'Arise and shine forth': BYU Womens Conference celebrates 50 years of light

BYU Womens Conference celebrated its 50th anniversary this past week over the course of three faith-filled days.

This years theme, "May we arise and shine forth as women of light," focused on self-confidence through faith in Jesus Christ.

Spanning April 29 to May 1, this year's speakers included general authorities, scholars and athletes.

As the largest three-day gathering of Latter-day Saint women in the world, Womens Conference gathers tens of thousands of women together each spring to hear uplifting messages.

Though the conference is designed with Latter-day Saint women in mind, women of all belief systems are welcome to attend.

First held in the spring of 1976, the conferences inaugural theme focused on building up the kingdom of God and an eternal perspective.

Titled The LDS Woman: Potentialities and Promises, the inaugural theme was combined with Sister Wendy W. Nelsons Womens Conference plea in spring 2000 to become women of light through Jesus Christ.

These two themes were combined and updated to become a large part of the 2026 theme, "May we arise and shine forth as women of light.

Along with advice, addresses and workshops, the conference included plenty of music. An evening concert featured performances from Dallyn Vail Bayles and the Bonner Family.

Utah high school student Kenzie Robinson performed at the conference, singing her own original piece, "Heavenly Home," with fellow musicians from Timpanogos High School.

Robinson explained that Sister Tamara Runia, first counselor in the Young Women General Presidency, personally asked her to perform at the conference. Robinson explained what the song meant to her.

Heaven lives in all of us, and because we share a divine identity, we should treat each other equally and with dignity and love, she said.

Sister Runia spoke on perfectionism and relying on the Savior. She asked the audience to hold up their phone flashlights when a question shown on the Marriott Center screen resonated with them.

Questions ranged from Do you like chocolate? to Have you been feeling overwhelmed by life lately? On almost all of the questions, nearly every phone lit up.

Sister Runia closed by stressing that spiritual light comes through Christ. We can let His radiance and love shine through us because we are His, she said.

After Sister Runia spoke, Robinson ended the night on a high note, closing the first day with Heavenly Home.

Brigham Young University President C. Shane Reese also spoke at the conference. He explained how the conference was a double jubilee, combining the 150th anniversary of BYU with the Women's Conference 50th anniversary.

Having Women's Conference, this year, on this campus, is double the joy, a double portion of light and a double portion of goodness, President Reese said.

President Reese's wife, Sister Wendy Reese, also spoke Friday, echoing many of the words of her fellow speakers.

She explained how becoming a woman of light means relying on Jesus Christ and not chasing perfectionism.

Remember that becoming a woman of light, or becoming like Christ, is a lifelong process rather than a destination, Reese said.

Sister Reese also stressed how relying on Christ means creating realistic expectations for ourselves.

We don't have to be superwoman. We don't have to fold 20 loads of laundry, make 17 meals for the neighbors (or) scrub the baseboards like someone is noticing, Sister Reese said. Our job is simply to hold Christ to the world, to be mirrors and reflect His life in the way we act.

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve and his wife, Sister Susan K. Bednar, closed the conference.

Sister Bednars counsel included her testimony of modern prophets and the importance of the family in society.

I have lived long enough to see the correctness of prophetic teachings, Sister Bednar said. Let us arise and shine forth as women of light by truly ministering with love and compassion in a higher and holier way.

Elder Bednar explained how the Savior can be our light and guide, helping us to arise spiritually even in the darkest moments of our lives.

He solemnly shared testimonies from their experience visiting members in the Grand Blanc, Michigan area. These members experienced a violent shooting and fire, motivated by religious hatred, where four people were killed.

Elder Bednar compared some of the members' testimonies with scriptures, placing special emphasis on words such as "light" and "darkness."

The friends we made and the faith in Jesus Christ we witnessed were life-changing for us, Elder Bednar said.

He continued to relate the lessons the members learned to the lives of the attendees and viewers.

What lessons can you learn from the Michigan saints about rising up after a devastating experience? An eternal perspective, grounded in Heavenly Fathers plan of happiness, matters, Elder Bednar said. Acknowledging we can absolutely never rise up without the power and blessings of the Saviors Atonement matters.

Elder Bednar finished his remarks with his testimony of Jesus Christ.

I witness He has risen and He lives. I witness that the Holy Ghost is a testator, a witness of all truth and he can be our constant companion I bless you, that you will arise and shine forth," Elder Bednar said.

The conference included more than 180 speakers in locations across campus.