Two Mighty Prophets, Seers, and Revelators

By President C. Shane Reese

February 2026

From “A Sense of Prophetic Urgency,” BYU Devotional address to students, January 13, 2026.
Read, listen to, or watch the entire devotional address at speeches.byu.edu.

In his prophetic address “The Second Century of Brigham Young University,” President Spencer W. Kimball foresaw your unique light and “the unique light” of this university. He foresaw the “Christ-centered, prophetically directed university” that BYU could become. He foresaw “brilliant stars” refined on this campus going out to shine and serve the world over. He saw you.

One of those brightest, most brilliant stars is our beloved President Jeffrey R. Holland. He truly was and is a special witness of the name of Jesus Christ. As you know, on December 27, 2025, President Holland was reunited with his beloved wife, Pat, and with His Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to whom President Holland pledged his everything and to whom he gave his all.

Today I’d like to share just a few lessons and teachings from the lives of two mighty prophets, seers, and revelators who have shaped, influenced, and inspired this campus for the past 50 years: President Jeffrey R. Holland and President Dallin H. Oaks, our beloved prophet and president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

If there were ever two patron saints of BYU, they would surely be President Holland and President Oaks. Their influence on this campus during this second century is immeasurable and ongoing. It will endure forever. And equally important for you students, they both sat where you sit. They walked where you walk. Their paths, like yours, were not paved for them. Their households weren’t picture-perfect. But their faith in the Lord was and is extraordinary. They have always strived for educational and professional excellence and never deviated from the path of Christian discipleship.

They’ve done it all—as will you, I contend—with determination, hard work, support and encouragement from loved ones and Church leaders, and an unwavering faith.

They entered this school to learn, they went forth to serve, and they have never once stopped serving.

President Holland and President Oaks, of course, were back-to-back presidents of Brigham Young University from 1971 to 1989. Their combined tenures account for nearly 20 years of this school’s history. Both later chaired the executive committee of the BYU Board of Trustees. President Oaks subsequently served as a vice chairman and now presides as chairman of the BYU Board of Trustees. He is in a class of one, having graduated from both Brigham Young High School and Brigham Young University and having served as president of BYU and as chairman of its board.

MORE: In case you missed the video “Honoring BYU at 150: A Conversation with Presidents Dallin H. Oaks and Jeffrey R. Holland,” watch it here.