Jeffrey R. Holland speaks to young adults in packed Spectrum
Cache Valley was abuzz with excitement Sunday evening as students and residents flocked to the USU Spectrum.
The Logan Institute of Religion, paired with USU Event Services, hosts devotionals at the beginning of every semester for general authorities to visit and speak with young adults, and give advice and counsel.
These devotionals have been held for over 75 years in Logan.
According to Kirt Rees, associate director of the Logan Institute of Religion, the devotionals were initially held in the chapel of the Institute on campus.
As numbers continued to grow, devotionals have been held in the Logan Tabernacle, the Kent Concert Hall, and finally to the Spectrum.
The speaker chosen to start off fall semester was Latter-day Saint Apostle Jeffrey R. Holland, a favorite among young adults and youth, known for his sense of humor and powerful sermons to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Holland spoke to a packed Spectrum, with locked doors turning away students who arrived just before the devotional started.
Thousands of young adults from Cache Valley gather in the Spectrum for a devotional with Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. Holland is an Apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He spoke to young adults on September 22, 2019
Rees received news from Event Services workers that about 500 people were turned away after the arena had reached full capacity.
“I wish that there had been a way to accommodate everyone who wanted to be there,” Rees said. “Even a couple of institute teachers weren’t able to get in. This is the first time that this has happened for a Sunday devotional.”
Students walked in droves to the Institute on campus, hoping to catch brief interludes of Holland’s message through phone speakers projected into a microphone in one of the Institute chapels.
With less than ideal quality, many students left the premises and commented to each other they would “catch an update later.”
Holland began his message joking about his love for Aggie Ice Cream, saying he expects to be buried with a couple gallons.
He prefaced by talking about how often people living in the “last days” speak with fear and horror in their voices, when they should be happy and grateful. Holland explained that now is the time to fight, not flee.
Holland referenced many past presidents of the church in his message, and expressed that, even though they and the church went through many great adversities during their stewardship, they chose to be grateful.
Holland’s was a message of hope, something young adults can relate to, especially through their time involved in gaining an education.
Rees wished for those attending the devotional to come away with “hope and optimism.”
“There are so many things in university life that can get a student down,” Rees said. “I expect that Elder Holland’s message will also build faith in God and confidence that things can work out.”
Chrystal and Keaton Suitter were lucky enough to catch seats in the Spectrum to hear Holland’s message.
Keaton Suitter learned what it means to be hopeful and cheerful through Holland’s message.
“Prophets in the past knew of what good would come in our day,” Keaton said. “They knew of the blessings that would come our way and the good that can be done. He taught us to be cautious to judge righteously.”
Chrystal Suitter liked being able to watch Elder Holland joke around and connect with everyone present and hearing voices lifted up in songs and praises to God.
“I loved hearing direct answers about how to combat trials in our day and being able to connect it to the Book of Mormon and the restoration of the church,” Chrystal said.
Both Keaton and Chrystal said they felt peace through Holland’s encouragement to be cheerful and enjoy the good in what is to come.
Holland concluded his message by mentioning that the battle between good and evil has already been won, and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints already know that light reigns over darkness.
He said the only thing members are waiting for is to see who will play for what team.
Carrington Clark said she felt of Holland’s apostolic power as she listened to his devotional. Clark learned that as a people, “we need not fear man more than God.”
“I liked it when he said that perhaps the commandment we break the most is ‘be of good cheer,’ because the Lord wants us to be happy,” Clark said. “I felt that everything will be okay in the end as long as we are playing for the winning team.”
Chrystal Suitter said she could feel the strong spirit the devotional brought to many in attendance.
“It was inspiring to see the sheer amount of people who flock to hear the word of God,” Suitter said. “The spirit was strong and I could see it touch many people around me. I believe it strengthens me and others to know that we are in this fight together.”
—kortni.marie.wells@aggiemail.usu.edu
@kortniwells