BYU – Memories and Opportunities

As I think back on my years at BYU, I marvel at the way opportunities unfolded before me.  The kind, generous hands of God provided it all, educating and preparing me for life.  The memories warm my soul.

I was truly happier than I had ever been in my life up to that time.  I was poor, with little money, and no car.  I had purchased my clothes from a second-hand shop.   I walked everywhere, or was given rides by roommates or friends.  But, my needs were always met.

The funny thing is that I had never had a life-long goal of graduating from college.  I just knew that I wanted to better myself until I got married, and I knew that the type of husband I wanted would be there.  The opportunities I had were just as valuable as the classes I took.  My years in college were a beautiful, personal metamorphosis.

I was fully active in my college church branches, never missing a meeting.  My main calling those years seemed to be choir director.  It was fabulous!  One year they invented a position as an entertainment specialist so I could prepare a ward talent show.

As my senior year approached, my faculty advisor became a very key player in my life.  His name was Dr. Elmer Knowles.  He was the head of the Department of Family Life Education.  We were assigned to do a presentation in one of his classes.  There were about 100 students.  My roommate helped me make giant cookies to hand out after.  I guess that caught his attention.  He took me under his wing and encouraged me to stretch.  He sensed more abilities in me than did myself.

For a class project, he made me a student director for the BYU Ombudsman Office, over the consumer library.  He wanted the entire card catalog redone, making it more user friendly.

With his encouragement, I wrote and directed a play about strengthening families that was performed in the Wilkinson Center during Family Life week.  A photo of it was featured in the Church News.

 

 

Singing opportunities continued to come.  I sang on BYU television.   After Steve and I were engaged I was asked to do a solo performance in the lounge in the Wilkinson Center.

 

 

One of my most memorable performances was singing at the Utah State Penitentiary at point of the mountain.

I’ll never forget the metal clang as the prison doors shut behind me, locking us in.  We were heavily guarded as we were led through the facility to where we performed for the minimum-security inmates. They were so glad we had come.  An opening prayer was offered by a very humble prisoner.  As he thanked God for the fresh air and the little birds overhead, I realized that they were the only nature he could experience.  It was so sad!

As an afterthought, I decided to add “America the Beautiful” to our performance.  I was fairly confident as I started singing it, my unaccompanied voice carried through the room, but my emotions got the best of me and I forgot the words.  I remained calm and didn’t miss a beat.  I created lyrics about beauty, nature and freedom acting like they were always part of the song. People commented on the new verse they had never heard before, (and would never hear again.)  I just nodded and thanked them.

I was so relieved to leave the prison and experienced a small, panicky thought that perhaps the metal doors wouldn’t open to let us out.  I treasured the moment our car pulled away, as my heart ached for the souls left inside.