Trevor Wilson, Brigham Young University's senior associate athletic director, addressed students on the BYU campus April 7, during a campus devotional.
Wilson began his remarks by speaking on the topic of Easter Sunday and its importance to one's testimony of Jesus Christ.
He likened the concept of Christ taking regular experiences and making them transformative. He then compared this to BYU students, encouraging them to do the same with their own.
Wilson presented and explained two concepts: "Transactional" and "Transformative" circumstances. These concepts shaped the rest of his address.
“Transformative experiences can be defined as ones that are profound and fundamentally make us different,” Wilson said. “Different from transformative, much of our daily experiences are transactional in nature. Transactional occurrences are common and fundamentally include some type of give and take.”
Wilson gave some modern-day examples of transactional experiences, such as purchasing food and the worker giving a meal in return.
“Neither of us made a significant investment, but both of us received a short-term benefit," Wilson said.
One example he shared was Kalani Sitake’s experience as a student athlete at BYU, and how he is now giving back through his football coaching.
Wilson compared transformative experiences to experiences in the scriptures.
He quoted stories from Nephi in the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith’s first vision, and Christ in the New Testament healing the 10 lepers and feeding the 5,000.
“Your capacity to learn at BYU is enhanced when you bind yourself to Heavenly Father and His son, Jesus Christ. The stronger you bind yourself to Them, the deeper your experience at BYU becomes," he said.
Trevor Wilson presented five ways to seek Christ and let Him change the BYU experience. Dedicating one hour a week to partake of the sacrament, making reading and studying the Book of Mormon a priority, worshiping in your ward, embracing the commitments you’ve made as a student at BYU and finally “Seek ye first the kingdom of God.”
When he concluded his five ways to better one's BYU experience, Wilson shared a promise, “As you seek Jesus Christ with ‘real intent’, He has the power to transform your experience at BYU.”
Lastly, Wilson shared how his experience at BYU–Hawaii with his wife was transformative. He said they entered with nothing and left with a tighter bond to Jesus Christ. He promised that the students' experience at BYU can be the same.
“Educating minds for worldly gains is transactional. Educating for eternity is transformative,” Wilson said.
Ending on a message of purpose and discipleship, he urged students to see their education as something more than academic progress.
“You are at BYU for a purpose and by divine design, so invite Jesus Christ to make the miracle of BYU a transformative experience for you," Wilson said.