Y. students urged to carry on legacy

PROVO — Brigham Young University President Cecil O. Samuelson encouraged an estimated 7,500 students to carry on the "legacy of learning" left by former Latter-day Saint prophet Joseph Smith.

"Joseph encouraged continual learning and the acquisition not only of knowledge but also wisdom," Samuelson said Tuesday during a devotional address in the Marriott Center. "His doctrine was expansive rather than restrictive."

Samuelson urged the students to follow the footsteps of the church founder as they begin the new semester, which started Monday, by appreciating lessons learned in classes and the often-difficult roads to success. The devotional was the first of the school year.

"We have the opportunity to continue the vital process of expanding our understanding and acquiring knowledge and wisdom," he said. However, that learning process isn't always easy, and just like Smith endured hardships to shape his character, so too must students be prepared for challenges and demands, Samuelson said.

The president's wife, Sharon Samuelson, also spoke of the importance of living according to the advice and counsel of church leaders.

"There always has been a need for the steady, reassuring voice of a prophet," she said, but added that just hearing is not enough. She challenged the students to take seriously their leader's counsel and to live their lives as advocates for not only their beliefs, but their school.

"Stand up for moral standards," she said. "Stand up for integrity. Stand up for loyalty to your heritage. Be loyal to the church — stand tall for it."

Cecil Samuelson also mentioned BYU's continued growth.

"While we have made some impressive progress, I am convinced that our best is ahead of us and yet to come," he said.

Julie Beck, a junior from Virginia, said she appreciated the message, and now she feels a sense of rededication to her school work.

"It made me want to take my education so much more seriously," she said. "It was a great way to start the semester."

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E-mail: sisraelsen@desnews.com