Know Jesus Christ and Live by Honor Code, BYU–Hawaii President and Wife Tell Students

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By Kaitlyn Bancroft, Church News

Getting to know Jesus Christ and being prepared for opportunities were two major themes of the opening devotional for fall semester at Brigham Young University–Hawaii on Tuesday, September 5.

BYU–Hawaii President John S.K. Kauwe III also reviewed the school’s Honor Code and the “sacred privilege” students have of upholding it.

“As a student in the Church Educational System or employee, you have a special ‘kuleana,’” President Kauwe said. “That word refers to stewardship and the fact that you have both privileges and responsibilities as a student here.”

Getting to Know Jesus Christ

Sister Monica Kauwe, President Kauwe’s wife, opened the devotional by speaking about personal relationships with Jesus Christ.

If a person wants to understand Heavenly Father and their own divine identity, they need to spend time getting to know the Savior, she said.

Sister Kauwe said one of the ways she does this is reading about His life and the lives of those who knew Him during His earthly ministry. She considers how Jesus and His disciples ate, traveled, camped, worshiped and served together.

“Although we can’t walk and talk with Jesus the same way that those early disciples did, there are many ways that we can get to know Him in the same way,” Sister Kauwe said. “After all, we are not all that different from those early disciples. They, too, had to ponder and consider his words to know Him and fully understand how to follow Him.”

She encouraged students to pray often and said they will feel closer to their Heavenly Father and His Son as their prayers become more personal.

She also emphasized the importance of finding the right times and places for receiving answers to prayers.

“Often, we will have earphones in our ears and screens in front of our eyes. That makes it hard to get the answers and guidance we need,” Sister Kauwe said. “Take time for yourself without distractions so that the Holy Ghost can speak to you.”

In addition to scripture study and prayer, Sister Kauwe said service is a good way to develop a relationship with the Savior. Service increases empathy and holiness, and “we learn to love as God loves us,” she said. “If you are struggling, serve someone and see what happens. ...

“I pray, at the start of this new semester, that each of you will have the assurance of the blessings of peace and increased knowledge of our Savior as you continue your efforts to know Him.”

Essential Habits, Living the Honor Code

President Kauwe followed his wife with a quote from Sir Winston Churchill: “To each there comes in their lifetime a special moment when they are figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered the chance to do a very special thing, unique to them and fitted to their talents. What a tragedy if that moment finds them unprepared or unqualified for that which could have been their finest hour.”

The choices students make in their daily routines will prepare and qualify them for their finest hours, President Kauwe said.

These “essential habits” include sincere daily prayer, faithful fasting, regular scripture study, observing the Sabbath, partaking of the sacrament with humility, worshiping in the temple and always remembering the Savior.

President Kauwe also reviewed the Honor Code, which outlines expectations for students when they “accept the sacred privilege of representing the Church in a visible and lasting way as a member of the Church Educational System.”

For students wondering why they can’t wear certain clothing styles, or for men wondering why they can’t have beards, President Kauwe asked why people take many pictures of themselves and post only the best ones on social media.

“[You do this because] you have a particular image that you want to maintain, a way of communicating that image that’s important to you,” he said. “... I expect you, and the Board of Trustees expects you, to follow [the Honor Code] and then sincerely use these principles to govern your lives. I hope that’s what we’ll see from you. We’ll do that together as part of our ‘kuleana.’

“When we do that, we’re practicing a pattern that helps us follow Jesus Christ and honor the covenants we’ve made with our Heavenly Father.”

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