Elder D. Todd Christofferson, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, addressed graduates at the BYU-Hawaii commencement ceremony in Laie, Hawaii. His visit also included a fireside in commemoration of the 150th Anniversary celebration of the LDS Church in Laie, as well as a rededication ceremony for the recently refurbished dormitories on BYUH campus.
During his commencement speech Elder Christofferson echoed three imperatives from a conference talk given by President Monson in Oct. 2008, “I believe that your education here has helped you learn what you should learn, do what you should do, and be what you should be. My plea is that you continue in that path and even quicken your pace in the years ahead.”
He also encouraged graduates to seek for the characteristics of Christ and apply them to their lives, but also advised that just because someone may possess Christ-like characteristics “does not mean that we avoid all failures or face no challenges or disappointments. There will still be reversals of various kinds and even tragedies. These are the stuff of mortality. But acting and reacting with the character of Christ will keep us bound to the source of aid, consolation, and recovery. Then, our mortal trials and tragedies will not outlast mortality.”
Elder Christofferson was accompanied by Elder Kim B. Clark, of the Seventy, who spoke about staying true to the gospel in life after school. “I believe the best way to keep the world out of your heart is to keep the Holy Ghost in it. If you will live the plain and simple truths of the Gospel, the Holy Ghost will guide you, protect you, warn you and bless you.”
BYUH President John S. Tanner also spoke to graduates about the innate human quality of asking questions, and encouraged students to continue to ask and answer questions throughout life. “Human life gains its true dignity as we respond to moral questions that ask us not just what we know but who we are. Such questions dignify our lives. They enable us to live a “life of response.” We answer these questions not with words but with our lives.”
Carrianne Hirano, a graduating student, spoke about using the gifts of God in service to the Lord, “May we use the gifts God has given us in the way he asks us to so that we can help our fellow brothers and sisters return to Him also.”
At the fireside to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the city of Laie, Elder Christofferson offered a brief history of the town and the building of the temple. He also spoke about the importance of Laie within the church in the Pacific, and the struggles Laie faced throughout time.
“The last 150 years have been a story of economic struggle and survival, and of spiritual labor and sacrifice,” said Elder Christofferson. “Laie has grown from a plantation to a community of Saints. Kings and queens, a president of the United States, and apostles of the Lord have visited here and have praised the children, the families, the order, the beauty, and the spirit of Laie.”
During his remarks at the rededication of the dormitories Elder Christofferson spoke about the sacrifice that previous service missionaries and generations gave to make the campus possible. “I hope that, as you reflect upon this day and what was built here, that it will be a symbol to you of the sacrifice, the effort, and the manifestation of faith of those who have gone before and that we will similarly follow that same pattern of faith.”
