Richard Norton and Elsie Moleni, the outgoing president and executive vice president, respectively, of the BYU-Hawaii Student Association, spoke of their families, feelings and the great potential in each of us in the final devotional before commencement.
Moleni told of having the "grand blessing and privilege" of growing up for a while with her grandmother in New Zealand. "She was a virtuous woman, highly favored of the Lord and her name is one I am striving to be worthy of."
She recalled being drawn to her grandmother's room and its treasures. "Stepping in her room, for a young girl, was like stepping into another world, stepping back in time. She had things a perfect lady should have," particularly a large book "with the most beautiful old black and white photos of beautiful people."
"I came across one particular photo that melted my heart. It was of a beautiful woman sitting alone on a stage with a crown on her head surrounded by people who were all looking at her. Can you imagine what began to go through my mind? My grandmother is a queen. And if she is a queen, then that makes me a princess," Moleni said, later learning the picture was of a beauty pageant.
"My grandmother passed away in 2000 and, as I shared this story at her funeral, I had a strong confirmation that she is indeed a queen. I also have the potential to become one, and each of you, kings and queens. We were born to become like Him, our Savior, born for glory. As a student here a realization of this destiny has become more real to me," Moleni said, explaining three key principles have helped her in this objective: "A friend, a responsibility and nourishment by the good word of God"
In reference to friends, she told of being welcomed to campus the first time by "a fellow student, first a stranger to me who went beyond the smile and hello and gave me her time. She included me in her circle of friends. I have prayed to remember that experience so that I could always be a friend like that."
She said the privilege of attending BYU-Hawaii has also brought great responsibility. "I learned of a responsibility required of all who come to this school, to become a leader, as David O. McKay prophesied this school would produce. I looked for opportunities to develop leadership, knowing that, with this opportunity I would become a more qualified and worthy servant to my Heavenly Father and I would come closer to the goal of becoming more like the Savior."
Finally, she said she learned the power of the good word of God while a tomboy in Tonga who wanted to become one of Helaman's "stripling warriors," like her five older brothers. "As I matured and grew out of my tomboy stage I realized that instead of wanting to be a stripling warrior, I was going to marry one. And thanks to the word, at an early age I set a standard for myself. Moleni, who plans to get married this August in the Salt Lake City Temple, has held true to that standard.
In closing, she quoted Elder Merrill J. Bateman, former president of BYU in Provo, Utah who said, "However diligent we may be in other areas, certain blessings are to be found only in the scriptures... a casual, infrequent exposure to the scriptures will generally not open the door to the whisperings of the spirit or provide insights into the Savior's life and character."
Norton said the "frightening experience" of the birth of his baby son Raleigh -- "the smallest baby to ever be born at Kahuku hospital" -- and many complications "makes me think about how Heavenly Father views us -- His sons and His daughters."
"As members of the BYU-Hawaii family, what course of life does Father in Heaven want us to pursue?" Norton asked. President David O. McKay provided the answer in his 1955 dedicatory service of the Church College of Hawaii, when he said, "this school was built for two purposes: For things pertaining to God and His kingdom, and second, to help people develop manhood, character, and make noble men and women."
"The world needs them. One man said that the world needs men who cannot be bought or sold, men who will scorn to violate truth, genuine gold. That is what this school is going to produce. More than that, they'll be leaders. Not leaders only in this island, but everywhere. All the world is hungering for them and, best of all, the world is recognizing them," Norton said in quoting President McKay.
Norton cited Chan as an example of the people President McKay was talking about. Chan, a Cambodian student, fled to Thailand when he was only 14. "There he was educated until he was 18, at which time he returned to Cambodia where he lived and served in a Buddhist monastery. One day he met a missionary couple, was given a Book of Mormon, converted to the gospel, and then sacrificed the luxury of consistent food and shelter provided by the Buddhist monastery to become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."
Norton added that Chan, who served a mission in California, "will return to his country to serve his people and build the kingdom of God. Chan will be a leader whose influence will be felt for good in his native country."
"Every individual who comes to this school has come here with a divine mission and purpose," Norton continued. "We become 'genuine gold' by the choices we make on a daily basis. We must live the simple principles of the gospel."
He explained "the difference between those who may be considered 'fool's gold' and those who can be called 'genuine gold' is comparable to those who don't abide by the principles of the gospel and those who do."
"People who are genuine gold keep their commitment to follow the Prophet. They read the scriptures everyday. They pray always. They keep the Sabbath day holy. They listen to wholesome music and watch wholesome entertainment. They are modest. They obey the word of wisdom. They keep themselves morally clean," Norton said. "They, as President Gordon B. Hinckley says, 'avoid pornography as you would a plague.' They seek eternal companionship and raise faithful families up unto the Lord. Those who are genuine gold avoid even the appearance of evil."
"In short, genuine gold are those who follow the counsel of the living prophets," Norton said, quoting Elder Henry B. Eyring's last General Conference address: "We need strength beyond ourselves to keep the commandments in whatever circumstance life brings to us. For some it may be poverty, but for others it may be prosperity."
"It may be the ravages of age or the exuberance of youth. The combination of trials and their duration are as varied as are the children of our Heavenly Father. No two are alike. But what is being tested is the same, at all times in our lives and for every person: will we do whatsoever the Lord our God will command us?"
"Are we going to resist the Lord in letting Him make of us what he intended us to become when we were sent to this earth?" Norton asked. "Are we going to resist fulfilling the purpose of this life, which purpose is to become more like Him? No. We must be valiant in following the counsel of the living prophets. We must not be bought by the world for the payment of praise. We must not sell our genuine gold to the world for the meager payment of popularity."
"For my son, it was a dangerous, painful, and difficult experience to come into this world, but he survived," Norton said. "Likewise, however difficult it was for us before we came to BYU-Hawaii, we now have a responsibility to become 'genuine gold.'"