Inauguration

I've been promising people for a while that I would post about the event I went to on Tuesday. It was the inauguration of BYU-Idaho's new President, President Clark. President Clark was most recently the Dean of Harvard. There were many distinguished guests, and I was very fortunate to have gotten tickets to be in the same room as them. Among such guests was the President of Harvard, the Governor of Idaho, President Hinckley, the General Relief Society President, some Apostles and members of the Quorum of the Seventy (Mostly, a lot of the people who attend General conference).

I went with two of my roommates, two others could not get tickets and the third was an usher there. We actually got pretty good seats. It is useless to explain where our seats were, unless you are familiar with the Hart building. For now we will just say the seats were pretty good. We actually got to sit in the nice red ones as opposed to some others who had to sit in the bleachers. We got there two hours in advanced and there was still a huge mass of people who had gotten there before us. It was really cool when we were waiting for them to let us in. We all started singing hymns. It was very nice and peaceful. They finally let us 45 minutes before it started. We got our seats and started waiting again.

There were so many people there. I don't think there was an empty seat anywhere! It was so cute, while we were waiting an usher came by. With her was this little old man who couldn't walk very well. They were trying to find him a place to sit. There were no seats, so this girl stands up and says that the man can have her seat. The old man almost started crying. He said something about having waited 40 years to see the Prophet and how grateful he was to the girl. The old man sat down and the usher gave the girl a hug. The girl went up into the bleachers to watch the rest of the event.

At one point, a half an hour before it started, President Hinckley crossed the back of the stage. It was amazing. A few seconds earlier that auditorium was filled with noise. By once the Prophet showed up no one spoke. We all rose to our feet and just stood there in reverence. We stood there for ten minutes before someone got on stage to tell us that we could sit down. It turns out the reason that President Hinckley had crossed the stage was that he had to go to the bathroom. We probably would have stood there for the whole half an hour if we hadn't been told we could sit. A few minutes before it began we all stood as the faculty came in (one of the female teachers totally biffed it, by the way...I felt so bad for her...They got it on camera and everything. At least no one laughed), and kept standing as President Hinckley and his guests took their seats.

Once it finally started it was also amazing. First, President Hinckley welcomed us and announced the program. The BYU-Idaho Symphony orchestra played beautiful prelude music, by the way. Then, the orchestra played "Procession of the Nobles." We stood during this and remained standing as the colors were posted and while we all sang the National Anthem. Elder Richard G. Scott gave the invocation. Then President Hinckley got back up to make some announcements. The greeting to President Clark were given by: our Student Body President, The President of BYU-Provo's Alumni Association, and the President of BYU-Provo's Faculty Association.

Following this we heard from the Governor of Idaho, the President of Harvard, and Elder Kerr (a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy and the Commissioner of the Church Educational System). They mostly talked about how they knew President Clark and what they foresaw him bringing to our school in the future. He has already started to make changes. He is having a meeting with all the teachers to discuss how they can be more dedicated and things of that nature. My religion teacher actually told us that we might be getting a new syllabus after the meeting.

After we heard from the above, the Symphony orchestra and the Combined choirs performed "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty." I cannot put into words what a wonderful job they did. It was incredible. It brought tears to everyone's eyes. Following this President Hinckley did the installation and charge to President Clark, and then President Clark gave his acceptance and response. He talked about what he expected from the students and teachers at this school and some of the things he has planned for the future. Just a side note, but at some point during his remarks a lady in the audience got sick and started throwing up. She had to be escorted out and the ushers had to clean up the mess. Poor lady! I know that was random...On to the rest of the program...

After President Clark's talk, President Hinckley made a few more remarks (you can probably find a copy of this whole thing somewhere, by the way). The closing prayer was given and the orchestra played as everyone left. We all stood as President Hinckley, and guests, left. It was so cute. As he was leaving, President Hinckley turned around and waved his cane at us in farewell...We all waved back of course. We continued standing as he and all his guests left, and until the last of the faculty had exited the room...Then we left too. It was truly a once in a lifetime experience that I will never forget. I know this post is long, but I wanted to included everything...There's probably still something I forgot...But I'll add that later. Take care everyone!