The purpose of Brigham Young University — in addition to knowledge and education — “is preparing students for eternity,” said Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles during BYU’s annual University Conference on Monday, Aug. 28.
In 1967, then-Elder Spencer W. Kimball of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles challenged BYU and its faculty and staff to aspire to a prophecy of Church President John Taylor: “You will see the day that Zion will be far ahead of the outside world in everything pertaining to learning of every kind as we are today in regard to religious matters.”
Elder Cook commended BYU faculty and staff for their efforts. “I am exceedingly pleased with what I see transpiring at this great university. I see continuous and significant righteous achievement,” he said.
He expanded on the conference theme “That ye should search diligently in the light of Christ … lay hold upon every good thing” (Moroni 7:19) by teaching about the Church’s doctrinal purposes and commitment to education.
Commitment to education
Addressing BYU faculty and staff, Elder Cook also noted that the university’s funding, support and guidance from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints “is a significant asset and should not be viewed as a constraint.”
The Church’s priority on education — including its more than $1 billion annual investment in education — grows out of its doctrine, Elder Cook explained.
The Church is organized at the general and local level to accomplish these purposes outlined in the General Handbook: Live the gospel of Jesus Christ, care for those in need, invite all to receive the gospel and unite families for eternity.
To emphasize these elements of God’s work of salvation and exaltation, Elder Cook shared the history of the keys committed by Moses, Elias and Elijah in the Kirtland Temple and what the Church has accomplished with respect to each.
As recorded in Doctrine and Covenants Section 110, these three keys are the gathering of Israel from the four parts of the earth, the gospel of Abraham and preparing people to meet God, and the redemption of the dead and priesthood sealing power.
Inviting all to receive the gospel
Elder Cook referenced President Russell M. Nelson’s introduction of the second edition of “Preach My Gospel” and the “enormous expansion” of the Church’s missionary effort — including the 69,000-plus missionaries currently serving and the nearly 5 million missionary convert baptisms in the last two decades.
He noted that experts on mental maturation have suggested that serving a mission provides a maturation process for learning that is a preparation for higher education.
More than two-thirds of BYU students have served missions, Elder Cook said. “Depending on the semester, that is more than 21,000 returned missionaries. Think of the strength that these BYU students have carried across the world. In turn, consider how their mission experiences strengthen the learning environment on this campus.”
Living the gospel of Jesus Christ
Continuing with the keys of the gospel of Abraham, Elder Cook said, “Almost everything we do in the Church is to bring people to Jesus Christ and the blessings that are promised.”
The Church’s global membership comprises more than 31,000 wards and branches. They meet in over 19,400 meetinghouses spread across 195 countries.
“On this campus, we help our students prepare for future Church service through our 21 university stakes with more than 260 student wards,” he said.
Uniting families for eternity
With President Nelson’s emphasis on temples and covenants, Elder Cook said the keys for redeeming the dead and the sealing power “are essential for the rising generation regardless of what they are studying and regardless of what their particular interests are.”
“Today there are 179 dedicated temples in 51 countries and an additional 136 temples in 50 countries that have been announced or are currently under construction,” he said. “It is not coincidental that we have a house of the Lord adjacent to every CES campus. Here in Provo [Utah] and soon in Rexburg [Idaho] there will be two temples.”
Elder Cook concluded by explaining why he chose to cover the Church’s doctrinal purposes: “Our purpose, in addition to knowledge and education, is preparing students for eternity. If we are going to use the light of Christ to lay hold upon every good thing, these purposes of Christ’s restored Church must not just be understood but exhibited in all of our lives and included as part of the gospel methodologies in Elder Kimball’s foundational address. …
“I am confident that this marvelous institution will be a seminal voice for building faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His Atonement and preparing for the Second Coming of our Savior.”
Quick to observe
Also attending the general session of the 2023 University Conference — during which awards and recognitions were given to numerous BYU faculty and staff members — were Sister Mary Cook; Elder Clark G. Gilbert, a General Authority Seventy and Commissioner of Church Education; and BYU President C. Shane Reese.
“I believe that our work at BYU will be immeasurably enhanced — and our capacity to bless our students’ lives will be greatly multiplied — if we can receive and cultivate the spiritual gift of being ‘quick to observe,’” President Reese said.
