Receiving a Doctor of Christian Service degree, Elder L. Tom Perry of the Council of the Twelve joined Brigham Young University's largest summer graduating class ever in commencement ceremonies Aug. 12.
The class included a total of 2,450 graduates from 48 states; Washington, D.C.; and 45 other countries. A total of 2,021 bachelor's degrees, 392 master's degrees, 29 doctor's degrees and eight associate degrees were presented.Presidential citations were presented during the ceremonies by Rex E. Lee, BYU president, to Elaine A. Cannon, Milton A. Barlow, and Alma P. and Clea M. Burton.
Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Council of the Twelve presided and conducted the ceremonies. LDS scholar Truman G. Madsen delivered the commencement address.
During his greeting of the graduates, Pres. Lee said, "Brigham Young University is founded on the premise that the most effective learning incorporates not only study, but also faith, and indeed merges the two into one inseparable whole. We reject as harmful error the proposition that rational inquiry is in any way incompatible with spiritual inquiry, because both the mind and the spirit are vessels appropriate and useful for the acquisition of knowledge and wisdom."
Brother Madsen told the graduates, "If there is little difference between one person and another, that difference is important. Make the most of it. See that your difference makes a difference. Don't die with your own music still in you."
Elder Perry's service in Church and business were acknowledged during the presentation of his degree by Pres. Lee.
Elder Perry served in the Northern States Mission before a tour of duty with the United States Marines during World War II. He has been a counselor in two bishoprics, a member of two stake high councils, counselor in two stake presidencies and a stake president.
On Oct. 6, 1972, he became a General Authority as an Assistant to the Twelve. On April 11, 1974, he was called to the Council of the Twelve.
Elder Perry launched his extensive business career after graduating from Utah State University in 1949. His work included positions with several companies as auditor, controller, secretary-treasurer and vice president.
The presidential citations were established a decade ago to honor outstanding individuals and groups.
Sister Cannon has been closely associated with youth. She was called by President Spencer W. Kimball as Young Women General President; she served in that position July 1978-April 1984.
She has written 30 books, was a columnist for the Deseret News and associate editor for the "Era of Youth" section of the Improvement Era, predecessor to the Ensign and New Era. She worked toward getting a Church magazine specifically for youth, which became the New Era. She also helped establish an LDS sorority for college-age women, served on many correlation committees and wrote lessons for Church manuals.
She also served with the International Council of Women as vice president of the National Council of Women.
Brother Barlow has had a distinguished career in business and Church activities during the 60 years he has lived in the metropolitan Washington, D.C., area.
He was an executive with the Marriott Corporation for many years before launching his own real estate development business.
As mission president of the New York Rochester Mission he directed operations of three productions of the Hill Cumorah Pageant. He also acquired a building for the Church in Palmyra, N.Y., at the site where the Book of Mormon was first published and participated in restoring the log cabin in Fayette, N.Y., where the Church was organized on April 6, 1830.
He and his late wife established in 1983 the Milton A. and Gloria G. Barlow Endowment for the Composition of Music at BYU.
Brother and Sister Burton have traveled extensively throughout the world on assignment for the LDS Church Educational System and have functioned in many responsible positions in Church, educational and civic circles.
Brother Burton served a mission in the Central States and was an MIA general board member. He was a member of the BYU College of Religious Education faculty from 1948-54. He also was dean of Admissions and Records at BYU as well as assistant administrator of Seminaries and Institutes of Religion.
Brother and Sister Burton were directors of the Church visitors center in Independence, Mo., and were president and matron of the Manti Temple from 1984-88. Brother Burton has written books focusing on history and doctrines of the Church.
Sister Burton grew up in Liberty, Utah, and graduated from Utah State Agricultural College. She did graduate work at Utah State and BYU. Besides the work she did with her husband, she taught in public schools in Coalville, Utah, and Salt Lake City.
The youngest member of the 1993 summer graduating class is 18-year-old Patrycja Anna Krakowiak who earned a degree in chemistry. The cumulative grade-point average for the graduates receiving baccalaureate degrees is 3.27.
