Introduction
Sisters and brothers, aloha. I’m so excited that we are here together to start this fall semester. I’m grateful for Monica, for the Spirit that she brings to our family and to each opportunity the Lord gives her to lead and to testify. This summer marked five years since Monica and I began serving here at BYU–Hawaii. It has been a joyful time. We love you and cherish the opportunity to serve and teach with you. Our family has been deeply blessed by our relationships with each of you and by your collective faith and efforts.
Now as we’ve mentioned, today is President Russell M. Nelson’s 101st birthday. I testify to you that he is God’s prophet. I’m grateful that I get to sit with him on a regular basis and I see that he is wise, that he’s kind, and devoted disciple of Jesus Christ. I testified to you that it is true. In his honor, my devotional today emphasizes many of his teachings and even includes some physiology. So stay tuned.
As we begin this new school year, let’s remember three important priorities: purpose, consecration, and excellence. The purpose of BYU–Hawaii is to prepare disciples of Jesus Christ who will live and lead in Oceania and the Asian Rim. [1] By choosing to be here, you’ve committed to aligning your actions with that purpose. Consecration means honoring our covenants with God and our commitments that qualify us to be members of this university community. Excellence means making thoughtful and purposeful efforts to develop our talents and use them to bless the lives of our families and our communities.
Now, recently I, and all Church Educational System employees, were recently instructed by Elder D. Todd Christofferson that, “It is essential that we teach in a way that invites students to exercise their agency in the learning process.” [2] Last week, President Camille N. Johnson visited BYU–Hawaii and spoke to all of our employees. She urged us to emulate the prophet Mormon by being “quick to observe.” [3] Today, I pray that in the course of this devotional, the Spirit will testify to you of the great blessings that will come when you righteously exercise your agency and are quick to observe. I also pray that the Spirit will tell you the things that you specifically should do to more fully access those blessings.
So as Vice President Walker announced, my full name is John Sai Keong Kauwe III. It’s a lot of name. I understand that. Two middle initials, three numbers at the end. I am named after my father and grandfather. My name represents my European, Chinese, and Hawaiian ancestry, and I’m grateful for that. It leaves out the Portuguese and Māori ancestry—but there was already plenty of name, so I’m grateful that we left it at that!
I lived with my grandfather near the end of his life here on Oʻahu in Kailua. I was very close to him, and I am grateful to carry his name. He was a good, generous and faithful man who died at the age of 61.
My father was also a talented and charismatic man of deep faith in Jesus Christ and the restored gospel. He attended the Church College of Hawaii, where he performed with Showcase Hawaii and worked at the Polynesian Cultural Center. I feel grateful that I have his actual name tag from that time. You can see in this slide here, John from Hawaii. So Alfred, if you see me over there with it, put me to work. Sadly, he passed away relatively young as well, at the age of 67. Just a few months after we started here at BYU–Hawaii, after decades of serious health issues.
Both my father and my grandfather suffered and died from type 2 diabetes. I don’t just share their names, I share their DNA, so I am at significantly elevated risk for type 2 diabetes as well. Many of you come from families and cultures where diabetes has impacted you for generations. Some of you have already lost grandparents, parents, or other loved ones far too early to this terrible disease. I have been feeling prompted to talk just a little bit about the importance of our physical health as part of our overall wellness and success. So, pay attention for the next few minutes, and we’re going to get into our biology lesson on type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 Diabetes
In a healthy body, eating carbohydrates raises blood sugar, prompting the pancreas to release insulin. Insulin is a signal that tells your cells to absorb that sugar out of the bloodstream, and that fuels the cellular work that keeps you alive. With type 2 diabetes, cells become resistant to that insulin signal. Blood sugar builds up, and over time, the body suffers damage to vision, circulation to the heart, and other aspects of healthy function. Type 2 diabetes is insidious; that’s an important word, a complex word. It means that the damage, the negative effects builds up slowly and often unnoticed, until the suffering becomes painful and devastating, as many of you have experienced with our loved ones.
When it comes to type 2 diabetes, lifestyle matters. Consistently eating high amounts of carbohydrates, combined with inactivity, chronic stress, and poor sleep, all elevates risk for disease. On the other hand, regular physical activity, wiser food choices, better rest, and healthy stress levels can improve insulin sensitivity and protect long-term health.
Now, we know a little bit about what you can do to prevent or address type 2 diabetes in our lives, and I hope that you will be thoughtful and intentional about the choices you make now in your nutrition and lifestyle. The habits you develop right now will dictate your ability to serve others in the future. I encourage you to make use of the university’s resources to assess your health, develop a plan to work on your nutrition and physical fitness, and create the habits now that will bring you strength and joy for many years to come.
That might have felt like a little bit of a biology class, but don’t worry, there’s no test on the science. This is still a devotional. Just as insulin enables the body to use energy, it is Jesus Christ who enables us to use our agency righteously. With Him, our choices bring lasting joy and eternal life.
Exercise Moral Agency
We have the opportunity to exercise our moral agency to make choices that will change the course of our lives both temporally and spiritually. Choosing to exercise moral agency righteously is the purpose of our mortal experience.
Elder David A. Bednar said, “…importantly, moral agency is the divinely designed ‘power of independent action’ that empowers us as God’s children to become agents to act and not simply objects to be acted upon…The very purpose of the Creation and of our mortal existence is to provide us the opportunity to choose and act to become what the Lord invites us to become.” [4]
The possession of moral agency isn’t enough; the Lord expects us to exercise that agency through righteous actions. And the choices we make and the actions we take are incredibly important.
President Nelson teaches, “During this life we get to choose which laws we are willing to obey—those of the celestial kingdom, or the terrestrial, or the telestial—and, therefore, in which kingdom of glory we will live forever. Every righteous choice that you make here will pay huge dividends now. But righteous choices in mortality will pay unimaginable dividends eternally. If you choose to make covenants with God and are faithful to those covenants, you have the promise of ‘glory added upon [your head] for ever and ever.’ ” [5]
Beautiful teaching from our prophet. You have used your moral agency righteously to qualify to be here—spiritually and intellectually. Great job! Keep it up! You are off to a great start!
Now that you are here, it is time to elevate the way you exercise that moral agency to take charge of your testimony and to take charge of your learning and to build your future. In doing so, don’t forget that President Nelson taught us “the great news of God’s plan: the very things that will make your mortal life the best it can be are exactly the same things that will make your life throughout all eternity the best it can be!” [6]
At BYU–Hawaii, we choose God’s plan to build our faith, intellect, purpose, resilience, and leadership because we know that God’s promises are true.
Be Quick to Observe
At 10 years old, the great prophet Mormon, was described by Ammoron as, “quick to observe,”. Ammoron described him as he was explaining why Mormon was entrusted with the sacred records of the Nephites. [7] What is it about this characteristic that was so important?
Elder David A. Bednar taught that, “the word observe has two primary uses. One use denotes ‘to look’ or ‘to see’ or ‘to notice’… The second use of the word observe suggests ‘to obey’ or ‘to keep…’” [8]
I mentioned to you that insulin resistance leads to impaired vision over time. Similarly, spiritual resistance leads to impaired discernment, leaving us unable ‘to look’ or ‘to see’ or ‘to notice’ those things that the Holy Ghost is trying to teach us. In this impaired state, we are unable to exercise moral agency and our spiritual health is in great danger.
Remember President Nelson’s important warning, “In [the] coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.” [9]
Seeing, noticing with that guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost is the first definition of “observe.” Please seek to live worthy of the Spirit, as Monica just taught you. Your time at BYU–Hawaii is a gift from God. This entire university community is dedicated to helping you develop your faith, your intellect, your sense of purpose, your health and resilience, and your capacity for leadership. The collective faithful living of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is supporting you temporally and spiritually. You also have the special attention and prayers of His living prophets and of all the employees here on campus. The resources assembled here to support your growth are truly remarkable.
BYU–Hawaii represents a significant investment in you and your potential. We do everything we can to teach you to use your agency to take charge of your testimony, your learning, and your future. However, you must be the agent of action in every aspect of your life. Whether we are talking about your covenants, your commitment to the Honor Code, your academics, or your emotional or physical health, you must ask for the help that you need, you must take responsibility, and you must do the work to succeed. This is the second definition of being “quick to observe,” and it is expected of you as a BYU–Hawaii student.
To realize the full blessings of this opportunity, you must be quick to observe in both senses of the word. First, to notice: see your strengths and weaknesses, recognize your opportunities, and look for ways to bless others. And second, to obey: keep your covenants with the Savior, honor your commitments to the university, and heed the direction you receive from trusted leaders.
Here are some examples of how you can be “quick to observe” today at BYU–Hawaii:
· Observed you are struggling in a class?
Ask the Center for Academic Success, a professor, or a tutor for help.
Being quick to observe means you show up, apply feedback, and you prepare differently to improve that situation.
· Observed you are uncertain about your career path?
Go to Career Services, talk to a family, or a faculty mentor.
Being quick to observe means you update your résumé, submit applications, and you prepare carefully for each opportunity.
· Observed you are feeling distant from the Spirit?
Talk to your bishop, ask questions to your religion professor, reach out to your ministering brother or sister.
Being quick to observe means that you take that counsel and the counsel of the Lord that you pray daily, study the scriptures, and worship in the temple, and act on those promptings.
· Observed you are low on energy, short on sleep, or feeling stressed?
Ask Seasider Wellness, a trainer, or a doctor in the health center.
Being quick to observe means that you make changes to exercise, to eat more carefully, to cut back on screen time to make more time for sleep, and that you do it consistently.
· Observed anxiety, depression, or emotional heaviness in your life?
Talk to Counseling Services.
Being quick to observe means you practice the coping tools they teach, you seek support when needed, and you allow yourself time and be patient with yourself as you heal.
· Observed roommate conflicts, financial stress, or other challenges?
Talk to Residential Life staff, your Bishop, or your mentors.
Being quick to observe means you find solutions and you follow through —you have the hard conversation, you set a budget, you honor the boundaries that you need with integrity.
Being quick to observe means that you recognize the need in your life. You seek support and that you act on righteous guidance and promptings of the Spirit with humility and urgency.
Now, I talked a lot about the definition of “observe,” but what about the word quick? Remember this beautiful and clear direction from the prophet Amulek. “For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.” [10]
If any of these things feel familiar in your life, ask for help now. Don’t wait. Whether it’s your academics, your health, your faith, or your relationships, asking for help is a sign of strength, it’s a sign of awareness, it’s a sign that you are quick to observe. It is not a weakness.
I know it can be hard to notice the changes we need to make and then follow through. Even with my clear family history and personal risk for type 2 diabetes, and even after watching both my grandfather and my father suffer and die from the disease, I have struggled at times to make the nutrition and lifestyle choices necessary to protect myself. Some of you may have noticed that just a year or two ago, I was struggling to maintain a healthy weight. I went to the doctor that my markers of diabetes were starting to show that I was heading in the wrong direction.
It has been very challenging, but I met with doctors, I met with Seasider Wellness, I counseled with Monica, and I made a plan. For the last 15 months, I have worked to make and hopefully solidify important lifestyle changes. Along the way, I am being sustained with help from God, especially when I pray for support and when I make time to worship in the Lāʻie Hawaii Temple. With God’s help, and Monica’s help, these changes have led to blessings in my life and given me greater strength to fulfill my stewardship and hopefully will extend my capacity to serve God and others.
I share this with you, so you know that I understand. Change requires humility, effort, and persistence. It can be very, very difficult. But I promise you that it is worth it — it is always worth it to being quick to observe.
I want to remind you this isn’t just true in your personal improvement efforts, but also in blessing the lives of others who might need support. I urge you to be quick to observe in noticing others in need and then help them. It may be as simple as sitting by someone new at the Banyan Dining Hall, offering to study with a classmate, or just listening with compassion. Your quickness to observe, and serve, can make all the difference in someone else’s life.
Conclusion
Proper regulation of sugar in the body ensures that there is energy for work, health, and growth. Similarly, righteous exercise of moral agency and being quick to observe ensures our spiritual and temporal excellence. In our bodies, insulin mediates the relationship between sugar and health. In our lives, the relationship between moral agency and excellence is mediated by our Savior, Jesus Christ.
As the prophet Lehi taught his son Jacob, “Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men…”[11]
I testify to you that Jesus Christ truly is the great Mediator of all men. I testify to you that prophetic promises made in every dispensation are true—if you live Jesus Christ’s teachings and make and honor covenants with Him you will receive great blessings. I testify to you that your opportunity to be here on this campus together with this group of people is a significant manifestation of those blessings in your life right now.
I love you, and I am deeply grateful that you are here with us on this campus. I urge you to be quick to observe. I urge you to be thoughtful about the challenges that you and others around you are facing. I urge you to exercise your moral agency to strengthen your faith, your intellect, your purpose, your resilience and your leadership using the multitude of resources that surround you on this campus. I urge you to help others do the same. God loves each one of us. He’s given us the blessing of being together on this campus with the faith and support of members of the Church all over the world. Let us find hope in this beautiful opportunity and bring joy to each other as we progress toward the excellence that our Father in Heaven has in store for each of us.
I testify to you again that Jesus Christ is our Savior, that this is His Church and that His Spirit dwells on this campus because of your collective faith and desire to serve Him.
I share that with you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Notes:
[1] BYU–Hawaii Mission Statement
[2] D. Todd Christofferson, “Lifelong Disciples of Jesus Christ” [Church Educational System Religious Educators Conference Devotional, June 12, 2025] broadcasts.ChurchofJesusChrist.org
[3] Mormon 1:2
[4] David A. Bednar, “Things as They Really Are 2.0,” [worldwide devotional for young adults, November 3, 2024], Gospel Library
[5] Russell M. Nelson, “Choices for Eternity,” [worldwide devotional for young adults, May 15, 2022], Gospel Library
[6] Russell M. Nelson, “Think Celestial!,” Ensign or Liahona, October 2023, 117
[7] Mormon 1:2-4
[8] David A. Bednar, “Quick to Observe” [Brigham Young University devotional, May 10, 2005], speeches.byu.edu
[9] Russell M. Nelson, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” Liahona, April 2018, 96
[10] Alma 34:32
[11] 2 Nephi 2:27