Devotionals

This University is and will continue to be a place where people from across the world gather to be one in Christ and educate and uplift each other. Diversity of culture, experience, and thought is one of our greatest strengths. So too is our striving for unity as children of God bathed in the light of the restored gospel. Diversity and unity work together here at BYU–Hawaii in remarkable ways.

Every aspect of my secular and spiritual education has brought me joy. I want each of you to know how excited I am to be part of that same joyful experience for you at BYU–Hawaii. I will do everything I can to be a meaningful part of the effort to support our students.

Now, after all these years of trying to steer by the stars, I come to my journey’s end a president and professor. This is my last port of call as an educator. “Home is the sailor, home from the sea.” I leave confident that BYU–Hawaii will sail on, ably guided by a new helmsman who takes the helm at a difficult time when the University is sailing in uncharted waters.

We have been touched and changed by you, the angels of BYU–Hawaii and Laie. Our hearts are overflowing with gratitude for the aloha you have showered upon us, and for the loving strength of our current prophets and leaders who serve us on our Board of Education, and to our Father in Heaven for allowing us this opportunity.

The Officers and Board of Trustees of BYU–Hawaii have extended their heartfelt vote of thanks and conveyed a much deserved letter of release to John and Susan Tanner for their remarkable years of service at the university... And true to the deliverance God always provides for his people, heaven has cast a divine shaft of light on John S.K. Kauwue, III, better known as Keoni...and to extend to him the call to be the next president of Brigham Young University–Hawaii.

And “except ye have charity ye can in nowise be saved in the kingdom of God. . .” because Christ’s pure, atoning love, not only changes us in this life, but it also transcends death. It endures forever.

Amid the gloomy darkness of a troubled world, the light of Jesus Christ shines ever brighter.

I testify that if we turn our lives over to the Lord, he will bless us with happiness and the ability to change our lives for the better.

I testify to you that our Father in Heaven and his Son know us. They know who we are, where we are, and what we are going through. They love us and I promise we are not alone.

I am convinced that because of the Savior Jesus Christ we can ALL be redeemed. And once we have been redeemed, God will use us to help others be redeemed too.

True conversion occurs as you continue to act upon the doctrines you know are true and keep the commandments, every day.

Today I want to focus on how we can "act well our part" in building Zion.

I have five principles from the experiences in my life that have helped me recognize where my joy is and has been found.

As we make our way through life’s challenges, guidance from prophets becomes precious to us.

I would like to encourage you to have good standards for yourselves and your lives and to live according to them. ...Be patient and walk the path to perfection.

Everything seems to point to the temple and how we must learn to return to our Heavenly Father.

One of Athelia Tanner’s notable sayings was not “have a good day,” but “make it a great day.”

To see our lives through God’s eyes is to see with 20/20 spiritual vision.