In most of Polynesia, our greeting was done by pressing our noses together sharing our breath of life that is the 'HA' as in ALO-HA. Perhaps our forefathers were familiar with these sayings:
"And the Gods formed man from the dust of the ground, and took his spirit (that is, the man's spirit), and put it into him; and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul." (Abraham 5:7)
With that deep understanding let me greet you now: "ALO-HA!!" In Hawaii, Aloha means so many things. It means we welcome you or farewell to you, it means good night and it means I love you; it means everything that is good. It is the one Hawaiian word that encompasses all virtues. Maybe, just maybe, if Paul the apostle was Hawaiian he would have used 'Aloha' instead of 'charity' as in chapter 13 of 1 Corinthians. Hold that thought, we will return to it later.
What a glorious and a wondrous sight you are. No wonder why a modern Prophet referred to you as a "marked generation." The Apostle Peter referred to you as a "royal generation, a chosen people and a peculiar treasure." Whether you know it or not, you are here by divine appointment. President David O. McKay, our founder and prophet saw you in a vision 52 years ago, and made this most profound utterance in his dedicatory prayer. (Feb. 12, 1955) "...From this school... will go men and women whose influence will be felt for good towards the establishment of peace internationally."
Again President McKay iterated, "Now that tells us [why] this school is being built...First, the things pertaining to God and His kingdom, a testimony of existence of Deity... the Father of all mankind and ruler of brothers; what that means toward peace, establishing peace in the world..."
Without a doubt, our purpose here in this unique university is to fulfill this prophetic vision to become International Peacemakers. To each of you who could hear my voice and to you who are exercising Lehi's dream by sleeping, I extend this invitation. Will you memorize and internalize our BYU-Hawaii mission statement? Your BYUHSA leadership team has been working on this challenge and I have asked them to please join me in reciting our mission statement:
"Brigham Young University-Hawaii--founded by prophets and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints--exists to assist individuals in their quest for perfection and eternal life and in their efforts to influence the establishment of peace internationally."
I testify to you, my brothers and sisters, that we are on the Lord's mission. He has divinely positioned us in this unique university with more than 70 different nations represented and some 50 different languages, here in this tiny little remote island in the middle of the vast Pacific Ocean, to prepare us to accomplish the mission for which we have been commissioned, the establishment of peace internationally.
Our curriculum for this unique training is found in the revelations D&C 88:78-80.
"Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand;
"Of things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of the nations, and the judgments which are on the land; and a knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms."
Please note the reason for all this preparation. Why this training? "That ye may be prepared in all things when I shall send you again to magnify the calling whereunto I have called you, and the mission with which I have commissioned you."
We all have a special story about how we got here, either to school or to work. Please forgive for my being personal, it is only to illustrate a point. For several years as we traveled between the Pacific and the U.S., we would always stop here at BYU-Hawaii and each time we had that special feeling you had about this place. For a many years, we longed for that time that we could join BYU-Hawaii ohana. After several applications I almost gave up. Then one day, about three months before we were released as mission president, we had a call from President Alton Wade and he said, "I understand that you are considering coming to BYU-Hawaii. We do not have a job lined up for you, but you need to trust me. We will find something for you to do." I was so ecstatic that I said to President Wade, "I will do anything you want me to do." I had extensive experience in toilet cleaning. So we came July 1, 1992, and, sure enough, we had a job as foreign student advisor replacing a gentleman who just got too ill to continue working. This also became a fulfillment of a special blessing I had 30 years earlier that I would be [an] instrument in teaching the youth of the church internationally. Yes, I believe it was a divine appointment.
I hope you are excited and thrilled to know that you have been recruited to be on the Lord's team to help carry out His work and His glory. While we know it is impossible and difficult to have true world peace in our lifetime, we are assured by the prophet Isaiah that during the Millennium when Christ--the Prince of Peace--shall reign on earth, nations will put away their weapons and have no more wars but only peace. (2 Ne 12:4.) "And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plow-shares, and their spears into pruning-hooks...nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more."
It is obvious that our mission of establishing world peace is less with the absence of war and more with the absence of inner turmoil in one's individual life. It is the absence of hate, of anger, of malice, of envy, of pride and all the vices that the adversary uses to entice and generate contentions and wars among nations.
It was the Prince of Peace Himself who declared, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be trouble, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27.)
My good friend Elder Ben B. Banks, a General Authority Emeritus, gave us these counsel:
"True world peace begins with the strivings of an individual to draw closer to Christ. Can you now see that true world peace starts with you and me? Peace in the world requires courage and a willingness to live the gospel of Jesus Christ in the face of increasing evil and worldliness, through our own personal experiences. We can discover that the great source for peace in this world comes from one source, our Savior, even Jesus Christ the Prince of Peace."
When the Savior was here on the earth, he made it clear to his disciples that his mortal ministry was with the house of Israel and not with other nations (Matthew 15:24). After His death and resurrection, however, He met with His disciples and expanded their mission as follows: "Go ye therefore and teach all nations [International Mission], baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." Matt. 28:19-20.
The early apostles had a very difficult time keeping this mandate to go internationally. The Lord therefore called Paul to fulfill this international mission. We read in Acts 9:15 the Lord told Ananias, "Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel."
Later Peter was shown a vision of this international mission, [as] we learn in Acts 10:9-15, that while Peter was praying on the house top he had a vision. He saw heaven opened, and a vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And a voice came to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; I have never eaten any thing that unclean. The second time it happened, a voice came again and said "What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common." It happened a third time, and finally the vessel was taken up to Heaven.
Peter was confused with the meaning of the dream. While he was pondering on the vision, the spirit said to him, there are three men looking for you. Go with them and don't doubt it, for I have sent them. The three men were lead to Peter's door and took him to Cornelius, hometown Joppa. Peter taught Cornelius' household and they were converted.
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons.
Peter had a difficult time accepting this vision because, these people were unclean and he felt that they should belong to the gospel. Our greatest challenge in accomplishing our international mission is the same as Peter's challenge. You see, the mindset of the chief apostle Peter and most of the Quorum of the Twelve's were of the opinion that only the Jews should be allowed to accept the gospel because the gentiles were uncircumcised and therefore unclean. Gentiles were different in many ways to the Jews. What people think and do is called their culture. In fact the very first leadership conference after the Savior's ascension was to discuss this very issue of how do we deal with all these different people flocking into the church?
Is this still an issue today as we witness the international growth of the church membership exceeding 50% of total membership?
Do you as international peacemakers still have an issue with this?
How do you deal with this personally?
Your classmates are all so different from yourself. You work with so many different people; your roommates are from different countries; our spouse may be from Venus or from Mars.
A simple example of understanding different culture:
My sweetheart and best friend has learned to understand our differences in order to find peace in our marriage and so have I. For example, every time I cook curry the whole house is filled with the aroma of exotic curry. I don't think she liked it at first but now she says, you make the best curry and she also eats it. I remember the same experience when some of my Korean friends who were staying in our home, they were eating Kimchee, I thought I was going to die from the strong smell, now it is part of my diet. I know that you can relate similar experiences where you had to make a change in your lifestyle and tolerate differences.
The Lord knew this was going to happen when all His children of different nations and cultures accept the gospel of peace and come together as one in Jesus Christ. I know that the Prince of Peace, whose work we are engaged in, has showed us the way and the key. It is His pure love for all His children. In Nephi's vision of his father's dream, by personal revelation he discovered that the meaning of the tree of life is the love of God. And the prophet Ether refers to the love of God as charity. Paul and Mormon also referred to it as charity (the spirit of Aloha). Remember the thought I asked you to put on hold. The Spirit of Aloha that we feel so strongly on this campus is the love of God.
What is charity? How do I get it?
Bible Dictionary defines it as: "The highest, noblest, strongest kind of love, not merely affection; the pure love of Christ. It is never used to denote alms or deeds or benevolence, although it may be a prompting motive."
Paul and Mormon gave the same definition as recorded in 1 Cor. 13 and Moroni 7.
Both Paul and Moroni gave a list of virtues that describe what Charity:
>suffereth long (sacrifice)
>is kind
>envieth not,
>is not puffed up, (pride)
>seeketh not her own (selfishness)
>is not easily provoked (calm)
>thinketh no evil (clean thoughts)
>rejoiceth not in iniquity (be happy to repent)
>rejoiceth in the truth (be happy)
>beareth all things, (patience and endurance)
>believeth all things, (faith)
>hopeth all things, (faith)
>endureth all things. (faith)
>is the pure Love of Christ
Mormon gave us additional information regarding charity:
"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail--But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him."
Mormon also shared with us how we get this gift:
"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure."
The formula for developing Charity is:
P + S = C,
Prayer + Service = Charity
It is my conviction that through earnest and sincere prayer and service to our fellowmen we can develop charity, to love as God loves. We can then experience the tree whose fruit was desirable to make one happy. It is most sweet, above all that Lehi had ever before tasted and it was white to exceed all the whiteness that he had ever seen. (1 Nephi 8:10)
With the love of God we are color blind to races and nationalities. When we look through the eyes of Christ and His love we see no national boundaries such as Tongan, Samoan, Taiwanese, Korean or any other nationalities, rather we view all as brothers and sisters of a loving Heavenly Father--the "Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of men."
Two days ago we attended a funeral here in our community of an 18-month-old baby boy who was ran over by a car and killed. The bishop shared what he felt was the most important lesson we could learn form this devastating moment. When the driver who ran over this little baby realized what had happened, he got out of the car, and with great sadness and sorrow, went over with some depredations to express his deepest apology to the father for his carelessness. This young father said he was compelled to give him a hug and tell him "I forgive you" and never hesitated to do just that.
Something we have heard the Prince of Peace had once said when he was on the cross at Golgotha, crucified for our sins: "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."
Our best model of God's love and charity is God Himself. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not parish but have everlasting life."
Finally, may I share with you an email from a good friend and I hope he approves my using it to illustrate this most important imperative we must all learn to have.
Breakfast at McDonald's. (This is a good story and is true.) I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently completed my college degree. The last class I had to take was sociology.
The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every human being had been graced with. Her last project of the term was called, "Smile."
The class was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their reactions. I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say hello anyway. So, I thought this would be a piece of cake, literally.
Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I went out to McDonald's one crisp March morning.
We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and even my husband did.
I did not move an inch... an overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they had moved.
As I turned around I smelled a horrible "dirty body" smell, and there standing behind me were two poor homeless men.
As I looked down at the short gentleman, close to me, he was smiling.
His beautiful sky blue eyes were full of God's light as he searched for acceptance.
He said "Good day" as he counted the few coins he had been clutching.
The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend. I realized the second man was mentally challenged and the blue-eyed gentleman was his salvation.
I held my tears as I stood there with them.
The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted.
He said, "Coffee is all, miss" because that was all they could afford. (If they wanted to sit in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something. He just wanted to be warm.)
Then I really felt it - the compulsion was so great I almost reached out and embraced the little man with the blue eyes.
That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me, judging my every action.
I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray.
I then walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot. I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue-eyed gentleman's cold hand.
He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, "Thank you."
I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, "I did not do this for you. God is here working through me to give you hope."
I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband and son.
We held hands for a moment and at that time, we knew that only because of the grace of God that we had been given were we able to give.
That day showed me the pure light of God's sweet love. I returned to college, on the last evening of class, with this story in hand. I turned in "my project" and the instructor read it. Then she looked up at me and said, "Can I share this?" I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class. She began to read and that is when I knew that we as human beings, all God's children, share this need to heal and be healed.
I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn.
May this be the greatest lesson you and I will ever learn from our personal experience in this unique university is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.