A new building, constructed on the Brigham Young University-Idaho campus and which shares similarities with the Conference Center adjacent to Temple Square, represents growth — and room for future growth — at the Church school in Rexburg, Idaho.
Dedication services for the building and another remodeled facility — that together are more than 675,000 square feet — brought students, faculty, community members, a member of the First Presidency and two apostles to Rexburg, Idaho, on Dec. 17.
President Henry B. Eyring, first counselor in the First Presidency, addressed those assembled at the dedication of the new BYU-Idaho Center.
The newly dedicated auditorium, named the "BYU-Idaho Center," shares a common, smaller resemblance to the Conference Center near Temple Square and seats 15,000, serving as the main gathering place for the students and faculty of the university and community.
The new facility's purpose is to strengthen students spiritually, academically, physically and socially.
The BYU-Idaho Center includes a new auditorium and a multi-purpose gymnasium. The gym has room for 10 sports courts and a suspended indoor jogging track. In addition to recreational activities, the gym will serve as a place to gather for service projects, employee gatherings, ecclesiastical meetings, academic projects and any other need. A bridge from the John W. Hart Building on campus has been constructed, connecting students to the new building.
The dedication, which was available online, also included the Hyrum Manwaring Student Center after three phases of major renovations to the original building built in 1966. Those changes include a new University Store and renovations to the kitchen and food court, including an 18,000-square-foot dining area named "The Crossroads." A convenience store, dance studio suite and new area for the activities program were also added.
During the dedication, President Eyring and Elders Russell M. Nelson and David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve each spoke.
President Eyring, who served as president of Ricks College, the predecessor to BYU-Idaho, from 1971- 77, spoke of the great people who attend the university.
"There was then, as now, an unusual feeling here which came from people more than from facilities," he said. "It came from students, employees and citizens of Rexburg and the surrounding towns who wanted something more than secular learning and social experiences for young people here. … In a remarkably large fraction of [the students] eyes, I could see a special light. As never before in my life and rarely since, I felt that I was among covenant-makers who had gathered to a place where covenant-keeping was a collective priority."
"They represent vast contributions of time, effort and tithes," he said. "My earnest hope is that [contributors] can feel today that their offering is gratefully accepted and will be remembered for generations."
Drawing from experiences he had while president of the school, President Eyring spoke of the growth the college has experienced.
"I am often asked if I knew, as the president of Ricks College, what its future held," President Eyring said. "I did not see that the college would become the university it is today. There were only subtle impressions — feeling that this was a special place that needed to keep its spiritual standards high while staying close to its roots. I particularly felt the need to maintain our pioneer frugality."
Remembering the time when President Gordon B. Hinckley called him into his office to discuss the possibility of Ricks College becoming a four-year university, President Eyring spoke of the process the university went through to become the school it is today.
"In the summer of 2000, when President Hinckley announced the creation of BYU-Idaho, he projected that the school would grow in terms of students served," he said. "He cited year-round operation and innovative instructional technologies as the primary means for enabling that growth."
Despite challenges encountered with the building phase, President Eyring said that the construction of the new building and renovations to the Manwaring Center were done under prophetic inspiration.
"Today, many traditional universities and colleges face the need to retrench, and most have been forced to raise the prices they charge to students," he said. "One result is an increased need for the relatively low-cost, high-quality education that BYU-Idaho offers. As humble, faithful employees of this institution have heeded prophetic counsel and sought and received heavenly inspiration, they have discovered ways to serve more students at an affordable cost. Because of its unique design and consecrated employees, BYU-Idaho can grow to meet the needs of would-be students for whom a college education might otherwise become out of reach.
"I am not sure of what the Lord has planned for this university. Some future growth seems likely and the university seems to have been prepared to respond. These two facilities we dedicate today may be part of that preparation," he said. "We cannot see the future with precision but we can know what the Lord intends to accomplish and what it will take each of us to qualify personally to participate. He has laid plans for preparing the Church for His return. He reveals those plans a line at a time not only to prophets but to all of His worthy servants whose assignments require such revelation. These facilities, along with other buildings on this campus and the temple on the hill above it, have been constructed in accordance with His plans. The university is on a steady, upward course that will allow it to play a remarkable role in the Church and the world."
Elder Nelson spoke of the opportunity individuals have at the time of dedication to rededicate their lives to following the Lord Jesus Christ by emulating his example and the example of His servants.
"This institution has had many outstanding presidents," Elder Nelson said. "Since the year 1971 it has been my privilege to work closely with six great men inaugurated as president's of this institution. … They set examples worthy of our emulation. They come from different backgrounds in life, but they have each been disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. "
Elder Nelson shared four examples of how individuals can emulate the Savior — as well as his servants — as they dedicate their lives to the principles of the gospel. He said that through regular prayer, regarding other people respectfully, studying both spiritual and secular subjects symmetrically and being faithful in the payment of tithes, individuals are blessed. Those actions lead individuals to an unshakable faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
For Elder Bednar, who served as BYU-Idaho president from 1997-2004, returning to BYU-Idaho to see the completion of the new buildings and walk on the familiar college campus was worth the travel.
"It's good to be home," said Elder Bednar. "This dedicatory service today truly is historic. You will tell your children and your grandchildren you were present when this remarkable facility was dedicated by President Henry B. Eyring."
Drawing from his talk at the groundbreaking service for the building's construction and the Manwaring building's renovations, Elder Bednar spoke of a warning and a promise he gave on Oct. 31, 2006. "If the day ever were to come that intellectual arrogance, a lack of appreciation and the spirit of demanding entitlement take root on this campus — among the students, faculty, employees, administration or within the community — then in that day the spirit of Ricks will be well on the way to being extinguished," he said. "And the heavenly influence and blessings that have prospered this institution and the people associated with it will be withdrawn."
In contrast, he said, "as long as intellectual modesty, humility, gratitude, obedience and frugality continue to characterize those who learn and serve at and support BYU-Idaho, then this university will shine forth ever brighter as a beacon of righteousness and of inspired educational innovation."
To see more pictures of the newly dedicated buildings, go to ldschurchnews.com.
