President C. Shane Reese and Sister Wendy Reese welcomed students and employees back to campus with the first devotional of the winter 2025 semester on Tuesday at the BYU Marriott Center.
Sister Reese focused her remarks on enhancing our lives through connecting with others. President Reese spoke on continuing our journey of becoming the Christ-centered institution of prophecy.
Sister Reese
“Connections unify us and bring us together,” Sister Reese said. “They make us stronger, happier and improve our sense of well-being.”
Sister Reese emphasized the vital role of human connections in our lives, celebrating the joy and growth that come from meaningful relationships. She then offered practical advice for fostering these bonds, such as showing kindness, listening and finding common ground with those you meet.
“Our BYU Statement on Belonging helps to remind us that this common identity as children of God is a great unifier,” she said.
Covenant relationships which are based on love, loyalty and sacrifice are foundational for the deepest and most enduring connections. These connections involve our Savior Jesus Christ and invite us to follow His example in reaching out to others.
“Our bond with Jesus Christ will strengthen us in our weakest times, it will bring light to our darkest days and it will fill our souls with hope when we feel hopelessness,” Sister Reese expressed. “This is the miracle of strengthening our relationship with Christ.”
President Reese
President Reese reminded the audience that BYU is approaching a monumental sesquicentennial celebration in 2025, commemorating 150 years of its Christ-centered and prophetically directed mission. President Reese touched on the university’s rich history of overcoming challenges, from fires and financial crises to miraculous comebacks in sports and academics.
“I’ve come to believe that God loves underdogs. He loves come-from-behind victories. He loves impossible,” President Reese said.
He issued a call to action for the BYU community to remain united, inspired and faithful in its mission. He stated that the journey of becoming a Christ-centered institution continues.
“All the many works we do here at BYU must be inspired and driven by our faith in Jesus Christ and guided by prophetic direction,” President Reese encouraged. “It is this faith that has carried us to this point in our journey of becoming, and it will be this faith in Christ that propels us to become the Christ-centered, prophetically directed university of prophecy.”
President Reese drew from examples of Alfred Kelly’s vision that saved Temple Hill and small acts of kindness by a peer mentor that gave a struggling student hope, illustrating how miracles are born from faith and action.
“With Christ, miracles happen. Exercise faith in He who is mighty to save,” he said.
President Reese highlighted the ultimate example of Christ’s life, His selfless service and His Atonement, as the cornerstone of all miracles. The semester ahead promises opportunities for growth, service and witnessing the power of God’s grace in overcoming challenges.
“Through faith in Christ, we can defy the odds.”
President Reese concluded by testifying that “Jesus Christ chose to be the single greatest miracle in each of our lives.”
