Faith

“It would be my hope that each of you would view your entire life as a marvelous university and mission in preparation for your second and most important graduation, that of graduating with honor from life,” said Elder Gary B. Sabin, a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as he delivered Tuesday morning’s devotional.

At BYU, “we have the great privilege of an education for our whole souls,” said Susan Tanner, former Young Women General President, in Tuesday’s forum. Sister Tanner and her husband, former BYU–Hawaii president John Tanner, delivered a joint address on BYU’s ambitious mission.

Sister Kristin M. Yee, second counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency, shared a message that Jesus Christ brings relief into our lives.

“The most important change [in the world] is the increased accessibility of the house of the Lord,” said Elder Allen D. Haynie, a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Tuesday morning’s devotional.

“How do we carry His name?” Abigail Allen, an associate professor in the Marriott School of Business, considered this question during her devotional on Tuesday.

President C. Shane Reese and Sister Wendy Reese welcomed students back to campus with the first devotional of the fall 2023 semester on Tuesday at the BYU Marriott Center.

Observation and reason are not opposed to faith, but work synergistically with faith, taught Elder Dale G. Renlund, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Tuesday’s Education Week devotional.

Despite the rising costs, wholehearted Christian discipleship brings immeasurable blessings, said Reid Neilson, assistant academic vice president for religious scholarly publications, during his Tuesday devotional address.

The best way to participate in the gathering of Israel is by actively being involved in our communities, said Kevin Utt, director of the Honor Code Office, during Tuesday's devotional address.

“When my parents told me to follow the prophet, do you think they fathomed the day when I would interpret that to mean follow the prophet’s social media account?” asked Pamela Jo Brubaker during her Tuesday morning devotional address.

In her devotional address at the Marriott Center, Barbara Morgan Gardner began by sharing a few personal stories about her mom and her own life. She wanted the audience to see how “individuals can uniquely walk the covenant path and be leaders in God’s kingdom.”

Chip Oscarson, an associate dean in Undergraduate Education at Brigham Young University, expressed the importance of obtaining a transformative education, including spiritual and secure knowledge.

Gus Hart, a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, delivered Tuesday’s devotional address. He shared six core beliefs he gained through his life experiences.

In a world in which so many view religion as a burden, it can be easy to be consumed by the message that by abandoning religion you can live a better, freer and more “advanced” life, taught Justin Dyer.

Melissa Larson, a teaching professor in the School of Accountancy at BYU Marriott School of Business, delivered Tuesday's devotional address. She testified that while transforming moments can often be difficult, they are essential in order to become more like the Savior.

Delivering the first devotional address of the spring term, Brooke Robertson, a policy manager and analyst for BYU’s Integrity and Compliance Office, shared several personal experiences and testified that by binding herself to Jesus Christ, she has been able to navigate the unexpected.

The theme for the entire conference came from D&C 68:6: “Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you.”

“Over the years, I have been intrigued by connections that transform our physical world,” Elder Gerrit W. Gong acknowledged during his Tuesday devotional address at Brigham Young University. “For each of us, connection and transformation are also at the heart of our own best story.”