LAIE, HAWAII
Lots of flower leis — some of them piled so high the recipients could barely see — adorned 200-plus graduates after they received diplomas from BYU-Hawaii on Dec. 15. More than half of them are from 31 countries.
Prior to Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve delivering the commencement speech in the Cannon Activities Center, recently inaugurated BYU-Hawaii President Steven C. Wheelwright emphasized two principles that would help the graduates "realize the great promises a loving Father in Heaven has in store for you."
"The first principle is that of excellence. Excellence is about doing your best all the time, about setting a standard that is higher than that often found in the world around you; and achieving excellence depends much more on consistency, focus and hard work, than it does on being brilliant.
"The second principle I would like you to remember and take with you is that of character. Character is the array of personal attributes that define your capacity to act according to what is true and right in all circumstances," President Wheelwright continued.
Elder W. Rolfe Kerr, Commissioner of Church Education and an emeritus member of the Seventy, also briefly addressed the graduates. He reminded them they would be going into the world after enjoying the "spiritual security and the emotional comfort" of BYU-Hawaii.
"The Savior knew of the challenges of being in the world when He prayed, 'I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil" (John 17:15).
"I believe what the Lord was suggesting then and would suggest to you here today is that we cannot isolate ourselves from the world, but surely we can insulate ourselves against the evils of the world.
"The Lord expects you to be lights unto the world," Elder Kerr said. "The power of example is so crucial, and there is that high expectation that you will be the very best examples as you go into the world....Do everything you can to build His kingdom where you are."
Slightly more than half of the 2,400 undergraduate students at BYU-Hawaii come from more than 70 countries.
