Nailing Our Colors to the Mast | Jeffrey R. Holland | 1985

Summary

The speaker reflects on the remarkable age of technological advancement, exemplified by the space shuttle Discovery's routine mission and the repair of the Syncom 3 satellite. He emphasizes the awe-inspiring nature of these feats and encourages gratitude for the blessings of modern life. The speech also celebrates Brigham Young University's achievements, from academic success to cultural preservation, and underscores the importance of maintaining the institution's principles and commitment to excellence.

Takeaways

• 🚀 The script celebrates the remarkable achievements of human technology, exemplified by the space shuttle Discovery's routine space travel and precise landing.
• 👨‍🔧 It highlights the ingenuity of astronauts like James Van Hofton and William Fisher, who repaired a satellite in space, showcasing human capability in outer space.
• 🏆 The speaker expresses pride in Brigham Young University's accomplishments, including a national championship football team and top-ranked athletic program.
• 👑 The university's collaboration with the Egyptian government to exhibit Ramses II materials is noted, emphasizing BYU's role in cultural and historical education.
• 🌐 BYU's efforts in Jerusalem to build world peace and enhance international understanding are mentioned, reflecting the university's global impact.
• 🏫 The speaker encourages students to appreciate the blessings and advantages of their education and the university's facilities.
• 📚 The importance of maintaining BYU's educational principles, based on the gospel of Jesus Christ, is stressed to ensure the university's continued success.
• 👔 The university's dress and grooming standards are highlighted as an outward sign of an inward commitment to excellence.
• 📝 The script emphasizes the need for students to take their academic work seriously, to study hard, and to communicate effectively.
• 🛀 The challenge of maintaining moral and ethical standards in a society filled with temptations is discussed, with a call for students to be clean and virtuous.
• ⚓ The script concludes with a metaphorical comparison between the Titanic's downfall and the need for careful navigation in BYU's journey, emphasizing the importance of staying true to principles.

Q & A

What significant event involving the space shuttle Discovery is mentioned in the script?

The script mentions the space shuttle Discovery landing smoothly and silently on the sands of Edwards Air Force Base, concluding a week-long space travel experience.

How is the technology of space travel described in the script?

The script describes space travel technology as a 'masterful, modern miracle' that allows a 99-ton spaceship to orbit the Earth, land safely, and be relaunched with precision.

Who are James Van Hofton and William Fisher, as referenced in the script?

James Van Hofton and William Fisher are astronauts who spent a weekend in space repairing an $85 million Syncom 3 satellite during a space shuttle mission.

What is the importance of the Syncom 3 satellite mentioned in the script?

The Syncom 3 satellite was significant because it had been lifelessly orbiting since its abortive launch four months prior, and the astronauts managed to repair it during their space mission.

How does the speaker relate their own technical ineptitude to the marvels of space travel described?

The speaker contrasts their own lack of technical skill, exemplified by a failed high school shop class project, with the advanced technical achievements of space travel and satellite repair.

What does the speaker invite the audience to appreciate about the time they live in?

The speaker invites the audience to appreciate the awe and wonder of living in a time with such remarkable technological advancements and to give thanks for the blessings and benefits they enjoy.

What is the historical significance of the Karl G. Maeser Building mentioned in the script?

The Karl G. Maeser Building is historically significant as it was the first building built on Temple Hill and represents the early dreams of a real university during a time when such aspirations seemed like fantasies.

What is the message conveyed about Brigham Young University's growth and development?

The message conveyed is that Brigham Young University has grown tremendously from its humble beginnings, with nearly 500 buildings now standing in place of the single Karl G. Maeser Building, symbolizing the fulfillment of early visions and dreams.

What is the importance of the educational philosophy stated by Karl G. Maeser?

Karl G. Maeser's educational philosophy emphasized teaching based on correct principles and the guidance of the Spirit of God, which laid the foundation for the academy and is still considered crucial to BYU's educational system.

How does the speaker connect the past struggles of BYU with its present achievements?

The speaker connects the past struggles by recounting the early days of the university's fight for survival and the dreams and visions of its founders, contrasting it with the current achievements such as national championship football teams and top-ranked athletic programs.

What is the analogy made between the Titanic and the aspirations of Brigham Young University?

The analogy compares the Titanic, which was considered unsinkable but ultimately failed due to carelessness, with BYU's aspirations, emphasizing the need for careful navigation and adherence to principles to ensure success and avoid disaster.

Outlines

00:00

🚀 Technological Marvels and Human Ingenuity

The paragraph discusses the remarkable age we live in, highlighting the routine nature of extraordinary events like space travel. It uses the example of the space shuttle Discovery's landing, which showcases the precision and safety of modern technology. The speaker expresses amazement at the ability to launch, orbit, and land a heavy spacecraft repeatedly. It also mentions the repair of the Syncom 3 satellite by astronauts James Van Hofton and William Fisher, emphasizing the casual bravery and technical skill involved. The speaker contrasts their technical ineptitude with the astronauts' competence and invites the audience to appreciate the era's technological advancements and the blessings they enjoy.

05:01

🏆 BYU's Ascendancy in Athletics and Academics

This paragraph celebrates Brigham Young University's unexpected achievements in sports and academics. It mentions the university's national championship football team and its top-ten athletic program. The speaker also notes the university's involvement in the Miss America contest and the unique partnership with the Egyptian government to exhibit Ramses II materials. The paragraph discusses the university's efforts to build world peace and enhance international understanding, particularly in Jerusalem. It reflects on the university's growth from a single building to nearly 500, highlighting the vision and determination of its early leaders, especially Karl G. Maeser, who had a dream of a thriving university and chose to stay despite hardships.

10:06

🌟 Preserving Principles in the Face of Progress

The speaker emphasizes the importance of adhering to the university's educational principles, which are based on the gospel of Jesus Christ. He draws a parallel between the university's commitment to these principles and the need for a football team to stick to its fundamentals. The paragraph discusses the university's growing visibility and influence, urging that it should not lose its identity in the process. It recounts the history of the Karl G. Maeser Building and the educational philosophy that guided the Brigham Young Academy, urging the audience to remain true to these values for continued success.

15:13

📚 The Importance of Academic Excellence and Personal Conduct

This paragraph stresses the importance of academic diligence and personal conduct at BYU. The speaker encourages students to take their studies seriously, to write and speak well, and to adhere to the university's dress and grooming standards. It points out that the university's reputation is tied to the behavior and performance of its students. The speaker also addresses the broader societal issues of sexual transgression and the use of obscene language, urging students to maintain a high standard of personal conduct. The paragraph concludes with a reminder of the two events from the week that serve as cautionary tales about the importance of careful navigation in all aspects of life.

20:20

⚓ Navigating with Caution and Principle

The final paragraph uses the metaphor of the Titanic's sinking to emphasize the importance of caution and adherence to principles. It contrasts the Titanic's perceived invincibility with the reality of its tragic end due to carelessness. The speaker calls for careful navigation of BYU's journey, ensuring that the university's growth and exploration are guided by discipline and a commitment to its core values. The paragraph concludes with a heartfelt expression of love for the students and a blessing for a successful academic year, reinforcing the message of striving for the best possible outcomes while staying true to one's principles.

Keywords

💡Space Shuttle Discovery

The Space Shuttle Discovery is a retired orbiter from NASA's Space Shuttle program. In the context of the video, it symbolizes remarkable technological achievements and the routine nature of space travel at the time. The script mentions the shuttle landing smoothly at Edwards Air Force Base, highlighting the advanced capabilities of human spaceflight.

💡Human Genius

Human genius refers to the exceptional intellectual or creative power of human beings. The video uses this term to emphasize the brilliance behind technological advancements like the space shuttle, where it is noted that such technology is a product of human ingenuity and mastery.

💡Syncom 3 Satellite

The Syncom 3 satellite is mentioned as an example of space repair and maintenance, showcasing the capabilities of astronauts like James Van Hofton and William Fisher. It represents the practical application of space technology and the ability to service and repair billion-dollar equipment in orbit.

💡BYU

BYU stands for Brigham Young University, which is central to the video's narrative as it discusses the university's achievements and values. The script refers to BYU's academic and athletic accomplishments, as well as its commitment to maintaining high educational and moral standards.

💡Karl G. Maeser

Karl G. Maeser was an early leader of Brigham Young University and a significant figure in its history. The video script uses his story to illustrate the founding vision and the commitment to education that has shaped BYU's identity. His dream of a hill filled with buildings symbolizes the growth and realization of BYU's potential.

💡Titanic

The Titanic is referenced in the video as a cautionary tale of overconfidence and the consequences of carelessness. Despite being considered 'unsinkable,' the Titanic sank after hitting an iceberg, serving as a metaphor for the importance of humility and vigilance in the face of great achievements.

💡Nailing Colors to the Mast

The phrase 'nailing colors to the mast' is used metaphorically in the video to express commitment to principles and values. It originates from the naval tradition of flying one's flag until it is shot down, symbolizing steadfast loyalty. In the context of BYU, it represents the university's dedication to its educational philosophy and moral standards.

💡Academic Excellence

Academic excellence is a recurring theme in the video, emphasizing the importance of serious study and high academic standards at BYU. The script encourages students to take their studies seriously, to excel, and to contribute to the university's reputation for academic rigor.

💡Code of Honor

The Code of Honor at BYU is mentioned to highlight the university's commitment to ethical conduct and moral behavior. It encompasses various aspects of student life, including dress code and personal conduct, reflecting the values that the university holds dear.

💡Gospel-Centered Education

Gospel-centered education refers to an educational approach that integrates religious teachings and values into the curriculum. In the video, this concept is central to BYU's identity and its mission to provide an education that is not only academically rigorous but also spiritually enriching.

💡Care and Caution

Care and caution are emphasized in the video as essential attitudes for navigating the challenges and opportunities at BYU. They are presented as necessary for achieving success without compromising on principles, using the Titanic's story as a counterexample of what can happen when care is lacking.

Highlights

The space shuttle Discovery's routine landing signifies the advanced state of space travel technology.

The shuttle's ability to orbit the Earth and return safely is a testament to human ingenuity.

The precision landing of a spacecraft on a small target in a vast area is a modern miracle.

Astronauts James Van Hofton and William Fisher repaired a satellite in space, showcasing spacewalk capabilities.

The speaker's personal lack of technical skill contrasts with the astronauts' advanced technical achievements.

Brigham Young University's rapid rise in academic and athletic rankings is highlighted.

The university's participation in the Miss America contest and winning the title is noted.

The Egyptian government's collaboration with BYU to exhibit Ramses II materials is mentioned.

BYU's efforts in Jerusalem to build world peace and enhance international understanding are discussed.

The university's academic progress in various fields is acknowledged.

The Karl G. Maeser Building's reopening symbolizes BYU's growth and development.

The university's early struggles and the vision of its founders are recounted.

The importance of maintaining BYU's unique educational philosophy is emphasized.

The need for students to take their academic work seriously and study hard is stressed.

The university's dress and grooming standards as an outward sign of inward grace are highlighted.

The challenge of maintaining moral and ethical standards in a sexually permissive society is discussed.

The Titanic's sinking is used as a metaphor for the importance of caution and adherence to principles.

The goal of BYU to provide the best possible educational experience while maintaining its principles is stated.

Transcripts

We live in a most remarkable age.

The scope and magnificence of the daily events that swirl around us are now so commonplace

that we scarcely note their presence or their passing.

Consider for example two events of this past week.

One week ago this morning, on Tuesday, September 3, the space shuttle Discovery came riding

out of a desert sky barely tinted with the light of sunrise and landed smoothly, silently

on the sands of Edwards Air Force Base, concluding a week-long experience that now seems almost

routine in space travel.

Does it impress anyone (besides me) that this ninety-nine-ton spaceship has orbited the

earth before, that it repeatedly comes back to land safely, picks up yet another payload,

and will again be launched beyond the earth’s gravity in the days that lie just ahead?

Ho hum.

Does it matter to anyone that this piece of man-made magic—after traveling three million

miles in space—can touch down on a postage stamp sketched in the dry lake bed of a California

desert, a landing strip totally invisible from the Santa Monica freeway and the Carson

City, Nevada, frozen yogurt station?

May I remind you that there are 197,000,000 square miles of surface on the face of this

planet onto which you can mistakenly land—or sink, as the case may be.

What kind of a world is it—or should I say what kind of worlds are we about to find—in

which that kind of technology, that kind of human genius, that kind of masterful, modern

miracle can send up such a piece of equipment, fly it around, and bring it home with more

accuracy than you and I find our automobile with after a BYU football game?

Is anyone impressed that on this particular flight James Van Hofton and William Fisher

spent a casual weekend dangling in space and repairing with their screwdrivers, pliers,

baling wire, and rubber bands an $85 million Syncom 3 satellite that had moved lifelessly

in orbit since its abortive launch four months ago?

“Never mind that there is an errant satellite up there, Chief.

E.T. and I will just Buck Rogers it up into orbit, find that twenty-foot canister somewhere

in all the grand immensity of space, sidle up alongside with the old jet pack, and have

her beeping and flashing again in no time.”

Easier than a trip to the corner gas station.

Columbus I know and Balboa I know, but who are James Van Hofton and William Fisher?

Perhaps the amazement in all of this is greater for me than it is for you—and maybe is for

most—because I am so mystified and unhandy at technical things.

The only project I ever fully completed in my high school shop class was a one-quart

tin cup, which, by the time I was through making it, unfortunately had a large slash

running down the full length of it.

It’s very awkward to hold a quart of anything in a tin cup if it is running out onto your

pant leg more rapidly than you are able to pour the new contents in.

I did not get a good grade on that cup, and I did not get a good grade in the class.

Very early on I left all technically related matters to other folks.

So I invite your sense of awe and wonder and appreciation for such a time in which we live,

and, as we start a new school year at Brigham Young University, I also invite you to give

thanks for the God-given blessings and benefits we enjoy routinely, day after day, week after

week, in a way that has never been known by anyone, anywhere, in any other era of the

history of all mankind.

It is in that spirit and with that sense of privilege and advantage that I comment on

the rather remarkable circumstances we presently enjoy right here in good old Provo, Utah—Happy

Valley, U.S.A.

Who would have dreamed in a thousand years of dreaming—that takes us back squarely

into the shadow of the Dark Ages—that Brigham Young University would ever have a national

championship football team and an overall athletic program ranked every year among the

top ten in the nation?

Where else does a university routinely enter its undergraduate coeds—year after year—in

the Miss America contest and, this past year, claim the reigning queen?

Where else—and the answer is, of course, nowhere else—has the Egyptian government

chosen to work with an American university to exhibit the legendary Ramses II materials?

What will it mean for you to be the students to see what your parents never saw and your

grandparents never dreamed of seeing—artifacts from one of the richest and most regal political

and cultural dynasties in all of ancient history, a dynasty linked with the wrenching exodus

of the children of Israel from the grasp of just such a pharaoh as this?

What does it mean for you to have the world’s attention focused on your university as we

strive to build world peace and enhance international understanding in Jerusalem—perhaps the most

war-torn and brutalized piece of geography per square inch on the face of the globe?

And, of course, all of this says nothing of the less publicized but often far more important

progress being made by the university in every aspect and area of our academic life here.

Who would have dreamed this?

Not I as a student even twenty years ago, to say nothing of our academic forefathers

who struggled just to keep the university alive one hundred years ago.

But some dreamed the dreams, and a few saw the visions.

On Founders Day, five weeks from now, we will have a commemorative reopening of the Karl

G. Maeser Building on this campus.

If you have not had a chance to walk to that lovely corner of our hilltop acreage and see

the spectacular job our own physical plant and the construction companies have done with

this grand old building, please do so.

It was the first building built on what an earlier generation called Temple Hill, built

when the dreams of a real university and all that it might become were only dreams and

indeed seemed to some only fantasies those many, many years ago.

Where once only that building alone stood on this hill, now think of nearly 500 buildings

and the absolute splendor of every one of them.

Think of the beauty and capacity and availability and cleanliness of any one of the buildings

in which we meet, including this one, and then remember this from our struggling first

president.

With nothing but makeshift facilities and depleted supplies, President Maeser wrote,

I am worn out and sick in spirit, . . . and with all my love for this Academy, I feel

that I owe it to my very life, which is needlessly wearing itself out here in an apparently hopeless

task, to accept any change that will promise me opportunities for permanent usefulness.

[With that] he told his wife and daughter that because there seemed to be no real support

for a school here and because he couldn’t earn enough . . . to provide food and raiment

for them and pay his debts he was going to accept a position at the University of Deseret,

where he could get a regular salary and adequately provide for his family.

Accordingly his wife and daughter got things packed—and then sat on their trunks for

[several] days, until his daughter finally mustered enough courage to ask her father

when they were moving.

His response . . . was, “I have changed my mind.

[We are not moving.]

I have had a dream—I have seen Temple Hill filled with buildings—great temples of learning,

and I have decided to remain and do my part.

Through the generosity of friends like Abraham O. Smoot, work eventually began for a building

on University Avenue and Fifth North.

Of this period Karl G. Maeser’s son wrote: While the foundation of the new building had

been in course of construction, it had been a custom of [my father], when at home on a

Sabbath morning, to walk up to the grounds and stand and gaze upon the work so far done.

Once when he took [my sister] Eva with him they stood upon the unfinished foundation,

and the child noticing some portions of the wall crumbling, remarked, “papa, do you

think they will ever finish this building?”

“My child,” answered the father, “not only this building but others will stand upon

this ground and not only here but also upon that hill yonder,” pointing to Temple Hill.

“Yes, my child, I have seen it all.”

The new academy building was dedicated on the day on which Karl G. Maeser was to sever

his connection with the school to become the commissioner of education in Salt Lake City.

There was probably never a more impressive sight in the history of the school than the

triumphal march of the students up to the new building from the temporary quarters of

the old ZCMI warehouse downtown.

Before leaving that warehouse, Professor Maeser had called the students around him, prayed

with them, and told them that if they would carry the spirit of their alma mater not only

into their new school but into all their walks of life as well, the Lord would greatly multiply

their joys.

Following the dedicatory prayer that day, Brother Maeser gave a short farewell address

which included this simple statement of the educational philosophy at Brigham Young Academy.

When to the students, at the beginning of the experimental term, April 24, 1876, the

words of the prophet Joseph Smith, that he taught his people correct principles and they

governed themselves accordingly, were given as the leading principles of discipline; and

the words of President Brigham Young, that neither the alphabet nor the multiplication

tables were to be taught without the Spirit of God, [were given] as the main-spring of

all teaching—the orientation for the course of the educational system inaugurated by the

foundation of the academy was made, and any deviation from it would have led to disastrous

results, and therefore, the Brigham Young Academy has nailed her colors to the mast.

In a month when we pay tribute to Karl G. Maeser, and in a year when we take on even

greater visibility as a university, I say again that “we have nailed our colors to

the mast.”

We have stated our principles of education based on the gospel of Jesus Christ, “and

any deviation from it would [lead] to disastrous results.”

As we take our increasingly significant and important place in the world, it is absolutely

imperative that we not be of it.

We have begun a space-age conversation with a national and international audience that

earlier generations of students and faculty would not have believed possible.

In telling that story we must not and will not forget those principles and traditions

and truths that have made Brigham Young University what it is and that have brought us to this

moment.

In my occasional locker-room contact with Coach Edwards I have heard him say something

time and time again to his players.

He said it last Saturday, and he will say it this Saturday.

What he says in effect is this: “Do not forget what got you here.

Don’t abandon the fundamentals we’ve practiced for so long.

Don’t let success or adversity overwhelm you.

Remain steady, play it our way.

That’s how we got where we are.”

In that same spirit we have to be Brigham Young University and not any other.

“Any deviation from that would lead to disastrous results.”

Our majesty and our mission is in our unique and special heritage.

Please stand with me, as I stand with you, in again nailing those colors to the mast—for

another magnificent year.

Work hard.

With the background of our religious convictions there is no encouragement I could give you

at the start of a school year that would matter more than for you to take your academic work

seriously and to study hard.

It is a more competitive time at BYU than it was twenty years ago and certainly more

than it was a century ago.

There is so much to learn and so much to be done.

There are worlds out there waiting to be explored.

You must not come here to play.

Too much tithing is spent, too much sacrifice has been given, and too many people are watching.

“Eat the bread and wear the garments of the laborer”.

Please learn to write well and to speak the language with some precision.

If it is not too startling to you may I announce, for example, that at BYU the verb “go”

is not synonymous with the verb “say” as in the conversation “I go, ‘Watcha

doin’?’ and she goes, ‘Nothin,’ and I go, ‘Let’s do somethin,’ and she goes,

‘Sure.’

“That’s too much goin’ and not enough saying.

And the writing from some of us is too often worse than the speaking.

If I have one overwhelming disappointment in my professional life as an educator it

is the general inability I find in college-educated people to write well.

The prophets of God have known that the impact of the inspired, compelling word, spoken or

written, is among the most powerful forces on earth.

You should discover that too.

It has moved their mountains.

It will move some of yours.

It will illuminate your path.

“In the beginning was the Word,” and “God said, Let there be light: and there was light”.

Be well groomed and dress appropriately.

Our dress and grooming standards are legendary at BYU.

In the six years I have been giving this speech, I have tried not to harp on that or to make

it seem this was the only thing that mattered here.

It is, after all, only a small part of our very important Code of Honor that you have

all signed.

But your appearance is for us as some explain baptism—“it is an outward sign of an inward

grace.”

I always notice carefully the comings and goings on campus during these first few days

of each year, and I think almost all of you look absolutely beautiful.

But a very few need an early reminder.

Now all of you know that shorts, or skimpy skirts, or grubby jeans, or extreme hairstyles,

or sweat suits, or tank tops, or whatever, are simply not acceptable apparel on this

campus.

Be modest, be dignified, and be your very best.

More and more, what it means to be at BYU is to be your very best.

And now may I say that far more important than looking clean is being clean.

Perhaps no challenge is greater for your generation.

As someone recently wrote, “It is as if America is down on all fours sniffing, and

what she smells is a glandular stench.”

There is too much sexual transgression in our society.

There are too many exploitive movies seen and prurient videos watched and smutty magazines

read.

There is too much obscene language used, by men and women.

It should not surprise you that a university that sweeps its walks and scrubs its floors

and paints its buildings and shines its glass expects its students to be clean—inside

as well as out.

I want to think we are better in these matters than any other university in the world, but

sometimes we are not; we frequently fall too short.

Any compromise tears a piece of our flag from that mast.

Any blemish on one student’s behavior is a stain on us all.

For your sake and for Karl G. Maeser’s and for BYU’s, I ask you to be clean.

Now as I began I spoke of two events during the past week, and I mentioned one—the Discovery’s

successful flight.

May I close with the second reference, to another journey not so successful.

A week ago last Sunday, on September 1, 1985, Robert Ballard, chief scientist for a joint

U.S./French venture, became the first person in seventy-three years to view the grave site

of more than 1,500 people whose final resting place lay on the cavernous floor two and a

half miles below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean.

The Titanic was the biggest, most luxurious, and supposedly the safest ocean liner of all

time—unsinkable, they advertised, because of its double steel hull and waterproof compartments.

The first-class register on that maiden voyage read like a Who’s Who of American and European

society.

The net worth of those passengers was estimated (in 1912) to be $250 million.

And on the night of April 14, 1912, nearly three-fourths of the trip from Southampton

was completed.

New York was, figuratively speaking, just a hop, skip, and a jump away.

It had been a great party on the high seas.

Now an iceberg is relatively small and occupies so little space in comparison with the broad

ocean on which it floats.

The chances of another small object like a ship colliding with it and being sunk are

minute.

Chances are, as a matter of fact, one in a million.

That’s not just a figure of speech.

That was the actual risk for total loss by collision with an iceberg as accepted by insurance

companies in 1912.

That one-in-a-million accident was what sunk the Titanic.

On the night of the collision she was undoubtedly the safest ship afloat on any of the world’s

oceans.

But her captain and her crew were careless, perhaps simply too confident.

And so were her designers and her owners.

The result was that when the unbelievable had to be believed, only 700 were saved.

One thousand five hundred thirteen of the others rode the world’s safest ship two

and a half miles straight down—and then waited seventy-three years to have Robert

Ballard finally identify their burial site for posterity.

Institutionally—and I suppose individually—we have at our disposal the superb skills that

in its day fashioned the Titanic and in our own day has fashioned the space shuttle Discovery.

We have before us a year in which each of us gets to captain not only our own individual

craft but we also get to help steer the Good Ship BYU.

I don’t know about you, but in light of these two reminders from the week’s news,

I vote clearly for the option of navigating all the dimensions of our dreams and all the

outer reaches of our capability with the care and caution and loyalty to basic principles

that will, when our exploration is complete, land us dead center, right on time, exactly

where we ought to be, I prefer that greatly to the equal magnificence, splendor, and technical

ability of that other vessel now resting 13,000 feet below the surface of the sea 500 miles

south of Newfoundland, filled with people who were led to believe it couldn’t happen

to them.

This year and every year we intend to have the best of all possible worlds at BYU.

We intend to exercise every privilege and pursue every opportunity, but we will do it

with discipline and with care, with attention to detail, with everyone helping, with no

one compromising.

We will “nail our colors to the mast” and make gospel-centered education work because

it has to work; any deviation from our prophetic heritage “would lead to disastrous results.”

We will, in this and every year ahead, reach out and reach up, explore all we can of the

truth, and still safely land filled with greater learning and faith on this narrow strip of

BYU soil under Y Mountain in Provo, Utah.

We will do our work successfully—and some of it we will have to do with the whole world

watching.

Know that I love you with all of my heart, and God bless you to have a superb school

year, in the name of Jesus Christ.

Amen.