Speeches Site Search
173 results found
Commencement talk by R. Kelly Haws | April 16, 2022
"The prophets and apostles come from different backgrounds. Some have been businessmen or car salesmen or airline pilots. And some have been professors, judges, and even heart surgeons. Regardless of their backgrounds, they have now been called by and speak for the only professor who really does know all the answers, the one who knows all there is to know on every subject."
"The prophets and apostles come from different backgrounds. Some have been businessmen or car salesmen or airline pilots. And some have been professors, judges, and even heart surgeons. Regardless of their backgrounds, they have now been called by and speak for the only professor who really does know all the answers, the one who knows all there is to know on every subject."
Commencement talk by Elder Jeremy R. Jaggi and Sister Amy Jaggi | April 16, 2022
"You, the graduates of Brigham Young University–Hawaii have been shaped and molded by fire, by time and by pressure. You are modern-day rocks, even leaders of this generation."
"You, the graduates of Brigham Young University–Hawaii have been shaped and molded by fire, by time and by pressure. You are modern-day rocks, even leaders of this generation."
Commencement talk by Carl B. Cook | December 10, 2021
"Following Heavenly Father’s plan for us requires faith. It requires humbling ourselves enough to put His will above our will. In other words, it requires putting off the prideful, natural man, as described in Mosiah 3:19. I know as we humble ourselves and submit our will to the will of the Lord, He will help us find and follow His plan for us."
"Following Heavenly Father’s plan for us requires faith. It requires humbling ourselves enough to put His will above our will. In other words, it requires putting off the prideful, natural man, as described in Mosiah 3:19. I know as we humble ourselves and submit our will to the will of the Lord, He will help us find and follow His plan for us."
Commencement talk by Amy Kaonohi | December 10, 2021
"I know that with the Lord’s help, we can get through all that the world will throw at us. He helped us get this far, and he won’t stop any time soon. We did a hard thing getting to this point, especially during this time so trust that you have what it takes to push past your limits."
"I know that with the Lord’s help, we can get through all that the world will throw at us. He helped us get this far, and he won’t stop any time soon. We did a hard thing getting to this point, especially during this time so trust that you have what it takes to push past your limits."
Commencement talk by John S. K. Kauwe III | December 10, 2021
"Surely you have developed and maintained some good habits along this journey. I hope and expect that these habits include daily prayer and scripture study, church activity and attendance, and many other small and frequent actions that lead you to spiritual and temporal success. These small daily decisions, now habits, have prepared you to move on and be a meaningful contributor to your family, your community, and your chosen profession."
"Surely you have developed and maintained some good habits along this journey. I hope and expect that these habits include daily prayer and scripture study, church activity and attendance, and many other small and frequent actions that lead you to spiritual and temporal success. These small daily decisions, now habits, have prepared you to move on and be a meaningful contributor to your family, your community, and your chosen profession."
Commencement talk by R. Kelly Haws | December 10, 2021
"You’ve learned to observe when someone around you is hurting and needs your arm or smile of encouragement. You’ve learned to love and serve those who don’t look exactly like you do, who have accents different than yours, who like different foods, who have different customs, and you’ve learned to love, understand, and treat each other not merely with respect, but with kindness and mercy. The world desperately needs that kind of discipleship."
"You’ve learned to observe when someone around you is hurting and needs your arm or smile of encouragement. You’ve learned to love and serve those who don’t look exactly like you do, who have accents different than yours, who like different foods, who have different customs, and you’ve learned to love, understand, and treat each other not merely with respect, but with kindness and mercy. The world desperately needs that kind of discipleship."
Commencement talk by James B. Martino | June 26, 2021
"As you leave this university, take with you what you have learned about your choices. You have a bright future. You have so many opportunities ahead—and so many choices ahead too! The choices you make will determine your happiness. May the Lord bless you to always seek to do His will."
"As you leave this university, take with you what you have learned about your choices. You have a bright future. You have so many opportunities ahead—and so many choices ahead too! The choices you make will determine your happiness. May the Lord bless you to always seek to do His will."
Commencement talk by R. Kelly Haws | June 26, 2021
"Each of you has gratefully heard Heavenly Father’s hope-filled voice whispering, “You can do this, and I will help you!” Thinking of all those we’ve just thanked, and with your diploma in hand, you may want to return to your home, friends, and family and somehow return what they’ve so generously given to you."
"Each of you has gratefully heard Heavenly Father’s hope-filled voice whispering, “You can do this, and I will help you!” Thinking of all those we’ve just thanked, and with your diploma in hand, you may want to return to your home, friends, and family and somehow return what they’ve so generously given to you."
I know the Lord has much in store for each of us. I have felt this clear prompting as I prepared this message. God will work wonders in your own life and those around you as you apply the lessons you learned at BYU–Hawai’i. Reflect on your spiritual, cultural, and your academic, and career growth; and keep on growing.
I am so grateful for each of you and the efforts you’ve made to persevere through the challenges of this last year and a half. Not only have you continued to work toward your educational goals, but you have had experiences that prepared you to be strong in the future spiritually, personally, and professionally.
Graduates, I join you in thanking your family and friends as well as the university personnel who’ve worked tirelessly on your behalf. And thank you to the many tithe payers and generous donors who’ve also made today possible. And, graduates, may I be your voice in thanking President Kauwe, his family, and your faculty at this great university! They’ve spent their lives studying so that they could be here and help you learn how to find answers.
I pray the Lord will bless you throughout your life here on earth, that your memories of BYU-Hawaii will bring to your mind in the years to come the blessing of knowledge that is uniquely coupled with an unshakable testimony of Jesus Christ and His Atonement. “Per Veritatem Vis”, “through truth, strength”. There is an enduring strength in eternal truths.
I urge you never to underestimate or forget the degree of personal growth you have experienced as you have worked through your degree on this campus. As graduates of Brigham Young University–Hawaii, you can feel confident in your capacity to prepare and your ability to face each new opportunity of the future with excitement and enthusiasm.
To the Class of 2021, Congratulations! Remember the pattern for success and happiness: hear the words of the Lord and hearken upon them. As we face the future, we will be comforted that our loving Heavenly Father is guiding us as we navigate in this mortal life. He is invested in our success and happiness because we are His children.
You are leaders with character and integrity. You have developed the spiritual capacity to connect grief to gratitude, thus expanding your perspective of this life. Combined with your secular learning, this makes you uniquely capable of using the guidance of the Holy Ghost to see opportunities to build your future to the benefit of your families, communities, and the kingdom of God.
As you turn this new page in your life, go forward with faith. I know that not only can you survive the challenges and trials you face but you can thrive. I know this because I have a small sense for the power of God and know of the sureness of His promises. Those promises are yours by covenant, and no one can take them away. They are lost only if we turn from our covenants and fail to repent.
May we learn and practice compassion and courage. These virtues will help us become more like Christ0—which is, as John Milton says, the ultimate purpose of education. The “end” of learning is, Milton writes, is “to know God aright, and out of that knowledge to love him, to imitate him, to become like him” ( Of Education). May your education help you to become like Christ in courage and compassion.
My dear friends, the Lord has blessed you to obtain a wonderful education so that your contribution may be great. May you now press on in faith, moving forward the Lord’s work wherever you live throughout your lives. The Lord has prepared you, here at BYU–Hawaii, to contribute to this great work.
President and Sister Tanner, distinguished guests, graduates, spouses, family, and friends, it is a joy to be with you today on this very grand occasion. I honor and applaud your academic achievements.
I testify that the Holy Ghost is already preparing you for every quiz or examination you will face and that in the end, the Savior will plead our cause, after all we can do, based on His merits. And I testify that He is mighty to save; He is gracious and merciful. And He has all the answers we will ever need if we will only listen.
Today I have decided to speak on joy and daring to be different, whether that be academically or spiritually. President Thomas S. Monson has said, “The choices we make determine our destiny.”
It is now my privilege to address the graduates. This is a joyful, happy time for you graduates, your families, and the whole university as we rejoice and celebrate together.
Dieter F. Uchtdorf
of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
December 13, 2018
of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
December 13, 2018
President John S. Tanner
President of BYU–Hawaii
June 29, 2018
President of BYU–Hawaii
June 29, 2018
Sister Jean B. Bingham
Relief Society General President
April 20, 2018
Relief Society General President
April 20, 2018