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This devotional address, entitled, Pointed in the Right Direction, was given on September

10th of 1991 by Janet G. Lee, wife of then-president of Brigham Young University, Rex E. Lee. About three months ago, Rex and I attended a commencement exercise for our oldest son, Tom,

who was graduating from law school.

On graduation day, as I strained to get a glimpse of Tom in the sea of caps and gowns,

my eyes searched for his face, but my heart and my

mind were traveling through time to years gone by. My momentary vision was blurred by a flood

of memories mixed with tears. Let me just share one of those memories with you. I remembered a little boy of three who

was trying to write his name. I had written T-O-M out for him on a piece of paper and left him to

practice while I bade the baby. A little later, he proudly showed me his finished product. M-O-T, it clearly read.

Because of my experience, as a schoolteacher, I was aware that young children often read and

write in reverse, a condition that sometimes continues into adulthood.

Fortunately, it turned out that Tom's problem was easily solved, but at that moment, my mind was

full of possibilities and solutions.

I suggested that he should write the T first, and he came back a few minutes later with the same result, M-O-T.

I put my hand on his to guide him, explaining that we would begin with the T first.

But he pulled away from me insisting, I always write the tea first,

and you always say it's wrong.

I just can't do it.

And with that, he tore the paper into little pieces

and threw them away.

...