Devotional with L. Tom Perry

One thing that's so great about attending BYU-Idaho is the wonderful spirit that resides here. Every week on Tuesday at 2:10, we have devotional in our year old BYU-Idaho Center. The speaker could be a faculty member, someone from BYU, or someone from the church. The talk is always centered around spiritual matters and our lives. It used to be that devotional would be held in the Hart building's gymnasium and broadcasted to the Taylor Chapel, the Hinckley Chapel, the Snow building, and the Kirkham building.

The BYU-Idaho Center was in the process of construction when I arrived here for my first semester in Winter 2010. I had never really been on that side of the campus because of all the construction until the following Sophomore year. The BYU-Idaho Center was dedicated December 17, 2010. My brother, who's on his mission right now, was able to attend that dedication. Apparently it was extraordinarily full. But you have to figure that President Henry B. Eyring, first counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as Elder Russell M. Nelson and Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles were all in attendance.



One talk was entitled "Wait Upon the Lord" given by Elder David A. Bednar. Then there was an article put forth by LDS.org entitled "Apostles Emphasize Value of Education" talking of Elder Bednar's, Elder Nelson and Elder Eyring's words given during the dedication along with other comments they've had on the importance of education.

Pervious to this 15,000 seated auditorium, it used to be that if an apostle was visiting you'd have to get tickets to actually be in the Heart auditorium where he would be speaking. This time, with Elder L. Tom Perry, we could use the new 15,000 seated new BYU-Idaho Center. Without tickets.

It was packed.
BJ and I arrived perhaps an hour early and we were able to sit relatively close to the front. After 30 minutes, then 45 minutes, I noticed that the entire first floor was filled and that the doors were closed. I then noticed that the entire second floor was filled and that the doors were closed. The third floor was opened and almost full when I took this picture. I don't know if it has ever been that full. I'm guessing at the dedication of this building, but I don't know if it has been since then. It was amazing.

When Elder L. Tom Perry arrived, a hush descended upon the entire student body, even the few babies and toddlers. Everyone was in their Sunday best and stood.

It was the most amazing thing. It reminded me a lot of the one time I went to the LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City when I was maybe 14 for a young women's session. But this, this was cool.

At BYU-Idaho, we are asked to show that we are prepared to be taught, and that's when people raise their scriptures, journals, and pens. That was pretty awesome too. To see all of these college students and faculty united and prepared to learn and be taught by the Spirit, it's an awesome sight and I wish you all could have been there.

After song, prayer, and scripture, Elder L. Tom Perry gave his talk entitled "Rely on Steady Scaffolding." On LDS.org, there is a summary of his talk and as soon as it is available at BYUI.edu's Devotionals and Speeches, I'll put it up here. He was telling us how the church is a scaffolding to help us build solid families and professional lives. It was such a great talk. Highly recommend reading it and writing down your own impressions. My own impressions were that the church is important because it helps us build eternal families and eternal characteristics that lead us back to our Heavenly Father, because it guides us, and supports us, and teaches us. Elder L. Tom Perry. What a great man.

Update: Elder L. Tom Perry's talk "Rely on Steady Scaffolding"