Your Show Must Go On
Remember why you came to BYU and, more important, why you came to earth. Do your utmost. Do the best you can. And then act as if there is no alternative but to succeed.
Success
“The Ultimate Triumph of Truth”
Just as with Brigham Young, Leonardo da Vinci’s ultimate allegiance wasn’t to a single discipline but rather to the “triumph of truth.” No individual or perspective is the owner of truth; truth is as widespread and diverse as those who search for it.
If You Want to Go Far, Go Together
May your positive memories of BYU stay with you throughout your life. May your BYU connections continue to be a strong influence in all that you do. May you know that you will always be welcome here on campus on this consecrated ground.
Banishing All Shadows
Be a ray of light. Be your best self and let your character shine. Cherish the gospel of Jesus Christ and live it. The world needs you, and surely your Father in Heaven needs you if His blessed purposes for His children are to prevail.
The Lord Desires Your Success
The Lord desires your success. He desires your success in all aspects of your life—in your profession, in your education, in your family, in your relationships. The Lord desires your success.
Failure and Success
Personal growth comes from being stretched, and you will likely find yourselves challenged in ways you have never previously experienced or expected. We are not in favor of slothfulness or laziness, but we also hope to help you guard against the all-too-common problem of perfectionism or being unrealistically hard on yourselves.
Understanding Success
To be effective we must develop eyes to see all flavors of human achievement and lend support, approval, and encouragement to the invisible crusades. It will be repeatedly necessary that we wade in to help, unflinchingly and nonjudgmentally.
God Did Not Put Us Here to Fail
You and the Lord, working together, can accomplish anything. Never forget—God did not put us here to fail.
Why Giving Matters
If people witness you as a giver, they will see a leader. Servant leadership is no joke, and it’s a secret to success, whether you’re looking for success or not. When people see you giving and cooperating and serving others, they will see in you a leader, or a future leader, and they cannot help but help you.
For Success in Life
As an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ I invoke a blessing upon each one of you, conditioned on your obedience and faith, that the Lord will guide you through the Holy Ghost to make the correct choices in important decisions you now face and that you will feel that guidance in your life as you seek it.
Comparing, Competing, and Individual Worth
Those who view their contemporaries as competitors to be beaten rather than as brothers and sisters to be served often believe that others’ successes diminish their own. They are therefore more apt to find and point out faults of those around them.
Dealing with the Dangers of Success
Clayton Christensen teaches about the dangers of success through the historic pattern of disruptive innovations that caused successful companies to stumble.
Learning to Succeed in Life
No one with any degree of spiritual sensitivity can stand at this place in the presence of such a concentration of devoted, righteous students, faculty, staff, and Church leaders and not feel overwhelmed with gratitude and appreciation. I am deeply moved in contemplation of what will occur in ensuing years from the experiences you will gain at this unique university. The students enrolled in this university have the potential for…
The Lord Doesn’t Grade on a Curve
The Lord knows us individually and does not grade on a competitive "curve." We should not measure our worth by comparing ourselves to others.
Visualizing Our Success
If we visualize our success, ask for help, and learn from our mistakes or failures, we will find that we DO have what it takes to be successful.
However Long and Hard the Road
Perhaps you will not see the full meaning of your effort in your own lifetime. But your children will, or your children’s children will, until finally you, with all of them, can give the Hosanna shout.
Experience, Excellence, and Obedience = Character
If we strive to experience excellence and endure here on earth, we will build character that will last throughout the eternities.
The Formula for Success at BYU
Many things have changed at BYU over the years, but not its formula for success: being worthy, seeking learning, working hard, and helping others.
Temporal and Spiritual Success
The gospel is the plan God has given us for achieving eternal success. Here are some fundamentals for achieving both temporal and spiritual success.
Lost Horizons
If I can, I should like to challenge those who attend this institution to broaden their vision, rather than to limit it, so that there might be no lost horizons for any of the graduates of this great university.
Essentials for Success
Good work habits are essential to success. This applies to everything we do—from earning a living to the work we do at home, at school, or in church.
The Success and Happiness Pattern
We can succeed in our spiritual and secular endeavors by following a pattern of happiness and success: planning, vision, faith, and simplification.
A Formula for Laying up Treasures
Every action has a consequence, so no work is truly unrewarded. Sterling W. Sill offers a formula to help us as we work for the treasures of heaven.
An Inside Job
Sterling W. Sill shares a "formula" for success in life that students ought to master while receiving their education. Knowledge, skill, and personality are all key ingredients.
Achievement
The text for this speech is unavailable. Please see our FAQ page for more information.
The Story of My Life
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.
Four Cornerstones upon Which to Build Greatness
The four cornerstones upon which we must build greatness faith, education, industry, and cooperation. John A. Widtsoe explains that each of these cornerstones must be nourished and understood through a gospel lens.