REXBURG, Idaho — Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve taught students and employees about the spiritual principle of gathering during a BYU—Idaho devotional held Tuesday, Oct. 31.

Photo by Michael Lewis

Elder Bednar, second from right, Susan Bednar and Pres. Kim B. Clark, left, break ground for building.

Photo by Dave Sheppard

Elder David A. Bednar of Quorum of the Twelve, right, greets students at BYU-Idaho, where he presided during its transition from Ricks College. He addressed a devotional assembly and broke ground for construction.

Also on that day, ground was broken for a new auditorium and an expansion of the Hyrum Manwaring Student Center. Elder Bednar, former president of BYU-Idaho; current BYU—Idaho president Kim B. Clark; and other leaders participated in that event. The new auditorium and Manwaring Center expansion represent the culmination of plans outlined during the transition from Ricks College to BYU—Idaho. Elder Bednar called the ongoing development of BYU—Idaho over the past few years "one of the most important educational events of the Restoration."

"The physical evidence of that marvelous miracle is found in the new and renovated buildings across the BYU—Idaho campus," Elder Bednar said during the devotional. "The pace at and effectiveness with which these projects have moved forward defies rational explanation. The planning for and constructing of these new buildings and the remodeling of existing facilities on this campus has required faith, inspiration, persistence and patience."

Elder Bednar said that all things are spiritual unto the Lord (Doctrine and Covenants 29:34) and observed that the Manwaring Center and the auditorium will share a common spiritual purpose; they will both be primarily places of gathering.

"The gathering of Israel is one of the fundamental principles of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. The Lord gathers His people when they accept Him and keep His commandments. The spirit of gathering is an integral part of the restoration of all things in this, the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times."

Elder Bednar used the scriptures to review several basic purposes of gathering, places of gathering and blessings of gathering. He explained how the Lord gathers His people to worship (Mosiah 18:25), to build up the Church (Doctrine and Covenants 101:63-64), for a defense (Doctrine and Covenants 115:6) and to receive counsel and instruction (Mosiah 18:7).

He named the primary places of gathering as into the Lord's restored Church (Doctrine and Covenants 101:64-65), into holy temples (Alma 26:5-6), into stakes of Zion (Doctrine and Covenants 109:59) and into families (Mosiah 2:5). He also discussed the blessing of gathering as blessings of edification (Ephesians 4:12-13), preservation (Moses 7:61) and strength (Doctrine and Covenants 82:14).

Elder Bednar taught how the spirit, purposes and blessings of gathering also occur on campus. "At BYU—Idaho you gather to worship the Father in the name of the Son, to build up the Church and the university, to find defense and protection and to receive counsel and instruction."

The apostle encouraged the BYU—Idaho community to be grateful for the sacrifices of members of the Church worldwide who provide the sacred funds to upgrade the campus.

"Sister Bednar and I returned last week from an assignment in Slovakia and Hungary," he said. "The people with whom we met in those countries will likely never see or step foot in the remodeled Manwaring Center or the new auditorium. Please do not take these sacred resources, your choice associations and this beautiful campus for granted. Please be grateful for the singular opportunity you have to learn and work here — and for the responsibility that rests upon you as one who has been the recipient of great blessings."

Elder Bednar concluded with a promise to students, faculty, employees, administrators and the community that if they were to be intellectually modest, humble, grateful, obedient, and frugal "this university will shine forth ever brighter as a beacon of righteousness and of inspired educational innovation."

At the conclusion of his address, Elder Bednar offered a dedicatory prayer and was then joined by President Clark and other university and community officials on the land south of the John W. Hart Physical Education Building to break ground for the new auditorium.

The construction projects address two primary university needs: facilities where students can gather together as well as build and inspire one another, and critically needed space for the school's activities program. The auditorium, with some 15,000 seats, will primarily serve university needs, such as weekly campus devotionals, commencement ceremonies, and a variety of activities. The Manwaring Center expansion will be constructed on the building's north side, with an enclosed pedestrian connection to the neighboring David O. McKay Library.

In remarks before Elder Bednar's devotional address, President Clark said, "The construction of these two projects will require nothing short of a miracle. Thus we need to exercise great faith in the Lord. The Lord has the power to build buildings, but His great power is to build lives of faith, consecration and humility."