Skip to main content
Intellect

BYU devotional speaker urges civility and gratitude

A BYU human resources specialist encouraged students during Tuesday's devotional to "recognize the efforts of so many to make life pleasant for you," emphasizing the importance of physical facilities, admissions, records, the library, the bookstore, and many other areas.

Addressing the topic of the care and keeping of BYU's human resources, Delora Bertelsen, managing director of Employee Relations, Equal Opportunity, and Benefit Services, also reminded students of the many faculty members who work to make their education a satisfying and uplifting experience.

Her devotional address will be rebroadcast on KBYU Television Sunday, July 8, at 6 a.m. and 11 a.m.

"My challenge to you," she told students, "is for you to review carefully your opportunities to interact with these men and women who are prepared to share with you their love of learning and their joy in teaching. A verbal 'thank you' is always appreciated, as are sincerely written notes at the end of class. These are recognitions of their service and support of you as a student."

As a child of God and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Bertelsen said, we each have an obligation to serve each other. How we treat each other is very important in our Heavenly Father's eyes.

"Knowing who you are is very important, but it brings obligations not only to help others, to appreciate them, to serve them, but also to follow Christ's example in all ways possible. An understanding of that makes each person, as an individual, a better person and one worthy to receive the promised blessings from Heavenly Father."

Bertelsen closed by prompting students to be more aware of how they treat, use and benefit from BYU's human resources. "It is my prayer," she said, "that each one of us will remember that individually and collectively we are children of our Heavenly Father. We are His human resources."

Writer: Alexis Plowman

Bertelsen.jpg
Photo by Kaitlyn Pieper/BYU Photo

Related Articles

data-content-type="article"

Wildflowers not wildfires: How BYU and Provo City are helping to restore Rock Canyon Trailhead

July 10, 2025
At Rock Canyon Trailhead in Provo, Utah, BYU researchers are fighting fires with flowers. By replacing a problematic weed called cheatgrass with wildflowers, students and faculty are working to protect and restore one of Provo’s most popular hiking spots.
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= promoTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection=false overrideCardHideByline=false overrideCardHideDescription=false overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= promoTextAlignment=
data-content-type="article"

Wildfires in residential areas are on the rise; why hydrants and the water system behind them were never meant to stop those fires

July 01, 2025
BYU professor Rob Sowby teaches and studies environmental engineering, urban water infrastructure and sustainability. He has particular expertise in the planning, design, construction and operation of public water systems. That expertise has been increasingly important (and regularly sought out) in the wake of apocalyptic wildfires that have taxed those public water systems.
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= promoTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection=false overrideCardHideByline=false overrideCardHideDescription=false overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= promoTextAlignment=
data-content-type="article"

Meet the BYU math student helping make wildfire predictions faster and smarter

June 25, 2025
Using machine learning and math, a BYU student improved a key tool firefighters rely on during wildfire season
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= promoTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection=false overrideCardHideByline=false overrideCardHideDescription=false overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText= promoTextAlignment=
overrideBackgroundColorOrImage= overrideTextColor= promoTextAlignment= overrideCardHideSection=false overrideCardHideByline=false overrideCardHideDescription=false overridebuttonBgColor= overrideButtonText=