Speeches
Creating a Life of Abundance Through the Gospel with Kevin and Sydnee Calderwood
On Jan. 31, the campus community gathered in the Knight Arena to hear Kevin and Sydnee Calderwood, the recently released President and Relief Society President of the Provo Missionary Training Center, speak on how centering your life on Christ creates an abundant one.
“Our message is that an abundant life is real. It is a deep, lasting, eternal joy that comes from inside of you, and it’s centered on Jesus Christ,” said Kevin. “So where do you find him? You find Him in the Book of Mormon.”
Pointing out that Christ is mentioned in every 1.7 verses in the Book of Mormon, Kevin explained that following the teachings of Jesus Christ found in the scriptures can lead to clarity in daily life decisions and challenges.
Kevin shared that as a young adult, he noticed his uncle’s struggle with poor decisions that negatively impacted his cousins. When Kevin started his own family, he wanted to center their lives on Christ, and he made his and his wife’s wedding ring a symbol of that commitment.
“I’ve traveled all around the world for business, and when I look at my ring, it reminds me of Jesus Christ and my sweetheart and the wedding covenant we made,” Kevin said. “To have an abundant life is when Jesus Christ is central to your life as the two of you move toward Him.”
Sydnee shared that repentance is consciously changing little by little each day and testified that a willing heart is all that is necessary to become better, draw closer to Christ, and receive his blessings.
“We build big barriers to repentance and what we need to do to be worthy, and we shouldn’t do that. The scriptures are full of invitations from the Lord to come unto Him, and He will make it better,” Sydney said. “Cast your burdens at His feet, yoke yourself with Him. He wants you to be His.”
Highlighting the blessings that can come from serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Sydnee told the story of an elder she met at the MTC who worked hard to reach his mission in Spain despite suffering multiple injuries from sports and problems with his visa while in the MTC.
“He is a great missionary,” said Sydnee. “His life has changed forever because he applies the doctrine of Christ, and he’s changed forever. His life will be abundant. I know that following Jesus Christ is the way to have a happy, full, ridiculously abundant life.”
The event featured a musical performance by professors Jakob Hofer and Hyrum Arneson of “Sonata in A Major for Violin and Piano, Movement 4: Allegretto poco mosso” composed by César Frank. It ended with the traditional singing of “Love One Another” by the campus community.