"Your Path of Spiritual Learning"

It is my pleasure to speak to BYU-Pathway students from all around the world. You are on an inspired path of seeking and learning.  

Allow me to share my personal experience as I began my own journey on a special pathway — perhaps the most special pathway in one’s life.  

I was born in communist Mongolia during the time of the Iron Curtain that had divided the world in two. Growing up, we were taught that “religion is the opiate of people,” along with other ideologies that didn’t allow us to seek the fundamental truths about our identity and purpose before, during, and after this life. While seeking and learning spiritual truth was prohibited, seeking secular knowledge and education was the key in a communist society to prove that mankind doesn’t need God to be successful. As I grew up, I enjoyed learning about history and literature. But whenever I came across religious content, I was always expected to perceive it negatively.

After I graduated from high school in Mongolia, I pursued higher education in the Soviet Union. During my university years, I became more aware of the desire society had for basic human rights. When I graduated and returned to Mongolia, the change of regime was already in motion. In 1990, Mongolia became one of the first communist countries that ended the socialist dictatorship, giving people the freedom to worship and practice religion.     

When The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints entered post-communist Mongolia in 1993, my mother was working at the central public library. The Church began renting out the library to hold a small sacrament meeting on Sundays. My mother joined the Church as one of the first members and invited me to learn about the gospel of Jesus Christ. After hesitating for a year, I started taking the missionary discussions in 1994 and had many questions about life and its purpose (as many young adults would have), especially after my experience being raised with godless ideology.  

I wanted to believe everything the missionaries shared with me about the gospel, but my journey to learn its truthfulness didn’t come without challenges. Although I hadn’t received answers to all my questions, I felt that I was on the right path to find the truth, so I finally decided to be baptized in 1995 at age 28. Since then, I have stayed on this beautiful path of seeking, learning through personal revelation, and obedience to the gospel, and I have my testimony that the path I am on guides me to my Heavenly Father.   

My journey to start seeking and learning the truths of the gospel was challenging, but it has been the most important experience of my life. The gospel has shaped my knowledge of who I am, where I came from, and what my purpose is on this earth and in eternity.  

My dear BYU-Pathway friends around the world, you may also face challenges on your journey to seek learning — your temporal education and, most importantly, your spiritual education. However, successfully completing your degree through BYU-Pathway will lead you to many new and exciting opportunities. I invite you to stay firm on the most important path of learning — the eternal path. Keep seeking truth throughout your life that will lead you to your Heavenly Father and the Savior. Your personal journey on this spiritual pathway will require personal revelation to know Heavenly Father’s plan for you. As you seek personal revelation, I promise He will lead you on your journey, and you will find true happiness. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, amen.