The BYU Experience

There are several nights in the past years that are coming to memory right now as I'm closing day one here in Ghana and wondering what I've got myself into and why I do it. I came back to my computer to write something of today's experiences and something of what I think I can do in the next two months. Side note, I set my ipod to playing music while I went to brush my teeth, then I remembered it was Sunday and came back to turn it to sunday music. Wouldn't you know it, it had already skipped there and President Hinckley was speaking, my ipod was playing one of my favorite devotionals, The BYU Experience. The BYU Experience... I smiled and was grateful as I realized that my being here in Koforidua, Ghana was really part of the BYU Experience. "What a wonderful time it is to be alive," he starts out. Then talks about particular blessing afforded BYU students. He then adds,

"I hope your training at this university will endow you with an interesting and powerful sense of responsibility toward the world of which you will be a part... I hope that the BYU experience will cause you to take on those qualities that will make of you a true disciple of Jesus. I hope that you are developing a great desire to walk in the footsteps of the Master, to reach out to those in distress, to serve the Church with great faithfulness, and to serve your fellowmen in a spirit of love and consecration. I hope the lessons of going the second mile, of the prodigal son, of the Good Samaritan--and all the other lessons of the Son of God who gave his life in a great offering of atonement--will motivate you and never leave you."

I love the story he shares.

Mr. Shimon Peres called on us last Wednesday in the Church Administration Building. He is one of the elder statesmen of the world, the former prime minister of Israel. He has seen much of conflict and trouble in his time. He is a wise and able man who speaks with the spirit of a sage.
I asked him whether there was any solution to the great problems that constantly seem to divide the people of Israel and the Palestinians. He replied that of course there is. He said an interesting thing. As I recall, he said, "When we were Adam and Eve, we were all one. Is there any need for us to be divided into segments with hatred in our hearts one for another?"
He told a beautiful story that he said he got from a Muslim. The Muslim told of a Jewish rabbi who was conversing with two of his friends. The rabbi asked one of the men, "How do you know when the night is over and the day has begun?"
His friend replied, "When you look into the distance and can distinguish a sheep from a goat, then you know the night is over and the day has begun."
The second was asked the same question. He replied, "When you look into the distance and can distinguish an olive tree from a fig tree, that is how you know."
They then asked the rabbi how he could tell when the night is over and the day has begun. He thought for a time and then said, "When you look into the distance and see the face of a woman and you can say, 'She is my sister.' And when you look into the distance and see the face of a man and can say, "He is my brother.' Then you will know the light has come."

My BYU Experience is mostly consumed with academics, bookwork, reading and writing and memorizing--some might say a selfish pursuit. But while being absorbed in myself and my studies I've always remembered that talk that I heard as a freshman and prayed that I could do what President Hinckley counseled, to reach out to those in distress... and to serve my fellowmen in a spirit of love and consecration. Those prayers have always been answered. In my case the answers have always stretched my capability and removed a good deal of personal comfort. I have some idea of what will come of it though; I'll meet lots of cool people, take lots of cool photos, eat lots of questionable food (get sick a time or two), learn a lot about cultures, economies, and problems, do a lot of good to help solve those problems, and finally I'll think to myself, "I could do this the rest of my life."