BYU–Hawaii Devotionals & Speeches

The Perfect ‘A’: Tuning Our Lives to Christ | Jeff Christensen | April 7, 2026

Jeff Christensen  Associate Professor, Faculty of Business & Government; Director, Center for Hospitality & Tourism  Brigham Young University–Hawaii Devotional (April 7, 2026)    Jeff Christensen teaches that Jesus Christ is the “perfect A,” illustrating that lives come into harmony only when aligned with Him through His Atonement. He shows that the Savior restores what is out of tune, aligns desires with God’s will, and magnifies even small, willing efforts. Jeff Christensen invites listeners to realign their lives with Christ through repentance, forgiveness, and intentional daily action.    “When we place what little we have into the Savior’s hands, our efforts, our talents, our willingness to serve Him are amplified.” — Jeff Christensen    Jeff Christensen is an Associate Professor and Director of the Center for Hospitality & Tourism Management Studies at BYU–Hawaii. He spent 24 years in global hospitality leadership and has traveled to 108 countries, using his experiences to teach how travel can foster understanding, service, and positive change. He and his wife Debbie are parents of three and strive to live Christlike values in their work and daily life.  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/byu-hawaii-devotionals-speeches--6571006/support [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/byu-hawaii-devotionals-speeches--6571006/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss]. Visit byuh.edu [https://byuh.edu/] to learn more.

What Will You Be? | Senator Mitt Romney | March 31, 2026

Jeff Christensen  Associate Professor & Director of the Center for Hospitality & Tourism Management Studies  Brigham Young University–Hawaii Devotional (April 7, 2026)    Jeff Christensen teaches that Jesus Christ is the “perfect A,” illustrating that lives come into harmony only when aligned with Him through His Atonement. He shows that the Savior restores what is out of tune, aligns desires with God’s will, and magnifies even small, willing efforts. Jeff Christensen invites listeners to realign their lives with Christ through repentance, forgiveness, and intentional daily action.    “When we place what little we have into the Savior’s hands, our efforts, our talents, our willingness to serve Him are amplified.” — Jeff Christensen    Jeff Christensen is an Associate Professor and Director of the Center for Hospitality & Tourism Management Studies at BYU–Hawaii. He spent 24 years in global hospitality leadership and has traveled to 108 countries, using his experiences to teach how travel can foster understanding, service, and positive change. He and his wife Debbie are parents of three and strive to live Christlike values in their work and daily life.  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/byu-hawaii-devotionals-speeches--6571006/support [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/byu-hawaii-devotionals-speeches--6571006/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss]. Visit byuh.edu [https://byuh.edu/] to learn more.

The Atonement of Jesus Christ Changes Everything | Daniel Sharp | March 24, 2026

Daniel Sharp  Professor of Faculty of Culture, Language & Perfoming Arts  Brigham Young University–Hawaii Devotional (March 24, 2026)    Daniel Sharp teaches that the Atonement of Jesus Christ serves as the central turning point of eternity by overcoming the effects of the Fall, ensuring resurrection, and offering all mankind a return to God’s presence. He explains that through the Atonement, Jesus Christ gains perfect empathy and authority to justly judge and succor humanity, having experienced all pain, temptation, and sin. He concludes that understanding the Atonement brings hope, inspires repentance, and enables lasting change through faith in Jesus Christ.    “We study the Atonement not merely as an intellectual exercise, but because understanding the Atonement, the progress and hope that an empathetic Savior provides, can give us hope to change. It can comfort us. It will heal us. Of that, I testify.” — Daniel Sharp    Daniel Sharp grew up in Canada, Thailand, and California. He joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at eighteen and served a mission in Campinas, Brazil. He is married to Carrie Rentz, and they have five sons and five grandchildren. Daniel earned a PhD in Religious Studies from Claremont Graduate University and has taught at BYU–Hawaii since 2011.  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/byu-hawaii-devotionals-speeches--6571006/support [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/byu-hawaii-devotionals-speeches--6571006/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss]. Visit byuh.edu [https://byuh.edu/] to learn more.

You are to be the Light to the World | President Billy Casey | March 17, 2026

President Billy Casey  President of the Laie Hawaii Temple  Brigham Young University–Hawaii Devotional (March 17, 2026)    President Billy Casey teaches that the rising generation is reserved to help prepare the world for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. He emphasizes that individuals are called to be a light to the world by choosing to be peacemakers, sharing the Aloha Spirit, and growing through adversity. Students are invited to spend more time worshiping and serving in the temple to receive greater spiritual light, strength, and guidance.  “The temple is a place of peace and power, and spending time there will literally change a person’s life.” — President Billy Casey  President Billy George Casey Jr. was born in Lubbock, Texas, and raised in Hawaii. He graduated from Brigham Young University–Hawaii and served a mission in Veracruz, Mexico. He later worked for many years as a roofing and waterproofing contractor and served as Assistant Director and Construction & Design Manager for BYU–Hawaii Facilities Management. He and his wife, Kanani Casey, were married in the Los Angeles California Temple and are the parents of eight children and many grandchildren. They currently serve as President and Matron of the Laie Hawaii Temple.  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/byu-hawaii-devotionals-speeches--6571006/support [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/byu-hawaii-devotionals-speeches--6571006/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss]. Visit byuh.edu [https://byuh.edu/] to learn more.

A Testimony: Your Most Powerful Weapon Against Evil | Elder Ronald M Barcellos | Feb 24, 2026

Elder Ronald M. Barcellos  General Authority Seventy  Brigham Young University–Hawaii Devotional (February 24, 2026)    Elder Ronald M. Barcellos teaches that a testimony of Jesus Christ is the most powerful weapon against evil. Referring to the war in heaven, he explains that we overcame Satan through the Savior’s Atonement and “the word of [our] testimony,” and that we must gain and strengthen that testimony again in this life. He invites listeners to ask, seek, and knock through prayer, scripture study, and faithful obedience, promising that a growing testimony will protect them from doubt, deception, and the adversary’s attacks.    “Brothers and Sisters, you were chosen by God to come to earth in these latter days because you were valiant in your testimony in the pre-mortal life.” — Elder Ronald M. Barcellos    Elder Ronald M. Barcellos was sustained as a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in April 2025. He has served in numerous Church callings, including full-time missionary in Brazil, bishop, stake presidency counselor, and mission president in Portugal. He studied business administration at São Marcos University in São Paulo, Brazil, and previously co-founded and led GreenMile, LLC. Elder Barcellos was born in São Paulo, Brazil, in 1975, is married to Karin Spat Albino Barcellos, and is the father of three children.    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/byu-hawaii-devotionals-speeches--6571006/support [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/byu-hawaii-devotionals-speeches--6571006/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss]. Visit byuh.edu [https://byuh.edu/] to learn more.