Devotionals move back to Hart Auditorium; students look forward to attending in bigger, familiar facility

by Kelly Smurthwaite
Scroll Staff

Final preparations are being made for today’s devotional which will be held in the Hart Auditorium. During the Fall 2002 Semester, devotionals were held in the Taylor Chapel, while the Hart Building underwent repairs and renovations. All devotionals during the winter semester will be held in the Hart Auditorium with various overflow locations on campus. Emily Warr / Scroll

During the Fall 2002 Semester, devotionals were moved to the Taylor Chapel. Because the Taylor Chapel could hold fewer people, additional overflow locations were available to students, faculty and community members.

Ashley Salisbury, a senior from Husun, Wash., says she enjoys the spirit that she feels in the Hart Auditorium.

“There’s more space in the Hart and when you are in the same room as the speakers, the Spirit is there more. Being in the Hart also gives more opportunity for students to attend,” she said.

Sisters Sabrina and Katrina Schoof, both freshman from Albuquerque N.M., have never experienced devotional in the Hart Building. Last semester, they tried to get in to the Taylor Chapel, but were not able to.

“We got there [the Taylor Chapel] a half an hour early ... yet weren’t able to get (a seat),” Sabrina said.

This semester there will be 16 devotional speakers, including President David A. Bednar and his wife, Susan Bednar. Traditionally, the Bednars speak the first Tuesday of the fall and winter semesters.

Other devotional speakers for the winter semester include Elder L. Edward Brown, former member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy; Eric L. Denna, chief information officer for the Church; Elder Charles A. Didier of the Presidency of the Seventy; Elder Gerald N. Lund of the Second Quorum of the Seventy; and Eric B. Shumway, President of BYU-Hawaii.

Speakers are chosen by a devotional committee, who then submit the list to the Church executive committee in Salt Lake — who in turn approve the names and send the list back. Other devotional speakers are chosen from a resource list.

Speakers are given about three months to prepare their remarks. Speakers are also allowed to pick their own topics.

The devotional is rebroadcast on the school’s radio station, KBYI-FM 100.5 at 2 and 9 p.m. Tuesdays. Also, devotionals can be watched on Sundays, on KBYU Television at 3 p.m.

Recordings of the devotional on CD and cassettes can be bought at the BYU-Idaho Bookstore. Some of the devotional addresses can be found on the BYU-Idaho Web site, under the key word “devotional.”

Devotionals take place every Tuesday in the Hart Auditorium, with overflow locations in the Kirkham Auditorium, the Hinckley Chapel and in Taylor 120.

Students are encouraged to bring their scriptures as and dress in Sunday attire.