you like me to carry your jacket sister Wright?” I thanked her and told her I was fine. At one point my daughter who could see I was having a difficult time came up behind me put two hands on the small of my back and pushed me until I felt a renewed commitment and energy to push to the end.
This little beehive group stayed with me and stood around me as I caught my breath. Although I invited them to go ahead, in part because I was embarrassed at having such a hard time, but I couldn’t shake them loose. They kept on chatting with each other and moved along the trail slower than they could have but not so far ahead that I had an excuse to call out “I’ll wait for you here pick me up on your way down.” So in the end I buckled down and decided I wasn’t going to give up. Instead, I continued to focus on putting one foot in front of the other and then continued with each successive step, and so on until we reached the Summit where the trail blazing Laurels and leaders had finished their rest and were ready to head back down the mountain. All I could think of was, “I made it!”
Never give up. Reach out for help to your bishop, home teachers, professors and tutors. You can make it.
In his December 2011 Commencement address entitled “The Parable of BYU-Hawaii” Elder Jeffrey R. Holland stated that:
“for Latter-day Saints in general and BYU–Hawaii students in particular, there should be no blur in the vision of what is humanly possible. We of all people should not be guilty of living under our moral capacity, or, as Brigham Young regularly phrased it, “liv[ing] far beneath our privileges” (Journal of Discourses 12:104). I am saying, in short, that if you have an inferiority complex, get over it. We all start humbly, we all start with feelings of inadequacy, we all think the fellow seated on our right and the woman seated on our left are more talented, are more gifted, had wealthier beginnings than we do, and are going to do better in life than we ever will. Well, they aren’t, and they don’t, and they won’t! They are just like you. We all have our fears and insecurities, and so do those people on your right and on your left… But it would be fatal to stay in that swamp of insecurity, to mire down and stop, to fail to look up and fail to look ahead and fail to be believing.” [10]
The Savior has overcome all things we might experience. He remained true to the spiritual knowledge he had of his Father’s plan; he was committed to the cause he volunteered for in the pre-existence; and he never gave up in the face of incredible obstacles and opposition - a perfect example for us.
Each one of us here at BYUH has the capacity to be successful to make it to the end. The end does not simply mean graduation. But if you take full advantage of the holistic education you can receive here, what you learn will set a pattern that will guide the course of your life, and it can help you gain eternal life to live again in the presence of our Heavenly Father and our older brother and Savior Jesus Christ.
We can fulfill this goal and reach our personal summits, but please make reaching these summits a team effort. Each of us will require help from our loving family, ecclesiastical leaders, wise mentors, those who have gone before us, and those who are walking the path with us. Remember our Lord is mindful of each one of our trials and our triumphs and we can always rely on Him. I so testify.
[1]Exodus 19:3, 20
[2]Ether 2: 22-25
[3]“The Holy Temple—a Beacon to the World,” Ensign, May 2011, 93
[4]D&C 109:22
[5]Dew, BYU Speeches, 2003
[6]Seek Learning by Faith, Address to CES Educators, February 3, 2006
[7]D&C 19:23
[8]D&C 64:33
[9]Elder Ballard Ensign, May 199, 86
[10]“The Parable of BYU-Hawaii” Elder Jeffrey R. Holland