Every Tuesday at 11:05 a.m., students, faculty and staff head to the Marriott Center for the weekly Devotional or Forum address. BYU President Kevin J Worthen and his wife Peggy kick off the semester and are followed by members of the leadership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, BYU employees and a range of industry leaders and thinkers. Entertainment assemblies celebrating the talent of BYU Arts round out the semester schedule.
Devotional and Forums are open to the public and most are broadcast and streamed live on BYUtv, Classical 89 FM and BYU Radio, and will be archived on speeches.byu.edu.
Winter 2019 Devotional and Forum Schedule
January
- January 8: President and Sister Worthen (Devotional)
- January 15: Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Devotional)
- January 22: Elder Lawrence E. Corbridge, General Authority Seventy, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Devotional)
- January 29: Matt Luhn, story and branding consultant for Pixar (Forum)
February
- February 5: Elder Ulisses Soares, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Devotional)
- February 12: Carrie Roberts, BYU Athletics (Devotional)
- February 26: Kay Jamison, clinical psychologist and author (Forum)
March
- March 5: Performance Devotional
- March 12: Elder Carlos A. Godoy, General Authority Seventy, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Devotional)
- March 19: Elder Randall K. Bennett, General Authority Seventy, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Devotional)
- March 26: Sugata Mitra, Newcastle University, England (Forum)
April
- April 2: Jason Carroll, BYU School of Family Life (Devotional)
- April 9: Brother M. Joseph Brough, Second Counselor in the Young Men General Presidency, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Devotional)
- April 16: Unforum
About the Winter 2019 Devotional and Forum Speakers:
BYU President Kevin J Worthen
January 8, 2019 Devotional
Kevin J Worthen began serving as the 13th president of Brigham Young University on May 1, 2014. He previously served as BYU's advancement vice president and as dean of its J. Reuben Clark Law School, where he is the Hugh W. Colton Professor of Law.
President Worthen was born in Dragerton (now East Carbon-Sunnyside), Utah, and grew up in nearby Price. After serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Monterrey, Mexico, he earned an associate degree at the College of Eastern Utah (now USU Eastern). He then received his Bachelor of Arts in political science and his Juris Doctorate from BYU.
Following his graduation from the BYU J. Reuben Clark Law School, President Worthen served as a law clerk to Judge Malcolm R. Wilkey of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and Justice Byron R. White of the U.S. Supreme Court. After three years of private practice with the law firm of Jennings, Strouss & Salmon in Phoenix, Arizona, President Worthen joined the BYU law school faculty in 1987. In 1994, he was a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Chile Law School in Santiago. He has published extensively on a number of legal topics, with particular emphasis on federal Indian law and the rights of indigenous peoples.
President Worthen currently serves as an area seventy in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He previously served as a stake president, bishop, high councilor and early-morning seminary instructor.
President and Sister Worthen have three children and five grandchildren.
Peggy Worthen
September 8, 2019 Devotional
Peggy Sealey Worthen, born and raised in Price, Utah, is the second oldest of five children. She is married to Kevin J Worthen, current president of Brigham Young University.
While she was attending the College of Eastern Utah, she met Kevin Worthen at a church dance and the two soon began dating. Although she grew up three blocks from Kevin and his family, their three-year age difference meant they never went to high school at the same time and didn’t know each other well. In college, she began meeting with the missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and when she decided to be baptized, Kevin was able to baptize her. She and Kevin were married in the Provo Utah LDS Temple.
Early in their marriage, Peggy worked in a number of jobs to support their family as Kevin finished his education and started his career, including as a receptionist for U.S. Senator Jake Garn.
She was able to return to school when Kevin began teaching, and she graduated with a degree in English from BYU in 2003, the same year their oldest son graduated from high school. She has taken a number of courses since then, including two years of Norwegian.
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
January 15, 2019 Devotional
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf was called as second counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on February 3, 2008. He served in that position until January 2018. He was sustained as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church on October 2, 2004. He has served as a General Authority since April 1994.
Elder Uchtdorf was born on November 6, 1940 in Ostrava, Czechoslovakia, to Karl Albert and Hildegard Opelt Uchtdorf. In 1947 his family became members of the Church in Zwickau, Germany. They fled to Frankfurt/Main in 1952 where he received an education in engineering. In 1959 he joined the German Air Force and served for six years as a fighter pilot.
In 1965 Elder Uchtdorf began working for Lufthansa German Airlines as a pilot. From 1970 until 1996 he flew as captain of the B737, Airbus, DC10, and B747. While also working as training and check captain, he received several management responsibilities. These positions included Section Chief Pilot B737, head of Lufthansa pilot school in Arizona, head of all cockpit crews, and finally Senior Vice President Flight Operations and Lufthansa Chief Pilot. He was also chairman of the Flight Operations Committee of the International Air Transport Association.
Dieter Uchtdorf and Harriet Reich married in 1962. They have two children, six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. With his call as an Apostle, the Uchtdorfs left their homeland and now live permanently in the United States.
Dieter and Harriet Uchtdorf enjoy outdoor activities, cherish the arts, and are happiest when spending time with their family.
Elder Lawrence E. Corbridge
General Authority Seventy, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
January 22, 2019 Devotional
Elder Lawrence E. Corbridge was sustained as a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 5, 2008. At the time of his call, he was serving as a Sunday School teacher. He served as President of the Chile Area, having previously served as a counselor. He currently serves in various capacities at Church headquarters.
During his childhood and adolescent years, Elder Corbridge worked on his family’s cattle ranch in Idaho, where he learned the “cowboy way”—integrity, humility, hard work, and tenacity. He ultimately chose a career in law to help people solve problems they could not solve on their own.
He received a bachelor’s degree in finance from Brigham Young University in 1973. In 1976 he received a juris doctor degree from the J. Reuben Clark School of Law at Brigham Young University as a member of its charter class. He was a founding member of Corbridge, Baird & Christensen, a Salt Lake City law firm specializing in commercial and business law.
Elder Corbridge has served in a number of Church callings, including full-time missionary in Argentina, president of the Chile Santiago North Mission, Gospel Doctrine teacher, stake president, high councilor, bishop, ward mission leader, and elders quorum president.
Lawrence Edward Corbridge was born in Moscow, Idaho, on April 6, 1949. He married Jacquelyn Gayle Shamo in December 1974. They are the parents of five sons.
Matt Luhn
Story and branding consultant, Pixar
January 29, 2019 Forum
Matthew Luhn is a writer, story and branding consultant, creative writing instructor and keynote speaker with over 25 years' experience creating stories and characters at Pixar Animation Studios, The Simpsons, and beyond.
Alongside his story work in Hollywood, Luhn also trains CEOs, marketing teams, directors and other professionals how to craft and tell stories for Fortune 500 companies, Academy Award-winning movies and corporate brands. His specialty is using storytelling to bridge the gap between heart and business to build better brands and business communication, and how to develop stories and write dialogue to create compelling stories and screenplays.
Luhn's story credits include Toy Story (1995), Toy Story 2 (1999), Monsters Inc. (2001), Finding Nemo (2003), Cars (2006),Ratatouille (2007), UP (2009), Toy Story 3 (2010), Monsters University (2013), Toy Story of Terror (2013), Toy Story That Time Forgot(2014), LOU (2017), and other films and TV shows currently in development.
Luhn has a sustained interest in teaching and empowering children around the world how to draw, write, and make films. Collaborating with The General Pencil Company, the first pencil factory in the USA, Luhn has created a series of "how to draw" books and art programs for kids of all ages.
Elder Ulisses Soares
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
February 5, 2019 Devotional
Elder Ulisses Soares was sustained as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on March 31, 2018. He had been serving as a General Authority Seventy since April 2, 2005 and was named a member of the Presidency of the Seventy on January 6, 2013. He served previously as a counselor in the Africa Southeast Area, President of the Brazil Area and as a counselor in the Brazil South Area.
Elder Soares received a Bachelor of Arts degree in accounting and economics from the São Paulo Pontifical Catholic University, School of Economic Science in 1985 and later received a Master of Business Administration degree. He was an accountant and auditor for multinational corporations in Brazil and director for temporal affairs in the Church area office in São Paulo, Brazil. At the time of his call as a General Authority, he was serving on a special assignment for the Presiding Bishopric of the Church in Salt Lake City.
Elder Soares has served in a number of Church callings, including full-time missionary in the Brazil Rio de Janeiro Mission, elders quorum president, counselor in a bishopric, high councilor, stake executive secretary, regional welfare agent, stake president and president of the Portugal Porto Mission (2000–2003).
Ulisses Soares was born in São Paulo, Brazil, on October 2, 1958. He married Rosana Fernandes in October 1982. They are the parents of three children and three grandchildren.
Carrie Roberts
BYU Athletics, Women's Golf
February 12, 2019 Devotional
In her ninth year as head coach of the BYU women's golf program, Carrie Summerhays Roberts continues a tradition unique to Cougar golf. A native of Heber City, Utah, Roberts joined the Cougars in 1998 when, as a freshman, she was named first team All-WAC and placed eighth at the WAC Championships. She also placed third at the NCAA West Regional as a sophomore. Roberts holds the BYU record for most career tournament victories with six and was named to the Mountain West Conference all-decade team in 2009. After graduating from BYU, Roberts became the first Utah born woman to qualify for the LPGA tour where she qualified for two U.S. Open Championships.
The Cougars excelled under Roberts in her first year as the head coach, finishing third at the MWC championships and advancing to the NCAA West Regionals for the first time since 2008. In the 2015-16 season, Roberts led the Cougars to four regular-season tournament wins, as well as a WCC Championship title. Roberts was also named as the 2015-16 WCC Coach of the Year. The Cougars responded in 2016-17 with yet another WCC Championship title and Roberts again earned Coach of the Year honors. The 2017-2018 season marked the third-straight WCC Championship title for the Cougars and the third Coach of the Year honor in a row for Roberts.
Roberts and her husband Cory now reside in Lindon, Utah, with their children Mary, Charles and Lincoln.
Dr. Kay Jamison,
Clinical psychologist and author
February 26, 2019 Forum
Kay Redfield Jamison is a contemporary psychiatrist, educator, and author specializing in mood disorders. Jamison is a professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Maryland, where she also acts as the Co-Director of the Mood Disorders Center.
Jamison is well-known for her writings on mood disorders, particularly for writing about her own experience living with bipolar in the bestselling book, An Unquiet Mind: Memoir of Moods and Madness, published in 1995. She is also recognized as an authority on suicide and mental illness, and her book, Night Falls Fast, provides insight into the relationship between the two.
Jamison has received awards for her work a number of times and TIME magazine dubbed her a “hero of medicine” in 1997. Her awards include the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Research Award in 1996, the Lifetime Achievement Award, Mental Health Association of Illinois in 2002, and the Silver Ribbon Award from the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression in 2007.
Elder Carlos A. Godoy
Presidency of the Seventy, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
March 12, 2019 Devotional
Elder Carlos A. Godoy was sustained as a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 5, 2008. At the time of his call, he had been serving as a member of the Seventh Quorum of the Seventy in the Brazil Area. He has served as a counselor in the South America West, Brazil, and South America Northwest Area Presidencies. Elder Godoy is currently serving as the President of the South America Northwest Area.
Elder Godoy received a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from Pontificia Universidade Catolica in 1987. In 1994 he received a master’s degree in organizational behavior from Brigham Young University. He worked as the regional sales manager and national training manager of Johnson & Johnson. After he received his master’s degree, he became the human resources country manager for United Technologies–Otis Brazil Elevator. Following his employment with United Technologies, he worked as the South America human resources manager for Dow Corning. He then became a senior member of the board of directors for ZF Sachs in South America. In 2004 he started his own consulting company, CHANGE Consult–Organizational Development, specializing in organizational changes and restructuring.
Since joining the Church in 1977, Elder Godoy has served in numerous Church callings, including full-time missionary in the Brazil São Paulo South Mission, Young Men president, elders quorum president, missionary training center branch president, bishop, high councilor, regional welfare agent, president of the Brazil Belém Mission (1997–2000), and Area Seventy.
Carlos Augusto Godoy was born in Porto Alegre, Brazil, on February 4, 1961. He married Mônica Soares Brandao on March 31, 1984. They are the parents of four children.
Elder Randall K. Bennett
General Authority Seventy, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
March 19, 2019 Devotional
Elder Randall K. Bennett was sustained as a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 2, 2011. He served in the Europe East Area Presidency in Moscow, Russia from 2011 to 2015 and as president of the Russia Samara Mission from 2007 to 2010.
He currently serves as an Assistant Executive Director in the Priesthood and Family Department and assists in supervising the North America Northeast Area.
Elder Bennett earned a doctor of dental surgery degree from the University of Alberta and a master of science specialty degree in orthodontics from Loma Linda University in California. During his professional career, Elder Bennett was involved in orthodontic research, development, teaching, and training.
Elder Bennett has served in a number of Church callings, including full-time missionary in the France Paris and France Toulouse Missions and branch president at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah.
Elder Bennett was born in Magrath, Alberta, Canada, on June 17, 1955. He married Shelley Dianne Watchman in April 1977. They are the parents of four children.
Dr. Sugata Mitra
Newcastle University, England
March 26, 2019 Forum
Sugata Mitra is Professor of Educational Technology at the School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences at Newcastle University, UK.
He was given the $1m TED Prize in 2013 in recognition of his work and to help build a School in the Cloud, a creative online space where children from all over the world can gather to answer 'big questions', share knowledge and benefit from help and guidance from online educators.
The School in the Cloud brings together Self Organised Learning Environments (SOLEs) to link in with the Granny Cloud, originally set up in 2009 following an appeal for retired teachers willing to offer a few hours a week to help teach English to Indian schoolchildren. This mentoring and encouraging role is still a vital part of the success of this educational approach today.
Much of his current research builds on the Hole in the Wall (HIW) experiment, which Sugata instigated in 1999 while chief scientist at NIIT. Children were given free access to a computer embedded within a wall between his office and an Indian slum at Kalkaji, Delhi.
Since the 1970s, Sugata's work has resulted in training and development of perhaps a million young Indians, among them some of the poorest children in the world. The resultant changes in the lives of people and the economy of the country can only be guessed at.
He has a PhD in Physics and is credited with more than 25 inventions in the area of cognitive science and educational technology. He was conferred the prestigious Dewang Mehta Award for Innovation in Information Technology in 2005.
Jason Carroll
BYU School of Family Life
April 2, 2019 Devotional
Jason S. Carroll, Ph.D. is a Professor of Marriage and Family Studies in the School of Family Life at Brigham Young University and a Fellow of the Wheatley Institution. He received his Ph.D. in Family Social Science from the University of Minnesota.
Dr. Carroll is an internationally-recognized researcher and educator in the areas of marriage fragmentation, sexual intimacy, marriage readiness among young adults, the effectiveness of marriage education, and modern threats to marriage (such as pornography, delayed age at marriage, materialism, premarital sexuality, and non-marital childbirth).
Dr. Carroll’s work has been featured in the Economist, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, the LA Times, Newsweek, USA Today, Psychology Today Magazine, National Public Radio, the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and other popular media and news outlets. In 2014, Dr. Carroll received the Berscheid-Hatfield Award for Distinguished Mid-Career Achievement, an annual award given for distinguished scientific achievement by the International Association for Relationship Research.
Brother M. Joseph Brough
First Counselor in the Young Men General Presidency, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
April 9, 2019 Devotional
M. Joseph Brough was sustained as the second counselor in the Young Men general presidency on April 4, 2015. Previously, he has served as president of the Guatemala Guatemala City Central Mission, ward Young Men president, bishop, bishop’s counselor, and high councilor.
He received a bachelor of arts in finance and a master of business administration from the University of Utah. He is a business owner in Brigham City, Utah. He is married to Emily Jane Thompson Brough, and they are the parents of four children.
