Welcome to the Recent Speeches Podcast presented by BYU Speaches, featuring inspiring new

devotionals and forums given each week on BYU campus. Be sure to check out our other podcasts

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This devotional address entitled, These Foolish Things, was given on March 4th of

2025 by Michael A. Dunn, then a general authority 70 of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Wow, what a turnout. I'm thinking some of you must have gotten calendars mixed up, and you're thinking,

I didn't know that Coach Sataki was that old.

That's next week.

So as President Reese said, you will want to be here for that.

But I hope today that you are ready maybe to make some history to me. I really hope that

because today we, you and I are about to be part of an historic event. And that's because finally,

after more than 2,000 inspiring game-changing BYU Devotionals dating all the way back to Carl G. Mazur's inaugural speech

all the way back in 1892, during which time students and faculty have heard stirring orations

from church leaders, faculty, and captains of industry alike, all of which were, of course,

designed to evoke in us the most lofty ideals of character

and conscious until today, where this string will sadly be broken, as you will hear what will be

the first-ever discourse exhorting you to simply be a fool, which, come to think of it, might well be the first, the last,

and the only speech you'll ever hear from this pulpit advocating foolishness.

Actually, I'm going to tell you a story about a man who was considered a fool,

because he was foolish enough to pursue the impossible,

which if you think about it really isn't so foolish as I hope you'll see. But first, I want to invite you to come back with me to a very transformative day in my life just over 50 years ago. It was a late spring

...