The climb upward will be challenging, but it will also be exhilarating, elevating, and ethereal. George Washington apparently shared the same sentiment, as his second inaugural address consisted of only words. Following the example of these outstanding leaders, I will be relatively brief. I think it is safe to say that she did not envision that we would ever be in this position when she agreed to marry me.
But no one has been more supportive or had more impact on my success than has she. I also express appreciation to the members of the BYU Board of Trustees, whose confidence in me bolsters my own confidence. We are truly blessed to be led by inspired men and women, whose lives of consecration and service provide such clear examples of what we hope our students become. Finally, I thank those who have sacrificed so much to make BYU the outstanding university that it is, including especially the 12 individuals who have preceded me as leaders of this institution.
I will never feel comfortable being considered in the same category as these remarkable men, but I will always feel grateful for the extraordinary institutional leadership and personal mentoring they have provided.
As a result of the efforts of these outstanding leaders and the prophets who have guided them through the decades, the direction of Brigham Young University is firmly set. It is an accomplishment. Given the clear direction provided by our mission statement, the question for us is how we can best move this important work forward at this time. My answer is simple: by going to the mountains. One of the first things that many visitors to this university notice is the presence of the majestic mountains that rise dramatically to the east of our campus.
A rendering of Y Mountain is on the back side of the medallion that was just placed around my neck. I chose that particular feature as a kind of personal symbol for my tenure as president. I did so in part because of the iconic block Y on that mountain. As I explained to the faculty, staff, and administration at our recent annual university conference, the block Y can remind us of the unique education that we are to provide to our studentsβone that is broad, deep, spiritual, and character building.
