President and Sister Kauwe, members of the BYUH faculty and students, friends and neighbors, Aloha!
Today is a full circle moment for me. Many years ago, I sat in your seats listening to the campus devotional speakers, hoping that they would have something to say that would be of benefit for me during those important days in my young adult life. Today, I feel that responsibility towards you. I pray that my message may be spoken and received through the Holy Ghost.
Recently, we were visiting in a ward in the Los Gatos, California area as we have recently been looking to buy a home in San Jose. I was deeply moved by a talk given by one of the stake presidency members, and with his permission, I share part of that talk. He took some of his information from the San Jose Mercury News article titled, “Why Japan’s 7.6 quake wasn’t Turkey’s tragedy all over again.”
In February 2023, a large 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Turkey. Nearly 60,000 people were killed. Many of the apartment buildings collapsed trapping the residents and requiring many emergency workers to dig out those buried under the rubble. You will probably remember seeing the media reports on this devastating event over several weeks. [1]
In contrast, almost a year later on January 1, 2024, a 7.6 earthquake rocked Japan. The total fatalities were about 200. That is only 1/3 of a percent of Turkey’s fatalities. [2]
How were the numbers of losses so different between the two countries and their earthquakes? Obviously, differences in geography, economics, population, culture, and politics contributed to the different outcomes and it is hard to make a perfect contrast. With that said, the mathematical difference is still staggering.
The main contributing factor to the reduced destruction of the earthquake in Japan comes down to preparedness.
Japan has a long history of earthquakes. In 1923 Tokyo was destroyed by a 7.9 quake that resulted in 100,000 fatalities. Within one year, the Japanese government started creating its first building code for earthquake resistant construction. They continued over many, many years to upgrade and improve these standards as technology progressed. Japan made seismic safety a priority that is considered the most stringent in the world.
On the other hand, many of Turkey’s casualties occurred in buildings that were built with substandard materials. The Turkish government had failed to enforce earthquake-resistant building codes and had also provided construction exemptions for a fee. This allowed structures to be built without required safety standards and certificates.
One cultural difference noted in the article is, “In Japan…there’s a sense that community matters more than the individual, even if it costs more money.” These countries’ two different approaches for a long-term goal is a great lesson for us in our lives. [3]
In the October 2023 General Conference, President Russell M. Nelson said, “In my first message as President of the Church, I encouraged you to begin with the end in mind.” [4]
Japan did this when they decided to make seismic safety a priority. They did not want to end up with mass casualties due to a lack of preparedness. They cared about their whole community versus the gain of only one. I am sure this was a more expensive route as they put their fiscal resources towards better technology, materials, standards and enforcement for their buildings. They persisted year after year and maintained their standards even though it was financially more costly.
Unfortunately, Turkey did not maintain their seismic building standards as they allowed exemptions to those standards through payments or fees to individuals. This lack of seeing the end result became a very costly reality for the many, while a few benefited in the short term.
President Nelson continues, “…begin with the end in mind. This means making the celestial kingdom your eternal goal and then carefully considering where each of your decisions while here on earth will place you in the next world.” [5]
The decisions he refers to are about the CHOICES you make every day. Some are bigger than others or have a greater impact on your goal. So, we also need to be CHOOSING with the end in mind.
President Nelson states, “When you make choices, I invite you to take the long view—an eternal view. Put Jesus Christ first because your eternal life is dependent upon your faith in Him and in His Atonement. It is also dependent upon your obedience to His laws. Obedience paves the way for a joyful life for you today and a grand, eternal reward tomorrow.” [6]
When we choose the right, we are being obedient. For many years I have had this quote by President Ezra Taft Benson on my refrigerator, “The great test of life is obedience to God.” [7]
President Nelson warns that “As you focus on thinking celestial, expect to encounter opposition.” [8] It can be very challenging to stick to the plan. It is possible to become distracted and slowly stray. But, if we measure every choice with the end goal in mind it becomes easier to control where we are in our journey on the path. As we make good choices, we gain even greater control over the opposition we will face no matter how strong it may be. Like the seismic standards of Japan’s buildings, we will not fall although the quaking may be very strong. We will be able to endure, and even endure well.
In 1995, with our two very small children, we set out on a great adventure when my husband accepted a position at the prestigious United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Little did we know at that time that our lives would be significantly shaped, molded and impacted by this CHOICE and that we would serve and work there for 25 years.
That choice to move came after the extension of a job opportunity, through the Lord, and the reassuring feelings from the Holy Ghost that we were supposed to accept that opportunity. As a young patriarch, my husband had adopted a scripture which became our family motto:
3 Nephi 13:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you”. [9]
For over 30 years we have tried to live by that promise. Our children can often be heard saying, “Put the Lord first, and everything will fall into place”: our family’s interpretation of 3 Nephi 13:33.
As a result of following that motto, we have had wonderful opportunities to grow and serve. My husband has received many awards and accolades for his professional success, but his most cherished titles and responsibilities are that of being a disciple of Jesus Christ, a husband, a father, a son, and a brother who puts the Lord first.
Ken has served in many callings in the Church with his last one being the Annapolis Maryland Stake President. It was an amazing miracle to watch him go from performing the duties of head coach of the Navy Football team to presiding as our stake president.
When you put the Lord first, everything else falls into place. When you begin with the end in mind, your choices become the right ones. When you “think celestial,” you stick to your standards, decision after decision, year after year, and increase your spiritual safety so you can reach your goal.
This is who my husband and eternal partner is. He lives the life of a true disciple of Jesus Christ. He puts the Lord first in all that he does, and I pray that today you will feel the stirrings of the Holy Ghost to prompt you to make that same commitment in your life. I promise that you will be forever grateful that you did.
I say these things, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Notes:
[1] Why Japan’s 7.6 quake wasn’t Turkey’s tragedy all over again [2024], 1.
[2] More Than 200 People Died Since Japan's New Year's Quakes. 8 of Them Died in Shelters, [2024],1.
[3] Why Japan’s 7.6 quake wasn’t Turkey’s tragedy all over again, [2024], 1.
[4] Russell M. Nelson, “Think Celestial!,” Liahona, October 2023.
[5] Russell M. Nelson, “Think Celestial!,” Liahona, October 2023.
[6] Russell M. Nelson, “Think Celestial!,” Liahona, October 2023.
[7] Ezra Taft Benson, “The Great Commandment—Love the Lord,” Ensign, April 1988, 5.
[8] Russell M. Nelson, “Think Celestial!,” Liahona, October 2023.
[9] 3 Nephi 13:33