BYUH's Fall 2023 graduates receive advice from Elder Patrick Kearon and Crystal Tania, among others, as they enter a new phase of their lives
Banners, balloons, traditional mats and music filled the area outside the Cannon Activities Center as families and friends from all over the world came together to celebrate the graduation of BYUH’s Fall 2023 class on Dec. 8. The commencement speakers encouraged graduates to be guided by the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ and embrace service, leadership and discipleship.
Elder Patrick Kearon, the newly ordained member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, spoke at the commencement and encouraged graduates to put their lives into the hands of God. Kearon shared the concept of relying on faith and divine guidance to navigate through life's uncertainties. He said, “Certainly, putting your hand into the hand of God means a constant quest to draw close to our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ, and feel the joy of their perfect love.”
Kearon also stressed the role of temples and their significance as sources of divine light. He shared, “As a lighthouse in a storm, the temple is an unwavering source of light and a symbol of safety.” The unchanging doctrine of temple worship provides steadying constancy in a world of turmoil and uncertainty, Kearon said. He explained, “The covenants we make in the temple endow us with power, God’s power, and fill us with the Lord’s light.”
Crystal Tania, the commencement’s student speaker and Fall 2023 graduate in communication, media and culture from Indonesia, reflected on her four-year journey at BYUH and emphasized the importance of trusting in a higher plan. Tania expressed, “Heavenly Father is the director and producer. Our struggles, or what I like to call ‘plot twists,’ were necessary for character development because main characters are never boring… Fortunately, we have professors and mentors who genuinely care about us, serving as guides in our storyline,” she said.
Moefili Tatupu-Leopoldo, one of the commencement attendees from Kalihi, shared, “My most favorite part of graduation was seeing all the families come together for their graduates. It’s always heartwarming to see how proud they are and how they show up for their families.”