Brigham Young University is a great place! It is a unique university that offers a well rounded learning experience and it doesn't shy away from its multifold mission to offer a complete education. Liberal arts and a deep spiritual experience. Winning the game against the Utes was great, but the after game show was also beautiful. The fans were celebrating and the players were being interviewed and one player stood out above the rest when he was asked about the after game party and he said, "I'm going to bed! I've got Church tomorrow!"
And he wasn't bashful about it. Where else do you find a university where a football player can display that type of commitment to God? You don't. BYU doesn't play sports on Sunday in keeping with the commandments of God. And they don't apologize for it. It just isn't done. I love the devotion the university has to teaching the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and living by His teachings. It is a place where a person can be comfortable sharing their testimonies with each other member and non member alike. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints practice what they preach and they are criticized for that. When parents don't let there children go out and play on Sunday non members accuse them of being judgmental even though they are the people who judging. When Latter Day Saints stick to the teachings of the Word of Wisdom again they are being accused of being judgmental. They aren't judging anybody.
If you want to treat the Sabbath like any other day of the week that is your right. If you want to drink alcoholic beverages, smoke tobacco products, consume coffee and other substances that Latter Day Saints are warned to stay away from nobody is judging you for that. Our dress code is also criticized. We like people to dress modestly and clothe their bodies respectfully. We don't judge people who dress differently than we do. It is just the way we like to live and we recognize that not everyone teaches the same things we do. We respect the traditions of others and we recognize that as God's children we are all doing the best we can to live by His commandments. We invite people to learn with us and study with us and worship with us and we are judged for that too. We don't judge others. Others do judge us. The next time you look at someone and say, "Look at what those flippin' Mormons are doing now!" Remember we are not saying that about anyone else. Personally I don't mind being judged by others it means I'm doing something right. And I don't mind letting other live the life they want to live. What I don't like is being accused of being judgmental by people who disagree with what I teach so they have to make up false accusations against me. God is our judge and He has not delegated that authority to anyone else.
Commitment to a good cause is something to be celebrated more now than ever before. Hopefully BYU will always stand by its principles of honor and integrity and never capitulate to those who think they are being too rigid. In a day when honor and integrity are scoffed at and ridiculed BYU stands out as a light to the world; an example for everyone to follow.
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