What Are You Becoming at BYU?

Good morning, brothers and sisters, faculty, staff, friends, family, and students of Brigham Young University. It is a privilege to stand before you today in a spirit of learning, growth, and inspiration. We gather here not only as scholars and seekers of knowledge but as disciples of Jesus Christ, committed to the principles that undergird this great institution.

Just a few weeks ago, here in this room, I joined some of the BYU graduation ceremonies. I felt humbled as I looked out at the graduates and their families. I saw excitement in their faces and some understandable uncertainty about what comes next. As I reflected on the talents and the knowledge these wonderful women and men had gained, my heart swelled at the thought of the good they will do in almost every discipline all around the world. What an amazing institution this is. What remarkable students you are, and what an astonishing force for good you are.

My wife and I met here at BYU, and we married before we graduated. We graduated around the same time as my sister and her husband and my brother-in-law and his wife. It is a wonderful memory. I even had the blessing to walk with my wife in our convocation.

We have had two of our children graduate from here as well. One is our daughter who shared the opening prayer just now. She graduated a couple of weeks ago. I was blessed to be able to join her convocation and give her a hug as she crossed the stage. After that, I hugged many, many more people because my daughter had asked a couple of her friends to give me a hug, and everybody in the line just thought that was the thing to do. So luckily there was a break after a few, and I was able to stop.

I have worked alongside many students over the years, and they have changed my life and impacted me for good. I love the energy and curiosity that you bring to what you do. In my role, I have spent time on each of the Church Educational System campuses. Experiences on each of the campuses have changed my life. The importance of education and the Church’s commitment in providing educational experiences through universities and through seminaries and institutes is humbling. I love to interact with students in all these settings. You are part of something bigger than you often realize, and you are here at an unprecedented time in the world and in the Church.

In his BYU devotional on February 10, 2026, while referencing President Spencer W. Kimball’s historic address “The Second Century of Brigham Young University,” President Dallin H. Oaks asked two questions:

What has BYU become as it seeks to meet [its] prophetic challenges? What have you become with the added experience of your portion of the second century?¹

It is the second question that I want to focus on today. What are you—and me and each of us—becoming at BYU, and what will you do with what you are learning here?

Today I invite you to do two things:

1. Decide now what you will do with what you are learning and becoming while here at BYU.

2. As you go forth to serve and influence the world, keep your focus on the Lord.

Much of what we see in the world seems to be pointing us inward. We hope that what happens here at BYU points you outward. As you often hear, we are invited to “enter to learn; go forth to serve.”

The Aims of a BYU Education states:

BYU seeks to develop students of faith, intellect, and character who have the skills and the desire to continue learning and to serve others throughout their lives. These are the common aims of all education at BYU. Both those who teach in the classroom and those who direct activities outside the classroom are responsible for contributing to this complete educational vision. . . .

. . . A BYU education should be (1) spiritually strengthening, (2) intellectually enlarging, and (3) character building, leading to (4) lifelong learning and service.²

A few years ago, although I wasn’t working for BYU at the time, I was invited to attend President C. Shane Reese’s inauguration. My excitement for BYU and the love I felt for its students was tangible. As you all know, in his address “Becoming BYU: An Inaugural Response,” President Reese outlined a vision for Brigham Young University that integrates spiritual and secular learning and seeks to fulfill BYU’s prophetic destiny as “the fully anointed university of the Lord.”³ President Reese emphasized strengthening the student experience, honoring BYU’s “double heritage,”⁴ developing the courage “to be different,”⁵ and building a covenant community.

Together, the Aims of a BYU Education and President Reese’s invitation to become the BYU of prophecy unite education with consecration, learning with service, and preparation with the courage to stand apart.

Decide Now Where You Stand

In a world increasingly filled with voices that clamor for conformity, I invite you to consider the power of principled distinctiveness. As students at BYU, you have come here to learn—not only academically but also spiritually, emotionally, and socially. And as you go forth, you will serve in ways that only you can. That journey requires courage, faith, and the willingness to stand apart when needed.

In his inaugural talk, President Reese reminded us of the sacred mission of this university. Our uniqueness is not only in our differences from other universities but in our devotion to the Savior and His teachings. To truly become BYU, we must integrate faith, character, and academic excellence into every facet of our lives.

This integration requires us to stand apart, just as Daniel did in Babylon. Taken captive to a foreign land, “Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself.”⁶ Daniel had resolved in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king’s meat and wine. His decision to live according to his faith not only preserved his integrity but also set him apart as a man of wisdom and understanding. Like Daniel, we are called to live our lives by our values, even when it is difficult or countercultural.

When I think about the story of Daniel and his example of integrity, I can’t imagine that he made that decision in the moment. I think that he made that decision well ahead of time so that when the decision presented itself, he knew how he would respond. Are you deciding now how you will use the knowledge and experiences that you are gaining here at BYU before hard decisions arrive?

Another example and invitation to make decisions ahead of time is found in Joshua 24. Joshua had gathered the people to share his farewell message. He reminded them of what the Lord had already done for them. The Lord had called Abraham, delivered Israel from Egypt, brought them through the wilderness, helped them cross Jordan, gave them victory in Canaan, and placed them in a land that they had not earned by their own strength.⁷

After reminding the people of Israel of all the Lord had done for them, Joshua invited them to choose, or to make a clear decision—not someday, not when life became easier, not after every question was answered, but “this day.”⁸ We cannot drift into discipleship. We must choose whom we will serve.

A key point is that Joshua was not only asking Israel to believe something but was asking them to decide something. And he made his own decision public: “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”⁹

Faithful living is not shaped by only big moments in the future. It is also shaped by decisions we make now. We decide now what kind of home we want to build. We decide now what voices we will trust. We decide now what habits will guide us when life becomes difficult. We decide now whether the Lord will be at the center of all our choices.

Joshua did not say, “As for me and my house, we will see how things go.” He said, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” That teaches us that we do not have to wait until every challenge arrives before choosing where we will stand. We can decide now to pray with real intent, to repent, to keep covenants, to forgive, to worship, to be honest, to serve, and to make our homes places where the Lord is welcome.

The future is shaped by today’s discipleship. Joshua’s invitation is still our invitation today: “Choose you this day whom ye will serve.”¹⁰

You live in an incredible time. You have access to knowledge and tools that have never before been available to the world. What will you do with them?

Modern Examples Help Us

As a technologist, let me share one timely example. Artificial intelligence is powerful, familiar, and increasingly accessible. But the deeper question is not just what AI can do; the question is What kind of people will we be as we use AI in our lives, in our study, and in our work?

Artificial intelligence tools can help us understand complicated topics such as quantum computing and help us to explain those concepts to others. Artificial intelligence tools can generate personalized lessons and materials that help us understand or that we can share with others. If an initial response doesn’t help us, we can continue to ask questions and generate additional helps to reach the level of understanding that we need. The responses can be tailored to us individually.

Artificial intelligence tools can help us generate images that used to require a painstaking process. To create fake images, people had to paint photographs with specialized photochemical compatible paints and then re-photograph the original and develop a new print. Or, later in time, people could spend many hours in Photoshop editing an original photo. Now the process has become remarkably easy.

Let me show you a few side-by-side photos and see if you can tell which ones are real. [Side-by-side images of students were shown.] Which of these BYU students is real or not?

We can do it with cougars—something dear to each of us. [Side-by-side images of cougars were shown.] Which of these cougars is real?

Or we can do action. These are student experiences. [Side-by-side images of students involved in activities were shown.] Which of these student experiences is real?

Or let’s look at one more set of experiences of BYU students. [Side-by-side images of student activities were shown.]

So how did you do? Were some of these easy to spot? As some of you may have guessed, all these photos were AI-generated. You know that we can easily generate and modify images, and anyone can do it, even with extremely limited access to computers, software, and internet connections. We can do so much more with these technologies. We can create videos from still images. We can take the images that you just saw and turn them into videos. We can write applications, write books, and analyze data. We can even train models to use any voice to speak in any language—and so much more.

So why do I show you these examples? It was not merely for a moment of entertainment. I show these examples because powerful tools make it easier than ever to blur truth, to cut corners, or to avoid the very growth that the Lord is trying to make available to each of us.

As you gain knowledge and skills here at BYU, how will you use that knowledge and those skills in ways that are meaningful, honest, and responsible? How will you ensure that you improve your areas of expertise?

As the Church started to expand their use of machine learning and artificial intelligence more deliberately, leaders established guiding principles.¹¹ Why did they do that? Because when a tool is powerful, principles should come before pressure. In a meeting with its employees worldwide, the Church issued principles such as “The Church will use artificial intelligence in positive, helpful, and uplifting ways that maintain the honesty, integrity, ethics, values, and standards of the Church” and “The Church will be measured and deliberate in its use of artificial intelligence by regularly testing and reviewing outputs to help ensure accuracy, truthfulness, and compliance.”¹²

Elder John C. Pingree of the Seventy, who is executive director of the Church Correlation Department, was also at this event. “The guiding principles are intended to support the responsible use of AI by the Church workforce,” he said. “These principles may also be helpful for members and friends of the Church as they navigate a world changing due to AI,” he added.¹³

Just as Daniel did, the Church defined principles to govern their actions before the pressures emerged.

Learning as a Sacred Responsibility

Our pursuit of knowledge is not merely for personal gain. President Russell M. Nelson taught, “The Lord loves effort, because effort brings rewards that can’t come without it.”¹⁴ As students at BYU, you have been blessed with the opportunity to study in an environment where faith, reason, and effort belong together. Your learning is not just for your benefit; it is a preparation to serve others in your families, communities, professions, and beyond.

Throughout history, fields of study have established guiding principles that illuminate the path for ethical and impactful work. For example, in the 1920s, Hollywood was shaken by many scandals, and the film industry was receiving political pressure. The Hays Code, or Motion Picture Production Code, was applied from 1934 to 1968 and was created to ensure that films promoted positive moral values and avoided content that could harm society. Although this code is no longer in use, its principles remind us of the responsibility to use creative platforms for good. Some content creators differentiate themselves by creating their own codes and holding fast to them.

Similarly, the legal profession has a strict code of conduct that emphasizes integrity, confidentiality, and the pursuit of justice. Lawyers are charged with upholding the law while advocating for their clients in a way that serves society as a whole. The Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) is required in almost all states for bar admission.

In medicine, the Hippocratic Oath reminds physicians to prioritize the well-being of their patients above all else. Although the Hippocratic Oath is rarely required, nearly all graduating physicians take some form of oath or pledge at their graduation ceremony. These guiding principles serve as a compass, helping professionals navigate complex and often morally ambiguous situations.

Let us also remember the example of Esther, who faced a moment of profound decision when her people were in peril. Her cousin Mordecai reminded her, “Who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”¹⁵ Esther’s courage to stand alone and to speak out saved her people. Her preparation—both in her unique position and in her spiritual strength—made her service possible. You too are being prepared “for such a time as this.” Your studies, your experiences, and your faith are all part of the Lord’s plan to make you instruments in His hands.

The Courage to Be Unique in a Global World

History is replete with examples of individuals who dared to be different and, in doing so, changed the world. Think of Marie Curie, who pursued scientific discovery in an era when women were often excluded from academic pursuits. Her groundbreaking work in radioactivity not only earned her two Nobel Prizes but also paved the way for advancements in medicine and science. She wrote, “We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something, and that this thing, at whatever cost, must be attained.”¹⁶

Or consider George Washington Carver, who, despite being born into slavery, transformed agriculture and improved the lives of countless farmers through his innovative work with peanuts and crop rotation. Carver’s humility and faith were evident in his words:

“It is not the style of clothes one wears,” he once said, “neither the kind of automobiles one drives, nor the amount of money one has in the bank that counts. These mean nothing. It is simply service that measures success.”¹⁷

And we have so many modern examples from BYU students and faculty on this campus. You can find many examples in our Y News or from other news sources. You will find examples such as those we heard from the student speaker at commencement just a few weeks ago who encouraged fellow graduates to be peacemakers by consecrating their intellect and engaging in productive disagreement. She and her husband founded the Peacemaker Project to aid this mission on college campuses.¹⁸ Or another example can be found in our BYU animation students and faculty who discuss faith and the inspiration that has helped them to create award-winning animated films that share positivity and light with world audiences.¹⁹ There are so many examples that we could share.

I do not think that these individuals made the decision in the moment to be unique and to stand true to their principles. Whether you are a new student, a student ready to graduate, or faculty and staff listening today, ask yourself what you will do “with the added experience of your portion of the second century” of becoming BYU.

Our uniqueness lies in our commitment to becoming disciples of Christ in every field of study and profession. This means standing for truth and excellence in all that we do. Whether you are an engineer adhering to safety and innovation standards, an artist using your talents to uplift, or an educator shaping young minds, your work is consecrated when you are guided by principles that reflect your faith.

Standing on Sacred Shoulders

The Savior is the perfect example of serving others. His love and humility lead us to lift, bless, and comfort those around us. Christ’s ministry was defined by His willingness to reach out to the one, to heal, to teach, and to uplift. As His disciples, we are called to follow His example.

One of the greatest gifts of being part of this university is the opportunity to study in an environment that values the integration of gospel principles and academic excellence. The knowledge you gain here is not an end in itself; it is a means to bless the lives of others. As you commit to excellence, you are preparing to serve in profound ways.

Keep Your Eye on the Savior

This is a season of large and consequential decisions. I know that can feel overwhelming. As you learn and prepare for careers and other big decisions, our Savior is there for you, and He always has been. Sometimes you may feel lost or wonder whether you are receiving answers to your prayers. I know that our Savior suffered all things so that He can understand what you are feeling and can help you.

In the scriptures we are taught:

And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things.²⁰

A body filled with light can comprehend all things. As you keep your eye on the Savior, He will help you see with spiritual clarity and eternal perspective.

As you continue your learning journey—choosing a career, taking an internship, starting a family, or applying for jobs—stay true to the commitments you are making now and keep your eye on the Savior. As you continue to walk toward Him, you will receive the help that you need.

In Matthew 14:22–33, we read about Peter walking on the water. Peter left the safety of the boat and walked toward Jesus. He did not step out and go another direction. He stepped out to go toward the Savior. When the wind became boisterous and Peter became afraid, he began to sink—but Peter was walking toward Christ.

In the April 2026 general conference, while discussing Peter’s experience, Sister Emily Belle Freeman taught:

The story of Peter teaches us that strength comes as we walk with Christ and hold fast to His eternal truths. . . .

. . . But notice where Jesus was when Peter accepted the invitation that seemed too big. He wasn’t shouting instructions from the shore or offering advice from the safety of the boat. He was in the water—with Peter. Within reaching distance.²¹

Jesus was in the water right there to reach out and help.

As you step out of your figurative boat to leave school and enter the world, walk toward Christ. He is there with you. When you begin to feel the winds of the world, He will continue to help you, just as He has blessed you throughout your life. Keep your eye on Him and keep walking toward Him.

The Invitation to Act

Brothers and sisters, as you “enter to learn,” I invite you to make your learning intentional. Seek not only to master your chosen field of study but also to understand how your knowledge can bless others. Ask yourself, How can I use what I am learning to build the kingdom of God? How can my unique talents and insights bring light and truth to a world that so desperately needs them?

And as you “go forth to serve,” do so with confidence that the Lord will guide your efforts. Be like Nephi, who declared, “I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded.”²² Trust that the Lord will open the doors for you as you walk in faith.

My invitation is not to create some elaborate plan but to commit to some simple principles. It may be something such as this: “As I go into business leadership, I will practice integrity in all I do.” Or perhaps, “As I become a nurse, I will show empathy and patience for those I serve.”

Simple goals are not always easy to fulfill. Our Savior invited the rich young man to sell all that he had and to follow Him.²³ That was easy to remember but not necessarily easy to do. To the woman accused of adultery in John 8, Jesus invited her to “go, and sin no more.”²⁴ In John 5, the Savior gave this invitation to a man: “Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.”²⁵

These invitations are easy to remember but not always easy to live. But the Savior will help you because He knows you, He loves you, and He wants you to succeed.

Conclusion

BYU is a sacred place, set apart to prepare disciples who will bless the world. You are here because the Lord has a specific purpose for you. As you embrace the motto “enter to learn; go forth to serve,” take courage to be different. Our “dual heritage”²⁶ is a strength, not a weakness. Dare to be different. Dare to stand alone when necessary. And dare to serve “with all your heart, might, mind and strength.”²⁷

In the words of President Thomas S. Monson, “We are the Lord’s hands here upon the earth, with the mandate to serve and to lift His children. He is dependent upon each of us.”²⁸ May we rise to that calling and leave this campus—whether in a few weeks or in a few years—not just better educated but better prepared to bless the world as disciples of Jesus Christ.

Let us decide today what we will “become with the added experience of [our] portion of the second century” here at BYU. Let us use what we are learning to bless others. And let us keep our eye on the Savior as we continue in this journey.

May the Lord bless you in your efforts to learn, grow, and serve. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

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