Testifying of the Savior and His love, Arlene Sewell, portfolio director of artificial intelligence, offered insights to the BYU community about light and the role it plays in a changing world.
Her remarks focused on three aspects of light: how to receive it, how to recognize it and how to share it with others.
Drawing on her experiences working at BYU and BYU-Hawaii, Sewell shared that one of the greatest lessons she learned is that spiritual light and intellectual learning do not compete but strengthen one another.
“We live in a time of incredible growth and innovation, especially in areas like artificial intelligence,” Sewell said. “But no matter how much the world advances, one thing remains constant: the divine light of Jesus Christ.”
Sewell also shared a spiritual experience of praying about where she fits within her organization during a time of change. Through prayer and personal revelation, she was eventually led to what she described as her “dream job” serving as chief information officer at BYU-Hawaii.
“As I stepped into that role, I began to learn something deeper, not just about leadership, but about what it means to lead with light,” she said. “To see people as the Savior sees them, and to serve in a way that reflects His love.”
Throughout the devotional, Sewell reflected on individuals and places that brought light into her life and strengthened her testimony.
She also shared an analogy about a flashlight, explaining that when batteries die, people replace the batteries rather than throw the flashlight away. Likewise, people often need attention, acceptance, compassion or direction to help their light shine again.
Addressing her work in artificial intelligence, Sewell said that while technology can process information and continue to grow, it cannot replace divine light or guide people the way the Savior can.
Sewell shared a video about temples being built around the world and how, like temples, each person has their own light to share with the world.
Her remarks concluded with an invitation for students to share their light with others and remember their divine identity.
“In a world filled with artificial light, never forget, you carry divine light. It is needed, and it was meant to shine at this time.”
