Recently, Richard M. Houseman, dean of Continuing Education (CE) at BYU, had the opportunity to deliver the weekly devotional address in the Marriott Center, with a message entitled Go to Light, Be Filled with Light, and Share Light. His message focused on the importance of having faith in Jesus Christ and making use of the light He provides. As he encouraged listeners, “Have the faith to go to Jesus Christ! His light is the most joyous influence in our lives when we make Him the most desirable influence in our lives.”
Houseman started his first year at BYU in 1984, the same year BYU’s football team won the NCAA National Championship, with the intent to major in business or engineering. After exploring both majors and not feeling a connection to either, he recalled a formative high school biology class assignment: identifying the bird species in his county. This assignment and his love of nature sparked a fascination with studying biology, and he began a new bird checklist each year. This enduring interest ultimately led him to choose biology as his major at BYU.
One of his most memorable experiences as a student was attending a BYU football game in 1990, when the number sixteen-ranked BYU Cougars took on the defending national champion and top-ranked Miami Hurricanes. BYU pulled off one of the most iconic upsets in college football, winning 28–21 at Cougar Stadium, now LaVell Edwards Stadium.
During his time as a student at BYU, the weekly devotionals also left a lasting impression. He recalled hearing devotionals from Ezra Taft Benson and Gordon B. Hinckley, as well as others that influenced him. “I remember [the devotionals] being something I always looked forward to and was grateful for,” he said. “For me, all those years going [and] being uplifted and leaving with little tidbits of inspiration would guide me."
Knowing the impact the weekly devotional can have on students, giving the devotional was a full circle moment for Houseman. The invitation to speak was extended in March 2024 by Keith Vorkink, BYU Advancement Vice President, and Houseman recalled being shocked. “I wasn’t expecting it,” he said. "I was flattered and grateful for that because it's such a unique kind of privilege to do something like that."
After settling on the date for his devotional, Houseman had about eight weeks to prepare. He spent that time studying the scriptures and seeking inspiration in the temple. Despite writing more than a dozen drafts, the night before the devotional—as he was preparing for bed—two or three lines kept coming to his mind. He felt prompted to add them at the last minute, and those lines, he says, are among the ones people have most frequently mentioned to him since his address.
Drawing on the scriptural imagery of the tree of life in Lehi’s dream, Houseman emphasized how Christ’s light gives us the strength to face challenges in our lives. “Have the
faith to go to Jesus Christ!” he said. “His light is the most joyous influence in our lives when we make Him the most desirable influence in our lives.”
Speaking to an estimated audience of seven thousand students and faculty, he did his best not to be intimidated. He followed the advice given to him to speak to the cameras to reach the broader audience who would later watch the devotional online or on television, instead of focusing on the crowd.
When asked what he’ll remember most about the experience, Houseman noted that it was the support and sustaining he felt throughout the experience that will have the longest impact on him. All the words of encouragement and kindness he received leading up to his address filled him with the courage and confidence he needed. “Giving encouragement and then afterwards . . . the thankfulness and the kind praise that people give, whether it's deserved or not, were just so kind,” he said. “You want to do well, and those kind words [are] what I’ll remember.”
Dean Houseman’s devotional address can be found on https://speeches.byu.edu/.
