Leading a Successful Life at BYU–Idaho

Presented to Incoming Freshman by President Kim B. Clark

Written by Kristi Simpkins, Tom Lund, Lindsay Maughan, Beth Hennefer, Natalie

Skoien, and Kamille Thompson

Good morning, and welcome to another great day at BYU–Idaho. Brothers and sisters,

may I be the first to welcome you to this wonderful university. We’re very excited to have you

here. I hope each of you are happy and excited to be here as well. This is a new beginning point

in your lives; the start of a new phase. From this point on, there will be no one waking you up in

the mornings, no hot breakfast waiting downstairs, no one making sure you get your homework

done: You’re an adult now. For some of you, this may be your first opportunity to experience

this kind of agency. You hold all the controls now. This morning I would like to offer you a few

pieces of advice that, if followed, will enable you to get the most out of your time here at BYU–

Idaho.

To start, I would like to share a verse of scripture with you. In D&C 107:99 the Lord

reveals, “Wherefore, now let every man learn his duty, and to act in the office in which he is

appointed, in all diligence” (Doctrine & Covenants). Brothers and sisters, this is what the Lord

desires of each of us, His followers. My purpose today is to give you a few fundamental road

signs to learning your duties, academically, socially, and spiritually in order that you may more

successfully act in your appointed office.

I will present you with three road signs this morning that, if heeded, will increase your

ability to be successful and happy here:

1. The Honor Code

2. The Learning Model

3. Balancing Student Life

1. The Honor Code

Students from around the world have gathered on this campus to receive a higher

education in an environment that is centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ. On this campus,

students are being prepared to serve as faithful disciples and leaders in the Lord’s kingdom and

in the world. I invite you to make the most of your time at this university and live the Honor

Code with exactness. The Honor Code is a set of rules that sets our university apart from other

universities and will be central to your BYU–Idaho experience.

Before you came to BYU–Idaho, each of you agreed to live by the Honor Code. Living

the Honor Code sets us on a course to live very differently from the way the world would have

us live. Modern society is casual in its treatment of sacred things, personal relationships, and

dress and grooming. They have become careless and indifferent. We should never lose reverence

for the sacred or decrease our personal obedience, otherwise we will falter in our purpose.

Deep obedience connects us to the Savior and opens channels for His love and power to

flow into us. Just as we are counseled to see the commandments as a blessing instead of a

restriction, I would counsel you to see the Honor Code as a higher road that will lead to better

things. If you will look at it as a blessing, as an opportunity to stand apart from the world and

closer to the Savior, then your attitude will not be something that weighs you down, and it will

bring blessings and joy. Your experience at BYU–Idaho is part of the Lord’s plan for you to

learn to walk the strait and narrow path. Once you learn obedience, even to the small things that

may not seem consequential, you will be protected against the forces of evil and be prepared for

the higher laws and blessings the Lord would like to give you. If you will not allow yourself to

grumble about the Honor Code and instead live it precisely with a positive attitude, you will

come closer to God and Christ.

When you hear about the Honor Code, students usually think of two things: grooming

standards and curfew. The Honor Code is so much more than that. What we call the Honor Code

is a set of principles that is truly encompassed by the gospel of Jesus Christ. They are principles

of personal honor. These five are:

1. Integrity

2. Courage

3. Virtue

4. Commitment

5. Respect

These principles of honor are not just necessary for your life at BYU–Idaho. As you live

the gospel and the Honor Code, and truly let these five principles take root in you, you will see

success in your life after college. The standards set out in the Honor Code are quite different than

those typically found on college campuses across the country. You will find that these standards,

and your deliberate choice to abide by them, will distinguish you from the rest.

Future employers will value honesty, a pillar of personal honor. For this reason, “BYU–

Idaho students should seek to be completely honest in all their dealings. They should complete

their own work and be evaluated for that work. They should avoid academic dishonesty and

misconduct in all its forms, including but not limited to plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, and

cheating” (Student Honor Office).

With so much of the world desperately trying to stand out from the crowd, it is not

uncommon to encounter extremes in regards to dress and grooming. As students associated with

BYU–Idaho, a clean and well-cared-for appearance should always be maintained. Clothing

should always be modest and appropriate for the occasion. “Men and women’s dress should be

reflective of their gender, and excessive or extreme styles should be avoided” (Student Honor

Office).

Within the Honor Code also exist the housing standards. Living with others who share

our values in situations similar to our own will make academic success much easier. Just as it is

easier to commit to physical exercise with a friend, you will find it easier to attend your church

meetings with your roommates. Being a member of a student ward and stake is “one of the

greatest advantages Brigham Young University-Idaho offers its students” (Student Honor

Office).

Get to know your leaders. They are great men, called of God, who care for you and want

to see you succeed. To help you, the Honor Code requires an ecclesiastical endorsement for all

continuing students each year. “The endorsement fosters communication between students and

ecclesiastical leaders. It gives bishops an opportunity to review a student understanding of and

commitment to the Honor Code” (Student Honor Office).

Brothers and sisters, you will never find yourself worse off for living the Honor Code.

Quite the opposite: Once again, I promise you that as you make the Honor Code central to your

life as a student at Brigham Young University-Idaho, you will see a world of difference in your

experience here and in your post-college life. You will stand out to employers and further

admissions committees. By seeing that you were a student here, they will know you are a person

of integrity and honor.

2. The Learning Model

Prepare

We have been asked by our Heavenly Father to be diligent and prepared in so many other

aspects of our lives, that it would not be a stretch of the imagination that we should then be

expected to do the same when it comes to our education. With education in mind, let’s look at

this scripture: “Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing, and establish a house, even a

house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a

house of order, a house of God” (Doctrine & Covenants 109.8).

When Rick’s College was first presented with the coming changes it would undergo to

become a four-year university, it was thought by some that it would lose its sense of community,

its uniqueness, and its spirit of learning. In order to preserve that as well as develop a higher

level of education, the learning model was conceived and implemented to help students develop

their strengths and place upon them responsibility for their own education.

In the New Testament we are given an example of those who prepare versus those who

don’t with the parable of the ten virgins. Those who were prepared and anticipated the coming of

the bridegroom were able to enter the house and be with him. They understood that in order to

have the blessings waiting for them, they had to be prepared before the time arrived.

So must we prepare. In our schooling and in life we are responsible for our own work,

and now you are being asked to do so at a higher level. If you have not done all that you can to

be prepared, even if that means researching a topic more in depth, or finding the answer to a

question that might come to mind in the process of your studies, then you are not preparing for

your studies and classes to the best of your abilities.

Teach One Another

The next piece of the learning model is teach one another. In D&C 109:7, the Lord

commands, “Seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the

best books words of wisdom, seek learning even by study and also by faith” (Doctrine &

Covenants 109.7). Preparation is a singular activity, one in which you are wholly responsible, but

teaching one another requires you to step out of that zone.

We are a community of learners here at BYU–Idaho, and one of the main initiatives of

the learning model includes learning from and teaching one another. In order to effectively share

in the responsibility of learning and teaching each other, we must make a leap of faith. Robert D.

Hales shared this thought, “Share your gifts and talents so that you can tutor, mentor, be in a

study group, or participate in the classroom…I give you a promise…you will find that both the

giver and receiver will be better off for their interaction” (Hales).

Teaching is an essential learning component. As you teach others, you will also learn

better for it. At Brigham Young University–Idaho, students teach to learn and learn to teach. “He

that preacheth and he that receiveth understand one another, and both are edified” (Doctrine &

Covenants 50.22).

How can we do this?

Begin and end class on time

Strive for the capacity to view and treat each member of class as a child of

God

Create a learning environment where students and teachers think of others

before themselves

Seek to use peer-to peer or other methods in which students regularly teach

each other in class and in small groups

Create experiences that allow faculty and students to be both teachers and

learners

Finally, when looking at what is required of us as students, we must look at the final step in the

process that will bring us to full edification: Ponder and Prove.

Ponder and Prove

Ask yourself this question, do you sit in meditative silence when you are seeking answers

from scripture study or prayer? We know that in order to be guided by the spirit, to receive

answers to questions, we must allow for time to have those confirmations given to us. However,

as we’ve discussed, we have work to do in order to receive confirmation of the truthfulness and

rightness of what we are studying. Some ways that we can ponder and prove are through

completing our assignments before class, preparing in a way that allows us to teach others what

we have learned, participate in learning groups, discuss questions with other students, and seek

guidance through the spirit.

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we have been

commanded to receive the Holy Ghost. No matter what subject we study, whether spiritual or

temporal, the Holy Ghost may instruct us in the truths they contain. Through instruction by the

Spirit, our learning can be tailor-made for our personal development. We recognize that as we

keep the commandments of God we will receive the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Ghost

in all our learning and teaching.

3. Balancing Student Life

Elder M. Russell Ballard said, “A life that gets out of balance is much like a car tire that

is out of balance. It will make the operation of the car rough and unsafe. . . . So it is with life.

The ride through mortality can be smoother for us when we strive to stay in balance” (Ballard).

Your time here at BYU–Idaho will be one of great experience and learning if you take care to

maintain personal balance. Throughout the semesters, many of you will have roommates that

choose to play Xbox all night long, to study every available moment, or to spend all their time

with friends and significant others. Decide now not to be one of these students. Appropriately

distribute your time between school, church, and extracurricular activities. The Lord taught,

“Thou shalt not idle away thy time” (Doctrine & Covenants, 60.13). For “time flies on wings of

lightning, we cannot call it back” (Hymns 226).

School

You are all sitting here, graciously listening to me, because you decided high school was

not the end of your educational career. You made the choice to attend BYU–Idaho in the hopes

of becoming an expert in your desired field. You have chosen to take on the responsibility of

homework and classes—responsibilities which require a certain amount of your personal time. In

order to obtain the desired GPA, degree, and experience, you must dedicate a good amount of

your time to schoolwork. This includes attending classes as well as setting aside time outside of

class for studying, homework, group work, and projects. If at all possible, treat school like a full-

time job, dedicating the hours between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to classes and homework. However, for

some of you school will not be your only form of work. Many of you will also have jobs and

simply cannot dedicate these hours solely to your education. If you are one of these students, I

urge you to find a schedule that allows you to meet all the requirements of school and work. In

the October 1992 General Conference, Elder Russell M. Nelson said, “Our Creator expects His

children everywhere to educate themselves” (Nelson). By attending school, you are following the

counsel of the apostles and of Heavenly Father. It is good to be invested in your studies, but

remember that you must maintain balance, “For it is not requisite that a man should run faster

than he has strength” (Book of Mormon, Mosiah 4.27). Just as God rested from his labors on the

seventh day, so should you take some time each week to rest from your educational demands by

participating in church to the fullest.

Church

Remember that this life is “a time to prepare to meet God” (Book of Mormon, Alma

12.24). The most important part of all our lives should be the gospel of Jesus Christ. This world

is our testing ground to see if we will follow Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father and stay true to

the covenants we have made. It is to prepare us to become Gods and Goddesses in the eternities.

In addition to dedicating our precious time to schoolwork, we must also dedicate some of that

time to the gospel. This includes being faithful in and magnifying our church callings,

participating in FHE weekly, attending all our church meetings, completing our home and

visiting teaching monthly, sustaining our leaders, and attending the temple as often as possible.

Participating faithfully in these activities will draw us nearer to Christ and help us become more

like him. The first and foremost goal of BYU–Idaho is to build testimonies of the restored gospel

of Jesus Christ and encourage living its principles (Human Resources Office). An important part

of your learning while at BYU–Idaho will take place in the church setting. Allow your love for

and participation in the gospel to refresh and rejuvenate you in your busy weeks. Strengthen

yourself daily by reading the scriptures and saying prayer. These small, but important activities

will lift your spirit, and you will begin the school day with added support, confidence, and vigor.

I promise that if you set aside time for your personal study and participation in the gospel, you

will be greatly blessed for it. The Savior promised, “He that loseth his life for my sake shall find

it” (The Holy Bible, Matt. 10:39). The gospel should be of great import in our lives because as

we live it, it will perfect us. Elder Dallin H. Oaks has said, “The Church gives us opportunities to

serve the Lord and our fellowmen. If given in the right way and for the right reasons, that service

will reward us beyond anything we have given. Millions serve unselfishly and effectively as

officers or teachers in Church organizations, and those who do experience the conversion

described by the prophet who pleaded with us to ‘come unto Christ, and be perfected in him’”

(Oaks). The more you put into this area of your lives, the more you will receive from it.

Extracurricular Activities

Finally, I’d like to address the need to balance your life here by having a little fun. Give

priority to your school and church responsibilities, but when appropriate, you should spend time

participating in sports and the arts, dating and being with friends, and becoming a part of the

BYU–Idaho community. We all know the feelings of stress, overload, and burning out. Balance

is key, and friendships and fun are a huge part of this balance. Your life will be greatly enriched

by the people around you if you get to know others, participate in wholesome activities together,

and support each other. You are in a prime place to develop lifelong relationships with good

people who share your same standards and high ambitions. Don’t let that pass you by.

Ballard advised, “Stay close to your spouse, children, relatives, and friends. They will

help you keep a balance in your life. In a recent study by the Church, adults in the United States

were asked to identify a time when they were very happy and to describe the experience. They

were also asked to describe a time when they were very unhappy. For most people, one thing that

had made them the most happy or the most sad was their personal relationships with others.

Much less important were their personal health, employment, money, and other material things.

Build relationships with your family and friends through open and honest communication”

(Ballard).

Learn about the many ways to become involved. We have a well-developed activities

program that continues to grow with student input. Every week there is something for everyone

through the different departments: Outdoor, Service, Wellness, Sports, Social, and Life Skills.

Check the calendar and find something that interests you so you can maintain that balance in

your life and avoid becoming overwhelmed. I urge you: Don’t lose this important part of balance

in your lives here at BYU–Idaho.

It is our deepest wish as faculty and leadership of this university for you to be successful

in your college experience and future career. I promise you, as president of this university, that if

you truly learn your duties and act in accordance with them in regards to the honor code, the

learning model, and balancing your student life, the Lord will help you to become successful. He

will aid you in all that you do. It is my testimony that our Heavenly Father loves us and will help

us to become the disciples He desires. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Works Cited

Ballard, M. Russell. "Keeping Life's Demands in Balance." Ensign. Intellectual Reserve, Apr.

1987. Web. 1 Nov. 2011.

Doctrine & Covenants. N.p.: Intellectual Reserve, n.d. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day

Saints. Web. 1 Nov. 2011.

Hales, Robert D., and Robert D. Hales. "Teaching by Faith." Ensign. Intellectual Reserve, Oct.

2003. Web. 1 Nov. 2011.

Human Resources Office. “BYU–Idaho Mission Statement.” BYU–Idaho. Brigham Young

University–Idaho, n.d. Web. 1 Nov. 2011.

Hymns. 1985. United States of America: Intellectual Reserve, 1998. Print.

Nelson, Russell M. "Where Is Wisdom?" Ensign. Intellectual Reserve, Nov. 1992. Web. 1 Nov.

2011.

Oaks, Dallin H. “The Gospel in our Lives.” Ensign. Intellectual Reserve, Apr. 2002. Web. 1

Nov. 2011.

Student Honor Office. "University Standards." BYU–Idaho. Brigham Young University–Idaho,

n.d. Web. 1 Nov. 2011. <http://www.byui.edu/StudentHonor/UniversityStandards.htm>.

The Book of Mormon. N.p.: Intellectual Reserve, n.d. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day

Saints. Web. 1 Nov. 2011.

The Holy Bible. N.p.: Intellectual Reserve, n.d. Authorized King James Vers. The Church of

Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Web. 1 Nov. 2011.