The Gift and Power of Your Light

I stand before you with humility and gratitude for this opportunity to testify and magnify how much I love the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I pray that the Spirit fills each of our hearts with peace, comfort, and joy. The Lord knows how much I prayed to have the courage to say no to being asked to speak at this devotional, but I could not deny the spirit that I felt, knowing this was coming. “The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”¹ I am truly grateful to be here to share my testimony of Christ’s light.

Today I would like to speak about light: how we receive it, how we recognize it, and how we share it in a world that is changing faster than ever.

The university recently commemorated BYU’s 150th birthday by celebrating gifts of light:

For the past 150 years, BYU has been amplifying truth and knowledge by nurturing the divine light in our students who then share the light of Jesus Christ with the world. As we celebrate BYU, we will celebrate gifts of light: gifts of light given to us and gifts of light we can share with others, for “that light groweth brighter and brighter”—“that all may be edified of all.”²

We live in a time of incredible growth and innovation, especially in areas such as artificial intelligence. But no matter how much the world advances, one thing remains constant: the divine light of Jesus Christ.

I pray that I can share my life experiences with light and love, with the intention to uplift and inspire.

“Trust in the Lord with All Thine Heart”

What an honor and privilege it is to be employed by BYU and to be a part of the Church Educational System, where the mission is “to develop disciples of Jesus Christ who are leaders in their homes, in the Church, and in their communities.”³ I have been in higher education for the last 17 years, and I feel very blessed to have had the opportunity to be with CES for the last eight years.

I joined BYU in 2018 as the product/service manager overseeing student life applications, including the BYU mobile app, Clubs App, and housing systems. This experience allowed me to develop a strong understanding of the full application lifecycle, from ideation to implementation. I found fulfillment in working across multiple development teams to create applications that support and enhance campus life. I appreciated being able to grow in my career while also feeling spiritually fulfilled, having the opportunity to openly pray and to talk about the Savior with colleagues. I am grateful that BYU is committed to this charge.

It was here at BYU that I began to more deeply understand something powerful: At BYU, religious faith and academic study do not conflict. Here, “belief enhances inquiry, study amplifies faith, and [divine] revelation leads to deeper understanding.”⁴

It was here I began to understand that spiritual light and intellectual learning do not compete but strengthen one another. That understanding prepared me for a moment that would change my life—a moment when I would need to seek the Lord’s light more intentionally than ever before.

In 2022, the Office of Information Technology was going through changes, and the chief information officer of BYU at the time, Tracy Flinders, challenged our department to pray about where we fit in our organization. I accepted the challenge and thought an internal position was the direction for me. However, the Lord had better plans. On July 26, 2022, I was presented with the opportunity and blessing to serve in my dream job as the chief information officer for BYU–Hawaii.

My time as a student at BYU–Hawaii was when as a new convert I learned what being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints looked like. I was able to serve in callings in the Relief Society and Primary while attending school. I was a young mother with two children at the time. In the second year of my undergraduate studies, I gave birth to my third child, and in my final semester I graduated while expecting baby number four. I was career-driven, working at the Polynesian Cultural Center and the Office of Information Technology at BYU–Hawaii. With these fond memories, I was excited to return and serve. Returning wasn’t just a career move; it was deeply personal. It was like returning home.

As I stepped into that role, I began to learn something deeper about leadership. I discovered what it means to lead with light: to see people as the Savior sees them and to serve in a way that reflects His love.

As the chief information officer, I was blessed with a team of 27 full-time employees and 90 student workers. In my Samoan culture, being a chief is a role of service. There is a Samoan proverb, O le ala I le pule o le Tautua, which means “The pathway to leadership is through service.” Our goal was to learn the culture, love the people, and do the work alongside them. I appreciated and loved each one of my team members. I miss them and love them.

Being a member of the President’s Council allowed me to strengthen my testimony of what it means to be a servant-leader and to lead like the Savior. We earnestly prayed for guidance on how to better serve the students, faculty, and staff. I witnessed President John S. K. Kauwe’s deep love for the university as he made difficult, often unpopular decisions with faith and humility, never once complaining despite his many responsibilities. I worked closely with vice presidents to help fulfill the university’s mission, seeking inspiration as we provided direction across educational, fiscal, spiritual, and physical efforts. We were united in our charge to develop students to live and lead in the Asia-Pacific region.

As a product of that vision myself, it was deeply fulfilling to give back. I loved my time at BYU–Hawaii. I felt supported by an incredible team and embraced by the campus and community, and I will always be grateful for that experience—which shaped me both professionally and spiritually. It was truly a dream come true to serve the campus of BYU–Hawaii. So naturally, a question I have been asked since my return is Why did you leave?

The answer didn’t come all at once. It came the same way the Lord often guides us: through small, consistent moments of light.

I learned from my former chief information officer, Tracy, of a special prayer he offered every year that he was employed here at BYU. On the anniversary of his hire date, he and his wife would walk around campus with a prayer in their hearts, asking the Lord if this was still where they needed to be. I followed his example while I was at BYU, and I continued to do this at BYU–Hawaii. Every year I prayed and received confirmation to stay. This past year I prayed and had a sense that something was changing.

At BYU–Hawaii, plans were announced for the groundbreaking that would mark the beginning of the construction phase of a five-year project to renew and revitalize the heart of campus. I was especially looking forward to the groundbreaking because of a meaningful family connection to the original building.

In 1955, my husband’s grandfather, Lausi’i Tafua, was present for both the groundbreaking and the dedication of the McKay Building at what was then called the Church College of Hawaii. Being there this past year for the groundbreaking of the new building that will replace the original McKay Building felt like a full-circle moment, connecting past and present in a very personal way.

What a great blessing it was to continue Grandpa Lausi’i’s light and legacy of service in building the kingdom of God in Laie at BYU–Hawaii. This experience gives but a small glimpse of the special spirit of BYU–Hawaii and the place it holds in our hearts as a family. It was during the new groundbreaking that I received personal revelation to my prayers. And that revelation came in a moment I will never forget.

I am grateful for the special light and love that Relief Society general president Camille N. Johnson brought to campus. During her visit, Sister Johnson shared many thoughts that resonated with me.

In the Ohana meeting for all faculty and staff, Sister Johnson shared how plants that need repotting are taken out and the roots put into new pots to grow and expand. In the groundbreaking ceremony, Sister Johnson described the symbolism of the turning of the dirt and invited us to also turn our hearts to the Lord and to His work. In the President’s Council luncheon, she invited us all to share what we had celebrated in the last six months, and I shared about the birth of my ninth grandchild.

Halfway through the President’s Council luncheon, Vice President Kevin Schlag asked Sister Johnson, “With all the work that is scheduled for our campus, what is your advice to the President’s Council?”

I recall her taking a breath and looking around. Then her sky-blue eyes looked straight at me. Her response to the question was, “Take care of yourselves and take care of your family.”

In that moment I was deeply touched and felt light and warmth come into my heart, providing a clarity I hadn’t been able to create on my own. I felt the pull toward my family. I had been an ocean away from my children and grandchildren for the past three years. Through prayer and temple worship, I felt the Spirit confirm my next steps.

The Lord didn’t show me the entire path, but He gave me enough light for the next step. I was reminded:

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.⁵

I am grateful that as I chose to trust Him, He then opened the next chapter of my life and brought me back to BYU.

I came to realize that paradise is not paradise without my posterity. Prosperity means very little without posterity. During this time of uncertainty—as in many other times in my life—I was grateful for my mother’s ray of light, which comforted me. Her prayers and faith in giving thanks to the Lord and trusting in His plan ignited the dim light of faith that I was feeling at the time.

Understanding that “to every thing there is a season”⁶ has helped me remember that we don’t need to fear change or to doubt the timing of our lives. Each season has a purpose, and the Lord provides light for each step. We will go through life experiencing sunsets and sunrises. Although my time at BYU–Hawaii came to a sunset, my time here at BYU feels like a sunrise, bringing new challenges as I learn about artificial intelligence and help BYU navigate this emerging technology.

God Is the Source of Light

During my new employee orientation, I was reminded of Karl G. Maeser’s vision of the university’s divine mission: “I have seen Temple Hill filled with buildings—great temples of learning.”⁷ What a blessing it is to be taught, both secularly and spiritually, in these temples. With that in mind, I’ve tried to be more intentional as I walk through campus, paying attention to the messages, themes, and displays within each building. As I prepared for this devotional, that idea stayed with me: Each building truly is a temple of learning.

In the library I noticed a display entitled “How Firm a Foundation: The Salt Lake Temple Renovation, 2019–2026,” which included a showcase of temples around the world. Through a doorway in the Hinckley Center, I caught a glimpse of a mural that stated, “BYU: Seeking and Sharing Light and Truth for the Benefit of the World.” It reminded me that “the glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth.”⁸

These themes and displays were glimpses of light and inspiration for today’s devotional because, in a world filled with rapidly advancing technology, we are surrounded by new forms of intelligence—but not all of them are sources of light.

As the portfolio director of artificial intelligence, my role is to be a strategic partner with the campus to ensure that AI technology investments are mission-aligned, human-centered, and forward-looking. Artificial intelligence is growing fast, but no matter how advanced it becomes, it is not the source of light; God is. Artificial intelligence can process information, but it cannot replace divine light. It cannot love, it cannot discern the Spirit, and it cannot guide us the way the Savior can. Whether in technology or in testimony, we are all learning and growing throughout our journeys “line upon line, precept upon precept.”⁹

One of the parts of my role that I enjoy the most is going on listening tours across campus. In these tours I meet with colleges and departments to understand their use cases, hear their concerns, and serve as a bridge to the Office of Information Technology. I help by providing training, by evaluating tools, and by working through roadblocks they may be experiencing. While much of my work centers on artificial intelligence, I deeply value the very real human connections that come from it.

I am especially grateful for the individuals who have been a light to me in these interactions. I find joy in meaningful conversations and in discovering the things I have in common with those I meet. Recently I connected with a sister on campus in Human Resources, Marcia Neely-Be’y, who was helping me with my benefits. We bonded through learning about where we came from and why we are here at BYU. We discovered that our grandbabies are the foundation of why we are here in Utah. I felt Marcia’s light right away. Our time was filled with laughter as we took care of my enrollment benefits and considered the ways Heavenly Father has shown His sense of humor in our lives. I’m grateful for the light Marcia added to mine in such a short time. I would not have had that experience of connection if she were an AI agent.

You Carry Divine Light

This brings me to the central message of my talk: the gift and power of your light.

Let me share a simple way that I’ve come to understand what it means to be a light. I read this online, and I felt inspired to share it:

When a flashlight grows dim or quits working, do you just throw it away? Of course not. You change the batteries. When a person messes up or finds themselves in a dark place, do you cast them aside? Of course not! You help them change their batteries. Some need AA [batteries]: attention and affection; some need AAA [batteries]: attention, affection, and acceptance; some need C [batteries]: compassion; [and] some need D [batteries]: direction. And if they still don’t seem to shine, simply sit with them quietly and share your light.¹⁰

This quote reminded me of my daughter’s favorite scripture when she was getting ready to leave on her mission: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”¹¹ We each chose to come here at this time and chose to go through the ups and downs of life. In pursuit of our dreams, may we not forget who we are and whose we are. Remember that your light matters.

Here at BYU, you represent more than 35,000 students from 105 countries and every state in the United States. You have all come together with the same purpose: “Enter to Learn; Go Forth to Serve.” May your light so shine that all may see your good works and glorify our Father in Heaven.

Around the world, temples stand as beacons of light—places where heaven touches earth. As these temples are built and share their light around the world, remember that you are a temple of God meant to share your light around the world as well. Just as each temple is unique and special, you are unique and special. As you watch the video we will see now, I invite you to remember these words:

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

. . . The temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.¹²

[A video featuring a timeline of temple growth around the world was shown.¹³]

Brothers and sisters, as I reflect on my journey, I am reminded that life will continue to change. Paths will shift. The world will move faster than we sometimes feel ready for. Technology will grow. Artificial intelligence will evolve. The world will become more complex. But no matter how advanced AI becomes, do not let anything dim your light. Artificial intelligence will never replace the love you give, the faith you exercise, or the light you carry within you as a child of God.

In a world filled with artificial light, never forget that you carry divine light. It is needed, and it was meant to shine at this time. Trust the Lord with all your heart. Even when the path feels uncertain, He is guiding you. Even when you feel far from where you thought you would be, He is leading you exactly where you need to be. Stay close to Him. Take care of yourself and your family. Lift those around you. And never forget that your light matters more than you know.

I testify that Jesus Christ lives. He is the true source of light. He knows you, He loves you, and He will guide you. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

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