Welcome to the recent speeches podcast presented by BYU speeches

featuring inspiring new devotional and forums given each week on BYU campus.

Be sure to check out our other podcasts by searching BYU speeches wherever you get your

podcasts or by visiting speeches dot BYU.edu. This devotional address entitled Magnifying Our Precious Gift of Time was given on February 6th of

2024 by Jan E. Newman, then second counselor of the General Sunday School Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

My dear brothers and sisters, it is wonderful to be with you today.

A little over 42 years ago, I began my first semester at BYU.

Ever since then, as you can see, I have been Cougar Blue through and through.

I love this place. I have brought my family back to campus on many occasions and they love it too. My only regret is that

the Cougar tale wasn't a thing while I was here, but I have to say I've made up for

lost time over the last several years. I would have never dreamed

that one day I would address the students of my alma mater. I certainly am one of

the least of these. I hope you will never take for granted the great blessing of being here. I was

thrilled when I was accepted to study at BYU, I consider it an absolute privilege to be associated

with some of the Church's best and brightest.

Some of our children have also studied here at BYU.

They were a little competitive about their ACT scores.

I'm always quick to remind them that my score was 35.

I know, know amazing right? A 17 the first time and an 18 the second.

You do the math. That's actually not too far from the truth. Like many of you, my missionary service changed the course of my life.

For one thing, it was probably the main reason I chose to apply to BYU.

But more importantly, missionary service planted my feet

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