2016 Spring Commencement

Spring Commencement at BYU

A total of 5948 students from 10 colleges are receiving degrees at the commencement ceremonies, with 5038 students receiving bachelor’s degrees, 688 students receiving master’s degrees and 203 receiving doctoral degrees. After a processional brought the graduates to the Marriott Center, President Worthen offered counsel to the graduates and their families.

Alicia Stanton spoke on behalf of the graduating students. BYU then presented noted scholar, diplomat and expert on Chinese-American relations Ambassador Su Ge, an honorary Doctor of International Leadership. The keynote address was given by Elder L. Whitney Clayton, senior president of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He spoke on the importance of ”getting and staying connected.”

“We can best judge things that have happened in our lives if we view them from God’s perspective, from an eternal viewpoint.” — President Kevin J Worthen

“As we celebrate your past accomplishments and look forward to your future, I urge you to view things from an eternal perspective - in the light of God‘s great plan of salvation. As you do so, your past, present and future will be more meaningful, more fruitful and more joyful.” — President Kevin J Worthen

“When we make connections between different aspects of living — the physical, the intellectual, the emotional, the spiritual — we see the big picture more clearly.” — Alicia Stanton

“One should keep a moral bottom-line in life and professional standards at work. No matter what the outer conditions are, keep spirits high and just persevere. Personal righteousness, responsibility, discipline, and devotion are requirements for final achievements.” — Ambassador Su Ge

“If you will each pay the price of becoming devoted to heaven and each other as God intends, then your connection will be the flower and fruit of your lives.” — Elder L. Whitney Clayton

“Whatever we do that may tend to weaken our connection — our binding — with heaven should be assessed with wariness. Everything we do that tends to reinforce faith and promotes keeping our covenants should be embraced. Our connection with heaven is the most valuable blessing we have and the most important one we can secure. It strengthens every other worthy connection in our lives.” — Elder L. Whitney Clayton