Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles [pictured at left] admonished the 235 new BYU-Hawaii graduate candidates gathered in front of faculty, family and friends in the Cannon Activities Center this morning, "Don't be a slave."
"We all know that slavery was abolished in the British Empire and in the United States over 150 years ago. But I have been astonished to read that there are still about 27 million slaves in today's world" — including an estimated 50,000 "trafficked into or transited through the United States."
"The slavery of these tragic victims is involuntary. They are victims of someone else's decisions, motivated by greed or other wickedness," Elder Oaks said. "Fortunately you are not likely to be victims of involuntary slavery. But if you are not careful, you can be imprisoned by another form of slavery, whose duration can be life-long. This evil has existed since the beginning, when Satan proposed the ultimate slavery. He would have taken away our power of choice, making us robots to his will."
"The Father's plan of salvation rejected that proposal, but since His plan was based on our power to choose, we each have the power to give ourselves over into many lesser forms of slavery. I call this voluntary slavery."
Elder Oaks pointed out such slavery includes:
- Sin: "The Savior taught that whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin [John 8:34]," he said. "Father Lehi, in his last recorded discourse to his sons, pleaded with them to shake off the awful chains by which ye are bound, which are the chains which bind the children of men, that they are carried away captive down to the eternal gulf of misery and woe" [2 Nephi 1:1].
- Drug addictions: Elder Oaks explained many Church leaders have said such personal choices lead to "slavery."
- Passions and excessive preoccupations: "When we allow ourselves to be brought under the power of anything or anyone, we become a slave to that person or that thing," Elder Oaks continued. He also cited Elder H. Ross Workman, now President of the Laie Hawaii Temple, who said: "One can be in captivity to sin or to the pursuit of worldly honors, such as fame, wealth, political power, or social standing. One can also be in captivity through obsessive preoccupation with activities such as sports, music, or entertainment."
- Wealth and debt: Elder Oaks pointed out that President Hinckley "used the metaphor of slavery to apply to the extremes of economic circumstances" and warned over a decade ago "there is nothing that will cause greater tensions in marriage than grinding debt, which will make of you a slave to your creditors." President Hinckley also warned "against wrong priorities in acquiring wealth. He said: 'Income is important, but you do not need to be a multimillionaire to be happy. In fact, you are more likely to be unhappy if wealth becomes your only objective. You will become a slave to it. It will color all your decisions.'"
Elder Oaks urged the graduates to shun voluntary slavery. "Prize your power of choice. Protect it against every surrender, every dilution, every threat. Hold to the values you have been taught by your worthy parents, by righteous teachers in these classrooms and others, and by the Holy Ghost whom our Father in Heaven has given to teach us and to protect us," he said.
Quoting John 8:31-32 — "one of the greatest passages in the Bible," Elder Oaks said, "True freedom is to know the truth, to act upon that truth to avoid sin, and then to claim the promise of Him who suffered for sin and can therefore make us free indeed."
"When we know the truth and act upon that truth, we can avoid the slavery of which I have spoken. Each of us has the precious gift of the Holy Ghost, whose function is to 'guide [us] into all truth' [John 16:13]. By keeping our covenants we can have the assurance that we will always have that Spirit to be with us. If we do that, the Savior assures us that we will always be free."
Elder Oaks concluded with another "truth most appropriate for this audience" by former U.S. First Lady Barbara Bush, who counseled young women graduates "to cherish their human connections, their relationships with friends and family. She said":
...As important as your obligations as a doctor, lawyer, or business leader will be, you are a human being first and those human connections with spouses, with children, with friends are the most important investments you will ever make. At the end of your life, you will never regret not having passed one more test, not writing one more verdict or not closing one more deal. You will regret time not spent with a husband, a friend, a child, or a parent.
"Our continued existence as a Church, as a people, and as nations depends on those men and women who are willing to sacrifice their own pleasures for the benefit of others," Elder Oaks said. "This includes, most importantly, parents who are willing to subordinate their own pleasures and comforts to bear children and raise them as faithful members of this Church and as responsible citizens of our free nations."
Earlier in the commencement exercises, BYU-Hawaii President Steven C. Wheelwright [pictured at left] urged the graduates to follow four "principles that will help you realize the great promises a loving Father in Heaven has in store for you":
- Continuous learning: "You need to decide that such ongoing continuing learning is important to you," he said.
- Set aside time each week to do so: It's important to"make the Lord a part of your daily learning" by continuing to live the commandments; and "don't be reluctant to ask God's help in such learning," President Wheelwright said.
- Service: "The Lord expects and commands that we apply what we learn through service."
- Apply what we learn "by looking for opportunities to bless the lives of others, thereby receiving the lord's blessings in our own life."
"Following these four steps will enable you to build on the foundation provided by your studies at BYU-Hawaii," President Wheelwright said.
Roger G. Christensen, Assistant to the Commissioner of the Church Educational System and Secretary to the Board of Trustees for BYU-Hawaii, also shared advice with the new graduates:
"Much of what you learn in college, many of the facts and details, will either be forgotten or outdated over time. However, knowing how to think and how to learn allows us to keep updated or to expand our knowledge by learning new things or to think about things in new ways," he said. He also urged the graduates to "make a personal goal to distinguish yourself by being honest at all times and in all things and in all places."
Abigail Guzman, a summa cum laude graduate in political science and former law student in her native New Zealand, spoke on behalf of the students. She told how seeing a photo of a former Kiwi classmate graduating in legal regalia brought her to the verge of becoming wistful "at those opportunities that it appeared I had missed out on, when I looked down at my two-month-old daughter sleeping in my arms and was struck with the realization that there is nowhere in the world that I would rather be at this moment."
"I anticipate difficulties and obstacles, because that is a natural part of life. But I take comfort in the fact that I have had so much preparation, and education, through my attendance at Brigham Young University Hawaii," she continued. "Each of us should feel reassured by the quality education that we have received here, which combines the academic with the spiritual."
"I have already started my full-time post-graduate employment as a stay-at-home wife and mother. While this is not a typical job for a recent graduate in today's world, I can't think of a better use for my fine education than to apply it as I love and serve my family."
"In my own simple way I am determined to do my part to be an influence for the establishment of peace internationally, and what better place to begin than within my own home," said Guzman, who will soon relocate to Perth, Australia, after she and her husband, Roberto — also a graduate — take their daughter [pictured immediately above] to visit her paternal grandparents in Ecuador.
Finally, Arapata Meha, BYUH Dean of Admissions and president of the Alumni Association, welcomed the newest graduates into a "network of thousands of dedicated men and women throughout Asia, the Pacific and North and South America. You are forever linked to Brigham Young University Hawaii by your achievements and experiences on this campus."
(Left-right): Roger G. Christensen, Elder Dallin H. Oaks, President Steven C. Wheelwright and his wife, Margaret
— Photos by Monizue Saenz (bottom photo by Mike Foley)