President C. Shane Reese and Sister Wendy Reese invited students to seek connection and overcome the impossible through Jesus Christ during their remarks at the first devotional of the Winter Semester 2025.
In her remarks, Sister Reese addressed the need for face-to-face interaction in a world of increasing technological advancements.
“Are there ways I can improve my connection with others?” she said, inviting students to consider the same question.
Sister Reese offered several suggestions for fostering connection, including sharing ice cream with roommates, asking professors for advice, asking someone on a date, hiking the Y with friends and serving others. She also encouraged students to practice civility, politeness, extend mercy and “find joy in other’s accomplishments.”
“You will find many other ways that will come naturally to you, but one thing is true about all these ways of making connections: these actions will be a blessing to you and others,” Sister Reese said. “Connecting will improve our relationships and increase our personal sense of belonging.”
While she recognized that forming connections with others can be difficult or awkward, Sister Reese cited the BYU Statement on Belonging and reminded students that they can find unity by remembering their shared identity as children of God.
Sister Reese also recounted a personal experience of praying to find a friend during a time of loneliness. Because she sought connection with Heavenly Father, He was able to bless her with the friendship she was seeking, she said.
While most social contracts and interactions are transactional, students at BYU can find lasting connections as they make and keep covenants through the power of Jesus Christ, Sister Reese said. She also encouraged students to look to His example as they seek to create connections at BYU.
“Jesus Christ is the perfect example of how to love and connect with others. He is merciful, kind, forgiving, slow to anger, He loves us unconditionally, He is no respecter of persons, He comforts, He heals, He listens,” she said. “He invites all to ‘come unto Him’ in a bond of love and trust.”
Sister Reese also encouraged students to seek connection with Jesus Christ as they renew their covenants each Sunday, while attending church and partaking of the sacrament.
Sister Reese closed her remarks by inviting BYU students to make connections that will last throughout their lives.
“Please don’t let your time at BYU pass without finding opportunities to make amazing connections,” she said.
Following Sister Reese’s remarks, President C. Shane Reese began his address by describing plans to celebrate the university’s 150th anniversary. Updates and details will be released through 150.byu.edu.
“In this, our sesquicentennial year, the year we celebrate the beginning of the second half of our second century, we will work tirelessly to become the Christ-centered, prophetically-directed university that President Spencer W. Kimball prophesied about nearly 50 years ago,” he said. “As we get closer to the kick-off of our celebration beginning in the fall semester, we will have more details about how you can be part of this historic commemoration.”
In his remarks, President Reese recounted personal experiences of overcoming seemingly impossible odds. He also described the BYU football team’s most recent season and their against-the-odds successes.
“I’ve come to believe that God loves underdogs. He loves come-from-behind victories. He loves ‘impossible,’” he said.
President Reese cited several scriptural examples of individuals achieving the impossible: Peter walking on water, Christ feeding multitudes and the Savior’s ministry to the Nephites in the Book of Mormon, where he healed “their sick and afflicted.”
“What I want to emphasize today is that God’s grace goes beyond improbable victories – God wins impossible victories,” he said. “‘With God,’ Christ taught His disciples, ‘all things are possible.’”
President Reese described that miracles will also occur in the personal lives of BYU students as they practice faith in Jesus Christ. He also gave several examples of miracles, visions and events through the university’s history that have been influential in creating the campus and community that exists today.
“Miracles will occur on this campus and in our personal lives. This means that each of us must become the miracle in the lives of those around us,” he said.
President Reese also used the story of the Prodigal Son to address feelings of envy students may experience when they see the successes of others and perceive a seeming lack of miracles in their own lives.
“In such moments, please become a miracle for someone else,” he said. “When you are someone else’s miracle, God’s grace will fill your soul. You will witness miracles because you will be one.”
President Reese closed his remarks by sharing his testimony and inviting students to anticipate goodness because of Jesus Christ, who President Reese described as “the greatest miracle in our lives.”
“My friends, God loves you. Expect miracles by being the miracle for others this semester. I promise you, God’s grace will attend you,” he said. “And all that is wrong or unjust in this life, Christ will make right through His Atonement.”