Topic

Faith

At Brigham Young University we seek to learn “by study and by faith.” This combination of spiritual and secular education is what sets us apart from other colleges and universities. The speeches offered here give insight into what faith is, how faith enhances our ability to learn and live, and how faith is obtained and strengthened. Having faith means that we are able to hope for and trust in things we cannot see with our natural eyes. This does not mean that we are blind and require no evidence; rather, our faith relies on a different kind of evidence. Through the witness of the Holy Ghost, which speaks to both our minds and our hearts, we are able to feel that certain principles are true. Just as a seed grows when nurtured and nourished, faith is fed by the nourishing elements of prayer, study of truth, and exposure to the faith of others. First and foremost, our faith is founded on Jesus Christ, the only person or power who is fully capable of fulfilling all of His promises to us. As we learn of Him through study and prayer and as we strive to live His gospel, we can come to know that He is the Savior. Likewise, we can develop faith in His Church and gospel, the scriptures, ancient and modern prophets and apostles, and His commandments. Numerous reputed faculty members at BYU have shared, through their testimonies as well as their examples, what it means to learn through faith and academic study so that both complement, rather than conflict with each other. Each speech also reflects the power of faith when applied to the different struggles of individual lives. By sharing their experiences, these speakers strengthen our faith and encourage us to use that faith to overcome trials, guide decisions, and augment learning.

Jack N. Gerard | March 17, 2020

Does your pattern reflect exercising faith, seeking to know His will, trusting the Lord, heeding His counsel, and keeping the commandments, even when you cannot suppose what lies ahead?

Terence M. Vinson | February 11, 2020

Will you shift in your seat and succumb to popular opinion, or will you stand firm and confident in the counsels and blessings of your loving God and let Him have His head?

Mark L. Pace | October 29, 2019

My dear friends, examples of faith are not confined solely to the scriptures. Great faith was also demonstrated by Saints early in this dispensation. And it is clearly evident in our fellow Saints with whom we live day to day.

Michael A. Dunn | October 1, 2019

Please remember when you look up at Y Mountain to ask yourself the question “Why Mountains?” My prayer is that you will remember that they are there not to befuddle us but to bless us.

Kevin J Worthen, President of Brigham Young University.

Kevin J Worthen | August 26, 2019

A BYU education does not focus solely on the acquisition of knowledge, as important as that is. As our mission statement makes clear, a BYU education focuses on “the full realization of human potential.”

Amy Tanner | July 9, 2019

In this life we know only in part, and in fact the more I learn, the more I see that I do not know. But I also believe that God knows us completely, that in our uncertainty we can accept God’s love for us as certain and constant.

Christopher E. Crowe | July 2, 2019

The light of the gospel and the guidance of the Holy Ghost are the constants that you can rely on to help you make the right decisions when you reach life’s inevitable crossroads.

Michalyn Steele | June 25, 2019

I am learning that my faith in the Lord is not conditioned on getting what I want when I want it. Instead, I have worked to develop trust and love for the Lord that is not transactional, but is relational.

Lawrence E. Corbridge | January 22, 2019

We must be grounded on the rock of revelation, and although we may not know the answer to every question, we must know the answers to the primary questions. And if we do, the gates of hell shall not prevail against us and we will stand forever.

J. Scott Miller | October 2, 2018

There is, however, a soul-expanding kind of doubt that proceeds from an attitude of humility—the species of humility that openly admits our weaknesses. When we begin to see ourselves and our weaknesses clearly, we arrive at a state of vulnerability similar to what Joseph Smith faced as he unwittingly prepared himself for the Sacred Grove.

Jeffrey S. McClellan | July 10, 2018

In the midst of our adversity, it may be tempting to think that God has not fulfilled His promises. But we do not lean for repose on desired outcomes. As the song says, we lean for repose on Jesus, who will not desert us to our foes, though all hell may shake around us.

Beth Luthy | June 12, 2018

Do you have faith that your Heavenly Father knows you so well that He knows under what circumstances you will emerge as a stronger, albeit wounded, healer so that you will become a valuable instrument in His hands, able to do His work and comfort His children?

Peggy S. Worthen, wife to the president of Brigham Young University.

Peggy S. Worthen | January 9, 2018

Sometimes we allow ourselves to listen and believe things that we know are contrary to what we know to be true. When others question our beliefs, we may start to panic and begin to doubt.

Craig Manning | January 31, 2017

I have since learned that dwelling obsessively on what we do wrong is one of the greatest sources of interference to maximizing our potential. Self-doubt is dangerous.

Blake E. Peterson | May 24, 2016

When you are faced with the question of whether you really believe some principle of the gospel, I encourage you to hold fast to the things that you know are true because the answers to the rest will come to you in time.

Charles J. Chaput | March 22, 2016

Nations change when people change, and people change through the witness of other people—people like each of you here today. You make the future. You build it stone by stone with the choices you make.

Marcus B. Nash | February 2, 2016

In making this choice, please remember the father who sought healing for his son. The Savior reminded him that belief, or faith, was key. Said He, ”If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”

Scott C. Esplin | January 19, 2016

Faith leads to repentance of our past mistakes. But all of us need to follow up necessary repentance with belief—a belief in God and a belief that, though we all sin, the Atonement of Jesus Christ can and will save us.

Peggy S. Worthen | January 5, 2016

God gives each of us opportunities to create so that we can learn to take joy in that celestial process. Sometimes the result will not be what we have expected, but the process itself is important.

Larry Y. Wilson | December 1, 2015

If we are prepared for His coming—if we are looking for it—that day will be a great time of reunion and rejoicing. Make your choice, brothers and sisters, to use your time in the cause that matters most—the one that leads to the millennial reign of Jesus Christ.

Barry Willardson | July 14, 2015

I too confess that we are strangers and pilgrims on the earth, that life continues after our mortal bodies fail us, that our loved ones who have gone before know us and are there to help us.

Robert P. George | April 23, 2015

Just as both wings are necessary and must be in working order for the dove or the eagle to fly, so too both faith and reason are necessary for the intellectual and spiritual quest and for the intellectual and spiritual life.

David F. Evans | November 4, 2014

There is nothing more discouraging than knowing what you should do and then procrastinating performance and missing the opportunity. There is nothing more invigorating than knowing what you should do and then getting about doing it.

Kelly D. Patterson | June 4, 2013

The Lord has furnished us with two models to help us cope with the tension we often face between faith and reason. These two models take the form of the wanderer and the wonderer. Both of these types appear prominently in our scriptures and provide us postures we ought to consider assuming as we confront the challenges of living in a modern world.

James R. Rasband | October 23, 2012

This is a very strong statement: if we refuse to forgive, there remaineth in us the greater sin. How can this be? As I hope to explain, our salvation is conditioned on forgiving others because when we refuse to forgive, what we are really saying is that we reject, or don’t quite trust, the Atonement. And it is our acceptance of the Atonement that ultimately saves us.

Dallan R. Moody | March 6, 2012

A plan in which supposedly everything would go right so nobody would be lost was  already proposed and rejected. The plan of salvation, on the other hand, allows for opposition in all things: sadness and sweetness, wrongdoing  and repentance, trial and testimony.

Thomas H. Fletcher | February 7, 2012

Perhaps one of my messages today is to learn from our family histories. Both Howard and Harvey were born in large families in small towns. One became an internationally known scientist, bearing his testimony to large numbers of people throughout his life and while working in New York City. The other quietly served a mission, raised a family, worked hard on a farm in Victor, Idaho, and served the Lord with all of his heart whenever called. Perhaps in the eyes of the world one was great and one was relatively obscure. However, in the eyes of the Lord, I think that both were good. Both were valiant servants of our Lord Jesus Christ throughout their lives.

Larry L. Howell | June 7, 2011

It is easy in life to become busy with all kinds of things, even things that are important, but we have to be careful not to neglect those things that are essential; otherwise, none of the other things will really matter.

Richard G. Scott | April 21, 2011

God has given you the capacity to exercise faith so that you may find peace, joy, and purpose in life. However, to employ its power, that faith must be rooted in something secure. There is no more solid foundation than faith in the love Heavenly Father has for you, faith in His plan of happiness, and faith in the willingness and power of Jesus Christ to fulfill all of His promises.

Erin D. Maughan | August 4, 2009

There are lots of disappointments in the world that may be hard to understand. Instead of stressing over them or blaming others, sometimes it is best to “be still,” become humble, and put your trust in God that all is well.

Brett G. Scharffs | May 12, 2009

I testify that charity—Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ’s pure love for us—is real. I pray that we may be blessed with a more abundant measure of charity in accordance with the work of our hands and the desires of our hearts.

Jay E. Jensen | March 10, 2009

You, my young brothers and sisters, and you who teach them, have an obligation to participate fully in this wonderful and sometimes tumultuous time of preparation. We simply cannot afford to be anchored to anything less consequential than the saving rock of our Redeemer.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Jeffrey R. Holland | January 13, 2009

To all such of every generation, I call out, “Remember Lot’s wife.” Faith is for the future. Faith builds on the past but never longs to stay there. Faith trusts that God has great things in store for each of us and that Christ truly is the “high priest of good things to come.”

Gregory Clark | May 10, 2008

It is important to learn how to live in faith rather than in fear because the process of changing for the better is at the very foundation of the Father’s plan for us. Changing for the better is what we are here in this life to do, and it is what the mission of His Son enables us to do.

Peter M. Johnson | February 6, 2007

We have been given much; therefore we must give of ourselves and incorporate and strengthen faith, family, and friendships. Doing so can ensure happiness and peace in this life and help us begin to understand, in part, what life will be like in our heavenly home.

Cecil O. Samuelson | January 9, 2007

The seeds of faith and light are planted, cultivated, nurtured, and grow bathed in the glow of His tender care—the behavioral and verbal testimony examples of Latter-day Saint BYU students and graduates on campus and around the world.

Keith B. McMullin | November 5, 2006

Act upon what you know to be true and your righteous works will perfect your faith. Your lives will be full and wonderful.

Thomas W. Sederberg | March 29, 2005

To ignore or violate the principle of faith will hamper our own progression and diminish our spiritual influence on others. The mastering of faith gives us joy as we become more effective instruments in doing the Lord’s work.

LaNae Valentine | June 29, 2004

Growing in our ability to receive revelation is like learning a new language or learning to play a musical instrument. We must practice diligently for a long time before we feel comfortable with it. We must be patient with ourselves, recognize that we might have some setbacks, and persist until we become masters at recognizing a witness of the Spirit.

Gerry Avant | April 30, 2004

The text for this speech is unavailable. Please see our FAQ page for more information.

Richard G. Scott | April 22, 2004

Resolve that each moment of your life will reflect your determination to humbly be an example of righteousness, integrity, and conviction. With such a life you will succeed in the purpose for which you came to earth.

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf | November 11, 2003

The Holy Ghost will be the wind beneath your wings, placing in your hearts the firm conviction of the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ and His place in the eternal plan of God, your Eternal Father.

William Phillips | January 22, 2002

The text for this speech is unavailable. Please see our FAQ page for more information.

Cinzia Donatelli Noble | May 9, 2000

We will have trials, but let’s accept them as part of this earthly experience. Let’s recognize that our lives are a miracle, a miracle of love and of innumerable blessings.

Richard N. Williams | February 1, 2000

Let us then be clear in our vision as we pursue and proclaim truth.

Kenneth A. Solen | June 16, 1998

Brothers and sisters, good morning! Several years ago a young returned missionary came to see me. I had been his bishop several years before and had helped him to work through some problems from his youth and to prepare to serve a mission. By the time he began his mission, he was ablaze with the fire of the gospel and served enthusiastically and honorably. It was now a year or…

Dennis B. Neuenschwander | May 19, 1998

You should study Church doctrine to know what you believe, but equally important is believing what you know, which requires trusting spiritual experiences.

Brent L. Top | July 22, 1997

Brent L. Top shares inspiring pioneer stories. Though our trials may not be as dramatic as theirs, it still takes faith for us to follow God each day.

Merrill J. Bateman | January 7, 1997

Just as Abraham trusted in the Lord for the promised land and a promised son, we can have faith in His perfect love and promised blessings.

Richard H. Cracroft | December 10, 1996

From a sick opera star to a missionary’s lost contact lens, Richard H. Cracroft shows how the Lord's divine designs are evident in our lives.

Henry B. Eyring—second councilor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Henry B. Eyring | August 20, 1996

The faith of our fathers - both our own ancestors as well as the pioneers of the gospel - give us inspiring examples to revere and emulate.

Russell M. Nelson—President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Russell M. Nelson | January 8, 1995

We yearn for hope not just for moments in this life, but for eternity. Our hope is bolstered by understanding faith and charity, the pure love of Christ.

Susan Easton Black | November 22, 1994

Tell me a story,” I nightly pled of Grandma as a child. Though I wanted to hear of Cinderella, Snow White, or Sleeping Beauty, she would say, “Susan, I can only tell you stories that are true. If you want to hear truth, I have something to say.” Not wanting to sleep, I enthusiastically listened to stories of Jesus, the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon, and those whose…

Truman G. Madsen | September 20, 1994

When you are on record and in the presence of others, and are trying to be truthful, and you consult the depths of your own soul, you yourself may learn how profoundly you know.

Stephen D. Nadauld | March 15, 1994

As we seek the "assurance" and the "evidence" (grand as well as personal) of God's Plan of Salvation and all "things hoped for," we are increasing faith.

President Gordon B. Hinckley, prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Gordon B. Hinckley | March 6, 1994

Though the world is often cynical, negative, and hopeless, because of the faith we have in Jesus Christ we can have optimism and seek the positive.

K. Newell Dayley | February 1, 1994

We know what it means to seek learning by study, but let us not forget to seek knowledge "also by faith," through obedience, prayer, and diligence.

Cheryl Brown | May 11, 1993

Though it is contrary to the way most of the world works, the Lord manages to turn seemingly insignificant and small things into great miracles.

Janette C. Hales Beckham | March 16, 1993

Although everyone on earth has a different experience, the lessons that have helped people lead a good life are universal.

John S. Tanner | June 30, 1992

The uncertainty of the future may elicit feelings of fear, but with faith in God’s plan we can approach the unknown with confidence, one step at a time.

Ardeth G. Kapp | March 19, 1988

The text for this speech is unavailable. Please see our FAQ page for more information.

Patricia T. Holland | September 15, 1987

Patricia Holland reminds students that often fear is our greatest enemy. As we follow the scriptural admonition to "fear not," our faith is magnified.

Patricia T. Holland | March 12, 1987

What does it mean to be a woman of faith? Patricia Holland addresses this topic in her BYU address, encouraging women to recognize their divine identity.

James E. Faust | September 28, 1986

How can we have the kind of simple, pure, untroubled faith that moves mountains and brings peace? Build and nurture faith on a solid foundation.

George P. Lee | May 13, 1986

George P. Lee calls for an individual and worldwide return to full belief in God and His gospel, as opposed to half-believing and counterfeit faith.

Russell M. Nelson | September 30, 1984

Begin with the end in mind. Shape your own destiny. Remember that the development of your career, your family, and your faith in God is your individual responsibility—for which you alone will be held accountable.

Barbara B. Smith | August 17, 1984

Relielf Society General President Barbara B. Smith speaks to graduates of Brigham Young University, sharing how they can use their education to better themselves and better the world.

Patricia T. Holland | January 31, 1984

Optimism leads to hope, which leads to faith. If we can come to remember the glorious things we once knew, our faith can be limitless as walking on water.

Gene R. Cook | November 8, 1981

Faith in the Lord is more than just a passive feeling. True faith is a principle of action and sacrifice, and it brings about miracles.

Bruce C. Hafen | January 9, 1979

All I ask brothers and sisters, is that we who go to college may be honest enough and courageous enough to face whatever uncertainties we may encounter, and that we try to understand them and do something about them.

Photograph of Neil D. Scaerrer, fourteenth Young Men general president

Neil D. Schaerrer | August 2, 1978

The text for this speech is unavailable. Please see our FAQ page for more information.

Max L. Pinegar | September 23, 1975

We are sometimes so caught up in unimportant things that we omit the weightier matters of the gospel: righteous judgment, mercy, and faith.

Gordon B. Hinckley | September 25, 1973

If you have faith in Christ, you will be led by the direction of the Holy Spirit. Faith is the power by which miracles are wrought in the hearts of men.

Spencer W. Kimball | July 13, 1971

Spencer W. Kimball highlights the faith and devotion the apostle Peter exhibited during his ministry. The Savior loved and forgave him, and so should we.

Alvin R. Dyer | November 17, 1970

The text for this speech is unavailable. Please see our FAQ page for more information.

Bruce R. McConkie | October 31, 1967

Bruce R. McConkie discusses the teaching of Joseph Smith that faith is power. He shares ways to enlarge and increase our faith in the Lord.

Gordon B. Hinckley | January 3, 1962

The Lord has commanded us to "be not faithless, but believing." Faith in Jesus Christ can help us overcome any challenge or obstacle in life.

Joseph Fielding Smith - Mormon Prophet and Apostle

Joseph Fielding Smith | October 26, 1961

When viewed from the perspective of eternity, this life is only a brief moment. In that moment, we are being tried, tested, proved, and taught by our Father in Heaven. Will we be faithful to Him?

Marion G. Romney | January 28, 1958

Faith in God is the key to happiness. Unlike anything else, He offers peace, freedom from fear, and the joy of knowing our eternal potential.

Harold B. Lee - Mormon Prophet and Apostle

Harold B. Lee | November 9, 1955

To face difficult decisions and tests of our faith, we must be armed with the spiritual preparation that comes from consistent righteousness.

Harold B. Lee | June 28, 1955

The Lord promises, "according to your faith, so shall it be unto you." The blessings we seek are predicated on our faith to ask, to obey, and to act.

Matthew Cowley | October 20, 1953

The text for this speech is unavailable. Please see our FAQ page for more information.

J. Reuben Clark | May 13, 1953

Sometimes we ruin our simple faith by trying too hard to understand everything. Sometimes we can't rationalize; we just believe.

Thomas L. Martin | October 30, 1951

Thomas L. Martin humorously describes the main events of his life and highlights how the hand of the Lord worked to help him reach all his righteous goals.