Devotionals and Speeches

Sister Kristin M. Yee was born in Sacramento, California, to Ryan R. Yee and Jaydean Fox McKay. Sister Yee received a bachelor’s degree in illustration and a Master of Public Administration from Brigham Young University. Sister Yee currently works as a Publishing Services special projects manager for the Church. Prior to working at the Church, she worked with Disney Interactive Studios for 13 year...

Joshua Figueira was born to Kevin and Sherry Figueira. His family hails from Kailua, Oahu in Hawaii, but he was raised primarily in Bountiful, Utah. Josh served in the South Korea Seoul West Mission. He holds a B.A in English language from Brigham Young University, a Master of Religion in Contemporary Society from King’s College London, and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Notre Dame. Josh...

Marc Stewart is from Sugar City, Idaho. He served a mission in the Columbia South Carolina Mission. Brother Stewart received a bachelor’s degree from BYU-Idaho in business finance and an MBA from Western Governor’s University. He worked at the Idaho National Laboratory for six years as a Planning and Financial Controls Specialist, four years at BYU-Idaho in a few financial roles, six years at BYU-...

Ryan Buttars shares personal stories about how no one is forgotten by Jesus Christ. Given at a BYU-Idaho devotional on December 3, 2024.

Richard Whiting grew up in Southern California as the second of five children. A year after starting his education at BYU, he was called to serve in the South Africa Johannesburg Mission. After serving a mission, Brother Whiting returned to BYU, where he taught at the MTC and studied psychology. Before completing his bachelor's degree, he married his wife, Beverly. They have been married for 39 ye...

Janalee Meeker has a deep love and admiration for the students at BYU-Idaho. In her current role as an administrator in the Student Honor Office, she cherishes the one-on-one experiences she has with students as they strive to become disciples of Jesus Christ. Having grown up in a large family, with an extraordinary mother, and as a triplet, she began observing healthy family relationships early i...

Elder Hans T. Boom was sustained as a General Authority Seventy on April 6, 2019, at age 55. At the time of his call, he had been serving as a temple ordinance worker for the Hague Netherlands Temple and as an institute teacher. He currently serves as president of the Europe North Area. Elder Boom has served in a number of Church callings, including full-time missionary in the England London East...

Tom Waldron grew up in Garden Grove, California. He served in the Cebu Philippines mission. Tom attended Golden West college and BYU-Idaho Pathway Connect before he received a Bachelor of Science in Automotive Technology Management from BYU-Idaho and a Master of Science in Management and Leadership from Western Governors University. Tom was a technician for Coast Cadillac and a master diagnostic t...

Sister Michelle D. Craig received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Brigham Young University. Sister Craig has served in many ward and stake positions in the Primary, Young Women, and Relief Society organizations. She has served as temple ordinance worker in the Provo Utah Temple and Gospel Doctrine teacher in Sunday school. Sister Craig served a mission in the Dominican Republic Sa...

Kevin J Worthen is the Hugh W. Colton Professor of Law and a Wheatley Institute Distinguished Fellow at Brigham Young University. Brother Worthen is a graduate of Carbon High School in Price, Utah. After serving a mission in Monterrey, Mexico, he earned an associate degree at the College of Eastern Utah (now USU-Eastern). He then received his B.A. in political science and his J.D. from BYU. After...

Gabriel W. Reid was sustained as Second Counselor in the Sunday School General Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 6, 2024. He began serving on August 1, 2024. Prior to his calling in the Sunday School General Presidency, he served as a Mission Leader in the Australia Sydney Mission from 2021–2024. Brother Reid has served in several Church callings, including ful...

Dr. Jennie Pardoe grew up in Southlake, Texas. She served as a full-time missionary in the Russia-Samara mission. Jennie earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting from Brigham Young University, her Master of Arts in Theatre Education from Emerson College, and her PhD in Theatre and Performance Studies from the University of Missouri. She began working as a faculty member for the BYU-Idaho Departm...

Danny Ricks has been an educator in the Church Educational System for nearly two decades. He has taught on the Navajo and Hopi reservations in Northern Arizona as well as in Boise, Idaho. He currently teaches in the Religion Department at BYU-Idaho, where he has served for the past five years. He is a devoted husband and the proud father of five wonderful children. Danny is also the great-great-gr...

Elder Steven R. Bangerter was sustained as a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on March 31, 2018. At the time of his call, he had been serving as a member of the Fifth Quorum of the Seventy in the Utah South Area. Elder Bangerter is currently serving in the North America Central Area Presidency. Previously, he served in the Philippines, North America West...

This Devotional address with Sister Rebecca L. Craven was delivered on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, at 11:30 a.m. MST in the BYU-Idaho Center.