With the Tongues of Angels

Just the other day, I was in one of my classes when, by happenstance, I found myself seated next to a former resident of my ward. She immediately recognized me, but I did not recognize her until she explained herself. Beyond normal banter, her only comment was, ‘you taught great Sunday School lessons’. I definitely would not consider myself to be a good teacher, in fact quite the opposite. But, that comment has given me added motivation to prepare for my upcoming lessons with extra vigor and zeal. Despite the arguable truthfulness of the comment, it made a big impression on me. By that same token, day in and day out, the readers of the Daily Universe are confronted with editorial after editorial bashing the beloved standards and practices here at BYU. I for one find it ridiculous; there is no reason to be so negative. Is that how to build a university? Is that how to motivate and change the mind of others, by pulling them down? To quote a popular maxim, ‘you catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar’; this certainly holds true with me and I am sure it does with the decision makers on campus as well. In a recent Conference address Elder Jeffery R. Holland said that we should “Be constructive in [our] comments to a child—always. Never tell them, even in whimsy, that they are fat or dumb or lazy or homely.” These words can never motivate, they only embitter, and turn the heart of the criticized even further away; often inspiring the repetition of the very offense that we are trying to correct. This is especially true for children, but the same is true with those that can affect campus policy. Yet time and time again, the editorials are replete with the very style of langue that Elder Holland condemns. If one wishes to help, let them lift up and not pull down. While there certainly is a place for constructive criticism, the Doctrine and Covenants tells us that it should always be followed by “an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy;” (D&C 121:43) However, when I read the opinion page of the Daily Universe, I can only sense contempt and an attitude of inflated pride. The ‘increase of love’ or any shred of constructive criticism is markedly absent. I realize the irony of complaining about the university’s complainers, but I only do it out of the genuine love that I have for this great institution. I do not feel that it deserves the criticism that it routinely receives. President Samuelson does not need to be fired, the honor code is an inspired document and does not need the added ‘inspiration’ of grumbling students, and parking is fine the way it is. The student body of this university was not created by the forced gathering of unwilling college age students. Each and every one of us independently chose to come here, and there is not one of us that fully realizes what a great opportunity it is or how good we have it. If you don’t like the parking, wake up earlier and get a better spot. If you don’t like a certain class, take a different one. If you don’t like a professor, take the class from someone else. And especially, if you don’t like the honor code, the religiosity of the curriculum, or any of the other standards that are given by revelation, go somewhere else. The University of Utah has more than its fair share of problems for you to complain about.