A Landmark Moment Echoes Through Time: A Tale of Two BYU Anniversaries and a Tower of Hope!
Did you know that a single visit to Brigham Young University can mark not just a historical occasion, but also serve as a powerful beacon for the future? On October 10, 1975, a momentous day unfolded on the BYU campus. President Spencer W. Kimball, then the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, graced the university with his presence. His visit was elegantly planned with a dual purpose: to deliver an address to the entire BYU community – students, faculty, staff, and administrators alike – as part of the university's 100th-anniversary celebrations, and to formally dedicate the BYU Centennial Carillon Tower.
This day would indeed etch itself into the annals of BYU's history. President Kimball's speech, aptly titled "The Second Century of Brigham Young University," has since become a cornerstone address. It continues to be a guiding light and a significant reference point, especially as BYU now jubilantly celebrates its 150th anniversary this academic year. And what about that iconic tower? For 50 years, the 97-foot-tall bell tower has been a familiar and beloved landmark on the Provo, Utah, campus, its melodious chimes of "Come, Come, Ye Saints" and other cherished hymns resonating through the semesters.
President Kimball was warmly hosted by the then-BYU President, Dallin H. Oaks. President Oaks himself described the dedication of the bell tower as "a landmark to signal the completion of our first century and to remind us of lofty hopes with which we inaugurate our second century." He perfectly captured the spirit of looking back with gratitude and forward with anticipation.
But here's where it gets truly fascinating... In what feels like a remarkable full-circle moment, President Dallin H. Oaks, now himself the President of the Church, returned to the BYU campus on Tuesday, February 10. His visit, again, had a two-fold purpose: to share his insights with students, faculty, and staff during the ongoing 150th-anniversary festivities and to be a part of a special ceremony at the very same Carillon Bell Tower.
Following his inspiring devotional address – where the Lord's Prophet offered profound guidance on how to draw closer to Jesus Christ and overcome doubts – President Oaks participated in the unveiling of two significant plaques at the bell tower. One plaque bears a powerful quote from President Oaks himself, and the other features a poignant quote from his predecessor, President Spencer W. Kimball.
President Oaks' quote, drawn from his devotional remarks, beautifully articulates his vision. He shared, "I firmly believe that it is the destiny of Brigham Young University to become what past and present prophets knew it could become. With the consecration and leadership of this community, BYU will become the great university of the Lord — not in the world’s way but in the Lord’s way." This statement really highlights the unique spiritual mission of the university, doesn't it?
The other quote, from President Kimball's dedication of the bell tower, offers a timeless message: "Just as these bells will lift the hearts of the hearers when they hear the hymns and anthems played to Thy glory, let the morality of the graduates of this university provide the music of hope for the inhabitants of this planet." This is a powerful sentiment, suggesting that the character and actions of BYU graduates are meant to have a global impact.
President Oaks was accompanied by his wife, Sister Kristen M. Oaks, and a distinguished group including Elder Clark G. Gilbert (then a General Authority Seventy and Church commissioner of education) and his wife, Sister Christine Gilbert, along with BYU President C. Shane Reese and his wife, Sister Wendy Reese. (It's worth noting that Elder Gilbert was subsequently called as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on Thursday, February 12 – a testament to his dedicated service!).
During his tenure as BYU's president from 1971 to 1980, President Oaks played a pivotal role in the university's journey. In a video released on November 9, 2025, he, alongside the late President Jeffrey R. Holland, reflected on BYU's past half-century. President Oaks even had the foresight to hire President Holland as the dean of religious education, a role he held for several years before President Holland eventually succeeded him as university president.
Reflecting on the past 50 years, President Oaks shared a deeply personal perspective: "I know that BYU is the Lord’s university because it was established by a prophet. It has been carried on with prophetic leadership to this day, and it places the highest priority for its students and its faculty and its administration and its position in the community to furthering the ideals, the teachings and the values of the gospel of Jesus Christ. That is what BYU means to me."
And this is the part most people miss... The Carillon Tower itself is a marvel! According to BYU's website, it houses 53 bells, all masterfully cast in Holland. These magnificent bells are played by a skilled musician, known as a carilloneur, using a special keyboard.
Interestingly, President Oaks himself initiated the construction of the tower on February 13, 1975, by participating in a unique groundbreaking ceremony – he rode on a scraper and even drove a team of Clydesdale horses! What a memorable start to such an enduring landmark.
What do you think? Is the idea that a university's graduates should be a source of "music of hope for the inhabitants of this planet" a lofty ideal or a realistic expectation? Does the concept of a "great university of the Lord" resonate with you? Share your thoughts below!
