In his first address as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles — and just hours after the announcement was made of his call — Elder Patrick Kearon stood in front of BYU–Hawaii graduates and invited them to “put your hand into the hand of God.”
Elder Kearon was ordained on Thursday, Dec. 7, then flew with his wife, Sister Jennifer Kearon, to Hawaii for the commencement exercises on Friday, Dec. 8.
“I slept very little last night as you can well imagine,” he told the graduates. “I realize now in the most extraordinary way that never have I actually prepared remarks for others that so perfectly fit a moment in my own life.”
He said he knows that God — who is over all and to whom the call came as no surprise — directed him to say what he had already prepared to say for the graduation.
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“I’m keenly aware that I will need to grow in every conceivable good way to become the servant the Savior needs me to be. My inadequacies, weaknesses and lack are painfully clear to me. But I have faith in the patience of my Father, the grace of Jesus Christ and the tutoring of the Holy Ghost,” he said.
Elder Kearon told the 234 fall graduates that they stand on a new threshold, and before them stretches an adventure — and also a lot of unknowns.
But as they step forward, they can trust that as they reach out to God, He will be a light and guide for them along the way.
He shared these words written by poet Minnie Louise Haskins:
“And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: ‘Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.’ And he replied: ‘Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.’ So I went forth, and finding the hand of God, trod gladly into the night. And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day.”
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Elder Kearon said putting “your hand into the hand of God” may mean exercising the faith of the widow of Zaraphath, who used the last of her meal and oil to feed the prophet Elijah. Or it could mean the humble obedience of Naaman, who listened to the prophet Elisha and bathed seven times in the Jordan River to be healed. It might call to mind Mary, the mother of Jesus, who trustingly accepted her role in God’s plan.
“Certainly, putting your hand into the hand of God means a constant quest to draw close to our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ, and feel the joy of Their perfect love,” Elder Kearon said.
It means recognizing Their presence, thinking celestial and looking ahead to what God has in store.
“My friends, if we strive to be led purely by the hand of God, and not by any other influence, we will be empowered to face the unknowns of our future with sustaining faith and abiding trust.”
‘Finding the hand of God’
Elder Kearon said the gospel of Jesus Christ is filled with light that can and will assist everyone in “finding the hand of God” as the poem describes. This light is found through seeking Christ, repenting, studying the scriptures and making covenants in the house of the Lord.
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“Jesus Christ, our beloved Savior, is the transcendent source of light in our lives. … Because of His light, we really can choose hope and joy in the midst of life’s confusing storms.”
Taking advantage of that light means discovering what President Russell M. Nelson has described as the joy of daily repentance.
Said Elder Kearon: “Repeatedly turning back to God each time we get off course frees us from the bonds of sin and misery that the adversary would smother us in. We can learn to relish the opportunity for daily — even constant — repentance, and do so with sincere thanksgiving.”
Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles presides at the fall graduation ceremony at Brigham Young University-Hawaii in Laie, Hawaii, on Friday, Dec. 8, 2023.
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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The scriptures are another source of light, and can illuminate and shape the way people view the world. Elder Kearon said President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency, has taught that the scriptures contain the answers to every question because they can lead to every answer.
“Wherever you are with your personal study of the scriptures, I would encourage you to continue seeking and learning. It is never too late for us to open our hearts to the scriptures and be guided by their light,” Elder Kearon said.
The temple is an unwavering source of light and a symbol of safety, providing constancy in a world of uncertainty. Making covenants with God in the house of the Lord is to “put your hand into the hand of God” and can fill people with light and peace.
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“The covenants we make in the temple endow us with power, God’s power, and fill us with the Lord’s light. We go forth from the temple with His name upon us, His glory round about us, and His angels having charge over us,” Elder Kearon said.
Graduates look toward a lifetime of service
Elder Kearon — who was born in England — said the poem he referenced was made famous by England’s King George VI in his address in December 1939 during World War II.
These words to the people to “Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God” provided solace, courage, unity and hope, even with the hardship and uncertainty ahead.
The future holds challenges and growth opportunities for the BYU–Hawaii graduates as well. “What the gospel promises us is that if we are led by God, with our hand in His, we will be guided through life’s tests and struggles and into His ever-increasing light.”
King George VI led his people through one of history’s most grievous conflicts, serving his country and the people at great personal sacrifice.
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Elder Kearon said to lead others in the way the Savior led is to serve them. Often that service demands sacrifice and growth. But such service will refine and sanctify, changing hearts and molding characters to become more like Christ, “the greatest servant of all.”
The mission of BYU–Hawaii is to prepare students to be lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ and leaders.
Elder Kearon told the graduates their time applied at BYU–Hawaii has equipped them with a set of skills that, coupled with the guiding light of the gospel of Jesus Christ, will shape their contributions to the world.
Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, right, and BYU–Hawaii President John S.K. Kauwe III, left, walk in the academic procession during the fall graduation at BYU-Hawaii in Laie, Hawaii, on Friday, Dec. 8, 2023.
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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
As they go out from this threshold into the unknown, holding fast to pure sources of truth and light, they must look for whom they can serve around them.
“In the Lord’s eyes, greatness is measured not by our personal achievements, but by the charity with which we treat His children. … I believe in your ability to serve humankind. More importantly, your Father in Heaven believes in you.”
BYU–Hawaii graduates can be peacemakers, trust in the Lord
BYU–Hawaii President John S.K. Kauwe III began the commencement exercises by expressing his gratitude to Elder and Sister Kearon for coming to the campus.
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He told the graduates to always be grateful for the faith and Christlike love that has provided this experience for them.
BYU–Hawaii President John S.K. Kauwe III speaks at the university’s December 2023 commencement exercises on Dec. 8, 2023.
“Every moment we share on this campus has been intricately woven together by our collective faith in God, in His prophets and in one another,” he said.
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He invited the students to follow the direction of President Nelson to choose to be a peacemaker: “As BYU–Hawaii graduates, you will find that your capacity as a peacemaker will be recognized, and you will become a leader and an example.”
President Kauwe told the students they can trust the Lord’s promises, and as they strive to be true to their covenants and act with faith in Jesus Christ, they will see those promises fulfilled in their lives.
The student speaker, Crystal Tania — a communications, media and culture major from Indonesia — said that as the graduates step into the future, uncertainties will greet them at every turn, “but we will always make it through. … It is always comforting to remember that Heavenly Father will never abandon us and that He has a unique plan for each of us.”
R. Kelly Haws, assistant to the commissioner of Church education, also attended and spoke.
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R. Kelly Haws, assistant to the commissioner of Church education speaks at BYU–Hawaii’s December 2023 commencement exercises on Dec. 8, 2023.
BYU–Hawaii fall 2023 graduates
234 graduates.
220 bachelor’s degrees.
14 associate degrees.
Range from 19 to 83 years of age.
44% come from outside the U.S.
From 24 U.S. states and 23 countries.
61% are women and 39% are men.
90% had at least one job.
Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, center, BYU–Hawaii President John S.K. Kauwe III, left, and R. Kelly Haws of the Church Educational System, right, walk in the academic procession during the fall graduation in Laie, Hawaii, on Friday, Dec. 8, 2023.
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Speakers, faculty and staff, including Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, stand at the beginning of commencement exercises at BYU–Hawaii on Friday, Dec. 8, 2023.
BYU–Hawaii President John S.K. Kauwe III, left, and Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles lead a procession at the school’s December 2023 commencement exercises on Dec. 8, 2023.
HONOLULU — Hone was swirling past Hawaii’s main islands on Monday, after it weakened to a tropical storm the day before, and blasted the Big Island with rain.
Meanwhile, in the eastern Pacific, Tropical Storm Hector gained strength, packing top sustained winds of 50 mph (about 80 kph). There were no coastal watches or warnings in effect as Hector was still churning far out at sea, the National Hurricane Center said.
Hone (pronounced hoe-NEH) had top winds of 65 mph (110 kph) Monday morning as it moved past Hawaii about 240 miles (386 kilometers) southwest of Honolulu and 205 miles (about 330 kilometers) south of Lihue, according to a 5 a.m. advisory from the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.
William Ahue, a forecaster at the center in Honolulu, said the biggest impacts from Hone were rainfall and flash floods that resulted in road closures, downed power lines and damaged trees in some areas.
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Julia Neal, the owner of a bed-and-breakfast located on a former sugar plantation in Pahala, on the Big Island, said she and some guests were “experiencing tropical storm winds and heavy pounding rain through the night.” She added that “Hone was also a gift in a way because we have been experiencing a lot of drought.”
On Sunday, floods closed Highway 11 between Kona and Hilo, and a higher-altitude alternative, the Cane Road, was closed by flooding as well, isolating properties like the Aikane Plantation Coffee Co. outside Pahala, where owner Phil Becker said his 10-inch (25-centimeter) rain gauge overflowed in the deluge.
“We’ve got quite a lot of flood damage, the gulches are running full speed ahead and they’re overflowing the bridges, so we’re trapped down here, we can’t get in or out,” Becker said.
Becker said his plantation is off the grid, powered with batteries charged by solar electricity, and his family is safe, so they have no reason to evacuate. The weather may even prove beneficial: “We’ve been in a drought situation so the coffee is probably loving all this rain,” he said.
Hurricane Gilma, meanwhile, which was still far east of Hawaii, gained a bit of strength on Monday morning. Gilma is expected to remain a hurricane through Tuesday, but was forecast to weaken considerably before it reaches the islands. As of early Monday, Gilma was about 1,220 miles (1,963 kilometers) east of Hilo with top winds of 105 mph (169 mph).
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Shelters were opened over the weekend as Hone blew in and beach parks on the eastern side of the Big Island were closed due to dangerously high surf, Hawaii County Mayor Mitch Roth said.
Hone, whose name is Hawaiian for “sweet and soft,” poked at memories still fresh of last year’s deadly blazes on Maui, which were fueled by hurricane-force winds. Red flag alerts are issued when warm temperatures, very low humidity and stronger winds combine to raise fire dangers. Most of the archipelago is already abnormally dry or in drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
The Aug. 8, 2023, blaze that torched the historic town of Lahainawas the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century, with 102 dead. Dry, overgrown grasses and drought helped spread the fire.
The cause of the Lahaina blaze is still under investigation, but it’s possible it was ignited by bare electrical wire and leaning power poles toppled by the strong winds. The state’s two power companies, Hawaiian Electric and the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, were prepared to shut off power if necessary to reduce the chance that live, damaged power lines could start fires, but they later said the safety measures would not be necessary as Hone blew past the islands.
Israel and Hezbollah’s cross-border attacks raise fears of a wider Middle East conflict.Ohio police release body camera footage that shows an encounter before an officer fatally shot a man in a U-Haul believed to be stolen. And Hurricane Hone brings heavy rain to Hawaii’s Big Island.
Here’s what to know today.
What’s next after Israel and Hezbollah exchange heavy fire
The escalation that long felt inevitable arrived in a blaze of cross-border attacks over the weekend, but the Middle East woke Monday on edge, though having escaped all-out war — for now at least.
Fears of a wider regional conflict grew after Israel launched what it said were pre-emptive strikes on southern Lebanon after saying it had detected plans by Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah to launch a “large-scale” attack.
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Hezbollah responded with an assault using a “large number of drones,” with the militant group’s leader Hassan Nasrallah saying fighters had targeted the Glilot base near Tel Aviv and had no intention of targeting civilian infrastructure.
The militant group said it had launched the attacks as revenge for the assassination last month of Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr, with both Hezbollah and Iran having vowed retaliation for weeks following the back-to-back assassinations of both Shukr and Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh. Israel, which typically remains silent on targeted assassinations, has not publicly claimed responsibility for the killings, but is widely believed to have carried them out.
But as fears of further escalation grew, both Israel and Hezbollah appeared to rein in hostilities on Sunday, with both sides confirming the latest round of violence was over, but doing little to assuage fears of future fighting.
Read the full story here.
More coverage on the Middle East:
Over two million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are confined to a humanitarian area smaller than Manhattan.
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Bodycam video shows moment Ohio officer fatally shoots man in U-Haul believed stolen
Akron Police Department / WKYC
Police in Akron, Ohio, released bodycam video and security footage showing an officer fatally shooting a man suspected of stealing of a U-Haul box truck earlier this month.
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The video shows the encounter leading up to the death of Michael Jones at a gas station in the early hours of Aug. 17. Officers had been investigating a stolen vehicle, which they had seen in the gas station’s parking lot, police said in the initial news release about the shooting. The vehicle was rented and then wasn’t returned to U-Haul on the agreed upon date, prompting U-Haul to report it stolen, an Akron police spokesperson said.
Officers repeatedly asked Jones to step out of the truck and told him he’s under arrest, with an officer shooting twice when Jones drives away. The officer involved in the shooting, who has been at the department for 2½ years, has been placed on paid administrative leave under department procedure, police said.
Read the full story here.
Hurricane Hone brings heavy rain and damaging winds to Hawaii’s Big Island
NOAA
Hurricane Hone is moving away from Hawaii’s Big Island, but will continue to bring strong winds and widespread rain to the region, the National Hurricane Center said.
Hone strengthened to a Category 1 hurricane as it hovered about 160 miles southwest of Honolulu on Sunday. It’s expected to weaken to a tropical storm by early Monday. The island’s residents could get anywhere from 6 to 12 inches of rain and an additional 3 to 5inches in south-facing slopes, the hurricane center said. Flights were canceled at Hilo International Airport and Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park closed its Mauna Loa summit due to the tropical storm conditions on the island. “Life-threatening” surf can also be expected along with flooding. More than 24,000 people were without power on Hawaii’s Big Island overnight.
More weather coverage:
Hurricane season was expected to be far more active than normal. What happened?
This summer has broken multiple heat records for many across the U.S., but California got a rare August snow in Lake Tahoe.
Politics in Brief
Battleground states: Hundreds of Democrats spent the weekend in western Pennsylvania at “Demstock” — a play on Woodstock that featured speakers and live performances, but all for politics.
Fundraising: The Harris campaign said that it and its allies raised a combined $40 million on the heels of Vice President Kamala Harris’ speech at the Democratic National Convention.
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Meet the Press: In an interview on NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” Sen. JD Vancedidn’t give a direct answer about whether Trump’s policy proposals for the border would lead to family separation. Vance also argued that Trump has “explicitly” said he would veto an abortion ban.
Election 2024: Union members aren’t just voting on labor this year. Some are also prioritizing issues like inflation, abortion and gun control, leaving plenty of room for partisan fissures.
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Staff Pick: The federal courts are full of judges who could retire but won’t
Leila Register / NBC News; Getty Images
When President Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race over concerns about his advancing age, there was commentary about whether America is becoming a gerontocracy, a country where old people are in charge. After all, until a few weeks ago, the election pitted 81-year-old Biden against 78-year-old Donald Trump.
As a longtime legal reporter, my thoughts turned to the federal judiciary, where hundreds of lower court judges with lifetime appointments often fly under the radar. With the help of intern Elleiana Green, we learned that quite a lot of aging judges who are eligible to retire haven’t done so. The resulting story is a nuanced look at how the judiciary handles the tricky issue of cognitive decline.
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— Lawrence Hurley, senior Supreme Court reporter
NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified
Think your morning commute is long? Think again. One NBC Select reporter used to regularly commute 1,452 miles weekly between Virginia and New York City. Clearly, she’s a pro at picking the essentials — like luggage, tech gadgets and comfy clothes — for a long commute. Here’s her list.
If you’re more partial to flying than long road trips, these expert tips about in-flight skin care routines can keep you looking flawless.
Sign up to The Selection newsletter for hands-on product reviews, expert shopping tips and a look at the best deals and sales each week.
Thanks for reading today’s Morning Rundown. Today’s newsletter was curated for you by Elizabeth Both. If you’re a fan, please send a link to your family and friends. They can sign up here.
Lexington (Ky.) Frederick Douglass wideout Dekel Crowdus was a significant recruiting win for the Kentucky football program in the 2021 high school cycle. The four-star prospect spent his first three college football seasons in Lexington but decided a change was needed heading into year four. Crowdus entered the transfer portal right after the regular season ended.
The redshirt junior with two years of eligibility remaining landed at Hawaii and made an impact in his first game for the Rainbow Warriors during Week Zero.
Playing in the after dark window, Dekel Crowdus recorded three receptions on five targets for 49 yards and a touchdown. The fourth-year player had only four career receptions heading into the Week Zero game against Delaware State that Hawaii won 35-21.
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The Kentucky transfer played 26 snaps for the Hawaii offense and should have a big role with the Mountain West program this season.
Let’s take a quick look at the movement with seen from the Kentucky roster in the transfer portal.
Jalen Geiger (Entered on Nov. 27): Signed with to Tulane
Izayah Cummings (Entered on Nov. 29): Signed with Louisville
Luke Fulton (Entered on Dec. 1): Signed with Kent State
Shamar Porter (Entered on Dec. 4): Withdrew from the transfer portal on Dec. 8
Jamarius Dinkins (Entered on Dec. 4): Signed with Purdue
Destin Wade (Entered on Dec. 4): Signed with Colorado
Keaten Wade (Entered on Dec. 4): Signed with Colorado
JuTahn McClain (Entered on Dec. 4): Retired
Grant Bingham (Entered on Dec. 4): TBD
Dekel Crowdus (Entered on Dec. 4): Signed with Hawaii
Martez Thrower (Entered on Dec. 4): Signed with Georgia State
Kaiya Sheron (Entered on Dec. 5): Signed with UT Martin (FCS)
Jordan Dingle (Entered on Dec. 7): Withdrew from transfer portal on Dec. 16
Elijah Reed (Entered on Dec. 11): Signed with Akron
Deuce Hogan (Entered on Dec. 30): Signed with New Mexico State
Since the conclusion of Kentucky spring practice, eight former scholarship players entered the transfer portal.
DB Jordan Robinson (Entered transfer portal on April 24): Signed with Cincinnati
DB Jaremiah Anglin (Entered transfer portal on April 23): Signed with Pittsburgh
WR Shamar Porter (Entered transfer portal on April 22): Signed with UConn
P/K Jackson Smith (Entered transfer portal on April 22): Signed with WKU
WR Ardell Banks (Entered transfer portal on April 22): Signed with Kent State
WR Raymond Cottrell (Entered transfer portal on April 16): Signed with West Florida (Division II)
WR Cole Lanter (Entered transfer portal on April 16): Signed with Gardner-Webb (FCS)
RB La’Vell Wright (Entered transfer portal on April 10): Signed with Austin Peay (FCS)
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25144418/Screenshot_2023_12_08_at_13.15.25.png "Newest Apostle, Elder Patrick Kearon, invites BYU–Hawaii graduates: ‘Put your hand into the hand of God’")
