The Religious Freedom and Human Dignity Initiative (RFHD)—composed of BYUH students—has the goal of helping expand others’ understanding of religious freedom and human dignity in Oceania and the Asian Rim.
This year, the RFHD focused on areas in South Asia, welcoming delegates from India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka to represent the region's religious diversity. The students strived to fulfill the initiative's mission to nurture the spread of religious freedom and protection of human dignity by educating students, alumni, and volunteers through events, conferences, and research.
Seeing the Light and Writing our Stories
The conference opened at dinner tables, where cultural diversity was immediately evident in both dress and dialogue as people from different locations and faiths sat across from one another. Students, faculty, and international delegates filled the room, representing a wide spectrum of faith, traditions, and lived experiences. Despite the formality of the opening ceremony, the event carried a distinct sense of warmth that was welcomed by the student leadership of the RFHD and beautiful vocals from members of the Ho’olōkahi Chamber Choir.
Opening remarks introduced the initiative’s goals, and the keynote address was delivered by Elder David L. Buckner, an Area Seventy for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for the Asia area, headquartered in Hong Kong. Elder Buckner invited attendees to view the week as an opportunity for transformation.
“I invite you tonight as friends…to think about ways in which we, personally, can change,” Elder Buckner challenged. Drawing from his own experiences abroad, he reflected, “I didn’t see boundaries. I didn’t see borders. I saw light… I saw the beauty of differences.” His message encouraged participants to look beyond division and toward shared purpose.
“Are we looking across the table and seeing differences? Or are we looking heavenward… and seeing light together?” Elder Buckner emphasized that unity does not require uniformity, but rather a willingness to listen, connect, and act. “Rather than sitting idle, ask someone new, ‘What’s your story?’…Everyone has a story.”
Throughout his remarks, Elder Buckner reinforced that religious freedom and human dignity are essential to peace. His invitation to “look beyond probabilities and look at the possibilities” encouraged students to see themselves as active participants in shaping a more unified world and pick up the call.
Answering the Call
For many students, that call felt personal. Sophomore Joan Chrisnando, a political science major from Indonesia, came from a family with both Christian and Muslim influences. After seeing announcements about the conference’s focus on South Asia, he was especially interested in understanding how different belief systems coexist.
“Conflict is inevitable, but contention is something that you allow to happen,” Chrisnando said. “You can choose to continue the tension, or not.”
Through conversations with delegates, he found common ground across faiths—particularly in shared values like family, service, and devotion. His experience reflected a central theme of the conference: that dialogue fosters empathy and mutual respect.
A Step Towards Peace
Yna Tamilarason, a senior from Malaysia studying business management, previously served as a student representative at a Southeast Asia RFHD conference the year before. This year, Tamilarason returned as an assistant to the dean of Business and Government, working and growing in this opportunity to see what the conference can do.
“Something I learned from this conference was how huge a role the students have…[They] can make a positive impact on the experience for the delegates,” Tamilarason reflected on the tensions between regions such as India and Pakistan. “The students help build connections between the delegates. It’s like the first step to creating peace.”
Her experience highlighted how the initiative extends beyond formal sessions. Through small interactions—escorting guests, facilitating conversations, and simply being present—students contribute to an environment where understanding can grow.
Continuing the Vision
As the conference concluded, final reflections reinforced its central themes: human dignity is inherent, and religious freedom is essential for individuals and societies to flourish. Attendees were encouraged to continue learning, engage in meaningful dialogue, and build bridges across divides.
In many ways, the conference embodied the vision of President David O. McKay, who envisioned Brigham Young University–Hawaii as a place to develop peacemakers for a global society. For those who participated, the message was clear: they are not just students studying global issues; they are contributors to solutions, carrying forward the responsibility to promote understanding, dignity, and peace.
