I’ll Be What You Want Me to Be | Brother Stephen W. Owen | August 2025

As part of BYU-Idaho's Summer Session Devotional Recommendations, we’re featuring “Love Thy God and Thy Neighbor" by Sister Reyna I. Aburto, which was delivered on June 4, 2019. Sister Aburto was sustained in April 2017 as the second counselor in the general presidency of the Relief Society, the Church’s organization for its six million female members ages 18 and older. Reyna I. Aburto was born in Nicaragua to Noel Blanco and Delbi Cardoza and married Carlos Aburto of Mexico in the Jordan River Utah Temple in 1993. They are both converts to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and they have three children.Reyna I. Aburto says her husband, Carlos, is her “best friend” and her “biggest support,” and they enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren. She says two major incidents from her childhood greatly impacted her life: surviving an earthquake that destroyed her home and killed her older brother, and living through a period of civil unrest in Nicaragua in the late 1970s. Through these difficult experiences of loss, uncertainty and fear, she learned relationships, family, love and faith are our most precious possessions. Reyna I. Aburto attended Universidad Centroamericana, where she studied industrial engineering for four years, and holds an AAS degree in computer science from Utah Valley University. In 1989, after going through a difficult time in her life, she was invited by Latter-day Saint missionaries to attend church in California. She was hesitant at first, but recalls feeling safe and at home the moment she stepped into the meetinghouse. A few weeks later, at age 26, she was baptized. She says she has “never stopped marveling at the beauty of the gospel,” calling her membership in the Church a huge privilege and gift. Her family attended Spanish-speaking congregations until 2013, when they began attending their neighborhood English-speaking ward, and she has served extensively in the Relief Society, Young Women, Primary, Sunday School and Scouting organizations in her ward and stake (diocese). She served on the Primary general board from 2012 to 2016, where her responsibilities included coordinating resources for children in the Church with disabilities, involvement in the Scouting program, improving Primary web content and providing trainings to Church leaders in the United States and Mexico. She has worked in the language industry for more than 25 years, balancing work, family and Church responsibilities, and now owns a small translation business with her husband.

As part of BYU-Idaho's Summer Session Devotional Recommendations, we’re featuring “What's Not to Love?" by Elder Ronald A. Rasband, which was delivered on February 13, 2022. Elder Rasband was called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on October 3, 2015. He had been serving as a member of the Presidency of the Seventy since 2005 and was serving as the Senior President of the Seventy when called to the Twelve. Elder Rasband was named a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 1, 2000. He has served as a counselor in the Europe Central Area Presidency, President of the Utah Salt Lake City Area, and Executive Director of the Temple Department and has supervised the North America West, Northwest, and Utah Areas as a member of the Presidency of the Seventy. Elder Rasband attended the University of Utah. In 1995 Utah Valley University awarded him an honorary doctorate of business and commerce. In 1976 he joined Huntsman Container Company as a sales representative, and in 1987 he was appointed president and chief operating officer of Huntsman Chemical Corporation. When he left Huntsman Chemical Corporation in 1996 to serve as a mission president in New York, he was also serving as a member of the board of directors. Elder Rasband has held numerous Church callings, including full-time missionary in the Eastern States Mission (1970–72), Temple Square missionary guide, bishop, and member of the Church’s Sesquicentennial Committee. He presided over the New York New York North Mission from 1996 to 1999. Elder Rasband was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1951. He married Melanie Twitchell in 1973. They are the parents of five children.

As part of BYU-Idaho's Summer Session Devotional Recommendations, we’re featuring “Abide the Day" by Elder Jack N. Gerard, which was delivered on October 29, 2019. Elder Jack N. Gerard was sustained as a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on March 31, 2018. He previously served in the Sixth Quorum of the Seventy in the North America Northeast Area from 2010 to 2016. He is currently serving in the Europe Central Area Presidency. Elder Gerard has served in a number of Church callings, including full-time missionary in the Australia Sydney Mission, bishop, stake president, and—his favorite—ward nursery leader. Elder Gerard attended George Washington University, where he received a bachelor of arts degree in political science and a juris doctor degree. During his career he worked as president and CEO for several entities. He worked in the United States Senate and House of Representatives and served on multiple civic organization boards. Jack Noel Gerard was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho, on December 15, 1957. He married Claudette Neff in 1984. They are the parents of eight children.

As part of BYU-Idaho's Summer Session Devotional Recommendations, we’re featuring “I'll Be What You Want Me to Be" by Brother Stephen W. Owen, which was delivered on November 8, 2016. Stephen W. Owen was sustained as the Young Men general president on April 4, 2015. His previous Church service includes serving as a full-time missionary in the Texas San Antonio Mission, president of the California Arcadia Mission, stake president, counselor in a stake presidency, bishop, high councilor, Scoutmaster, ward Young Men president, and elders quorum president. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in finance from the University of Utah and is a business owner in Provo, Utah. He is married to Jane Stringham, and they are the parents of five children.

As part of BYU-Idaho's Summer Session Devotional Recommendations, we’re featuring “The Sunny Side of the Street” by Elder Quentin L. Cook, which was delivered on January 26, 2021. Elder Quentin L. Cook was sustained as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on October 6, 2007. Called as a General Authority in April 1996, Elder Cook served in the Second Quorum, the First Quorum, and the Presidency of the Seventy. He previously served in the Area Presidency in the Philippines, as President of the Pacific Islands and the North America Northwest Areas, and as Executive Director of the Missionary Department. At the time of his call to be a General Authority of the Church, he was vice chairman of Sutter Health System. He had previously served as president and chief executive officer of a California healthcare system. Prior to that, he was a business lawyer and managing partner of a San Francisco Bay Area law firm. He also served on the governing boards of a number of civic and business-related corporations. He is a native of Logan, Utah, and received a bachelor’s degree in political science from Utah State University and a doctor of jurisprudence from Stanford University. He has served in the Church as a full-time missionary in the British Mission, bishop and stake president in the San Francisco California Stake, regional representative, and Area Authority in the North America West Area. He married Mary Gaddie on November 30, 1962. They are the parents of three children and are blessed with a growing number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

This Devotional address with Jared Boyter was delivered on July 15th at 11:30 AM MST in the BYU-Idaho I-Center. Jared Boyter earned his bachelor’s degree in business management and his master’s degree in business administration, along with certificates in supply chain management and project management. He has worked at BYU-Idaho for 14 years. Jared served in the Colorado Denver North Mission. He met his sweetheart, Nichole, at a home evening activity at BYU-Idaho, and they were married in 2005. They have three children, and their oldest is starting at BYU-Idaho this fall. Jared enjoys projects around his home and going on road trips with his family.

This Devotional address with Jodi Robison was delivered on July 8th at 11:30 AM MST in the BYU-Idaho I-Center. Jodi Robison loves school and learning and considers herself to be a perpetual student. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University. Later, Jodi earned a master’s degree, several certificates, and a doctoral degree, all online, so she could be where her children were. In addition to her Assessment Services Manager role, she occasionally teaches as an adjunct faculty member. Jodi met her husband, Jaren, at BYU, and they’ve been married for 38 years. They have six children and 11 grandchildren. Jodi loves watching her children and grandchildren in any of their activities, including singing, dancing, acting, and playing ball. She also enjoys baking, cooking, eating, and going on family outings to church historical sites and Disneyland. Jodi has held callings in almost every organization of the Church. She loves teaching, especially online seminary and institute, and also enjoys serving in the temple and going to Young Women Camp.

This Devotional address with Brian Christensen was delivered on July 1st at 11:30 AM MST in the BYU-Idaho I-Center. Brian Christensen is the oldest of nine children and served as a missionary in the Chile Santiago South mission. He has lived in various parts of the U.S., including Utah, Maine, Maryland, Colorado, Massachusetts, Texas, California, Wisconsin, and Idaho. Brian graduated with a degree in economics from Brigham Young University and a Master of Business from Stanford’s Graduate School of Business. Brian worked for the Boston Consulting Group and held leadership roles at Kimberly-Clark and Acosta before coming to teach at BYU-Idaho in the marketing department in 2019. Brian is married to Rachelle Herbst Christensen. They have five children and two grandchildren. Brian enjoys basketball, skiing, hiking, traveling, following sports, and jogging—slowly.

This Devotional address with Elder I. Raymond Egbo was delivered on June 24th at 11:30 AM MST in the BYU-Idaho I-Center. Elder Egbo was sustained as a General Authority Seventy at the April 2024 general conference. At the time of his call, he had been serving as a member of the Third Quorum of the Seventy in the Africa West Area. Elder Egbo has served in a number of Church callings, including full-time missionary in the Nigeria Lagos Mission, counselor in a stake presidency, high councilor, and president of the Nigeria Calabar Mission from 2009 to 2012. Elder Egbo received an associate degree in education from Cross River College of Education in 1998, a bachelor of arts degree in geography and regional planning from the University of Calabar in 2002, and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Cumbria in 2022. He began working for the Church in 2002 as an institute director. Since then, he has worked in various positions for Seminaries and Institutes of Religion, including coordinator, country director, and area director. Idyo Raymond Egbo was born in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, on June 25, 1974. He married Comfort Ikip Ese in 2003. They are the parents of three children.

This Devotional address with Alicia Willis was delivered on June 17th at 11:30 AM MST in the BYU-Idaho I-Center. In her address, Sister Willis draws from personal experiences with family scripture study and rich personal insights to show how faith, repentance, covenants, and the guidance of the Holy Ghost form a continuous, Christ-centered pattern for life. Through examples from ancient and modern prophets, she reminds us that this gospel pattern has been taught from Adam to today, and it’s meant to guide our daily walk. Listen to Sister Willis's devotional address to explore how this pattern can bring strength, clarity, and connection to your own life.