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Elder and sister Christophason, President and sister Worton.

President and Sister Reese, Church Authorities, Faculty, Fellow Graduates,

Thank you for inviting us to be part of this immensely special day

for you all at Brigham Young University. As an Englishman we don't use

the word commencement graduation is what we say. Commencement is a new term for me, a fruitful

and dynamic idea, commencement for graduation can imply

something different, a launch pad rather than a conclusion. So thank you for this honorary award. I know that whatever else the future

may hold, I will know no greater honor than this. I am really humbled and I freely admit my love and

gratitude to BYU and the church it serves. This is an overwhelmingly large and festive

celebration. I said as I saw you all it's a bit like preparation for the day of judgment all of you but as

well as the grandeur and the splendour it's also intimate and personal for each of us here.

Gratitude, as has been already made clear in these wonderful addresses we heard,

is the flavor of the day. For all the support and the continual

beckoning to each of us to keep on taking steps towards excellence.

Excellence in achievement but more significantly. excellence. to that excellence which is above and beyond us all, but also which is within each of us.

I want to acknowledge my thanks first of all and my love to so many here but especially to my wife Rachel and to our children

Kiara and Luke it is an absolute privilege to share my life with you.

I can't find the words, and I'm pretty good at finding words.

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