Brigham Young University honored thousands of graduates Thursday at commencement ceremonies held at the Marriott Center.
Elder Richard G. Scott, of the Quorum of Twelve of Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was the featured speaker.
"The world is in serious trouble," Scott said. "The fundamental values of this nation are being undermined. There is a continual crumbling of principle, virtue, integrity and religious values -- the foundation stones of civilization and definitive ingredients of peace and happiness."
Scott shared with graduates a pattern for success and happiness based on their capacity to exercise faith so that, "you may find peace, joy and purpose in life," he said.
"Wherever you live, whatever your occupation or focus in life, you will be drawn into the battle for the souls of men and women," he said. "Be valiant in that struggle. It is waged on the basis of character."
He told the Class of 2011 there is a need for statesmen of integrity, businessmen who are honest and morally clean, attorneys who defend justice and the legal system, and government officials who preserve principle because it is right.
Scott offered 10 tips for success, including service, dedication to church, not complaining, setting principles for life and smiling. To show he also knows how to smile, he offered his secret for always waking up with one on your face.
"If you want to wake up in the morning guaranteed to have a smile on your face, go to bed with a coat hanger in your mouth. A sense of humor helps you greatly," he said.
BYU President Cecil O. Samuelson told graduates, "as your lives become even more demanding and complicated, your integrity and honor will come under ever-increasing attacks. Thus, you must continue to build and strengthen your character upon the already firm foundation of honesty, dependability and reliability you initially brought to BYU and have enhanced while here."
Chris Feinauer, president of the BYU Alumni Association, encouraged graduates to, "wear the Y in your countenance, your speech and communications, your example, your choices and in your attitude. The world is begging for bright, wholesome, dedicated graduates to take all the goodness BYU has produced in you to serve the world with your talents and abilities."
Graduate Paige Crosland Anderson represented the students to faculty and administration.
"Hopefully, while listening in lectures, attending demonstrations, researching, writing and creating," she said, "we have come away with a method of learning that is portable and personal. In a sense, the educational feast was laid out before us, and all we had to do was show up at the table."
By the numbers:
6,185 graduates
50 years between the youngest and the oldest graduate
Oldest graduate: 73 years old
Graduates hail from all 50 states, three territories and 72 foreign countries
2 comments:
im so lame this made me cry. congrats to the hubs!!
Thanks! We are so excited! Cant wait to be done done!
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