Elder Russell M. Nelson, an internationally acclaimed heart surgeon who has served as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 1984, urged 212 BYU-Hawaii Winter 2003 graduates to guard against spiritual degradation by seeking safety in the circles of family, Saints and the Savior.
"Your experience here at BYU-Hawaii is different from that of students at other institutions," Elder Nelson told the graduates in the Cannon Activities Center on December 13. "In addition to your secular studies, you have also been taught spiritual truths of eternal significance. That difference will become even more evident in the future as the gap between the world and the Church continues to widen."
Elder Nelson encouraged the graduates to live up to their "great personal potential. Each of us has a religious responsibility to reach our divine destiny and also 'to keep...unspotted from the world.' That's not easy in this day of spiritual degradation," he said, explaining that the warning in the Word of Wisdom goes "far beyond counseling us concerning the substances we are to eat and drink. It was a warning that, in our day, people would literally and cunningly conspire to do evil to fellow human beings."
For protection against these "ever-present dangers," Elder Nelson prescribed the students seek the safety of the three circles:
"There is safety in the circle of the family. The family is the most important unit of the Church and of society. The Church exists, in part, to exalt the family," he said, pointing out we actually belong to a series of interlocking circles that comprise extended families. "Each of us has a religious responsibility to start a new family circle and to make that circle a strong link in the chain."
"Spiritually strong families are forged by strong individuals within the family," he continued, citing the example to guard against pornography that can even exist in our own homes, wired directly over the Internet by "purveyors of pornographic poison. Self-control must be strong â¿¿ strong enough to keep us from the ever-expanding evil plague of pornography."
"There is additional safety in the circle of the Saints," Elder Nelson said, noting that pioneer Church members migrating to Utah circled their wagons every evening for protection.
He encouraged the graduates to preserve their place within the circle by paying tithing. "Tithing keeps our names enrolled among the Saints and allows the blessings of the Lord to be poured out upon us."
"There is consummate safety in the circle of the Savior," Elder Nelson continued, explaining in the Savior's day villages were usually surrounded by protective walls.
"Thanks to the atonement of the Lord, we may be encircled in the arms of His love," he said, and that when we each "leave this frail existence," our passing will be "precious in the sight of the Lord" [Psalms 116:5].
"How could death be precious?" he asked. "It is precious to a loving Lord whose arms reach out to a returning son or daughter. That's homecoming! It's another graduation day."
Elder Nelson invoked an apostolic blessing "that you will continue to feast on the words of Jesus Christ and apply His teachings in your lives. I bless you with success in your families and in your further educational and occupational endeavors. I bless you with the wisdom and strength to seek first to build up the Kingdom of God and to establish His righteousness, that all needful things may thereby be granted unto you and your loved ones."
Elder Nelson and his wife, who accompanied him, also wished everyone a "very merry Christmas."
Earlier in the program, BYU-Hawaii officials presented Elder John H. Groberg with its Distinguished Service Award. Elder Groberg, a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy for the Church, previously served several missions in Tonga and also as Area President for Hawaii and the Pacific Islands.
In accepting the award, Elder Groberg thanked his wife, Jean, and said he could not have done it without her. "None of us live alone. None of us live in a vacuum," he said.
"We appreciate BYU-Hawaii in so many ways. One of our sons graduated from here, and another daughter attended for a time," said Elder Groberg, who was recently the subject of the feature film, The Other Side of Heaven, about his youthful missionary experiences in Tonga.
"The stronger and purer our faith is in the Lord Jesus Christ, the better conduit we become for His healing power, both physically and spiritually, to flow into the lives of others," he added. "You have a deep responsibility to tell people everywhere to love and serve the Lord. BYU-Hawaii has helped you along that road."
Of BYU-Hawaii's 212 graduates, 40% are international students from 27 countries, ranging from Russia and Pakistan through the Pacific islands and Asia to Zimbabwe.