President C. Shane Reese and Sister Wendy Reese spoke at the campus devotional in the Marriott Center on Tuesday, Sept. 16.
President and Sister Reese welcomed students back to campus for a historic year as BYU celebrates its 150th anniversary.
President Reese opened the devotional with a message on the events involving Charlie Kirk that took place last week on UVU campus.
“Political violence is so particularly abhorrent because it targets the very ideals essential to our form of government,” President Reese said. “Taking a life engaged in the act of speech, in an assembly of people with differing views is an attack on the bedrock of our inspired Constitution.”
President Reese said that though political darkness seems prevalent now, he believes that Christ’s light will continue to prevail, and reminded students of President Russell M. Nelson’s call to be peacemakers.
“Let’s practice what we preach on this campus,” President Reese invited. “Let’s love one another. Indeed, love even our enemies. Let’s selflessly serve to build something better than animosity and division.”
Following President Reese’s opening remarks, Sister Reese spoke to students on how they view their roles as BYU students.
“Can I ask you to think about a question: Are you a student at BYU? Or are you becoming students of BYU?” Sister Reese asked.
Sister Reese explained the difference between these two sentiments.
“Becoming a student ‘of’ BYU means showing up as our best self and putting more focus and energy on things that really matter,” Sister Reese said. “Becoming a student of BYU means service, study and discipleship.”
Sister Reese shared examples of women who played prominent roles in the founding of BYU, including Martha Jane Knowlton Coray, Alice Louise Reynolds and modern figures such as Sisters Camille N. Johnson and Patricia Holland.
“With an exciting year ahead, we have a choice: we can be students at BYU, or we can draw on the heritage of the faithful women and men before us and become students of BYU,” Sister Reese said. “I hope that each of you will work to become a student of BYU, that you will shine your light for the world to see for ‘that light growth brighter and brighter' 'that all may be edified by all'"
In his main address, President Reese touched on this year’s theme, “Beacons of Light,” as he shared a message about the significance of light.
“The goal for you and me this year — our 150th year as a university — is to grow, to celebrate, to share His light,” President Reese said. “Indeed, this is our sesquicentennial theme: celebrating gifts of light.”
President Reese highlighted notable accomplishments of BYU alumni including missionary work, congressional service and Olympic achievements.
“Tens of thousands of BYU alumni currently serve the world as educators, nurses, doctors, attorneys, social workers, engineers, family therapists, accountants, members of the armed forces, chaplains, first responders, business, community and religious leaders," he remarked.
In addition to these accomplishments, President Reese emphasized that the greatest potential for BYU students and alumni is achieved when students develop a relationship with the Savior.
“There are few limits on your potential to influence this world for the better,” he said. “But our light grows to its fullest brilliance only as we draw closer to the greatest gift ever given, even our Savior Jesus Christ.”
President Reese ended with an invitation for students to receive and spread light through their relationship with Jesus Christ.
“Our 150th anniversary as a university is about the gifts of light given to us and gifts of light we can share with others, so ‘that light groweth brighter and brighter’ and ‘that all may be edified of all.’”