BYU–Hawaii Devotionals & Speeches

Latest Episodes:

Be the Person God Knows You Can Be | Sister Susan L. Gong | March 9, 2025 Mar 10, 2025

Show notes

Sister Susan L. Gong speaks to BYU–Hawaii students.
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Trusting God With the Rest of Your Story | Morgan Jones Pearson | March 4, 2025 Mar 05, 2025

Show notes

Morgan Jones Pearson
“All In” Podcast Host and Producer
Brigham Young University–Hawaii Devotional
Today we have the privilege of hearing from Morgan Jones Pearson, host and producer of the 'All In' podcast. She reflects on the importance of trusting God with our personal stories, emphasizing the power of trust built through experience. Pearson shares that opposition often arises before significant moments in life, and instead of discouraging us, it should be seen as a sign that something good is ahead. She encourages students to trust God amid life’s challenges, reminding them that, while they can’t always see the end of their stories, God can. Through faith, we have the opportunity to co-author a beautiful life with Him.
“The beauty of trusting God is that it means trusting that while we cannot see the end from the beginning, there is One who can.“ –Morgan Jones Pearson
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Originally from North Carolina, Morgan Pearson is the host of the All In podcast which has collected over 23 million downloads since its launch in October 2018. She previously worked for the Deseret News where she published over 400 stories. She and her husband, Benjamin are the parents of two beautiful little girls, Emma and Jane. They have lived in Philadelphia for the last two years where Benjamin has attended business school at the Wharton School. Morgan is happiest when wearing sweatpants and has a serious weakness for dark chocolate.
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Our Faithfulness is a Shield | Sister Andrea M. Spannaus | February 25, 2025 Feb 26, 2025

Show notes

Sister Andrea M. Spannaus
Second Counselor Young Women General Presidency
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Sister Andrea M. Spannaus highlights the importance of knowing our divine identity as children of God, using Moses’ encounter with God as an example. Sister Spannaus emphasizes that we overcome evil through faith in Jesus Christ and our testimony. She encourages students to use the blessings God has given them, such as the Light of Christ, the Holy Ghost, and temple covenants, to strengthen our relationship with Him. She concludes her devotional by urging us to stay faithful, avoid distractions, and seek peace, knowing that we are never alone.
“As His covenant daughter or son, you can call upon Him and be blessed through His power at any time and any place, in any circumstance.” –Sister Andrea M. Spannaus
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Sister Andrea M. Spannaus, called as the Second Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency in April 2023, was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She joined the Church at age nine with her family and has been dedicated to growing, serving, teaching, and loving the Saints ever since. She married Alin Spannaus in the Argentina Buenos Aires Temple, and they have two daughters. Sister Spannaus served a mission in northern Argentina and later served with her husband as mission leaders in the Mexico Cuernavaca Mission. She has a strong testimony of Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, the plan of salvation, and the guidance of the Savior in the Church.
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Freedom From Fear | President John S.K. Kauwe III | February 18, 2025 Feb 19, 2025

Show notes

President John S.K. Kauwe III addresses fear, anxiety, and self-doubt, stressing that while normal, they shouldn’t control us. He shares how preparation, prayer, and covenants with God can help overcome fear and lead to spiritual growth and freedom from fear. He concludes by encouraging students to take advantage of the many resources available at BYUH.
"Freedom from fear through prayerful preparation changes daunting obstacles into exhilarating opportunities." –President John S.K. Kauwe III
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President John S.K. Kauwe III has served as the president of Brigham Young University–Hawaii since July 2020. He was sustained as an Area Seventy in April 2024. President Kauwe holds degrees from Brigham Young University and Washington University in St. Louis. As a Biology professor at BYU Provo, he previously chaired the Biology Department and was Dean of Graduate Studies. His research focuses on the genetic basis of Alzheimer’s disease and includes over 100 peer-reviewed publications. President Kauwe and his wife, Monica, have five children.
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Trusting God's Plan | Sister Monica S. Kauwe | February 18, 2025 Feb 19, 2025

Show notes

Sister Monica S. Kauwe
First Lady, Brigham Young University–Hawaii
Sister Monica S. Kauwe discusses trusting God’s plan, emphasizing faith, personal effort, and righteous choices in overcoming challenges and growing spiritually. She highlights the importance of daily commitment to prayer, scripture study, and service.
“Reflect on how you can more fully trust in God’s plan. Is there a challenge you can approach with greater faith? Is there a habit you can improve to strengthen your relationship with Christ?” –Sister Monica S. Kauwe
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The Blessing of Work | Sister Colleen Andersen | February 4, 2025 Feb 05, 2025

Show notes

Sister Colleen Andersen
Hawaii Honolulu Mission Leader
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Sister Colleen Andersen speaks at today’s devotional, highlighting the importance of hard work as a divine principle essential for both temporal and spiritual growth. Through personal experiences and scriptural examples, she emphasizes that work brings joy, discipline, and blessings. Church leaders teach that God's work is to bless and uplift us, and we, in turn, should embrace work as a privilege rather than a burden. Sister Andersen encourages resisting idleness and recognizing work as a key to personal and eternal progress.
“To be given work to do from God is a supernal privilege, and is one reason missionary work is so incredibly joyful. When we do the work God has asked us to do, it brings blessings and it brings joy.” – Sister Andersen
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Colleen Andersen, born in Orem, Utah, earned a nursing degree from Utah Technical College (now UVU) and worked as a nurse until becoming a mother. She later served as a Mission Nurse in Texas and held various callings in Primary, Young Women, and Relief Society. A dedicated temple ordinance worker, she is also a skilled seamstress who has quilted hundreds of quilts. Her greatest joy is her family, having had children in France and Australia. Strong, resilient, and hard-working, she is a devoted wife, mother, friend, and the best grandma ever.
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The Nature of God | President Dean Andersen | February 4, 2025 Feb 05, 2025

Show notes

President Dean A. Andersen
Hawaii Honolulu Mission Leader, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
President Dean Andersen speaks in today’s devotional, focusing on the nature and character of God, emphasizing His perfect balance of justice and mercy. Understanding God correctly strengthens faith, eliminates doubts, and brings clarity to life's purpose. He encourages avoiding casualness in spiritual matters, striving for deep, meaningful relationships with God, and seeking the greatest blessings through hard work and commitment. In conclusion, he testifies that by following God's commandments and seeking His blessings, we can find true peace, purpose, and eternal joy.
“God delights to bless us. It is what makes Him happy.” – President Dean Andersen
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President Andersen was born and raised in Provo, Utah. He served in the Japan Sapporo Mission and earned an Accounting degree from BYU and an MBA in International Finance. He and his wife, Colleen, married in 1983 and have eight children and 30 grandchildren. With 39 years in finance, he worked in 17+ countries and speaks Japanese, French, and Spanish. He was Houston Texas Stake President for nine years and he and his wife became mission leaders in April 2024. He hopes to be a university professor like his dad.
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Bound Securely to the Savior | President Camille N. Johnson | January 28, 2025 Jan 29, 2025

Show notes

President Camille N. Johnson
Relief Society General President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Executive Committee of BYU–Hawaii’s Board of Trustees
Brigham Young University–Hawaii Devotional
President Camille N. Johnson compares staying spiritually steadfast to securing a boat during a storm, emphasizing the need to remove "windage"—anything creating resistance—to maintain a firm connection to Jesus Christ. Drawing from a 2021 Hawaiian blizzard, she explains how distractions, sins, procrastination, and seeking worldly validation can weaken our spiritual mooring. President Johnson encourages prioritizing daily repentance, gratitude, meaningful time with the Lord, and seeking guidance from the Holy Ghost to strengthen our attachment to the Savior, who serves as an unshakable anchor amid life's storms.
“Value and pay heed to your relationship with the Savior. Seek validation and affirmation from Him first.” – President Camille N. Johnson
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President Camille N. Johnson was sustained as Relief Society General President for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 2, 2022. She also served as the Primary General President for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was currently serving in that role when she was called as the Relief Society General President. President Johnson graduated from the University of Utah with a bachelor’s degree in English followed by a law degree from the University of Utah. She practiced law for nearly 30 years. She married Douglas R. Johnson, and they are the parents of three sons.
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Building On Our Heritage | Elder D. Todd Christofferson | January 28, 2025 Jan 29, 2025

Show notes

Elder D. Todd Christofferson
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Executive Committee of BYU–Hawaii’s Board of Trustees
Brigham Young University–Hawaii Devotional (Tuesday, January 28, 2025)
Elder D. Todd Christofferson honors the legacy of those who built the Church in Laie and emphasizes gratitude for their sacrifices and God’s blessings. He shares inspiring stories, including divine help during the Laie Temple’s construction, and urges students and staff to build upon this foundation with faith, service, and personal devotion. Elder Christofferson reminds listeners that true honor comes not from inheritance but from living consecrated lives, continuing the sacred work of building Zion in their time.
“The offering He ultimately desires is not something we possess, rather it is ourselves—what we are and what we are becoming through repentance and obedience to Him and by His grace.” – Elder Christofferson
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Elder D. Todd Christofferson was called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 5, 2008. At the time of his call, he was serving in the Presidency of the Seventy. Elder Christofferson earned his bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University, where he was an Edwin S. Hinckley Scholar and his law degree from Duke University. Elder D. Todd Christofferson and his wife, Katherine Jacob Christofferson, are parents of five children.
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Give the Lord Equal Time | Elder Ronald A. Rasband | January 28, 2025 Jan 29, 2025

Show notes

Elder Ronald A. Rasband
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Executive Committee of BYU–Hawaii’s Board of Trustees
Brigham Young University–Hawaii Devotional (Tuesday, January 28, 2025)
Elder Rasband encourages students to prioritize the Lord alongside their academic responsibilities. He advises integrating faith into daily life, even amidst busy schedules and highlights scriptures like Matthew 6:33 and Proverbs 16:3 to emphasize balance. He promises that by seeking God’s Kingdom, students will be blessed with increased time, capacity, and success in their studies, with doors opening and divine guidance provided for their righteous goals.
“As you give the Lord equal time in the pursuit of your higher education, the Spirit will enhance your academic pursuits. You will find you have extra time and capacity for your courses, and doors will be opened for you that might have otherwise been closed.” – Elder Rasband
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Elder Ronald A. Rasband was called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on October 3, 2015. He had been serving as a member of the Presidency of the Seventy and was serving as the senior president of the Presidency of the Seventy when called to the Twelve. Elder Rasband attended the University of Utah and in 1995, Utah Valley University awarded him an honorary Doctorate of Business and Commerce. Elder Rasband married Sister Melanie Rasband, and they are the parents of five children.
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