Since their marriage in 1978, former Brigham Young University President Kevin J Worthen and his wife, Peggy Worthen, have served God and their neighbors in many capacities, both formal and informal: as parents, Sunday School teachers and even in leading BYU.
Through it all, they have relied on the Lord’s guidance.
“No matter what life experience I’ve had, I can rely on my Heavenly Father to give me counsel and direction,” said Peggy Worthen during a Church News podcast.
In the same interview, Kevin Worthen noted that he doesn’t have to worry about if he is good enough, because he knows God “is as good as He says He is.”
“I just do my best, and He’ll make up the difference.”
How the Lord guides BYU
Kevin Worthen has had a long relationship with Brigham Young University, where he served as a faculty member, dean of the law school, advancement vice president and eventually the 13th president of the university. After a year away at Yale, he has now returned as a faculty member.
Worthen said he’s seen the Lord’s hand preparing the university for things happening now and for things to come, such as a new medical school.
But even with all the changes, Worthen has been impressed at how the university has held fast to its mission to “assist individuals in their quest for perfection and eternal life” and stayed anchored on the gospel of Jesus Christ.
“Being led by prophets, seers and revelators makes it so you, in some ways, can say, ‘As long as we are in alignment with them, we’ll keep on the path that the Lord has provided for this university.’”
Seeking wisdom from God
Throughout his career, Worthen learned the value of going to original sources to learn things.
He emphasized the importance of studying the scriptures and words of the prophets for oneself instead of absorbing others’ interpretations of the gospel.
He said it’s easier to read a watered-down version of the gospel online, but doing so deprives individuals of the blessings and revelation that come from wrestling with the scriptures.
“If God were to give you instruction, would you really want a truncated version of that, or would you really want to know the whole thing?”
Finding courage to share
After his tenure as the president of BYU, the Worthens made the decision to move to Connecticut for a year.
There, Kevin Worthen had the chance to teach a law class and brush up on his own knowledge of the law.
Besides the intellectually stimulating environment, what stood out to the Worthens from that experience was the wide variety of opportunities to share the gospel.
In the New Haven Ward, the couple served as ward missionaries and attended lessons with the full-time missionaries, whom Peggy Worthen called “inspirational” and “fearless.”
“If you were hesitant to share the gospel, you soon lost that,” said Kevin Worthen, “because they were willing to talk to anybody, anytime, anywhere, invite them to church, and people would show up.”
Now back in Provo, he says he hopes to hang onto that “willingness to share the gospel in any situation.”
Ward members in New Haven also taught the Worthens about missionary work by ministering to each other.
Peggy Worthen recalled driving miles with the Young Women president to pick up a girl who didn’t often come to church.
“The dedication was enlightening to me, and I want to be more like that and to really feel the dedication that they felt to their callings and experiences in that ward,” she said.
Relying on God for personal guidance
So what’s next for the Worthens?
They’ve asked on another that question too.
“And we just look at each other and go, ‘I’m not sure, but it will work out,’” said Peggy Worthen. “We’ll be doing what we’re supposed to do, and I have great faith in that.”
Kevin Worthen agreed with her, adding that being open to whatever opportunities the Lord sends them is key.
They might not know exactly where God will take them next, but the Worthens agree that He orchestrates everything with love.
“We can’t comprehend how good He is and how much He loves us,” he said. “The more I turn to Him and the more I see people who turn to Him, the more convinced I am that we only see faintly how much He cares for us, how anxious He is to bless us.”
