BYU Graduation





See slideshow at http://www.deseretnews.com/photo/slideshow/1,5587,5147,00.html

Gary's comment after all the other things they have done since they were last on the campus in December .."it was anticlimactic, but it's done."
(details are from Uncle Lynn's email)

On Friday (August 15th), at noon Louann and I drove down to BYU to see Gary graduate at 2 p.m. and Diana graduate at 5 p.m. We really enjoyed their graduation exercises. In Gary's, Chukuwuemeka Weldon Chukwurah from Lagos, Nigeria spoke about "defining moments." In 1992 his father and mother served as mission president in Ghana and he entered BYU-Idaho. He said he was tempted to try to be more American and "white" than his classmates, and his mother counseled him, "When you choose to lose your culture, you choose to lose your self." He said that helped him regain his balance, and enjoy America while learning to cherish his roots. He said as the graduates go out to their jobs they will be tempted to drop the "culture of righteousness and striving for virtue" that BYU fosters. "Don't lose yourselves," he counseled. He also said that after finishing police academy and being hired by a city's police force, he was eventually fired in a reduction in force. That was a bitter disappointment for him, but after several months he was hired as a probation officer by Utah. Soon he met his wife and now he is rising in the state's correction officers corps. "Out of our greatest disappointments can come our greatest blessings," he said, "so look for good in every disappointment, and just have faith. God will open the doors."

Ned C. Hell, former dean of the Marriott Business School gave the address to graduates. He cited several examples of people he has known who have chosen to be honest--even when it hurt--or not, and the rewards of keeping one's integrity (D&C 124:15). "[Worldly] success is often measured by the most obvious things," he said, "but these fail to capture what are the most important measures of 'eternal' success....Ask yourself, 'How am I doing in becoming a Christ-like person.'"

The speaker at Diana's graduation in the College of Humanities (we've lost our program, and can't remember his name), talked about handling multiple responsibilities each day: family, Church, and a profession (and I would add, taking time to restock one's own batteries). "Counsel with the Lord each morning and night," he said, "and don't be discouraged....There will be seasons in your life when you will concentrate more on one thing than another, but always you will be juggling responsibilities. Learn to follow the Spirit."

We congratulate Gary and Diana!
And so do we!!