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The Tanners Welcome a New Semester

As the first devotional of the semester, President John Tanner welcomed all faculty, staff, and new and returning students for the 2016-2017 Winter semester. This school period began Monday, November 7, just one week after the Commencement Ceremony of the previous fall semester.

Breaking from tradition, President Tanner did not share the time with his wife for this devotional. Rather he gave Sister Susan Tanner the whole devotional time for herself.  In years past both the president and the first lady of the university would address campus for the first devotional.

President Tanner noted that this change came due to an opening in the schedule for devotional speakers. He will speak for the devotional on Tuesday, November 29.

Additionally straying from the norm, President Tanner made the introduction for his wife clear.  He clearly proclaimed that he would not note her many accomplishments, including Young Women General President from 2002-2008 or author of Daughters in My Kingdom.  With less ironic flavor, he would admit to introducing his wife and devotional speaker as being, like the literary icon Mary Poppins, practically perfect.

Before relieving his time to his wife for her main devotional, President tromped out any rumors that he cared more about modesty and less about the Honor Code.  He adamantly rejected any prediction of such sentiment. 

Indeed President Tanner fully supports the Honor Code.  Tanner made clear that the importance of both dress and honesty are two integral parts of the Honor Code.  While dress is often emphasized to the campus, honesty and integrity are vital features of success for education at the university level.

With emphatic fervor, Sister Susan Tanner began her speech developing her connection to Hawaii. She is the great-great-granddaughter of George Q. Cannon, who as a missionary for the LDS church with local Jonathan Napela translated the Book of Mormon into Hawaiian.  The statue of this event is marked in front of the CAC which bears this ancestor’s name.

A powerful message Sister Susan Tanner’s talk was “What cannot be cured, must be endured.” She retold the life story of her beloved grandmother who, despite suffering from a rare blood cancer, demonstrated remarkable vitality, happiness, and kindness. Her grandmother was one who endured the trials of her life well.

Seeing her grandmother’s example as both a descendant and a neighbor, Sister Tanner adopted the skill of making bread into her own life.  She notes how sharing the tangible goodness of bread to open the intangible openness of a heart.  When charitable service is given with the intent to help and uplift, then the real effects of the gospel life be felt by others.

A real crowd pleaser moment was when Sister Tanner paused her devotional to allow all in the audience to check underneath their seats.  For 140 lucky participants, waivers were placed amongst the stands.  With this paper in hand, any audience member could reimburse the form in exchange for a small loaf of bread upon exiting devotional.

Writer: Parker Lovett | University Relations |

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