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This devotional address entitled,

Opportunities, Faith, Opposition, and Friends

was given on July 8th of 1997 by Sally M. Todd,

then the assistant dean over student services

for the BYU David O. McKay School of Education.

Good morning, my brothers and sisters. Thank you for being here today. I hope that we may be

able to share some things that can be building and uplifting to our spirits and will help us

in our personal pursuit of excellence.

I'd like to base my talk today on a message stated by Jeffrey Holland back in 1981 in which he

emphasized, opportunity of a lifetime has to be taken in the lifetime of opportunity.

This morning, let's look at opportunity in three areas. Let's look at faith, opposition, and friendly support.

Sometimes in our lives, opportunities take place over time.

Other times they come in a moment suddenly with a phone call,

or perhaps with an interview with a bishop or state presidency member,

or similar means of invitation.

Nearly all of these callings or invitations

require some of our faith and personal commitment,

and a lot of thought and prayer.

A while back an opportunity came to me quite unexpectedly, and this came with a phone call.

And at this time, a very dear friend called me and told me that she had a responsibility to go to Perth, Australia, and to talk to a national conference.

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