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Opening Devotional: Establishing Peace, Living the Mission

Finding a personal connection to the historic and prophetic purposes of the University was the theme of President John and Sister Susan Tanner first Devotional address to the students, faculty and staff of BYU–Hawaii on Tuesday, August 4. Both speakers focused their instruction on principles found in President David O. McKay’s inspired addresses at the campus groundbreaking 60 years ago (1955), and at the campus dedication three years later (1958).

Sister Tanner centered her devotional around President McKay’s prophecy at the 1955 groundbreaking, reminding students how from BYU–Hawaii, “peace would spread across the Earth.” She counseled students of the different ways to maintain peace in the surroundings world, and our families. Sister Tanner shared three examples of stories where “people felt and experienced complete harmony and peace.” She concluded with the counsel that “we each keep our covenants so that we can be part of the fulfillment of President McKay’s prophecy, that from this university, we will help establish peace in the world.”

President Tanner began his Devotional address by discussing ideals in education, including becoming a curious and passionate learner. He reiterated President David O. McKay’s assertion that “education is a spiritual imperative, and not merely an economic one, as useful and important as learning to make a living most assuredly is,” said President Tanner.  “Learning helps us not simply get a job, but become more like God. An educator himself, President McKay clearly loves learning. His founding addresses and prayers exude love, excitement and passion for education, which at its finest lifts and enlightens and helps us become like God, whose glory is intelligence.”

President Tanner encouraged students to be “life-long learners” and to inculcate a love of learning.

He then focused on the significant importance of character education. Again quoting from President David O. McKay, he said, “True education seeks to make men and women not only good mathematicians, proficient linguists, profound scientists, or brilliant literary lights, but also honest men with virtue, temperance and brotherly love.”

“Students, you need to know that we have designs on your souls and not simply on your minds,” said President Tanner. “We are not only about helping you know some things. We aim to help you become something—something noble and good.”

 

BYU–Hawaii Devotionals are held each Tuesday at 11 AM in the Cannon Activities Center. Previous Devotionals can be viewed at http://devotional.byuh.edu/.

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