Barbara Barrington-Jones, who has been bringing her "New You" program to BYU-Hawaii each summer for over a decade, shared a powerful testimony of the love of living prophets and the Savior on August 5 in the last devotional of the summer term.
Barrington-Jones - an international image consultant, author, lecturer, fashion designer and member of the BYU-Hawaii Advisory Council - started the "New You" program to enhance the natural and spiritual beauty of its participants. She has also convinced many of the participants to contribute to the university.
"As we walked through the halls this week, it was wonderful for some of you students to say to me, hi Sister Jones. I just felt like I was home," she said, quoting a saying in Hawaiian and then translating: "If we have patience unto the end, we shall receive the blessing of eternal life."
"BYU-Hawaii, I love you. I love being here," continued Barrington-Jones, whose husband passed away a little over a year ago. "My husband and I were so connected to you and to this beautiful island."
Turning to her theme, Barrington-Jones spoke of the many references in the scriptures to the Savior's love and His commandment that we should "love one another, as I have loved you."
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" [John 15:13], she continued, stressing that the Savior laid down His life for us.
Barrington-Jones retold the story of the daughter of Jairus [Mark 5], who had died, and the Savior "took the damsel by the hand, and He said unto her, talitha cumi, which is being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto you, arise" [v. 41]. Then she told how her friend and composer, Kenneth Cope, recently sat with an old Jewish scholar in Jerusalem who said, "That's not really the exact translation."
"What that really means is, get up, little lamb," she continued, adding this seems so much more in the nature of the Savior.
Similarly, even though he already knew Lazarus had died, "In the compassionate nature of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, he wept," she said. "He loves us. I can testify to that. When my husband passed away, Elder [Robert G.] Wells said to me, 'The Savior is the second comforter. He will be with you.' And he was with me, so many times."
"I love all of you students here because there's something on this campus - and I go to many college campuses - and that is your dreams, your visions," she continued. "How hard you work, how hard you strive. How hard you try to reach your goals of going back to your countries and making them a better place."
Switching her focus to living prophets, Barrington-Jones said, "They all have a cheerful disposition." As an example, she recited a story told by Arthur D. Haycock, former Hawaii Temple president and secretary to President David O. McKay, who once saw the prophet laughing while praying: President McKay said, "Oh, don't worry. I just told Heavenly Father a joke; and the best part was, he laughed."
She also told of when the late Elder David B. Haight was called, President Kimball "looked into my eyes and said, with all the love that I possess, I call you to fill the vacancy in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles."
Barrington-Jones stressed President Kimball did not cite his authority in extending the call, but rather the same love the Savior showed, "the love that we must show, that we must demonstrate as we teach this gospel of Jesus Christ."
She also told of how when she and her husband first joined the Church over 20 years ago, they were in Salt Lake City visiting the missionary who baptized them when they met President Kimball for the first time. The missionary, a distant relative of the prophet, introduced them.
"President Kimball gave me the sweetest smile, and shook my hand," she recalled, adding that "time stood still" when her husband - a "man's man" who owned construction companies - stood in front of the diminutive leader. "President Kimball looked into my husband's eyes. He reached up, and put his arms around my husband's neck, and pulled him down to his knees in front of him, and he kissed him and said, looking into his eyes, I love you."
"The tears streamed down my husband's cheeks as he shakily stood up. He said to me, I have met a prophet of God."
"I know we are led by living prophets. I know that the Savior wants us to pass on His love," Barrington-Jones said. "I am so grateful to have been converted to this Church. I'm so grateful that Heavenly Father led us here to this great treasure, BYU-Hawaii."