Excellence is a journey
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Excellence is not a destination. It is a journey, Presiding Bishop H. David Burton told 289 graduates of LDS Business College on April 26.
"Excellence is not an accomplishment, but rather it is an entire approach to life. It is helpful to think of excellence as reflecting who we are and what we are becoming more than what we have done or what we are doing."
In the Assembly Hall on Temple Square, Bishop Burton was the commencement speaker for the first graduating class of the Church-owned college since its move last summer from the Mansion House to the Triad Center on 95 North 300 West, two blocks west of Temple Square. Conducting the event on a warm spring afternoon on Temple Square was LDS Business College President Stephen K. Woodhouse, who offered brief remarks.
Calling graduation "one of life's intersections," Bishop Burton spoke of the many roads the students might be soon taking, including further education, new jobs, missions and marriage. "Whatever road you find yourself on, I hope you will continue to pursue excellence just as you have during your time at LDS Business College."
Bishop Burton urged graduates, "Continue to pursue excellence in your lives. The characteristics we've mentioned will present challenges and perhaps even stumbling blocks to your progress in this worthy pursuit....
"With graduation comes obligation, an obligation to yourself, your faith and your community. Over the years, I have observed that most obligations are satisfied little by little, day by day over a lifetime. They are not fulfilled by a single majestic moment or a single event."
The small, simple objectives of life, accomplished one at a time, will add to a life filled with joy and satisfaction, "a life that has contributed in a major way to the betterment of mankind," Bishop Burton said. "I subscribe to the notion contained in this little idiom: 'Simplicity enhances spirituality."'
He offered some "small and simple things."
- "Eliminate the unnecessary minutia that tend to clutter lives and endeavor to focus on those things of greatest importance. Focus on home, family, Church and career and then, at the proper season of life, you can find time to broaden out in other areas of interest."
- Eliminate from your vocabulary the pronouns I and me and
replace them with they and we. "It is a whole different focus. It
changes one's emphasis from self to others. When we deliberately try to do
this, we tend to care far more about the welfare of other people and dwell
less on ourselves.... Remember the Savior's concluding remark to the lawyer
who asked, 'Who is my neighbor?' The answer was given in the parable of the
Good Samaritan. Christ said, 'Go, and do thou likewise.' (Luke 10:37).
Nephi's desire was to 'go and do' (1 Nephi 3:7), as the Lord commands.
"Some of the most important things in your life that you 'go and do' will be within the walls of your own home, in your neighborhoods, in your churches and communities."
- Control your tongue. "Speaking well of associates and family
always is a good policy."
- Be honest.
"Honesty may be a small and simple concept, perhaps, but I submit to each of you that it's critical for salvation. Honest people do not lie, cheat or steal, but in turn they love truth and they love justice. They are honest in word and in deed."- Have a strong work ethic.
"Commitment to be anxiously engaged is an example of a small and simple objective worthy of adoption in our lives," Bishop Burton said, adding the encouragement to learn to love work.- Become excellent men and women of Christ.
"My final piece of advice, small and simple as it is," Bishop Burton said, referring to the example of the Savior, "is to 'go and do thou likewise."'
As an example, Bishop Burton related the account of a caddy pointing out obstacles on a golf course to golf professional Arnold Palmer. The golfer responded, "Please don't tell me what is on the right and please don't bother me with what is on the left. The only piece of information I require is the distance from my ball to the flag on the green."
In his remarks, President Woodhouse said: "I have been president of LDS Business College for several years. During that time I have preached the doctrine of continual learning at every commencement from this pulpit. At every commencement I have wondered if you hear me and if you believe me enough to do something about it. The reason I believe excellence in study is so critical is because your ability to positively impact your family, your profession, your neighborhood and your Church will grow exponentially as you excel in what you study and in the degree of your disciple scholarship."
Performing music for commencement was the institute choir at LDS Business College, with Linda Margetts on the organ. E. Bruce Haws, vice president and trust officer of Deseret Trust Company, received the Distinguished Alumnus Award. Also offering remarks were graduate speakers Aleksandra Salo and Mark Humbert.
E-mail to: julied@desnews.com
