ASteady,UpwardCourse

ElderHenryB.Eyring

BrighamYoungUniversityIdahoDevotional
September18,2001

AsPresidentBednarhassaid,IhavecomeunderassignmentfromtheFirstPresidencytotalkaboutthe
futureofthisinstitution.ButIknowenoughaboutittoknowthatIneedtotalkfirsttothestudentsbecause
theLordcaresaboutyouandwouldwantmetorecognizewhathasalwaysbeenrecognizedatRicks
College,thattheinstitutionislargelydeterminedbyyou.Andmorethanthat,it'smorethanwhatIsayor
whateventheteacherssay;thingshappenheredirectedbytheLordinaratherspecificwayforyour
benefit.
Awordaboutthelovelymusic.ThischoirhassungfromtheplacewhereachoirsangthedayIwas
inauguratedasthepresidentofRicksCollege.Astheysang,somehowthatcamebacktomeagain.Iwas
touchedthenasIwasnow,notjustbythebeautyofyourvoicesbutbythefaith.AndIrealizedthatI
wasn'ttheonlyoneinthatroomwhowastouchedthatday.
Justamonthorsoago,IwasonassignmentandIwasinanairportinSanFrancisco,waitingbetween
planes.IsawamanthatIthoughtIrecognized,andIrealizedthatheprobablywashavingtrouble
recognizingme,too.Ithadbeenanumberofyears.HewasthedeanofthegraduateschoolatStanford
UniversitywhenIleftthatfacultytocomeheretobecomethepresidentmany,manyyearsago.Iremember
beingsurprisedthathecametomyinauguration,knowinghowbusyhewas.Irecallthatsomehowinthe
momentsoftheinauguralparty,movingabout,Isawhim.Iencounteredhimthatday,andhewascrying.
Heexpressedgratitudeforhavingbeenhere.
WhenImethimintheloungeinSanFranciscorecently,hisfirstwordswere:"I'veretirednow.I'mliving
inMontana."ThenhewantedtotellmeaboutabishopoftheChurchthathehadmet.Soofallthethings
thathewouldrememberaboutme,herememberedthefeelingsofthegospelofJesusChristthathe'dfelt.
HehasnotjoinedtheChurchyet,buthefeltsomethingherethatyou'vefelt.AndIwantedyoutoknow
thatasmuchaswethankthesingersandthosewhopreparedthemusic,whathappenedheretodayhasbeen
happeninghereforgenerations.Thatis,theSpiritoftheLordcomesandtouchespeople;andyou'vebeen
insuchaplaceandinsuchamomenttoday.Youwillyearslater,justlikethedeanoftheStanford
GraduateSchoolofBusiness,rememberthattherewasaspiritheretoday.
NowtheotherthingIwasimpressedwithisthatyouwereaskedtoraiseyourscriptures.Ifeltasyoudid
thattomakeapromisetoyouthatIknowwillbefulfilledbecauseithasbeenfulfilledformeinthelast
fewdays.Weliveinatimeofincreasingdifficultyandchange.Manyofushavefeltsomethingsthatled
ustothescriptures.Inthelastfewdays,IhavefoundthingsIhadneverseentherebeforebecause,inmy
extremity,theLordshowedmethingsthatHehadpreparedlongagotohelpme.I'llmakeyouapromise:If
youwill,inthenextfewhoursanddays,gotothescriptures,youwill,asyoureadthem(pickthem
anywherethatyou'reledtoread)seescripturesspeakingtoyouasifitwasthevoiceofGod,asifHeknew
yourneedsandyourconcerns;andHewilltailorthattoyou,anditwillbeawitnesstoyouthatHeknows
youandthatinthatsetofscripturesthatyouliftedaboveyourheadisameansbywhichHecanguideyou

andcomfortyou.Ipromiseyou,you'llhavethatexperienceanditwillbeverypersonalinthenextfew
days.
Now,inthepastfewdaysourworldchanged.Wewereforcedtolookintothefaceofterrorism,notina
workoffictionorthroughtelevisionnewsclipsofanothernation.Wesawitinourownland.Thathas
broughtanxietyanditwillforcechangesinourlives.Someofthechangeswillbesmall.Forinstance,I
drovetoRexburgthismorningbecauseIcouldattendmoreofameetingoftheQuorumoftheTwelve
ApostlesthanifIspenttwohoursclearingsecurityattheairport.Somechangeswillbelarger.Thoseinthe
NationalGuardandtheReservesmaybecalledawayfromtheirfamiliesandtheirnormallives.
Ihaveasonandhiswifewholivewiththeirsixchildreninacountrywheretherearepersonalrisks.Those
risksmaynowincrease.Hiscareerdependsontakingaseriesofinternationalassignments.Shouldhe
changecareers?Whatshouldheteachhischildrenaboutrisksandfear?Wehavetwoothersons,both
formerstudentsatRicksCollege,whoworkinanindustryalreadyhardpressedbyafalteringeconomy.
TheyliveinBoston.Theyflewtheveryflightsthatwereinvolvedinthetragedythislastweekoften,but
bytheblessingofheavenwereathomeonthatday.NowthereisapossibilitythatwhathappenedinNew
YorkandWashingtonwillfurtherdepresstheeconomyandthecapitalmarkets.Whatchangesshouldthey
consider?Whatshouldtheyteachtheirchildrenaboutthefutureanduncertainty?
Eachofusfindsourselvesasking:"WhatotherpartsofmyworldthatIthoughtwerestablehavenow
becomeuncertain?"NowonderthatyouandIhaveheardandreadsoofteninthelastfewdays"everything
haschanged."Butatleasttwothingswillhelpustakecourageandfinddirection.
First,changeispartoflife.Forinstance,growingupandgrowingolderareadventuresinchangefilledwith
uncertaintiesandsurprises.Andsecond,God,throughprophets,preparedustoexpectchangestoaccelerate
intheworld.Doyourememberthewordsfromsection45oftheDoctrineandCovenants,verses2627:
"Andinthatdayshallbeheardofwarsandrumorsofwars,andthewholeearthshallbeincommotion,and
men'sheartsshallfailthem,andtheyshallsaythatChristdelayethhiscominguntiltheendoftheearth.
"Andtheloveofmenshallwaxcold,andiniquityshallabound."
Althoughwefaceanincreaseinchallenges,thereisanotherchangesweepingtheearth.Itisafloodof
opportunity.Thesteadyflowofinventionisanexample.Agenerationagotherewerenosmallcomputers.
Butnowuniversitycampusesconnectthemwithfiberopticcable,andthatcablemaybereplacedsoonby
wirelesstechnologies.TherearenowtensofthousandsofpeopletakingBYUcoursesthroughWeb
technology.TherewasnoWebafewyearsago.Thecellphones,whichfiguredsotouchinglyinthe
tragediesoflastweek,didnotexistagenerationago.Thelistofpowerfulandhelpfulnewtechnological
miraclesgoesonandon,andtherateofinnovationisaccelerating.Wewillliveforbetterorforworsewith
rapidchangeandtheuncertaintyitbrings.YouandIwanttomakethatchangeworkforthebetterforus
andnotfortheworse.Wecouldlearnmuchofhowtodothatfromwhathasbeendoneatthisschoolinthe
lastyear.Thepeopleherehavesetanexampleforusworthyofoursupportandouremulation.
NowImoveawayfrommytextforamoment.I'vewrittenthisoutbecauseIwantedtobesurethatIhad
theopportunitytoshareitinadvancewithPresidentHinckleywhichIdidbutIhavefeltatthismoment
thatIneededtomoveawayfromthattospeaktoyousothatyou'dbesuretounderstandwhatthismeans
foryou.
Thisisaworldofchange.Boththeincreaseofdifficulty(andthat'scomingthescripturesmakethatclear
andtheprophetshavemadethatclear)andtheincreaseofopportunitieswillbringtremendouschange.
WhatIintendtodoistodescribetoyouthemiraculouswayinwhichthisinstitutionhasdonewhatyou
mustdo.Ineedtobeveryclear,andhereitis.

Mostofyou,withcaringparents,haveatleastonceortwiceasyouleftthehouseheardthesewords,
"Rememberwhoyouare."Someofyourememberhearingitwithpain."Oh,Mother.Thereyougoagain."
Or,"Oh,there'sDadactinglikeadadagain."Rememberwhoyouare.
WhatI'dliketosuggesttoyouisthattheyweretellingyoutherightthing,butitassumedyouhadasked
andansweredaquestioncorrectlytoknowwhoyoureallyare.Nowthinkofthedifficulty.Oneofthe
reasonsitdidn'tworkforsomeofyou,bytheway,isthatyouwentoutanddiddumbthingsremembering
whoyouwerebecauseyouremembered"IknowwhoIam.I'macrazy,mixedupteenager,stilltryingto
figureoutwhoIam;andIremember,yeah,IrememberwhoIam."Andofcourse,thenitdoesn'twork
verywell,doesit?Ifyouremembered"Oh,yeah.I'mthecaptainofthefootballteam,"orthebasketball
team,orsomethingelse,itmighthavehelpedalittlebit.Or"I'manexampletomybrothersandsisters."I
don'tknowwhatitwas,butI'lljusttellyouthisansweringthatquestionwellandwiselywilldetermine
whetherornot[youprogress]inaworldwhereyoumustmakechanges(somebecausethereare
opportunitiesyouwillhavetakenadvantageof,somejustinthecourseoflife,somebecauseofdifficulties
manyreasons).You'regoingtochangetremendouslyandtheworldaroundyouisgoingtochange.The
purposeofthegospelofJesusChrististochangeyousothatyou'renottryingtoresistchange.You're
tryingtohavechangetakeyouwheretheLordwantsyoutogo.Howyouanswerthequestionofwhoyou
arewilldeterminealmosteverything.
WhatIwillnowreadtoyou,carefullypreparedandseenbytheprophetofGod,isadescriptionofthe
processthatthisinstitutionhasgonethroughandwhythewaytheyhavedoneithasledtheLordtotell
themwhotheyareinsuchawaythateventhoughtheychange,thepartofthemthatGodwouldhavestay
thesamewillstaythesame.Now,Ijusthavetoquicklysaythateachofyou,individually,hashad
messagessenttoyouthroughoutyourlife,justasthisinstitutionhashadmessagessenttoitaboutwhatthe
Lordseesasspecialanddistinct.
Ihadtheexperience,asayoungboygrowingupinNewJersey,ofreadingthescripturesinschool,before
theConstitutionwasinterpretedtosaythatwasillegal.So,inthePrincetonTownshipSchooltheyusedto
have,everyday,astudentpickascripturetoread.AndeverytimeIwaseverasked,Ialwaysreadthesame
scripture.Thepoorkidsintheclasshadtolistentoitoverandoveragainwhenmyturncamebecause,for
somereason,Ihadbeentold,"Thisisforyou;thisisaboutyou."Andsoeverythirtydays,orhowever
manystudentstherewere,myturnwouldcomeandIwouldreadfromchapter13of1Corinthiansthesame
verse:"Charitysufferethlong,andiskind;...charityvauntethnotitself,isnotpuffedup"(1Corinthians
13:4).
ThatisabeautifuldescriptionofPaul.AndIhadbeentoldasalittleboy,"Thisisaboutyou.Andthisis
aboutthegoodlifeyouwillsometimehaveinafamily."Now,thiswaswhenIwasalittle,littleboy.Iwas
thinkingabouttheNewYorkYankees,notaboutafamily.
Yearslaterapatriarchputhishandsonmyhead.GascoeRomney(thegrandfather,bytheway,ofMitt
Romney,who'stheonerunningthingsinourOlympiceffortsinUtah)puthishandsonmyheadandgave
meablessing.Hedidn'tknowme.Hehadnowaytoknowaboutthatscripture.Hedescribedtomethe
homethatImightsomedayhaveexactlyasIhadseeniteverytimeIheardthatscriptureasalittleboy.
AndsoIameyewitnessthatGodisspeakingtoyou.Hereallyis.Heknowswhoyouareeachofyou
distinct,eachofyouwithsomepossibilitiesofgreatcontributionandagoodlifeandHeistryingalways
totellyouwhoyouare.
WhatIwillnowdescribe,asIreturntothistext,isthemiraculousthingthathashappenedherewherethe
Lordhasguidedthisinstitutionandwillguideitinsuchawaythatalthoughtherewillbetremendous
change,thepersonaldeepandspiritualcharacteristicsoftheplacewillnotonlynotbelost,theywillbe
enhanced.Heretheywereforcedtolearnaboutrapidchange.

Fifteenmonthsago,withoutwarning,theyweretoldthatthetwoyearRicksCollegewastobecomethe
fouryearBYUIdaho.Whattheyhavedonesincethenismiraculous,anditisatwofoldmiracle.
First,thereisthemiracleinhowmuchtheyhavedone.Inthosefifteenmonthstheycreatedadetailedplan,
hirednewfaculty,receivedconditionalaccreditationstatuswhichcouldhavetakenyears,andthen
launchedthisventure,BYUIdaho.Andchangewillnotend.Thephrase"rethinkingeducation"isnottobe
onlyasloganforthetransformationfromatwotofouryearstatus,theschoolistobeaplaceof
educationalinnovationpermanently.
Thesecondpartofthemiracleisthewaytheyhavemadethechanges.Thepeoplewhoserveherehave
foundawaytomakechangesgreatandrapidchangesthatwillenhance,notreplace,thebestofwhat
theschoolhasalwaysbeen.Becauseofthat,Icanwithconfidencemakeyouapromise.Whenyoureturn
insomedistantfuture,youwillfindgreatinnovationhasbecomecommonplace,andyet,amidstallthe
changes,theschoolwillhaveretainedandenrichedthebasiccharacteristicsthatblessedyourlife.
LetmetellyouhowthathashappenedinthelastfifteenmonthsandwhyIamsoconfidentthatitwill
continue.Itisworthyourhearingbecauseitcouldbeappliedinourpersonallives.Eachofuswantstolive
inaworldofchangewhereourpersonalreactiontoitisnotonlyproductivebutwhereitenhancesthebest
ofwhatweare.Wecouldbeginwherethosewholeadtheschooldid.Theytookthewordsofliving
prophetsastheirguide.
PresidentHinckleychairstheBoardofTrustees.OnJune21intheyear2000,hereadabrief
announcementtothemediainSaltLakeCity.Thetextislessthanasinglepage.Ithasonlytwentyone
sentencesinit,yetinthefaithfulwaythepeopleherefollowedthatguidelaysthebasisofmyoptimism
aboutthefuture.
Oneoftheshortestsentencesintheannouncementisthisone:"Adjustmentstoitsmissionwillbe
minimal."Now,thinkforamomentoftherushofpridethatmightcomeintoahumanheartonbeingtold
yourtwoyearcollegewastobecomea"university,"andnotanobscureuniversity.
Theannouncementread:"ThenewfouryearschoolwillbeknownasBrighamYoungUniversityIdaho,
withthenamechangedesignedtogivetheschoolimmediatenationalandinternationalrecognition."That
couldtempt,infactitwouldtempt,mostpeopletomakeaminimaladjustmentinthemissionoftheschool
tolookmorelikethesecularschoolswhosepraisewemightwant.Butthemissionstatementsubmittedto
theaccreditationagencyintheplanentitled,"SubstantiveChangeProspectusfortheAdditionofDegree
ProgramsataHigherLevel"wasnotchangedatall.ThesecouldbethewordsofPresidentThomasE.
RicksorPrincipalJacobSporioranyoftheleadersfromthebeginning.
Thefirstgoal,statedboldlyandplainlyintheprospectus,isto"buildtestimoniesoftherestoredgospelof
JesusChristandtoencouragelivingitsprinciples."ThatchoicetoputtheSaviorandHispurposesfirstis
theprimarybasisofmyconfidenceinthefuture.
Everyinnovation,everychange,willbemeasuredagainstthistestoftheheart.Howwouldthisproposed
changebuildtestimonyandtrueconversiontotherestoredgospelofJesusChristintheheartofastudent?
TrueconversioncomesbygainingsufficientfaithtolivetheprinciplesoftherestoredgospelofJesus
Christ.Somepotentialandproposedinnovationswillhelpthattohappen.Therewillbeotherinnovations
proposedthatwouldbelesshelpfulormightevenhinder.Thecumulativeeffectofchangeherewillbeto
buildtestimonyandacceleratetrueconversion.
AnothereffectofthatgoalwillbetobringhereonlyteacherswhohavetheSaviorandHisgoalintheir
hearts.ThatchoicetoputtheSavioratthecenterledtotheotherkeychoicesmadeinthetransitionand
willassurethatthosechoiceswillendure.Forinstance,PresidentHinckleysaidintheannouncement:

"BYUIdahowillcontinuetobeteachingoriented.Effectiveteachingandadvisingwillbetheprimary
responsibilitiesofitsfaculty,whoarecommittedtoacademicexcellence.
"Theinstitutionwillemphasizeundergraduateeducationandwillawardbaccalaureatedegrees;graduate
degreeprogramswillnotbeoffered.Facultyrankwillnotbeapartoftheacademicstructureofthenew
fouryearinstitution."
OnlypeoplewhoputtheSaviorfirstandtakeHislifeastheirmodelcoulddothat,sinceitissoforeignto
somuchofwhatgoesoninuniversities.Therearegoodpeoplewhothinkthatit'simpossibletohave
academicexcellencewithout,intime,addinggraduateprograms.Andmostfacultiessotreasurethemarks
ofpersonalstatusthattheywouldbepuzzledbyauniversitywithoutfacultyrank.Buttherewillbe
outstandingundergraduateeducation,evenwiththoseapparentparadoxes.
PresidentHinckley,inthepressconferenceafterhisannouncement,said,"Itwillbejustasgoodateaching
institutionaswecanmakeit."ThatwillhappenbecausetheSaviorisandwillbethegreatexemplar.He
wasateacher.Hisworkandglorywastoliftothers.HetaughtHisdisciplesnottosetthemselvesasbeing
betterthanothers,buttobetheservantsofall.Onlyafacultywhobelievethosethingscouldseeablessing
inservingwithoutacademicrank.OnlyafacultywithheartssetontheSaviorcouldbelievethattheycould
keepgrowingasteachersintheirchangingandchallengingfieldswithoutgraduateprograms.Onlythose
withfaiththattheSaviorwillhelpthemwouldrespondwithenthusiasmtoPresidentBednar'svisionofthe
futureforthisfaculty:
"InmymindtheoverarchingthemeforallofourscholarlyworkatBrighamYoungUniversityIdaho
shouldbeinspiredinquiryandinnovation.Letmerepeatthat:inspiredinquiryandinnovation.Wearenot
likeotherinstitutionsofhighereducation;wehaveaccesstothegiftsoftheSpirit,whichcannotbe
quantifiednorcounted.Therearesimplythingswecannotadequatelydefineanddescribeabouttheprocess
ofteachingwiththeSpirit.But,nonetheless,weshouldbeexcellentscholars,andourscholarshipshouldbe
focusedontheprocessesoflearningandteaching.Wewillnotbearecognizedandhighlyregarded
researchinstitutioninthetraditionalsenseofthatterm.Wewill,however,emphasizeawiderangeof
scholarlyendeavorsandexcelinandplayapioneeringroleinunderstandinglearningandteaching
processeswithfaithandhardwork,andintheprocessoftime."
Thatpioneeringroleasaleaderinunderstandinglearningandteachingwillcometopass.I,asaservantof
JesusChrist,testifytoyouthatIknowthatwillhappen.Evenwiththeseapparentlyhumbleandeven
paradoxicalstandardsofwhatwewillbeandwhowewillbe,thatmiraclewilloccurandthisinstitution,in
theworld,willbecomeaplacethatpeopleknowofbecauseoftheinsightsthatwillcomeaswecometo
understandtheteachingandlearningprocesshere.Isotestify.
Theschoolwillenhanceanotherofitscharacteristicswhichwillcarryitsafelythroughturbulenttimes,and
itwillcomefromshowingstudentsbyexamplehowtolivewithgreatfaith.Thatcharacteristicisfrugality.
ListenagaintothewordsofPresidentBednarspeakingtothefacultyandstaffduringthistimeofchange:
"Thereisaresponsibilitytobeprudentinthemanagementoftheresources,andthereareplaceswherewe
needtoimprove.Ifthereisanexampleofuseitup,wearitout,makingdo,ordowithout,wearethat
place.Ifweeverlostthat,wewouldbeintrouble.Soweneedtobecarefulwhatweaskfor."
Nowthoseofyouwhoareyoungdon'tunderstandallthatwasinthatstatement.Iwasthepresidentof
RicksCollege.Icouldn'tunderstand.Icouldn'tunderstandwhytheBrethrenwerealwayscomingtome,
themenwholeadtheChurch,whenIwasthepresident,saying:"Whatmorecanwedoforyou?What
morecanwedoforyou?"Ididn'tunderstandthat.Inowdo.Theyknewthisplace,andtheyknewwe
wouldn'task.Theyknewwe'dmakedo.ListentoPresidentBednar:

"Ithink,forexampleofthewordSpartanism.AllofuswhohavereadGreekhistoryknowtherearesome
aspectsofSpartanculturethatarenotnoteworthynorpraiseworthynorofgoodreport."
ThatwasplagiarismfromPaul.No,thatwasplagiarismfromthethirteenthArticleofFaith.Excuseme;my
Primarywaslimited.Wedidn'thavePrimaryinNewJerseyinthemissionfield,andIdidn'tgetthat.
"Thereare,however,somethingswearetobepursuing.AsIdefinethewordSpartanism,itrefersto
rigorouslyselfdisciplinedandselfrestrained.ThatispartofthespiritofRicksatBrighamYoung
UniversityIdahosimple,frugal,oraustere;courageousinthefaceofpain,danger,oradversity."
IneedtosayIreadeverydocumentIcouldgetmyhandsontopreparethisforPresidentHinckley's
approval.AndIreaditworrying.Ithought,youknowwithallthechangethat'sgoingonthere,they're
goingtolosetheirway.Iwantyoutoknow(asaformerpresidentofRicksCollege,assomeonewhocame
hereasayoungmanandtriedtofindmyway,andnowasthecommissionerofeducationandasamember
oftheQuorumofTwelve),IweptasIreadthethingsthatPresidentBednarsaidtothisfacultyduringhis
periodoftimeknowing,first,thathewasraisedupforthistask;butsecondly,thattheverythingsthe
Lordhadtoldme,andtoldmeoverandoveragain,hesaidinbetterwordsthanIcouldhavesaidthem,and
that'swhyIamquotingPresidentBednarsomuchhereinthistalk;itisnottoflatterhim.Iwantyouto
knowthattheLordrevealedtohimsomethingsthataretrueandarepermanentandwillguidethis
institution.Nowthatwastheendofthequotationfromhim.Isaythisnowformyself:
IamnotsurewheretheSpartansgotthosecharacteristics,butIknowwhytheyarepossessedbytrue
disciplesofJesusChrist.LatterdaySaintpioneerscametothisplacefortheLord.Theybuiltthisschoolin
theirpoverty.Thefirstprincipal,JacobSpori,housedhisfamilyinanunheatedgrainstorageshedinhis
firstwinterbecausethat'salltheyhad.ThepeopleherehavetreatedalltheyhadastheLord'sandalways
counteditasenough.AndtheyhaveuseditasifitwastheofferingofthepoorestwidowtoherLordandto
HisKingdom.NorhavetheyfeltbadlytreatedwhentheLordaskedthemtotakelessandyetgivemore.
Becauseofthatfaithfulobedienceandsacrifice,IcertifytheLordhaspouredoutHisSpirithere.
Therewillbeapracticalbenefit,inturbulenttimes,fromthatfrugalityborneoffaith.Therewillcome
timeswhentheLord'sprophetwillaskustodomorewithless.Knowingthatwillcome,wemustandwill
findwaystoimproveandtoinnovatethatrequirelittleornomoney.Wewilldependmoreuponinspiration
andperspirationtomakeimprovementsthanuponbuildingsandequipment.Thenhardeconomictimes
willhavelittleeffectonthecontinuousinnovationthatwillnotceaseatthisschool,eveninthemost
difficulttimes.
ThetruediscipleswhohaveservedherehavebelievedthatiftheywerefrugalandfaithfultheLordwill
provideenoughtodoHiswork.Theyhaverarelydeservedthechasteninginchapter6oftheProphet
JosephSmith'stranslationofMatthew:
"Whyisitthatyemurmuramongyourselves,saying,Wecannotobeythywordbecauseyehavenotall
thesethings,andseektoexcuseyourselves,sayingthat,AfterallthesethingsdotheGentilesseek.
"Behold,IsayuntoyouthatyourheavenlyFatherknoweththatyehaveneedofallthesethings.
"Wherefore,seeknotthethingsofthisworldbutseekyefirsttobuildupthekingdomofGod,andto
establishhisrighteousness,andallthesethingsshallbeaddeduntoyou"(JST,Matthew6:3638).
PresidentHinckleyexpressedconfidencethatfrugalitywashereandwouldendurewhenhesaidinhis
announcement:"Withsomeadditionsandmodifications,thephysicalfacilitiesnowinplaceinRexburgare
adequatetohandlethenewprogram.Undoubtedly,somechangestothecampuswillbenecessary.
However,theywillbemodestinnatureandscope."

Healsosaid:"Ofnecessity,thenewfouryearinstitutionwillbeassessingandrestructuringitsacademic
offerings.Predictably,theschoolwillneedtochangeandeliminatesomelongstandingandbeneficial
programsastheschoolfocusesuponkeyacademicdisciplinesandactivities."
Now,PresidentHinckleyhaslongexperienceineducationlongexperiencesoheknewhow
remarkableitwastopaysuchatributetothisplace.Hesaidtherewouldbefocus,notagrowthandspread,
intheacademicofferings.Heexpectedthatpeoplewouldwillinglysacrificewhattheydobestandlove
mostforwhattheLordwantsevenmoreforourstudents.Heexpectedthatpeopleherewouldfindwaysto
makethephysicalspacealreadyinplacesufficienttodomoreformorestudents.Listentothisfromhis
announcementandconsiderthetributehewaspayingwithhisconfidence:
"BYUIdahowilloperateonanexpandedyearroundbasis,incorporatinginnovativecalendaringand
schedulingwhilealsotakingadvantageofadvancementsintechnologywhichwillenablethefouryear
institutiontoservemorestudents."
Theexpectationisclearlythatinspiredandfrugalpeoplewillfindwaystoblessmorestudentsatever
lowercostperstudent.Thathasbeentrueatsometimesinthepast.Itwillbetrueinthefuture,whatever
theturbulenttimesaheadwillbring.Forthosecharacteristicstoendure,thestudentsyouandthosewho
followyoumustplayamajorpart.ItistheirfaithintheLordJesusChristandinHisrestoredgospeland
theirobediencetoHiscommandmentsthatwillputHimatthecenteroftheschool.Theirfaithwilllargely
determinewhetherwelearnherebystudyandalsobyfaith.Aswedo,wewillattainacademicexcellence.
Wewillnotattainacademicexcellencewithoutthatfaithofyoursasstudentsandthosethatfollowtolearn
bystudyandbyfaith.Itisyourfrugalityandtheirfrugality,theirwillingnesstomakeduewithalittleless,
thatwillsetatoneforthecampus.Theirsacrifice,yoursacrifice,willbringdowntheblessingsofheaven
asitalwayshas.Thestudentswilllearnfromexamplehowtokeeponasteadyupwardcourseintimesof
greatchange.TheywillseeleadersandteachersandstaffmembersforwhomtheSaviorandHiskingdom
areatthecenteroftheirlives.Fromthatexample,Imakeaprophecy.Nowlistencarefully.
Fromthatexampletheyyouwillbecomelifelongteachersintheirfamilies,intheChurch,andintheir
work,andtheywillblessotherswherevertheygobywhattheyhavelearnedaboutinnovatingwithscarce
resourcesandtreatingalltheyhaveasifitweretheLord's.
YoucanimaginethejoyofanemployeroraChurchleaderwhensuchagraduatearrives.Thegraduates
willbeatpersonalpeacebyhavingkeptthecommandments.Theywillbenaturalleaderswhoknowhow
toteachandhowtolearn.Theywillhavethepowertoinnovateandimprovewithoutrequiringmoreof
whatmoneycanbuy.ThosegraduatesofBYUIdahowillbecomeandthisisaprophecythatIam
preparedtomakeandmakesolemnlythosegraduatesofBYUIdahowillbecomelegendaryfortheir
capacitytobuildthepeoplearoundthemandtoaddvaluewherevertheyserve.
Eachofuscanfollowtheexamplewehaveseenhere.Wecanfollowasteadyupwardcourseinaworldof
changewithoutfear,welcomingtheopportunities.Thewayisasimpleone,clearlymarked.Itistokeep
oureyesandheartsfixedonthatwhichisunchangeable.Wemusthaveaneyeoffaithfixedoneternallife.
Thatlife,thegreatestofallthegiftsofGod,istoliveingloryforeverinfamiliesinthepresenceofour
lovingHeavenlyFather.Ittakesafocusedeye.Listen.Alma,chapter5,verse15:
"Doyeexercisefaithintheredemptionofhimwhocreatedyou?Doyoulookforwardwithaneyeoffaith,
andviewthismortalbodyraisedinimmortality,andthiscorruptionraisedinincorruption,tostandbefore
Godtobejudgedaccordingtothedeedswhichhavebeendoneinthemortal[life]?"
Foroureyestobefocusedoneternallife,wemusthaveunwaveringconfidenceandourheartsfixedonthe
Savior.Hesaid,in3Nephi,chapter9,verses1415:

"Yea,verilyIsayuntoyou,ifyewillcomeuntomeyeshallhaveeternallife.Behold,minearmofmercy
isextendedtowardsyou,andwhosoeverwillcome,himwillIreceive;andblessedarethosewhocome
untome.
"Behold,IamJesusChristtheSonofGod.Icreatedtheheavensandtheearth,andallthingsthatinthem
are.IwaswiththeFatherfromthebeginning.IamintheFather,andtheFatherinme;andinmehaththe
Fatherglorifiedhisname."
Ourhearts,fixedonHimandHiswork,willkeepusoncourse,howeverthewindblows.Wewillfollow
Hisprophet.WewillseethegreatestworkofourlivesasnurturingothersastheSaviordid.Wewillsee
thepotentialinothersasHeseesit.Wewilltreateveryresourcethatcomesintoourhandsasatrustfrom
Him.WewillseeourvictoriesasagiftfromHimandsobeproofagainstpride.Wewillnotfearbecause
wewillknowweareonHiserrand.
Now,youyoungpeople,Ineedtocommendyouandwarnyou,ifImay.Anumberofyoudressed
carefullytocometothismeeting,notformebutfortheLord.Anumberofyouwerequietatthe
beginning,notformeorforPresidentBednarbutfortheLord.Anumberofyouinthisroom,Iknow,have
beenpraying.Ihavefeltthat.OneofthejoysofcomingtoRicksCollegehasalwaysbeenformetoknow
thatIwouldgointoaroomwherepeopleoffaithwouldbeprayingthattheHolyGhostwouldbepoured
out.EverytimeIcome,Ialwayshaveaconfirmationthatthat'shappenedagain.Oneofthereasonsthatwe
canprophesyabouttheacademicexcellencethatwillbehereisyouwilldothatsamethinginclasses.And
thosethatfollowyouwilldoitinclasses.Youwilldoitintheevenings.You'llprayfortheblessingsof
heaventocomedownuponyourteachers.You'llpraythatyou'llbetaughtbytheHolySpirit.Theprayer
thatI'vefeltinthisroomisoneofthethingsthathasmadethisinstitutionworthyofthetrustthathasbeen
givenitbytheprophetofGod.Iwantyoutoknowthat,thatIknowthataboutyou.
Now,inaddition,Iwouldsuggestthis:Theveryfactthatyoudressnicely,Iunderstand,atleastispartly
truebecausesomebodymayhavesaidsomethingtoyou.Oneofyourfriendsmayhavesuggested,"Why
don'twegodressedalittlebetterforthatmeetingtoday."Thoseofyouinthisroomwhodidthat(andI
don'tknowhowmanythereare;theremaybejustafewwhosaid,"Whydon'twedoalittlemoresothat
theSpiritofGod..."youmaynothaveusedthesewords,butwhatyouweresayingwas"Let'sgotothat
meetinginsuchawaythatwemightbringdownthepowersofheaven"),thoseofyouintheroomthathad
thecouragetodothat,totrytoinfluencethepersonsaroundyou,I'llmakeyouaprophecy.Iwillsimply
tellyou:Thedaywillcomethatthatcapacitytoinfluencepeoplearoundyouforgoodwillhaveyou
singledoutasoneofthegreatleadersinwhateverplaceyou'rein.Theywillnotquiteknowwhy,butyou
willknowthatthereasonyouarebeingsingledoutisnotbecauseofyourinnategiftsasaleaderbut
becauseyouhavedonewhattheSaviorwoulddolearnedhowto,anddid,reachouttothosearoundyou
totrytoliftthem,tohelpthemtobebetterevenwhenitmightbealittlebitdifficultandyoumightnot
havebeenreceivedverywell.
AnotherthingthatIwillsaytoyou.I'vementionedsomuchaboutfrugality.Youmightsay,"Brother
Eyring,that'sanawfulthingtosay.WegofirstclassintheChurch.Whywouldyoutalkaboutthat?I
mean,heavens,wewanttomakeitasfancyaswecan."Iwouldonlysaythistoyou:
Youwanttohaveabeautifulcampus.Youwanttohaveabeautifulplacethatyouliveinsomedayinyour
family.Youwanttohavethingsasniceasyoucanhavethem.ButI'lltellyousomething.Oneofthethings
thatyoudoistoalwayslookateverynicethingyouhaveasGod'sandtreatitvery,verycarefully.This
campuswillbebeautifulbecauseyoudon'tthinkit'syoursyouthinkit'sHis,andyou'llcareforitthat
way.Inaddition,youwillnotever,everaskformorethanyouneed.Youwillalwayssay,"Isthereaway,
withmoreeffort,morefaith,moreinnovation,thatIcoulddothethingstheLordwantswithoutaskingfor
moreoftheresourcesthatareinscarcesupplyeveninaChurchthatappearstohavegreatresources,aswe
do.Buttheneedsaregreat,andtheopportunitiesaretremendousforwhatcanbedone.

IwantyoutoknowthatthereasonthosepeoplefromtheBoardofEducationusedtosay,"Hal,isn'tthere
somethingmorewecoulddoforyouupthereatRicksCollege?"isthattheywerealmostafraidwe
wouldn'task;thatwemightrunjustalittletoolean,justalittletoohard,tryingtodothebestwecould
withwhatwehad;justafraidwemightoverdoitbecausethat'swhowewere.
ItestifytoyouthisbeautifulcampusthatyouseenowistherewardfromalovingGodandHisBoardof
Educationthatsaid:"Weknowthosepeople.Weknowwhatthey'relike.They'reoutofapioneerheritage,
andtheydon'tthinkthatthethingstheyhavemeanmuch.It'swhattheyare.Andtheythinktheycandoa
verygreatdealwithoutverymuch."
NowItestifytoyouthatthatblessingisbothapracticaloneandaspiritualone.It'spracticalbecausethen
theLordwillprovidewhenwedoneedsomething,andHe'llprovidegenerouslybecauseHetrustsus.But
ithasanotherbenefitaswell.Itestifytoyouthatthatspiritofsacrifice,thatspiritoftryingtogivejusta
littlebitmoreandaskalittlelessbringsdownthepowersofheaven.Andallofthisgreatfuturethatwe're
speakingofatthisinstitutionwilldependuponmiraclesregularlyoccurring,wherestudentslearnmore
thanyouthoughtyoucouldlearn.Someofyouhavealreadybeenprayingforthatmiracle.Itwillcome.Do
yourhomework,bytheway;don'tjustpray.I'vetried.Straightrevelationinamathematicsexamination
itdoesnotworkverywell.It'sbettertohavestudiedtheworkaheadoftime.We'lldoboth,butthatkindof
ablessingwillcome.Youwillbelearners.Yourteacherswillteachbetterthantheirnaturalcapacities
wouldeverallowthemtodobecausethepowersofheavenwillcomedown.Theywillcomedownbecause
ofyourfaith.
Remembermylittletalktoyouaboutfrugalityisanexampleofyourfaith.It'snottheonlyway.Butit's
onewayinwhichyou'llsay,"Look,weknowthatwiththehelpofheavenwecandomorethananybody
couldimaginewiththeresourcesthatwehave.Weknowthatwiththehelpofheaveneventhoseofuswho
thoughtwecouldn'tlearnmathematicscanlearnmathematicsorlearnalanguage.Weknowthatthat's
possible."
ThemiraclethatPresidentBednarspokeofandthatIpromisedyouthatthiswillbecomeaplace
renownedforitsunderstandingofteachingandlearningwillhavetofacetheveryproblemhe,under
inspiration,pointedoutinhistalktothefaculty.Wecan't"quantifythegiftsoftheSpirit."Wedon'tknow
howthatworks.Weprobablyneverwillwriteacademicpapersabouthowthatworks.Butwewillbeable
todothingsherethatwillamazetheworldintermsoftherateandthequalityoflearning,andwewilllearn
waysabouthowthatisdonethatwillapplyinotherplacesintheworld,butneverquiteaswellasthey
applyhere.That'salittlelikethepeoplewhosay,"CouldIborrowyourfamilyhomeeveningmanual?I
wanttohaveafamilylikeyours."Andtheansweris,"Itain'tinthemanual."Themanualisareflectionof
whatitisthathappensinthosefamilyhomeevenings.
Itwillbethatwayhereaswell.Wewillhaveaspiritualoutpouring,becauseofyourfaithandthefaithof
thefacultyandthosewholeadhere,thatwillleadustobelegendaryintermsofourcapacitytoteachand
tolearnandinourcapacitytoinnovatewithoutneedingtheresourcesthatothershavetohaveinorderto
betheremarkablecontributorsyou'regoingtobe.Andthat'sgoingtofollowyoueverywhereyougo.
IhopeIlivelongenoughtosomedaymeetsomeemployerwhoemployedoneofyouandsays,"Wheredid
thatcomefrom?I'veneverhadsuchaperson.Whypeoplejustflockaroundthatperson.Andtheywantto
follow.Theydon'thavetobeled;they'reseekingtogowherethatpersonwantstogo.Andtheycomeup
withnewideas.Idon'tknowwherethatcomesfrom.Theyseemtofindabetterway,andthebudget
doesn'tgoup.Ican'tunderstandit."AndI'llsmileandsay,"Well,comewithmetoRexburg."AndImay
notbeabletoshowittoyou,andImaynotbeabletoproveittoyou,butyou'llfeelit.Therewillbea
spirithere,Isotestify,becauseoftheloveofGodforallofHisfaithfulchildren.Andthoseblessingswill
bepouredouthereinrichabundance.

Now,Ileaveyoumyblessing.Ileaveittothefaculty,andIleaveittothestudentswhoarehereaswell.I
blessyouthateverydayyouarehereincludingthefacultywhomaybehereforalongtimeandsomeof
youIdon'tknowhowlong,butawhileIblessyouthateveryday,ifyouwillaskinprayertobeshown
wherethehandofGodintervenedinyourlifethatday,Iblessyouthatyouwillseethat.Itwillbemade
manifesttoyou.ThatyouwillseethatHeisleadingandguidingandliftingyou,andthatHeknowsyou.I
blessyou.Iblessyouwithconfidencethatifyouwillreviewthedayattheendofthedayandthenpray
andask,youwillhaverevealedtoyouevidencethatthehandofGodwasliftingyouandthisinstitution.I
soblessyou.
Ifurtherblessyouthatyoumayhavethecapacitytoinfluenceothers.Iblessyouthatyouwillbealifter,a
teacher,andaleader.Isoblessyouinyourfamilies,intheChurch,andinwhereverplaceyoumaygoto
serve.
NowIleaveyoumytestimony.ThemostpreciousgiftIhave.Andthatisthis.Iblessyoutoknowthat
whatIspeaknowisthetruth.ThereisalovingHeavenlyFather.HehasbeenwatchingustodayasHe
alwayswatchesus.Heknowsyou.Hehasknownyouandhasnurturedyou.HehasaplanforyouasHe
hasaplanforthisinstitutionofwhatitmightbecomeifitcanjusthaverevealed,bothtotheinstitutionand
toyou,whoyoureallyare.Oh,Helovesyou!Heknowsyou.Hesmilesdownuponyou.Isotestify.He
wantsyoutocomehomeagaintoHim,Isotestify.AndHe'sprovidedaSavior,JesusChrist.Helives.I
knowHelives.TheSaviorisresurrected.HeisinoneplaceatatimebecauseHeisaresurrectedbeing,but
HeisawareofusandallofourHeavenlyFather'schildren.Andforallofthem,Heatonedfortheirsins
andbrokethebandsofdeath,Isotestify.
GordonB.HinckleyisalivingprophetofGod.Itestifytoyouthatintheyearsahead,whateverdifficulties
maycome,whateveropportunitiesarethere,Godwillprovidealivingprophet.Ifyouwilllisten,listenand
believelikeachildthewaythosewholeadthisinstitutiondidatthistimeoftransition,ifyouwilldothat,
whateverthetransitionsareinyourlife,youwillnotonlyretainthegoodnessthatGodhasbeensohelpful
inbuildingintoyou,itwillbeenhanced.Itestifytoyouthat'strue.IpraythatImayseeyouagain
sometime.IpraythatImaycomebacktothisplaceagainsometimeandknowthatwhenIseeyouand
whenIcomehereIwillhaveseentheblessingsofGodcomedownonfaithfulpeoplewho'veallowedHim
toshapethemtothegreatopportunitiesthatHehasbeforeyouandbeforethisplace,inthenameofJesus
Christ,amen.
2001 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.