Technology blesses lives
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Technology can and does bless lives, President Henry B. Eyring said as he dedicated the BYU Broadcasting Building on Aug. 12. He said the new building will “bring the message of the gospel to millions of people throughout the earth.”
The dedication took place a little more than two years after ground was broken on May 7, 2009, for the state-of-the-art building located on the northeast part of the BYU campus. He also dedicated the Information Technology Building located on University Avenue in Provo, just west of the main, lower campus.
President Eyring, first counselor in the First Presidency, spoke during the service and dedicated the new buildings to further the work of the Church. (For more information on the new broadcasting building, please see the Church News, Jan. 15, 2011.)
“These buildings have been built to take advantage of the wonderful and miraculous technology that will enable the university and the Church to reach the hearts and minds of members and friends around the globe,” President Eyring said. “That will be done in a way that just a few years ago would have seemed impossible to many people.”
Joining President Eyring during the dedication services were Elder Russell M. Nelson, Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Elder M. Russell Ballard, all of the Twelve, and Elder Paul V. Johnson, Elder Richard G. Maynes and Elder Lynne G. Robbins of the Seventy. Elder Cecil O. Samuelson of the Seventy and president of BYU conducted the dedication.
Prior to dedicating the building, President Eyring spoke of the Lord’s plan to advance His work ever more rapidly and the effect of His gospel throughout the world. Through technology, the Church is able to take full advantage of these advances, he said.
“Therefore, the work done in these facilities is at least a partial fulfillment of President Spencer W. Kimball’s hope and his desire to use technology that had already been revealed and would yet be revealed to preach the gospel to the millions and even billions of people on earth.”
Quoting what President Kimball said in 1974, President Eyring said, “Just think what can be accomplished when we broadcast our message in many languages … around the world, and millions of good people listening on their transistors are being indoctrinated with the truth. The Lord has blessed the world with many … satellites. They are stationed high in the heavens, relaying broadcast signals back to almost every corner of the earth’s surface. Certainly these satellites are only the genesis of what is in store for the future of worldwide broadcasting.
“With the Lord providing these miracles of communication, and with the increased efforts and devotion of our missionaries and all of us, and all others who are ‘sent,’ surely the divine injunction will come to pass: ‘For, verily, the sound must go forth from this place into all the world, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth — the gospel must be preached unto every creature … and we must find a way.”
President Eyring spoke of the importance of the continuing development of information technology and its crucial contribution to operating every facet of the university, as well as the Church.
“It is fitting and appropriate that we dedicate today a new building devoted to the development, use and support of information technology,” he said.
Noting the great resource the new buildings bring to BYU, President Eyring spoke of the great responsibilities Church members have to remember the real focus that comes with these technological advances.
“Now that we have these two state-of-the-art facilities, what then is our responsibility?” President Eyring asked. “First of all, we must never forget that the Savior established His work here on earth and conducted His perfect ministry not with information technology and not through audiovisual equipment. He preached the gospel in its purity through a personal ministry; a ministry of love, compassion and caring for individuals, much as President [Thomas S.] Monson has done throughout his entire life and ministry. Never forget that while we have computers, cameras, microphones, fiber optic networks, clouds and satellites, we will have failed if we do not rely upon the Holy Ghost to be the true ‘processor’ and ‘transmission line’ of our efforts to educate God’s children and to spread His message of peace, hope and salvation.
“Remember that these tools revealed to His children are only one of the means given to us, and not the end. If our information technology and our broadcasting equipment does not improve the lives of others, serve to educate God’s children in both temporal and spiritual knowledge, and help bring them home to Him, we have missed the mark.”
President Eyring spoke of the great appreciation the leaders of the Church have for the marvelous new facilities and the tithe-payers and generous donations that made the construction possible.
“We have faith and confidence that your efforts will help others to bring the message of the gospel to millions of people throughout the earth” he said.
During the dedicatory prayer, President Eyring blessed the buildings that those who teach and serve within the walls do so with goodness and integrity with the Spirit, and that the minds of the students may be enlightened with an understanding of the privileges that come from an education provided at Brigham Young University.
mholman@desnews.com
