A collection of President Kauwe’s inspiring quotes from his 2025 talks
BYU–Hawaii President John S.K. Kauwe III has given five spiritually edifying talks this year. He shared messages of faith, obedience, communication and consecration encouraging students to strengthen their spiritual, social and physical health.
Jan. 14, 2025
“All These Things Shall Be Added Unto You”
“Part of our progression in mortality is learning not to live our lives “near the edge of the cliff.” It can be tempting to develop our capacity to “drive near the edge of the cliff,” especially when we are seeking the approval of the world.”
“Show your gratitude to God and your fellow Latter-day Saints with your dedication to your covenants and commitments, and to your spiritual and academic growth. You know that living this way brings you great joy and success. You are incredible examples. Thank you so much!
“Consecration brings joy, safety, and focus.”
Feb. 18, 2025
“Freedom From Fear”
“Preparation, confidence, and excellence are the components of a powerful positive feedback loop. Preparation leads to increased confidence. Increased confidence leads to excellence in the face of challenges and in moments of opportunity. Excellence leads to an increased desire for preparation in the future.”
“Freedom from fear through prayerful preparation changes daunting obstacles into exhilarating opportunities.”
“Instead of fear, use that spirit of love to love yourself, even in your weaknesses. Use the spirit of a sound mind to view your shortcomings candidly and use them as an opportunity to learn and make adjustments. Then, use the spirit of power to try again and again and again. That is the path to excellence!”
“As you improve your personal preparation—spiritually, emotionally, and physically—you will obtain freedom from the fear you might feel about the important effort to find someone and participate in the sealing ordinance.”
Apr. 24 2025, Winter 2025 Commencement
“Plan Your Life with God"
“Giving the Lord equal time means that you learn how to devote every moment to those things that will bless your life and align with the Lord's will and will prepare you to serve others.”
“I urge you, to seek the will of the Lord in your life, to seek that capacity to give Him equal time in every moment, and align your life with God's will. Let Him prevail in your life.”
May 6, 2025
“(Mis)Communication in Dating and Marriage”
“My dear brothers and sisters, how we treat each other really matters! How we speak to and about others at home, at church, at work, and online really matters … 'If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy' that we can say about another person—whether to his face or behind her back—that should be our standard of communication.’”
“If something “little” is causing growing tension or concern in your relationship, it needs to be addressed as soon as is practical. Addressing it will most likely require sincere apologies and forgiveness on the part of one or both of you. Please note that addressing something is different than resolving it completely. You may not be able to resolve every concern in one conversation; sometimes you need a good night’s rest and some additional time to work through a challenge.”
“In marriage, unity is paramount. Unity in marriage means you support each other, make decisions together, and face challenges as one. Strong communication is vital to creating and maintaining that unity.”
“Living righteously in unity invites divine power. As you make spiritual decisions and exercise priesthood authority together, you will find joy, revelation, and peace through God’s power and mercy.”
“We hope as you date and look for an eternal companion, you will be patient and thoughtful; and follow the promptings of the Spirit.”
September 11, 2025
“Choose Excellent”
“Consecration means honoring our covenants with God and our commitments that qualify us to be members of this university community. Excellence means making thoughtful and purposeful efforts to develop our talents and use them to bless the lives of our families and our communities.”
“At BYU–Hawaii, we choose God’s plan to build our faith, intellect, purpose, resilience, and leadership because we know that God’s promises are true.”
“Change requires humility, effort, and persistence. It can be very, very difficult. But I promise you that it is worth it — it is always worth it to be quick to observe.”