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50 years ago
President David O. McKay addressed graduates during his BYU baccalaureate sermon in the recently completed George Albert Smith Fieldhouse on June 3, 1951, according to the June 6, 1951, Church News.
He spoke to about 5,000 people in the first assembly held in the new fieldhouse.
In his address, President McKay counseled those in attendance: "If we accept the spirit entity of man as real and eternal, how utterly foolish to ignore or to neglect its development by giving most, if not all, of our attention to physical needs, pleasures, and passions.
"If one makes the present world with its allurements, riches, honors, pleasures, indulgences, etc., 'the object of supreme pursuit,' and gains not only what one seeks, but the whole world, yet along with it forfeits one's own soul, one has gambled the only thing worthwhile, and lost."
During the graduation ceremonies the following day, President McKay received an honorary doctorate from the school.
