Jane Clayson Johnson, an Emmy award-winning journalist, delivered the first forum address of the fall semester at BYU, focusing on BYU-Pathway Worldwide.
Her message emphasized the growing influence and purpose of the global program.
“Sometimes people ask me if it’s a charitable program or an international outreach effort. It’s not,” said Johnson. “BYU-Pathway is about education — affordable, spiritually-based and accessible to students online around the world.”
She explained that the reach of BYU-Pathway now extends across 180 countries and serves more than 85,000 students, more than half of whom are in Africa.
Johnson has spent the past several years creating a documentary that highlights the experiences of BYU-Pathway students in Africa. She said the idea came to her after hearing the stories of students from Papua New Guinea, Zimbabwe, South Africa and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Johnson said she was inspired by the phrase, “Talent is equally distributed. Opportunity is not.”
Johnson testified of the significance of the Pathway program.
“Brothers and sisters, BYU-Pathway is one of the great miracles of our day,” she said.
Johnson noted the innovative programs offered such as the three-year bachelor’s degree, a variety of certificates, the support offered by service missionaries and the availability of numerous scholarships.
“The reason BYU-Pathway works is because it is divinely inspired,” Johnson said. “And the reason students sacrifice so much is they believe God will help them.”
Those in attendance were then shown a 22-minute excerpt from Johnson’s hour-long documentary, Pathway to Hope. The clip followed the story of six Church Educational System (CES) students: Elizabeth, Grace, Faith, Vianney, Junior and Janet.
“As you watch now, I invite you to think about your blessings, and what the courage of these students can teach you about your own journey of discipleship,” Johnson said.
She also reflected on how BYU-Pathway gives people around the world the opportunity to study.
“The privilege of studying at BYU — with professors, resources and opportunities all around you — is a miracle in itself. Through BYU-Pathway, the Lord is extending that same miracle to His children all over the world, and this is their ‘Pathway to Hope.’”
Following the excerpt, Johnson reflected on her work.
“After working on this documentary, I know more than ever that the Lord is aware of all His children,” she said.
She announced that the full documentary will air this weekend on BYUtv immediately after the Sunday afternoon session of general conference and will be available for streaming after that.
Johnson’s remarks about the importance of education and the power of the Church Educational System culminated in her final invitation to students.
“Today, I invite you to think of yourselves as part of this miracle,” she said. “Never take your education here for granted. It is a sacred stewardship. As a student at BYU years ago, I remember being told, ‘These blessings are not just for you.’ They are meant to be shared — to lift, to build, to serve. Right now, and for the rest of your life.”