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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.
It is my prayer that each of us will fulfill the measure of our creation, and find joy and happiness now and forever, by choosing to embrace our covenants and live in the moment. All blessings that you seek are ready to be delivered directly to you upon your demonstrating to Heavenly Father that you can be and are True and Faithful to His covenants which are eternal principles.
What a wonderful time to be alive and be engaged in the great work that God has for us to do. This work takes effort and may be difficult – but it is always worth it. You have been prepared for these days, you were not sent here to fail. Please do not let down your guard and spiritually coast. Be aware of and know your enemy. Remember who you are.
We must not be ashamed or embarrassed by the doctrine of the Only True and Living Church! We are commissioned to help bring it out of obscurity and darkness. We must teach it in its fullness of truth, with its priesthood authority, and saving ordinances.
All of you are balancing multiple responsibilities: classwork and homework, social life, families, job schedules, finances, physical and mental health concerns, and staying healthy during a pandemic. You are all incredibly busy! We are all still in the process of becoming like our Savior. We do not know the hard times others are facing or the burdens they are carrying. Be kind.
I was struck by the relatively simple but significant message. That allowing God to prevail in his life brought him to this place at this time to learn his purpose in life and to accept the truth.
Jesus Christ is our Savior, Redeemer, Master Navigator, and Eternal Pilot. Know that He knows you, He knows who you are and where you are, and loves you. Know that He can teach you what to do before you have to do it.
You have everything you need so that as these requests come your way – when your personal trials demand your patience and hard work, when your loved ones call for your sacrifice and service, when places and events call for you to give and grow; when your family, your community when your God calls on you, you can say, “Koau ‘eni. It’s me. I’m here.”
My dear sisters and brothers, Aloha! I am excited to be with you here today. It is the beginning of another semester, and we are filled with hope as more of you have been able to return to campus and be here with us in person.
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.
When the Savior was preparing to leave His chosen apostles, He promised them that He would not leave them comfortless. Said the Lord Jesus Christ, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you.” As the messenger of the Godhead, the Holy Ghost will teach us and help us to remember the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. But how do we hear and recognize the voice of the Holy Ghost, and thus hear God’s messages for us?
The journey from not knowing to knowing takes time. Sometimes it happens quickly, sometimes it takes many days, and sometimes it takes a lifetime. It is different for each of us. And that is something vital to remember. Each of us is on a path from not knowing to knowing, and each path is unique. Don’t judge others by where you feel they should be, rather celebrate where they are and how far they have come. The timeline is not ours, but our Heavenly Fathers.
In our daily lives, of course, there are things that we must do by ourselves. However, there are things that we cannot deal with by ourselves. And that is to reach the goal of eternal life. We need the help of someone who is special. The savior, Jesus Christ is the one and His atonement becomes a great help to us. Except for the Lord, no one can accomplish this work. Only Jesus Christ, our savior, can atone for our sins. Through His atonement, we are cleansed, healed, forgiven, and strengthened.
Faith is a principle of action and power, that whenever you work hard towards a worthy goal and exercise faith, you show your hope for something that you cannot yet see but know is true.
I testify to you that when we are willing to put aside our own desires, to serve the Lord anytime, anywhere, and to keep an eye single to His work, we will feel an outpouring of blessings in our homes and we will feel enveloped in His love.
God lives, and the living Christ directs this, His Church, through His prophet, Russell M. Nelson. God is in control. He is in the details of your lives, the nations and this university. Do not fear the future but embrace it by serving God and mankind. Choose this day to serve the Lord in every needful way. Live in faith and trust in the Lord and His gospel. In other words, be immersed in and live the two Great Commandments.
If you have left the good ship Zion for any reason and now question if you have the strength to get back in the boat, I assure you that just like I experienced on the Colorado River, there are people eager and willing to pull you back into the boat. They will lovingly assist you. They will throw their arms around you and be thrilled for your return. Jesus Christ knows how to succor you because he has experienced it all, and because of his atonement, He can offer you the enabling grace to change.
The social and political tumult we’ve witnessed in the United States and around the world this century has people questioning what is happening. Some see a parallel between our Internet age and the era following the Gutenberg Press. Both inventions made it cheap and easy to spread opinions that challenge the common ideas that bind a society together and make cooperation and community possible (Gurri 2018). It is good that ideas are challenged, and oppressive ideas give way to better things. But what is “better”?
I know that as you proceed with faith, you will have heaven's help. If you ever wonder, whether something you need to decide upon is happening at the right time or the right place, I suggest that you just do the right thing. Counsel with the Lord, and he will direct your paths.
My brothers and sisters, I know that by being spiritually prepared to follow the Lord’s invitations, developing our potential through service and servant leadership, and navigating adversity with gratitude, we gain spiritual strength to cross the depths of the sea. The scriptures, prophets, and gospel-centered education at BYU–Hawaii provide a path to support lifelong learning here on earth, as well as a sail plan back to our eternal home.
Aloha Brothers and Sisters! My husband and I are the physicians at the Health Center, and we are so grateful to be here. Returning to Laie and getting to work together on campus is a dream come true! We have three children. Nathan is 22. He served his mission in Chile and is here studying Biology. Anne is 20 and just left on a mission to Ventura, California, and has also been studying Biology. And Seth is 17 and is a senior at Kahuku High School. Royden and I were both students here at BYU–Hawaii, and this is where we met and started our journey together 29 years ago.
When we put forth our effort, perseverance, and faith, Jesus Christ promises to provide the path and support to overcome all things and complete our progression. He is in a very real way, the finisher of our faith.