"The standard the Lord has for each of us is one of action, communication and love," said President Steven C. Wheelwright during the university's first Devotional of the Fall 2013 semester. The Devotional, held in the Cannon Activities Center at BYU–Hawaii on September 10, 2013, was entitled "Am I My Brother's Keeper?"
Speaking to new and returning students, President Wheelwright said, "Please remember, one of the primary purposes of this campus is to help us meet the Lord’s admonition that ‘Zion must increase in beauty and in Holiness,’ and I would invite each of us to contribute more earnestly and diligently to that goal – both for ourselves and for all of those we serve and learn with on this campus."
In accomplishing this vision, President Wheelwright laid out three standards – first, honesty in all our dealings; second, treating others as we would want to be treated; and third, helping others as the Savior would. Such standards would allow students to positively answer the question posed during the Devotional: "Am I a true friend, the kind faithful parents would wish for their son or daughter here at BYU–Hawaii?"
In drawing a comparison with Elder Dallin H. Oaks' General Conference remarks on having "Good, Better and Best" choices, President Wheelwright noted, "Honesty in our dealings is good, applying the golden rule is even better, but striving to become like the Savior in both our motivations and our behaviors is best."
The Devotional not only marked the beginning of a new semester at BYU–Hawaii but also followed the conclusion of the 50th Anniversary celebration of the Polynesian Cultural Center, a worldwide CES Devotional broadcast given by Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles from the Cannon Activities Center, and the dedication of the new Heber J. Grant building on campus. Elder Nelson dedicated the Heber J. Grant building in a special ceremony on September 8, 2013.
“You are here at BYU–Hawaii at a very special time in its history,” remarked President Wheelwright on the events of the previous week. “Such gatherings, including our Devotionals each Tuesday morning, provide a wonderful opportunity for us to learn from one another and to deepen our commitment to the Savior and His Gospel.”
Watch or read the full Devotional here: https://devotional.byuh.edu/media130910