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 slash podcasts.

I thought I would introduce my topic this morning by sharing a brief

background on my preparation as I believe it may be somewhat unique. I was originally invited to speak at a devotional last

winter semester, 2023. However, just prior to my assigned speaking date, I

received a call informing me that Elder Jeffrey R. Holland needed to take my place.

Well, I would always gladly defer to Elder Holland.

This turned out to be a particularly special devotional as Elder

Holland announced that Kevin Werthon was concluding his time as BYU's president

and that our new president would be Shane Reese.

For the last few years, I've enjoyed the opportunity

to work with two presidents and many great members

of president's council through a pandemic and other challenges.

While we have different backgrounds and varying insights on campus priorities,

I have been so inspired by the fully unified focus on you students collectively and individually

as we work with an amazing campus community to fulfill the divine

mission of this university and become BYU.

As a President's Council, we kneel and pray for you weekly.

We love you.

And we want to help you experience success at BYU and beyond.

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