BYU celebrates 150 years with ‘gifts of light,’ featuring President C. Shane Reese and Vice President Keith Vorkink

Church News

Religion, Christianity, Religion & Spirituality, News

4.9 • 782 Ratings

🗓️ 18 November 2025

⏱️ 41 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In recognition of Brigham Young University’s 150th anniversary and its sesquicentennial theme of “Celebrating Gifts of Light” (see Doctrine and Covenants 50:24), students, faculty and alumni are invited to perform 150 hours of service each. Throughout the yearlong celebration, BYU continues its mission to nurture divine light in its students, who then share the Light of Jesus Christ with the world by honoring the past and envisioning the future.

On this episode of the Church News podcast, BYU President C. Shane Reese and BYU Advancement Vice President Keith Vorkink join reporter Mary Richards. They underscore the university’s commitment in maintaining its faith-based mission, providing an excellent education and experiences to its students, and preparing its graduates for a lifetime of commitment to “go forth to serve.”

The Church News Podcast is a weekly podcast that invites listeners to make a journey of connection with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across the globe. Hosts Jon Ryan Jensen, editor of the Church News, and Church News reporter Mary Richards share unique views of the stories, events, and people who form this international faith. With each episode, listeners are asked to embark on a journey to learn from one another and ponder, “What do I know now?” because of the experience. Produced by KellieAnn Halvorsen.

Transcript

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0:00.0	We've talked on this campus, how can we become more Christ-centered?
0:26.9	How can we lean in to what makes us unique as an institution?
0:31.2	And the reality is, while we think that the students who attend this university, that they
0:36.2	emanate a light, we believe deeply
0:38.4	that that's the light of Jesus Christ shining through them. And I guess more than anything,
0:43.4	what I know now, as deeply as I've ever known, is that God knows his children. And he sees
0:53.6	how we can be instruments to share his light and the light of his son Jesus Christ.
1:02.0	We hope that every student that comes to the doors of Brigham Young University will be able to see how they can be a conduit for the light of Jesus Christ through
1:13.6	their actions, through their words, through all that they engage in because we see it in them
1:20.1	every single day.
1:24.9	This is Mary Richards, reporter at the Church News.
1:28.3	Welcome to the Church News podcast.
1:30.3	Today we are taking you on a journey of connection as we discuss news and events of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
1:38.3	October 2025 marked the 150th anniversary of the founding of Brigham Young University.
1:48.5	The anniversary celebration began in August and last till next June with the theme
1:54.1	celebrating gifts of light. Throughout this time, the campus is honoring the past and envisioning the future as BYU continues to nurture divine light in its students, who then share the light of Jesus Christ with the world.
2:11.7	I'm joined by President C. Shane Reese, the president of BYU, and Vice President Keith Vorkink, BYU advancement vice president
2:20.7	in a broadcast studio here on campus in Provo, Utah. Welcome both to the Church News podcast.
2:27.1	Well, thanks for having us. We're just thrilled to have you here on campus. I know that you
2:31.9	often have this broadcast originate from Salt Lake.
2:35.7	So welcome down to Utah County and WYU campus.
2:38.5	What a beautiful place to be on this beautiful fall morning and to see campus in all its glory
	...

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