Elder Marvin J. Ashton
I like this setting when we can refer to each other as family members. Without acknowledging those who are conducting and supervising Brigham Young University in total, may I take the liberty of just again saying it is good to be with you family members, and I hope that you will accept us as part of the family.
Sister Dalton, as you finished singing tonight, Sister Ashton leaned over and said, "How would you like to have a voice like that?" I'm sure I wouldn't, but I wish that Sister Ashton did. I hope in the family setting we can be a little informal and free tonight. In keeping with that I would like to say that I am reminded of a fellow who fell in love with a young lady's voice and married her. One morning when breakfast wasn't so good, he looked at her and said, "Would you mind singing?"
I am very grateful tonight to have this opportunity of visiting with you. I suppose if this talk has a title I would prefer it to be identified as "Making BYU a Real Winner"--as a total family and a group who are set upon being worthy family members of that great eternal family of which Brigham Young University is such an important part.
As we were meeting today in the temple--the Twelve and the First Presidency--President Kimball said at the conclusion, "I would like each one of you to just tell very quickly how long you have been a General Authority." We went around the room and reported in years. When we finished he quickly said that represents 180 years of service as a General Authority. So family service, family unity, and family oneness are so important. I would hope and pray tonight that the thread that seems to go through my remarks and my challenge would be that we could be family members and team members first, and, if you please, superstars, coaches, and all-Americans second.
The college football season is upon us. Already we are anticipating the first game, reviewing the balance of the schedule, and hoping that between us we can put it all together for another winning year. As we meet here tonight and contemplate the immediate future, we are probably less than we could be if we are not anxiously anticipating the opening kickoff of our fall schedule, our school year.
Tonight I would like to share a few thoughts on how we can best team up in making Brigham Young University a real winner. How can we best accomplish this? What is the game plan? What is my part? What is your plan? How important is my position? What must I do to make it possible for us to score, hold the line, and come out victorious? I'm even going to share a few negative attitudes that could cause us to be real losers.
First, on the positive side, there needs to be willingness and determination on the part of all of us to relate properly to others in the classroom, on the campus, in the dorms, and in the community. Courtesy and self-respect are necessary ingredients. We need the team approach in dealing with others. Proper self-management will permit us, as I mentioned before, to be a team member first, a coach, captain, or superstar second. In this relationship and way of life the truth "If ye are not one ye are not mine" (D&C 38:27) takes on new significance. "I and my Father are one" (John 10:30) is an example of teamwork at its highest level. Regardless of whether we be faculty, administration, food services, maintenance, security, or whatever, we have a special position to fill on the team. How well we perform individually determines the final score and ultimately the winner.
Top draft choices, if you please, from throughout the world are coming on campus next week. Will you develop them into winners and champions? Or will you permit them to drop out, never realizing they are first-string material? What do you and I have to do to become a first team player or a champion and lead others to similar heights?
Let me start out with a few negatives in using football words and terms. Here are twenty-eight attitudes that may prevent some of us on the sidelines from making the team. Perhaps you will find some of them to be corny and way-out. On the other hand, you may get a chuckle or a simple, subtle application. I admit to jotting them down while riding in an airplane. I will leave it to you to determine whether I was traveling at too high an altitude with the cabin pressurization on or off. Don't let the number twenty-eight throw you. They will take only a few minutes to share.
She won't go to a football game because she thinks every time the men are in the huddle they are talking about her. Are you the kind that is offended easily, supersensitive, and subject to hurt feelings?
He wants to kick even when his team doesn't have the ball. Are you a perpetual kicker?
He likes to make end runs when straight up the middle is the play that is called. Don't be identified as an end-runner. Follow the game plan. Follow the play that has been called.
She thinks the quarterback got the position by marrying the coach's daughter. Are you one who thinks the only way you can achieve is to polish apples and not earn the position?
She thinks a delayed buck is a late salary adjustment.
He thinks a halfback is a department member only 50 percent employed.
She thinks a football tee is an afternoon luncheon they are having without her.
He thinks running interference is what the department head does for everyone else.
She thinks someone sitting on the bench is there to pass judgment.
He thinks that an ineligible man upfield is someone with only a bachelor's degree.
She thinks a good kicker is the first one to get recognition.
He thinks dropping back to pass is staying after class to butter up the instructor.
He thinks bucking the line is quarreling with the administration.
She thinks a quarterback keep is a cheap way of saving twenty-five cents.
She thinks every time a player goes to an after-game shower someone is getting married.
She thinks a play called from the sidelines is the boss butting in.
She thinks that PAT (point after touchdown) means "poverty after tithing."
She thinks the end zone is where you are taken to be buried.
She thinks going through the uprights is a person's first encounter with Saint Peter.
He thinks a skull drill is an unapproved surgical tool.
He thinks a redshirter is a spy from the University of Utah.
She thinks a dislocated joint is an off-limits hangout.
She thinks a defensive coach is a person with a poor self-image.
He thinks a two-minute warning should be given in private.
She thinks killing the clock is an unnecessary waste of time.
She thinks that artificial grass is a new product for dope users.
He thinks holding the line is just another excuse to keep salaries down.
- He gets exercised without even taking time to warm up.
I hope that in sharing these points with you maybe somewhere, somehow, we can see how they apply or may not apply or how they may be misunderstood.
Now may I suggest five positive points for your consideration? I think that they are necessary if we are to be victorious. I would challenge each one to be a real, honest-to-goodness team member by making these applications.
1. Awareness of others. Every one of us has an opportunity wherever we perform or wherever we serve, on campus or as companions to those who serve on campus, in related and important functions, to be aware of others. Some of life's greatest lessons are taught and learned as we go about our Father's business in routine, daily human awarenesses. We need to be aware of other people and their needs and their feelings: This is a plus in the performance of a champion and team member. From Psalms 133:1, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity" which indicates a concern and awareness for others. And from Moses 7:18, "And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness."
A few years ago, one of the themes frequently used for activation purposes was "Building Bridges." I have always been intrigued, impressed, and moved with the theme of building bridges for human lives. The definition of a bridge is a structure erected across a waterway, ravine, road, etc., to afford passage. I hope that you and I will be bridge builders.
Existing conditions determine the type of construction, whether it be a cantilever bridge, drawbridge, pontoon bridge, or suspension bridge. For our consideration tonight may I remind you that the most important part of a land bridge is unseen, underground--the position anchored to the shore? Which part of the bridge are you going to be? I hope we will be the anchored member upon which others can build and be afforded passage. An awareness of others causes men to build bridges.
Some of the greatest pleasures we can know are to render special human services and awarenesses on purpose today and let them be found out by accident tomorrow.
Patience is that certain ingredient of conduct we hope others will exhibit toward us when we fail to measure up.
Remember, brothers and sisters, there are others on the team besides you and me. What is best for the team? What is my position? What is my function? What is the game plan?
Defensive tackles don't carry the ball. They hold the line, keep the opponent from scoring, and help bring victory to us. Some of us are asked to carry the ball, others to run interference, still others to defend. All must function properly for team victory. Who is to say which is the most important role or position on the team? Who is to say who is the most important person here tonight in relationship to Brigham Young University? The man who pushes the broom or the man who sits in the top administration position? Who is the greatest? The greatest is the one who is servant of all. A trainer contributes toward victory without even going out on the field. An equipment manager also works behind the scenes.
May I take a moment to share an example and experience I had just a few days ago? At the request of President Kimball, I had an assignment recently to go to the Utah State Prison and make it possible for them to have a similar organization to what we have here on campus, to have our branch there presided over by a bishop. We now have a bishop presiding over a unit at the Utah State Prison. How pleased we are that these men and women may now have the blessing of being led by a bishop.
We went to the prison recently to set this up and as two of us stood at the corridor just inside the prison doors waiting to be admitted, a young man in a blue uniform, an inmate, came by with a mop bucket and mop and was swishing around in the concrete. He came over to where we were standing and without looking up, he said, "You guys get out of the way so I can mop where you are." We moved out of his way and he finished mopping. Soon we were admitted into the prison. He knew not who we were; he didn't look up. I thought to myself how great it would have been if he could have been a little more aware, not of any office that we hold, but aware of human beings and had said, "Would you gentlemen mind moving while I mop where you are?" instead of "You guys get out of the way."
The next day, early in the morning, President Kimball asked me how I got along at the Utah State Prison. He started with this human awareness that is not a surprise to you because you know him well. Calling early in the morning, he said when I picked up the phone, "Marvin, could I come up to your office and see you?"
"President Kimball, if you would like to see me, I will be right down."
Do you know what he said, "Would you do that?" Not, "Hey, boy, come down. You know who I am." I think on occasion there is a little tendency on the part of us when we have a little authority to say, "Hey, boy, get out of the way, or come up, or hurry up, you know who I am." But the Prophet, the President says, "Would you do that?" I went to his office and he said, "I hate to take up your time, but do you have a few moments?" This is the President of your Church and my Church, our Prophet, speaking. Here is a great example of courtesy, gentleness, and kindness. You and I would do anything for him because he thinks of us first. He is a team member with our Heavenly Father. He is a team member first. I support him, and I would do anything to remain on his team so that we can be a part of that great victory that I know he sees and will make possible for us if we will follow his example.
Be anxiously engaged in a good cause, playing your position well. The basic goal of teaching and leading in the Church is to bring about worthwhile changes in the lives of boys and girls, men and women. We can carry the ball effectively across the goal line in proportion to our awareness of others and our ability to be a team member.
2. To be a team member we must have personal integrity. Integrity within one's self makes it possible for honesty with God, family, and with other daily associates. A person who has integrity within himself will also have it in relationship with all others. How wonderful it is to witness the performance of someone who gives his best regardless of the score or the climate.
What is more stimulating in life than to know that someone trusts you, that you are an individual of integrity?. Someone has said, "You are a champion when you play in pain." He went on to say, "If I had to play football games only when I was feeling 100 percent free of injuries. I would never play. There is always something involving pain. But it is only when you learn to perform in pain that you become champions."
I am always impressed with what the Prophet Joseph Smith had to say about his brother Hyrum, even an older brother who was loyal and faithful and the champion of the Prophet.
There was Brother Hyrum who . . . took me by the hand--a natural brother. Thought I to myself, Brother Hyrum, what a faithful heart you have . . . ! Oh may the Eternal Jehovah crown eternal blessings upon your head, as a reward for the care you have had for my soul! (Documentary History of the Church, 5:107-108) I could pray in my heart that all my brethren were like unto my beloved brother Hyrum, who possesses the mildness of a lamb, and the integrity of a Job, and in short, the meekness and humility of Christ; and I love him with that love that is stronger than death. (HC, 2:338)
And from the Doctrine and Covenants a revelation from the Lord in regard to Hyrum: "And again, verily I say unto you, blessed is my servant Hyrum Smith; for I, the Lord, love him because of the integrity of his heart, and because he loveth that which is right before me, saith the Lord." (D&C 124:15)
We are living in a day when there has never been a greater need for more courage: courage to continue in righteousness, courage to communicate, courage to have patience, courage to have childlike faith, courage to be approachable, courage to be teachable. As we think together of the scope of faithfully continuing in righteousness, important parts must be courage not to be diverted, courage not to be hurt, courage not to be offended, courage not to misunderstand, courage to get back up, courage not to stray, and courage to be anxiously engaged in team effort. "If you continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed, and ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31,32) It takes courage to develop continuing personal integrity.
Let me share with you a verse from a nineteenth-century writer, Josiah Gilbert Holland. The bust of Dr. Holland is in the Hall of Fame, and beneath is this powerful verse which he wrote entitled "Wanted." It is one of my favorite expressions:
God give us man.A time like this demandsStrong minds, great hearts,true faith and ready hands.Men whom lust of office does not kill,Men whom the spoils of office cannot buy,Men who possess opinionsand a will,Men who love honor,Men who will not lie.
If we are honest with ourselves, we will be honest with our associates. If we are honest with ourselves, we will be honest with Brigham Young University. It goes without saying, we are consistent in what we do if we follow the pattern of honesty in its true significance.
I plead with each one tonight to teach, lead, and lift regardless of the score or regardless of the way the ball bounces. There must be a willingness to put out; a willingness to fill our position with pride; a willingness to follow the game plan even if we may disagree. A man of character and integrity will not allow himself to perform shabbily at Brigham Young University. Character is more important than learning. Character is more important than position. Team integrity is a sum total of the integrity of each member of the squad.
3. Appropriate communication. How important it is that we appropriately communicate with those about us--family members, faculty members, staff members, administration--all of those who are employed with us in related total services to the University. As we think of appropriate communication, may I suggest continuing prayers before the game each day, before class, before performing regardless of how insignificant or spiritually free our tasks may seem to be.
Victor Hugo once said, "Certain thoughts are prayers; there are moments when, whatever be the attitude of the body, the soul is on its knees." Certainly every soul has a sincere desire to pray. I remind you that no matter how wise, educated, talented, or skilled with our hands or body we may be, we cannot be all that we could be if we are without daily and constant prayer. Personal prayer is an acknowledgment of someone greater whose power and guidance is needed. How strong, how wise, how important to realize with God's help I can do it all, and without him I am very limited. May daily prayer be part of your daily game plans.
Personal prayers can be offered in many ways. Whether we commune vocally, in private, in song, in meditation, God can and does respond. Who is to say that prayers of "Lead me, guide me, walk beside me, help me find the way" ("I Am a Child of God," Sing with Me. [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1969]) are not most acceptable whether they fall from the lips of children or from BYU campus members? Regardless of our role or realm I encourage you to make prayer part of your daily approach even with those you leave behind each morning as you come to this campus to perform as members of this great team.
May I inject this thought and point it in the direction of you campus leaders and teachers. God knows the difference between one who inquires sincerely and one who murmurs, and you should also. Leaders and teachers should have time for the sincere inquirer. The Savior did. Joseph Smith was a sincere inquirer. Sincere inquirers are entitled to your time, your best thinking, and your willingness to listen. We may unknowingly lead some to murmur by our lack of patience, the use of the wrong approach, or an unwillingness to communicate. "How forcible are right words!" (Job 6:25) Don't dictate, demand, or threaten. Lift, assist, encourage, sustain, build, and serve this school as you serve all others.
Communication is more than a sharing of words. It is the wise sharing of emotions, feelings, and concerns. Listening is more than being quiet. Listening is much more than silence. The time to listen, fellow team members, is when someone needs to be heard--when they are ready.
Letting everyone know what's planned and what's happening next is very important. Know what the objective is, then you can know what your role is. Listen, pray, make your game plans, make constructive observations. Instead of saying "That was a poor tackle, or a lousy block," take time to show how to do it better. Take time after class; take time after your job to talk and visit, not in the role of a counselor, but as a friend. Knowing how to appropriately communicate very often will lift you from the role of a stranger to a friend.
4. Proper exercising of options. Today is the time to start on tomorrow. The future belongs to those who know how to live now and properly exercise their daily options. There are no unimportant days in the lives of the anxiously engaged. Misfortune is handled differently by each one of us. One punter gets a bad snap from center, tries to get the punt off quickly, and has it blocked. Another player in the same situation sees it is too late to kick, spots an opening around the end, and runs the ball for a first down. To the former, the bad snap from center proved to be a disaster. To the latter, the bad break turned out to be a better play than the one that was planned because he exercised an option in an emergency. We must work each day to beat yesterday's record, not someone else's.
Exercising options in life demands continuing ability and skill to determine how to best use the opportunities, challenges, and reverses as they present themselves. May we properly use our quarterback options--freedom to call and use the play that appears most likely to succeed in view of the existing patterns, defense, or openings. Imagination and initiative are yours to use within the rules of the game. What do you do when there is a fumble? What are your options? Do you pounce on the ball and seek to make a recovery, or are you content to leave it to someone else and avoid the possibility of becoming battered and bruised?
5. Developing individual talent. Brothers and sisters, we cannot all be quarterbacks or carry the ball, but I promise you we all can make the team. "And again, verily I say unto you, I would that ye should always remember, and always retain in your minds what those gifts are, that are given unto the church. For all have not every gift given unto them; for there are many gifts, and to every man is given a gift by the Spirit of God. To some is given one, and to some is given another, that all may be profited thereby." (D&C 46:10-12) I won't take time to quote all verses, 10 through 26, found in the Doctrine and Covenants, section 46, but let it suffice to be reminded that we all do have some special talents, special skills, even though there are days and occasions and weeks and months and years when we may wonder what they are. They are there, and with God's help they can be discovered and be put to use. We constantly need to build hope in ourselves and in all of those about us. We need to perform well in our positions. We need to personally make dark days brighter. Isn't it a joy, a lift, a light, to see someone with heavy challenges and burdens moving forward to victory in the only contest that really matters--eternal victory?
The attitude with which we approach each day certainly controls the outcome. We must be more concerned over what we do with what happens to us than with what happens to us. The proper attitude toward self is an eternal pursuit. Positive personal attitude will insist we deliver our best even though less may seem quite adequate for the moment. Proper attitude towards self demands that we be realistic, tough, and self-disciplined. In our daily commitments to earn a living and get a few things around us to insure a happy future, we may be passing by in our daily conduct the things that we are really trying to find.
Ours is to let every person know he is an important part of the team regardless of his talents, skills, dimensions, or position. Encourage, if you will, your associates to work, improve, and excel. Knowing we are God's children, we must never forget we have his potential and are all members of his team and that we, too, may be victorious. He through his prophets will tell us and show us the game plan. Ours is to follow and not weary in well-doing. Let yourself share the fruits of being a true winner, a prize team member. We can do it regardless of our station, responsibility, or relationship to each other on this great campus if (l) we are aware of others, (2) we develop and display personal integrity, (3) we use proper communication, (4) we properly exercise our options, and (5) we teach the proper development of individual talent.
May we at Brigham Young University be winners in the full sense of the word.
I bring you the love and the greetings of President Kimball and his counselors and the other members of the Twelve and all of the General Authorities--the love and the greetings to be members of an eternal team. I bear witness to you that at Brigham Young University, all of you are important members of the team that will know and share victory as we put each other and others first. How thrilling it is to recall that the Savior said, "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father." (John 14:9) That kind of oneness and unity will bring, if you please, team victory. I hope to so live and conduct myself that I, too, may be a member of your team and be victorious--not alone, but with all others who are on your squad. I leave these thoughts, my love and my blessings, with you in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
I hope that in sharing these points with you maybe somewhere, somehow, we can see how they apply or may not apply or how they may be misunderstood.
Now may I suggest five positive points for your consideration? I think that they are necessary if we are to be victorious. I would challenge each one to be a real, honest-to-goodness team member by making these applications.
1. Awareness of others. Every one of us has an opportunity wherever we perform or wherever we serve, on campus or as companions to those who serve on campus, in related and important functions, to be aware of others. Some of life's greatest lessons are taught and learned as we go about our Father's business in routine, daily human awarenesses. We need to be aware of other people and their needs and their feelings: This is a plus in the performance of a champion and team member. From Psalms 133:1, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity" which indicates a concern and awareness for others. And from Moses 7:18, "And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness."
A few years ago, one of the themes frequently used for activation purposes was "Building Bridges." I have always been intrigued, impressed, and moved with the theme of building bridges for human lives. The definition of a bridge is a structure erected across a waterway, ravine, road, etc., to afford passage. I hope that you and I will be bridge builders.
Existing conditions determine the type of construction, whether it be a cantilever bridge, drawbridge, pontoon bridge, or suspension bridge. For our consideration tonight may I remind you that the most important part of a land bridge is unseen, underground--the position anchored to the shore? Which part of the bridge are you going to be? I hope we will be the anchored member upon which others can build and be afforded passage. An awareness of others causes men to build bridges.
Some of the greatest pleasures we can know are to render special human services and awarenesses on purpose today and let them be found out by accident tomorrow.
Patience is that certain ingredient of conduct we hope others will exhibit toward us when we fail to measure up.
Remember, brothers and sisters, there are others on the team besides you and me. What is best for the team? What is my position? What is my function? What is the game plan?
Defensive tackles don't carry the ball. They hold the line, keep the opponent from scoring, and help bring victory to us. Some of us are asked to carry the ball, others to run interference, still others to defend. All must function properly for team victory. Who is to say which is the most important role or position on the team? Who is to say who is the most important person here tonight in relationship to Brigham Young University? The man who pushes the broom or the man who sits in the top administration position? Who is the greatest? The greatest is the one who is servant of all. A trainer contributes toward victory without even going out on the field. An equipment manager also works behind the scenes.
May I take a moment to share an example and experience I had just a few days ago? At the request of President Kimball, I had an assignment recently to go to the Utah State Prison and make it possible for them to have a similar organization to what we have here on campus, to have our branch there presided over by a bishop. We now have a bishop presiding over a unit at the Utah State Prison. How pleased we are that these men and women may now have the blessing of being led by a bishop.
We went to the prison recently to set this up and as two of us stood at the corridor just inside the prison doors waiting to be admitted, a young man in a blue uniform, an inmate, came by with a mop bucket and mop and was swishing around in the concrete. He came over to where we were standing and without looking up, he said, "You guys get out of the way so I can mop where you are." We moved out of his way and he finished mopping. Soon we were admitted into the prison. He knew not who we were; he didn't look up. I thought to myself how great it would have been if he could have been a little more aware, not of any office that we hold, but aware of human beings and had said, "Would you gentlemen mind moving while I mop where you are?" instead of "You guys get out of the way."
The next day, early in the morning, President Kimball asked me how I got along at the Utah State Prison. He started with this human awareness that is not a surprise to you because you know him well. Calling early in the morning, he said when I picked up the phone, "Marvin, could I come up to your office and see you?"
"President Kimball, if you would like to see me, I will be right down."
Do you know what he said, "Would you do that?" Not, "Hey, boy, come down. You know who I am." I think on occasion there is a little tendency on the part of us when we have a little authority to say, "Hey, boy, get out of the way, or come up, or hurry up, you know who I am." But the Prophet, the President says, "Would you do that?" I went to his office and he said, "I hate to take up your time, but do you have a few moments?" This is the President of your Church and my Church, our Prophet, speaking. Here is a great example of courtesy, gentleness, and kindness. You and I would do anything for him because he thinks of us first. He is a team member with our Heavenly Father. He is a team member first. I support him, and I would do anything to remain on his team so that we can be a part of that great victory that I know he sees and will make possible for us if we will follow his example.
Be anxiously engaged in a good cause, playing your position well. The basic goal of teaching and leading in the Church is to bring about worthwhile changes in the lives of boys and girls, men and women. We can carry the ball effectively across the goal line in proportion to our awareness of others and our ability to be a team member.
2. To be a team member we must have personal integrity. Integrity within one's self makes it possible for honesty with God, family, and with other daily associates. A person who has integrity within himself will also have it in relationship with all others. How wonderful it is to witness the performance of someone who gives his best regardless of the score or the climate.
What is more stimulating in life than to know that someone trusts you, that you are an individual of integrity?. Someone has said, "You are a champion when you play in pain." He went on to say, "If I had to play football games only when I was feeling 100 percent free of injuries. I would never play. There is always something involving pain. But it is only when you learn to perform in pain that you become champions."
I am always impressed with what the Prophet Joseph Smith had to say about his brother Hyrum, even an older brother who was loyal and faithful and the champion of the Prophet.
There was Brother Hyrum who . . . took me by the hand--a natural brother. Thought I to myself, Brother Hyrum, what a faithful heart you have . . . ! Oh may the Eternal Jehovah crown eternal blessings upon your head, as a reward for the care you have had for my soul! (Documentary History of the Church, 5:107-108) I could pray in my heart that all my brethren were like unto my beloved brother Hyrum, who possesses the mildness of a lamb, and the integrity of a Job, and in short, the meekness and humility of Christ; and I love him with that love that is stronger than death. (HC, 2:338)
And from the Doctrine and Covenants a revelation from the Lord in regard to Hyrum: "And again, verily I say unto you, blessed is my servant Hyrum Smith; for I, the Lord, love him because of the integrity of his heart, and because he loveth that which is right before me, saith the Lord." (D&C 124:15)
We are living in a day when there has never been a greater need for more courage: courage to continue in righteousness, courage to communicate, courage to have patience, courage to have childlike faith, courage to be approachable, courage to be teachable. As we think together of the scope of faithfully continuing in righteousness, important parts must be courage not to be diverted, courage not to be hurt, courage not to be offended, courage not to misunderstand, courage to get back up, courage not to stray, and courage to be anxiously engaged in team effort. "If you continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed, and ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31,32) It takes courage to develop continuing personal integrity.
Let me share with you a verse from a nineteenth-century writer, Josiah Gilbert Holland. The bust of Dr. Holland is in the Hall of Fame, and beneath is this powerful verse which he wrote entitled "Wanted." It is one of my favorite expressions:
God give us man.
A time like this demands
Strong minds, great hearts,
true faith and ready hands.
Men whom lust of office does not kill,
Men whom the spoils of office cannot buy,
Men who possess opinions
and a will,
Men who love honor,
Men who will not lie.
If we are honest with ourselves, we will be honest with our associates. If we are honest with ourselves, we will be honest with Brigham Young University. It goes without saying, we are consistent in what we do if we follow the pattern of honesty in its true significance.
I plead with each one tonight to teach, lead, and lift regardless of the score or regardless of the way the ball bounces. There must be a willingness to put out; a willingness to fill our position with pride; a willingness to follow the game plan even if we may disagree. A man of character and integrity will not allow himself to perform shabbily at Brigham Young University. Character is more important than learning. Character is more important than position. Team integrity is a sum total of the integrity of each member of the squad.
3. Appropriate communication. How important it is that we appropriately communicate with those about us--family members, faculty members, staff members, administration--all of those who are employed with us in related total services to the University. As we think of appropriate communication, may I suggest continuing prayers before the game each day, before class, before performing regardless of how insignificant or spiritually free our tasks may seem to be.
Victor Hugo once said, "Certain thoughts are prayers; there are moments when, whatever be the attitude of the body, the soul is on its knees." Certainly every soul has a sincere desire to pray. I remind you that no matter how wise, educated, talented, or skilled with our hands or body we may be, we cannot be all that we could be if we are without daily and constant prayer. Personal prayer is an acknowledgment of someone greater whose power and guidance is needed. How strong, how wise, how important to realize with God's help I can do it all, and without him I am very limited. May daily prayer be part of your daily game plans.
Personal prayers can be offered in many ways. Whether we commune vocally, in private, in song, in meditation, God can and does respond. Who is to say that prayers of "Lead me, guide me, walk beside me, help me find the way" ("I Am a Child of God," Sing with Me. [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1969]) are not most acceptable whether they fall from the lips of children or from BYU campus members? Regardless of our role or realm I encourage you to make prayer part of your daily approach even with those you leave behind each morning as you come to this campus to perform as members of this great team.
May I inject this thought and point it in the direction of you campus leaders and teachers. God knows the difference between one who inquires sincerely and one who murmurs, and you should also. Leaders and teachers should have time for the sincere inquirer. The Savior did. Joseph Smith was a sincere inquirer. Sincere inquirers are entitled to your time, your best thinking, and your willingness to listen. We may unknowingly lead some to murmur by our lack of patience, the use of the wrong approach, or an unwillingness to communicate. "How forcible are right words!" (Job 6:25) Don't dictate, demand, or threaten. Lift, assist, encourage, sustain, build, and serve this school as you serve all others.
Communication is more than a sharing of words. It is the wise sharing of emotions, feelings, and concerns. Listening is more than being quiet. Listening is much more than silence. The time to listen, fellow team members, is when someone needs to be heard--when they are ready.
Letting everyone know what's planned and what's happening next is very important. Know what the objective is, then you can know what your role is. Listen, pray, make your game plans, make constructive observations. Instead of saying "That was a poor tackle, or a lousy block," take time to show how to do it better. Take time after class; take time after your job to talk and visit, not in the role of a counselor, but as a friend. Knowing how to appropriately communicate very often will lift you from the role of a stranger to a friend.
4. Proper exercising of options. Today is the time to start on tomorrow. The future belongs to those who know how to live now and properly exercise their daily options. There are no unimportant days in the lives of the anxiously engaged. Misfortune is handled differently by each one of us. One punter gets a bad snap from center, tries to get the punt off quickly, and has it blocked. Another player in the same situation sees it is too late to kick, spots an opening around the end, and runs the ball for a first down. To the former, the bad snap from center proved to be a disaster. To the latter, the bad break turned out to be a better play than the one that was planned because he exercised an option in an emergency. We must work each day to beat yesterday's record, not someone else's.
Exercising options in life demands continuing ability and skill to determine how to best use the opportunities, challenges, and reverses as they present themselves. May we properly use our quarterback options--freedom to call and use the play that appears most likely to succeed in view of the existing patterns, defense, or openings. Imagination and initiative are yours to use within the rules of the game. What do you do when there is a fumble? What are your options? Do you pounce on the ball and seek to make a recovery, or are you content to leave it to someone else and avoid the possibility of becoming battered and bruised?
5. Developing individual talent. Brothers and sisters, we cannot all be quarterbacks or carry the ball, but I promise you we all can make the team. "And again, verily I say unto you, I would that ye should always remember, and always retain in your minds what those gifts are, that are given unto the church. For all have not every gift given unto them; for there are many gifts, and to every man is given a gift by the Spirit of God. To some is given one, and to some is given another, that all may be profited thereby." (D&C 46:10-12) I won't take time to quote all verses, 10 through 26, found in the Doctrine and Covenants, section 46, but let it suffice to be reminded that we all do have some special talents, special skills, even though there are days and occasions and weeks and months and years when we may wonder what they are. They are there, and with God's help they can be discovered and be put to use. We constantly need to build hope in ourselves and in all of those about us. We need to perform well in our positions. We need to personally make dark days brighter. Isn't it a joy, a lift, a light, to see someone with heavy challenges and burdens moving forward to victory in the only contest that really matters--eternal victory?
The attitude with which we approach each day certainly controls the outcome. We must be more concerned over what we do with what happens to us than with what happens to us. The proper attitude toward self is an eternal pursuit. Positive personal attitude will insist we deliver our best even though less may seem quite adequate for the moment. Proper attitude towards self demands that we be realistic, tough, and self-disciplined. In our daily commitments to earn a living and get a few things around us to insure a happy future, we may be passing by in our daily conduct the things that we are really trying to find.
Ours is to let every person know he is an important part of the team regardless of his talents, skills, dimensions, or position. Encourage, if you will, your associates to work, improve, and excel. Knowing we are God's children, we must never forget we have his potential and are all members of his team and that we, too, may be victorious. He through his prophets will tell us and show us the game plan. Ours is to follow and not weary in well-doing. Let yourself share the fruits of being a true winner, a prize team member. We can do it regardless of our station, responsibility, or relationship to each other on this great campus if (l) we are aware of others, (2) we develop and display personal integrity, (3) we use proper communication, (4) we properly exercise our options, and (5) we teach the proper development of individual talent.
May we at Brigham Young University be winners in the full sense of the word.
I bring you the love and the greetings of President Kimball and his counselors and the other members of the Twelve and all of the General Authorities--the love and the greetings to be members of an eternal team. I bear witness to you that at Brigham Young University, all of you are important members of the team that will know and share victory as we put each other and others first. How thrilling it is to recall that the Savior said, "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father." (John 14:9) That kind of oneness and unity will bring, if you please, team victory. I hope to so live and conduct myself that I, too, may be a member of your team and be victorious--not alone, but with all others who are on your squad. I leave these thoughts, my love and my blessings, with you in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.