Robyn Bergstrom (pictured right), Dean of the College of Business and Communication, and Professor of Communication at BYU–Idaho, illustrated six "Eves of Understanding" at the October 19 devotional held at BYU–Hawaii's Cannon Activities Center.
These "Eves" Bergstrom spoke of were woven into "talk story" form as she centered her speech around President David O. McKay’s declaration about the BYU–Hawaii campus: "From this school ... will go men and women whose influence will be felt for good towards the establishment of peace internationally."
She emphasized the importance of not just helping but in asking for help and assistance from others (citing Robert D. Hales). Bergstrom focused on the need for understanding, noting how there are often misunderstandings in relationships. She counseled that we need to take care of these misunderstandings in their early stages so we can get past them in our relationships.
She quoted President Monson, stating, "When we treat people merely as they are, they may remain as they are. When we treat them as if they were what they should be, they may become what they should be."--a quote similar to Goethe's maxim of how we treat others is indicative of what they become.
To emphasize, Bergstrom told the story of a young man with below average grades who earned a perfect score on the SAT through a glitch in the testing system. Because he was recognized for his excellent scores, his grades the following semester were all As with the exception of one B. When he found out that his test scores were a mistake, he had already achieved beyond his expectations and had “become what he should be.”
She closed with the greatest "talk story" ever told--that of the Savior's life. He suffered for our sins, she stated, so “We need to not only believe in him, but literally believe him.”
--Photo by Monique Saenz