BYU-I provides students opportunities to get involved with religious activities, programs

by Alyssa Epperson
EPP02001@BYUI.EDU
Scroll Staff

Students gather below the BYU-Idaho stadium for Stadium Singing, which takes place every Sunday evening. The activity is one of many religious activities that is offered to students. Sean Miller / Scroll

Each Tuesday at 2 p.m. in the Hart Auditorium, BYU-I students have the opportunity to hear a spiritual message from Church leaders at devotional. Overflow locations are in the Kirkham Auditorium, Taylor 120 and the Hinckley Chapel. There are also various smaller overflows around campus. Today’s speaker is Elder L. Edward Brown, former member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy.

“I think it’s cool to see so many youth in the Church willingly going [to devotional], knowing that they will feel the Spirit and grow spiritually,” Brady Nordfelt, a sophomore from Rexburg said.

“It’s awesome to look around the Hart [Auditorium] and see so many people there, all wanting to learn about the gospel,” he said.

Stadium Singing is another activity students enjoy.

Sundays at 10 p.m. 100 students gather under the bleachers at Viking Stadium with a pitch pipe to sing hymns.

Students bring hymnals, flashlights, and their singing voices to end the Sabbath day. Songs are suggested the previous week. Most of the songs are out of the hymn book, but occasionally primary songs are sung.

“I like Stadium Singing because you get to be with your friends and sing hymns. It’s a good way to start and end your week,” Paul Simpson, a sophomore from Puyallup, Wash., said.

Those who are interested in participating in Stadium Singing are encouraged to dress warmly and to bring a hymn book.

Different options are available for Home Evening, including an evening with the Bednars.

President David A. Bednar, and his wife, Susan, host a Home Evening each Monday night. The locations vary, and it is necessary to sign up. Home Evening groups can sign up with President Bednar’s secretary.

“Home Evening with the Bednars is great. I like how they let us ask questions and guide the discussion,” Kaysi Booth, a junior from Medicine Lodge, Kan., said.

From the Heart, an audition-only choir, performs contemporary LDS music centered around the Savior. The music is presented in a program and broken up with scripted speaking parts.

Ward leaders can call the adviser of the group to set up times for From the Heart to perform.

Another option for a Devotional-type setting are the CES broadcasts.

The Church Education System has a broadcast each month, generally the first Sunday of the month at 6 p.m. Church leaders speak. Overflow locations are in the Hinckley Chapel, Taylor Chapel, Kirkham Auditorium, MC West Ballroom and Hart Auditorium. The next CES broadcast is Feb. 2.

There are also many religious service activities at BYU-Idaho. Some of the projects allow Home Evening groups to give of their time on Monday evenings.

One of these programs is Happy Factory.

Happy Factory produces small wooden cars. Students paint the cars, which are then donated to local charities and hospitals.

“I like to go [to Happy Factory] because it’s a time where I can hang out with my friends and do service at the same time,” Alana Powell, a junior from Silverdale, Wash., said.