Learning for Eternity

How will Brigham Young University (BYU) impact God’s children in their learning? Spencer W. Kimball was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a member of the BYU Board of Trustees. In the envisioning BYU devotional, he expressed, “The uniqueness of Brigham Young University lies in its special role for eternity—which it must carry in addition to the usual tasks of a university. This means concern—curricular and behavioral—for not only the whole man but for the eternal man (Envisioning BYU, September 12, 1967, pg. 1)”. While we can see a lot of prestigious universities around the world, BYU stands out for its vision about education. This University not only focuses on teaching the temporal men but also the spiritual men. Cooperating with the world by providing a good education is the core of all Universities. However, BYU goes beyond that, this institution prepares men to support the Church of Jesus Christ and its expansion worldwide. It focuses on preparing men to support their families and make the place they live in better, where the Lord can prevail. President Kimball emphasized two principles that BYU focuses on; this life as a time to prepare for the afterlife and BYU as a beacon to firm conversion.

This life is a time to prepare for the afterlife. For BYU, this mortal life is no more than a part of God’s plan. All we do here will prepare us to stand before the Lord, thus this mortal life has become a training field for salvation. In the envisioning BYU devotional in 1967, Spencer Kimball pointed out that besides acquiring secular knowledge, we shall also expect to know God’s revealed will, laws, and commandments because they are the ultimate truths that shape and control our destinies. Knowing our purpose on earth will give much more meaning to our secular knowledge. When we prepare, we develop the capacity to see mortal life as part of a divine plan that continues beyond this life.

Because BYU is a university that follows Jesus Christ’s gospel it has become a beacon for students’ firm conversion. Our conversion as students is essential to Jesus Christ, students are preparing academically and secularly at BYU through learning for eternity. Since there is evil in the world, BYU has programs that lighten students and help them to become faithful disciples of Christ. As Elder Christofferson said in the BYU inauguration, "You should likewise prioritize scholarship that is aligned with the purposes of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and the mission of the church (Presidential Inauguration, Sept 19, 2023)”. Elder Christofferson challenges us to convert through BYU by aligning our chores with matters that will approach us to the restored gospel and the mission of the church.

You might wonder how all this is related to the English Language Center (ELC) Students. ELC students have been part of BYU since this institution opened its doors in December 1999. The mission of this school is to help students with their English skills and so pursue higher education, especially if they’re considering applying to BYU. Therefore, we learn and keep the same principles as BYU students. In addition, we have the same Honor Code and must keep them while belonging to the ELC. We get to know BYU through other means, like last week when we went to stroll around campus and learned about the different departments. We also learn about our Savior and his gospel and start with a prayer before every class to invite the Holy Ghost. President Reese expressed in the recent BYU inauguration on September 23rd that as we embrace our unique institutional identity, we are empowered to be peacemakers in an ever more divisive society. As shown in the paragraphs above, ELC and BYU students live under the same principles, commandments, honor codes, and rules. We are greatly encouraged to embrace our divine identity as children of God.