Brigham Young University - Banyan Yearbook (Provo, UT)

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Left: Cold waters of the Provo River provide the setting for a lute-autumn baptism. Center: Late night often finds elders administering to the sick, Right: Patriarchs of the ten stakes give hundreds of blessings each year.

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Family Home Evening Attending a large university can be a very traumatic experience, made even more frightening by the fact that you are many miles away from home, friends, and family. Knowing this, the leaders of the Church saw the necessity of organizing make- shift families, composed solely of college students. One boy is designated to be the father, with a girl designated as family coordinator. Both are called by the bishopric as they would be for any regular position in the ward. Activities of BYU families are many and varied. Family Home Evening is held weekly at which time the family members fusually one apartment of guys and one of girlsi get together and have a lesson and talk about the week's activities and prob- lems. Or, there may be roller skating parties, trips to Salt Lake City to see the Christmas lights, birthday celebrations, picnics, or excursions to the art exhibit in Springville. 23 Whatever, the activities, the families who put forth the effort to get close to each other, find numerous rewards from the relationships: When I was sick, my brothers came over and gave me a blessing. My favorite brother my freshman year, turned out to be my husbandf' I feel like I belong somewhereethere are people who worry about me, and are concerned about my life. My sisters are the best cooks in the world. A week doesn't pass without a batch of cookies, a funny poem, or something that just means someone is thinking about you. it For a great many young people, it is difficult to imagine a boy-girl relationship that is not romantic, yet any member of a family can attest that it happens fre- quently. The close ties come from sharing the joys and woes of others and having them return that concern for you.

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49 .feel LDS Rites and Ceremonies The LDS Church is a church of relatively few special rites, ceremonies, or rituals, but those which are practiced, are considered very important. Consequently, they are actively maintained in the student wards, with some being more prevalent due to the age group involved. Since the majority of BYU students are already members of the Church, baptisms in the wards are few. However, since BYU is a denominational institution, many of the non-Mormon students are influenced by the things taught here, and conse- quently investigate the gospel and become converted, requiring baptism. Though there are not as many baptisms here as in a ward peopled by families with children, the ordinance takes on special significance when a friend or close roommate is able to perform it. Subsequent to baptism is confirmation, usually done in a meeting where the entire ward is in attendance. 25 Due to the emotional and physical strain of going to school and the pressure of making the important decisions which are required during these years, a great many special blessings are given to BYU students. The patriarchal blessing, available to any worthy member of the Church, proves to be invaluable in guidance and promises outlining to each recipient his own indi- vidual capacities. Blessings on the sick are given to restore the loss of emotional or physical health. These may be given by any worthy holder of the higher priesthood, such as a bishop, home teacher, or family brother. Perhaps the most frequent ceremony of the Church is the blessing and administration of the sacrament each week in Sunday School and Sacrament Meeting. lt is at that time, that each participant calls to mind the ordinances that he has received and the covenants he has made to himself and his Father in Heaven.