Brothers and sisters, aloha!
It is my privilege to be with you, and I am grateful for the blessing of speaking to you. BYU–Hawaii ohana, please accept my sincere gratitude for the opportunity given to me to study at, and graduate from, this beautiful university. BYU–Hawaii truly blesses lives.
To explain how this university blesses lives, I would like to begin my remarks by sharing a story about a young boy who grew up in the boundless, large, flat, and unforested grassland, known as steppes, in Mongolia.
On the far eastern edge of Mongolia, in a vast steppe where the horizon seems to stretch endlessly, a little boy grew up. In that wide-open land, when he was just seven years old, he began attending a school located 13 miles from his home. With no means of transportation other than his horse, he was required to ride to school through fierce snowstorms and bitter cold temperatures, sometimes reaching −22°F and taking more than two hours to arrive.
Once at school, he lived in the school dorms, away from family, until the weekend, when he would ride home again. This continued for four years, until he was forced to leave school to help his parents herd livestock.
During summer breaks from school, the children from nearby families would come home, and joyful moments were shared with play and laughter—but these times always seemed far too short. When autumn arrived and school resumed, the neighboring children would return to the town to continue their education. Silence once again would settle in, and the boy would realize the endless loneliness of life in the middle of the boundless steppe. With no other choice, he learned to adapt to a nomadic life.
With no friends except sheep and horses, he spent his days with the herd, enduring wind and storms and protecting the herd from wolves. Yet, like other children, he imagined himself attending school, laughing and playing with many friends. For that dream, he offered prayers to a Higher Power—God.
He entered school shortly after Mongolia transitioned to a democratic society. Under the new government’s policy, the Cyrillic alphabet, which had been used for 50 years, was abolished, and the traditional Mongolian script was revived and taught to all children. However, soon after he left school, the policy changed again, reverting to Cyrillic. As a result, he suddenly found himself illiterate. It felt as if the door to his dream of returning to school had slammed shut before him.
Rather than giving in to despair, he decided to teach himself the Cyrillic alphabet. After long days of hard labor, by the dim light of a candle, he copied letters from newspapers, and during the day, while herding sheep, he practiced writing letters in the air. In this way, he continued to educate himself. Seven years after leaving school, at the age of eighteen, the boy passed the entrance exam for high school and reopened the door to his dream.
God promised in Joshua 1:5: “…I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” [1] Just as the Lord led Moses and the Israelites through the wilderness; He likewise guided the boy and blessed him far beyond anything he could have imagined.
After graduating from high school and moving to Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, to attend college, he met missionaries, accepted the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and at church, found his closest friend—his eternal companion. That little boy who grew up in the endless steppe now stands before you. My life is a clear testimony of how deeply Heavenly Father loves His children and how He blesses and guides us.
After learning about BYU–Hawaii and the IWORK program, my growing passion for education motivated me to set a new goal—to pursue higher education abroad in a safe and supportive environment. As a newly married couple and a young parent, meeting the university’s requirements and becoming financially prepared required sacrifice, patience, and faith. The preparation process took five years before I was admitted.
Obtaining an American visa tested our faith even further. By then, our family had grown to four, and we were denied at our first interview. With limited resources but renewed trust in the Lord, we paid the visa fee again and reapplied. One week before orientation, our visa was finally approved—a tender reminder that God’s timing is always perfect, even when the path feels uncertain.
The journey to BYU–Hawaii was not straight or easy, but it was guided. Looking back, I see the hand of the Lord shaping us through every delay, rejection, and sacrifice, strengthening our faith and preparing us for the blessings that lay ahead.
Studying at this university, a school of God, and being taught by many wonderful teachers, and learning alongside hundreds of outstanding students like you, brought great blessings into my life.
As a BYU–Hawaii student, I was blessed far beyond academics. I learned in a spiritually safe environment where faith and education strengthened one another. Through the IWORK program, we gained not only employment, but self‑reliance, discipline, and leadership.
My family was blessed to grow in a community centered on Christ, surrounded by Saints from many nations, and close to the temple. Looking back, every sacrifice and delay became preparation. BYU–Hawaii was not just a school for us—it was a place where the Lord refined our faith, strengthened our family, and confirmed that He was guiding our path.
While a student, I took advantage of every opportunity possible. I served as president of the Mongolian Club, led several student projects, and worked on campus. The experiences I had here at BYU–Hawaii prepared me for the leadership responsibilities I now carry as a stake president.
BYU–Hawaii was established through prophetic inspiration and vision. As President David O. McKay declared during the groundbreaking of this university, it will, quote, “develop character and to build noble men and women.” [2]
How will we become, as President McKay prophesied, noble men and women?
I would like to suggest three ways we can do this.
- Be One
- Follow Prophetic Counsel
- Receive Blessings Through Obedience
1. Be One
Becoming “noble men and women” begins with becoming one—one in purpose, one in faith, and one in discipleship.
Sister J. Annette Dennis, second counselor in the general Relief Society, recently shared, “Our congregations and families can be gathering places where we cheer each other on—covenant communities fueled by the love of Christ for one another—helping each other overcome whatever challenges we face, giving each other strength and encouragement without judging one another. We need each other. Divine strength comes from unity, and that is why Satan is intent on dividing us.” [3]
One of the well-known queens in Mongolia’s history was Alungoo, the mother of five sons. Her most famous story tells how she gave each son a single arrow, which could easily be broken. Then she handed them a bundle of five arrows—yet none could break it. Through this simple act, she taught them that unity creates strength.
In the same way, BYU–Hawaii was founded to build unity among God’s children. More than 50 years ago, President Marion G. Romney shared, “Because the student body here is such a marvelous and representative group, this college is a living laboratory in which individuals who share the teachings of the Master Teacher have an opportunity to develop appreciation, tolerance, and esteem for one another. For what can be done here interculturally in a small way is what mankind must do on a large scale if we are ever to have real brotherhood on this earth.” [4] BYU–Hawaii is even more diverse today than when President Romney made his original statement. I’m told that this semester, there are students from more than 60 countries on campus.
BYU–Hawaii’s prophetic mission statement declares that the university will “…prepare students of Oceania and the Asian Rim to be lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ and leaders in their families, communities, chosen fields, and in building the kingdom of God.” [5]
This mission itself requires unity—unity in discipleship, unity of purpose, and unity in building Zion. Like the sons of Alungoo, we each possess individual strength; yet when we go forth to serve, strengthened by the gospel of Jesus Christ, we are able to accomplish far more together than we ever could alone.
When we believe in and live according to this prophetic mission, we gain the spiritual strength to fulfill the university’s vision— “to be an example to the world of intercultural peace and unity through living the teachings of Jesus Christ.” [6]
Thus, the path to becoming “noble men and women” begins with being one—one heart, one mind, and one purpose in Christ.
In Doctrine & Covenants 38:27, the Lord commands, “I say unto you, be one; and if ye are not one ye are not mine.” [7]
As we live the teachings of Jesus Christ together, we are shaped into a unified people, capable of leading, lifting, and blessing the world.
Whether married, dating, or single, I invite you to think about how you can be one with those you love and serve alongside.
2. Follow Prophetic Counsel
In Luke chapter 5, there is a story that I find particularly meaningful. As the Savior stood by the lake, surrounded by a large crowd, the fishermen had stepped out of their boats and were washing their nets. For them, fishing nets were essential tools of their livelihood. Unlike modern nets made from durable synthetic materials, fishing nets of that time would rot if they were not washed and dried after use. Washing and drying them was likely a difficult and labor-intensive task.
The night before, they “toiled all the night” with no luck and were likely tired and a little frustrated.
In verse four, we read, “When he [meaning the Savior] had left speaking, He said unto Simon, ‘Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.” [8]
In essence, a carpenter’s son was giving instructions to experienced fishermen. If someone who knew nothing about horses were to offer me advice in my own area of experience, I imagine I might feel offended or dismissive.
Yet, Simon responded with remarkable humility and trust: “Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless, at thy word I will let down the net.” What followed was extraordinary. They caught such a great number of fish that their nets began to break. They called to their partners in the other boat for help, and together they filled both boats so full that they began to sink. [9]
To us, this account offers an important lesson. Higher education teaches us to develop expertise, to reason carefully, and to rely on evidence—and rightly so. Yet this story reminds us that learning alone is not enough. Growth also requires humility: a willingness to listen when truth comes from unexpected places, and to act in faith even when divine counsel challenges our assumptions or experience.
3. Receive Blessings Through Obedience
Like Simon Peter, we may feel tired, uncertain, or confident in our own understanding. But when we choose to act “at [the Lordʻs] word,” we invite the Savior to magnify our efforts. In both our academic pursuits and our personal discipleship, obedience combined with humility opens the door to blessings far greater than we could produce on our own.
This account teaches us the principle that when we follow the words of the Savior, we are always blessed. Not only did the Savior bless the fishermen with an abundant catch, but He also called them to follow Him. Because they obeyed His words a second time—this time without hesitation—they became lifelong disciples of Christ.
Their obedience was not blind—it was faithful. And that faith unlocked abundance. More importantly, it redirected their lives toward a higher purpose.
Doctrine and Covenants 130 teaches that blessings are governed by eternal law. In times of academic pressure, career uncertainty, and personal decision-making, this principle matters deeply. When we choose obedience to Christ, even when outcomes are unclear, we align ourselves with divine order. [10]
As we move forward united in Christ and committed to faithful service, God’s miracles will unfold—not only in our own lives, but also through us in the lives of others.
BYU–Hawaii invites students to come to the university to gain both academic knowledge and spiritual insight and then to live and lead throughout Oceania and the Asian Rim. [11] This call reminds us that the purpose of a BYU–Hawaii education reaches beyond personal achievement. It prepares students to return to their home countries and communities as leaders, as beacons of hope, and as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ.
In this way, the education gained here becomes a means of blessing others. What we learn—intellectually, spiritually, and morally—is not meant to end with us, but to be carried outward, strengthening families, communities, and nations. When we choose to live, lead, and serve with this purpose, we fulfill both the mission of the university and the divine trust the Lord has placed in each of us.
Conclusion
Becoming noble men and women does not happen by chance, nor does it happen alone. It begins as we choose to be one—united in Christ, united in purpose, and united in our commitment to serve. It continues as we practice faithful obedience, even when the path is unclear or when divine counsel stretches our understanding. As we have seen in the lives of Alungoo’s sons and the fishermen by the Sea of Galilee, unity, following prophetic guidance, and obedience invite the power of God into ordinary lives and transform them for extraordinary purposes.
Here at BYU–Hawaii, we are being prepared not only to gain knowledge but to become lifelong disciples of Christ—leaders who lift others, strengthen communities, and build the kingdom of God wherever we are sent. As we choose to live the teachings of Jesus Christ and go forth to serve, the Lord will magnify our efforts. His miracles will unfold—not only in our own lives, but through us in the lives of others.
May we move forward with one heart and one mind, trusting the Savior, obeying His word, and fulfilling the divine trust placed upon us. In doing so, we will truly become the noble men and women the Lord needs us to be, and the world so deeply needs today.
I share these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Notes:
[1] Joshua 1:5
[2] Reuben D. Law, The Founding and Early Development of The Church College of Hawaii, 1972, 66-67
[3] J. Anette Dennis, “Cheering Each Other On,” Liahona, October 2025
[4] Marion G. Romney, “Dedication of the Aloha Center, Church College of Hawaii,” [dedication at Brigham Young University–Hawaii, January 25, 1973], speeches.byuh.edu
[5] BYU–Hawaii Mission Statement
[6] BYU–Hawaii Vision
[7] Doctrine and Covenants 38:27
[8] Luke 5:4
[9] Luke 5:5-7
[10] Doctrine and Covenants 130
[11] BYU–Hawaii Mission Statement