Since April 2023, the civil war in Sudan has caused a grave humanitarian crisis, displacing over 12 million people throughout the country. More than a million Sudanese have crossed into Chad, settling in refugee camps along the country’s eastern border. Violence, political instability, and climate change in Sudan, Niger, South Sudan, Nigeria, Cameroon, and the Central African Republic continue to drive people across the border into Chad, compounding the protracted crises in the east, the south, and the Lake regions of the country.
Since mid-April 2023, more than one million people have crossed into Chad from Sudan, fleeing the war and renewed ethnic violence in Darfur. Now, Chad hosts more than 1.3 million displaced people. Though Chad welcomes refugees, the country has extremely limited resources to meet their basic needs and facilitate durable solutions.
Map of refugee camps in Chad.
HIAS's Work in Chad
Working with refugees since 2005, HIAS Chad focuses on strengthening community-based protection networks; promoting and strengthening peaceful coexistence between refugees and host communities; providing mental health support; working to end violence against women and girls; distributing food and non-food items; and implementing “permagardening” projects.
We protect refugees and displaced people by offering legal support, preventing and responding to violence against women and girls, looking after children’s rights, providing safe housing, ensuring access to food, and resettling refugees. These approaches are all tailored to local contexts and are designed to strengthen communities to support people forced to flee violence and persecution.
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Through our economic empowerment work, we ensure refugees have safe economic opportunities to earn sustainable income and contribute to their communities. HIAS’ services are free. Certain refugee populations-including older, disabled, male survivors and sexual minority refugees-are often overlooked in sexual and gender-based violence prevention and response efforts.
The Crisis in Haiti
Our brothers and sister in Haiti are in crisis and we want to help this Christmas season. Armed groups have proliferated since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021, and despite the rampant violence, a political solution has yet to materialize. Haiti’s de facto leader, Ariel Henry, has called for foreign troops to intervene, but nearly 100 civil society groups want a “Haitian-led solution” and oppose a foreign intervention.
With more than 60% of the population unemployed and nearly 77% living on less than $2 a day, much of the youth turn to gangs as a means of survival.
Haitian women and children are not just being caught up in the country’s spiraling gang wars - they are increasingly being targeted for rapes, torture, kidnappings and killings by the 200 armed groups that now control 60% of the capital. Their plight has been compounded by a lack of safe shelters or refuge. More than 96,000 people have been displaced by the gang violence in the capital, but neither the Haitian government nor the international community has mandated formal displacement sites - which have been set up during previous bouts of instability or disasters.
Cholera cases are overwhelming Haiti over the last two months as experts warn that the situation could worsen now that the country is bustling once again after a paralyzing fuel blockade that lasted two months. One expert noted that cholera cases were likely contained during the fuel blockade since gas stations were closed and many in the country of more than 11 million people remained at home. Another Haitian spokesperson noted that people can survive cholera if treated on time, but the recent lack of fuel and ongoing violence has prevented Haitians from reaching hospitals and medical clinics.
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At least 161 people have died from cholera in the past two months and more than 7,600 are hospitalized, according to the Pan American Health Organization and Haiti’s government, although officials believe the numbers are much higher as a result of under-reporting. Cholera is caused by a bacteria found in contaminated food or water that leads to vomiting and diarrhea. If not treated in time, it can cause fatal dehydration. Cholera is easily transmitted, especially in crowded and unhygienic conditions. Sanitation further worsened during the fuel blockade given that companies that supplied drinking water were forced to suspend operations. Inflation is at 30% since before covid 19. A 20 pound bag of rice used to cost $14.49 in Haiti and now it costs $43.46.
We want to do what we can to help our brothers and sisters in Christ at First Lutheran Church in Jacmel, Haiti. Our goal is to raise $10,000.
The Grand Canyon and Creation
We (Pastor Chad and his family) went to the Grand Canyon after Christmas. It was a very long drive. Good thing my kids are old enough (20, 17, and 14) to handle many long hours in the car. When we got there and looked over the south rim at the canyon we responded like most people. Wow!!!! It is so majestic. So huge. So much bigger than any picture can ever portray. We spent four full days at the canyon stopping at virtually every lookout on the south rim and learning about the historic buildings on that rim, the early tourism and, of course, the theories of how that huge canyon was formed. As a Christian, I and many other creationists see things much differently there.
At every overlook, you'll see thick, uniform rock layers that extend as far as the eye can see. Every one of these layers have fossils in them. Fossils are formed when animals are buried quickly, giving testimony to the layers being laid down in rapid succession during, or shortly after, the global Flood. Fossils are not created when they are buried slowly because the animal carcass would deteriorate and not create a clear fossil.
You can also find folded rock layers, several hundred feet in height. The fact that the layers could bend without breaking indicates that they were laid down quickly and then folded while still soft, not after millions of years.
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Plus, the fossils embedded in the limestone walls are thousands of feet above sea level, indicating that ocean waters rose up over the continents during the Flood, depositing ocean creatures on the continent. At the Desert View overlook, where the photo to the right was taken, you can see several different kinds of evidences for the Flood. We find fossils of sea creatures in several layers of Grand Canyon (such as the Kaibab Limestone), over a mile above sea level. Ocean waters must have carried them onto the continent during the Flood.
Grand Canyon view from Desert View Point.
Even from a great distance away, you can see the line where the Flood waters first advanced onto the continent, depositing sand and other sediments. This boundary, called the Great Unconformity, marks where the series of flat flood layers begins. and even across the Atlantic Ocean to Europe and the Middle East. It’s striking evidence of a global Flood. Mount Saint Helens’ explosion in 1980 created canyons and even what is called a “Little Grand Canyon” in weeks instead of millions of years.
Psalm 65 says: “You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds, God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas, 6 who formed the mountains by your power, having armed yourself with strength, who stilled the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations. 8 The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy. 10 You drench its furrows and level its ridges; you soften it with showers and bless its crops.”
God is a creator God and He proclaims His glory through His creation. Praise His Name!
Personal Growth and Spiritual Momentum
Maintaining Spiritual Momentum-Ken Miles
I’m so grateful to be with you today. I love this university and deeply believe in its mission. I was born here in Rexburg. My mom and dad met while they were in school here. This will always be a special place for our family. I’m grateful to be with Elder and Sister Meredith. I know how much they love you, and I am getting a sense of how much you love them. They are remarkable and consecrated disciples of Jesus Christ.
When I was nine years old, our family lived on a farm in Washington state. Our home was so far out of the way that we had to drive through several cattle fields to get to the main road into town. When I was with my father, my job was to jump out of the pickup at each cattle gate, swing it open, wait for him to drive through, then close the gate and jump back into the pickup.
After doing this through one summer, I asked my dad if we could trade places. Surprisingly, he said yes. So, I moved into the driver’s seat, and he took the role of opening and closing the gates.
Well, I was so small that I couldn’t see over the steering wheel and push the gas pedal at the same time. So, I’d lower myself down and press on the gas pedal, then I’d come back up and look over the steering wheel to see how things were going, and then go back down to push on the gas; I had to push hard enough on the accelerator to get some momentum so the truck would keep moving while I came up to look things over.
As if that wasn’t a big enough problem, after the first gate I went through, I forgot to stop and wait for my dad to get back in. I figured once you had some momentum, you probably should just keep going. So, pulling through that first gate, I gave a pretty good push on the gas pedal, causing the truck to speed up as it bounced through the field. As I came back up to look at how things were going, I remember cows running for their lives. Looking back, however, I can see that my nine-year-old philosophy was not all bad. Once you go through a gate, it is not the end of the journey; it’s the beginning.
Today is commencement and, as you know, that means you are at the beginning and not the end. You are at the gate-ready to start your journey. Here at BYU-Idaho, you have been blessed with remarkable experiences, meaningful relationships, and a first-class education. You have gained spiritual, social, and intellectual momentum, and now it’s time to scatter the cows.
President Russell M. Nelson has taught, “Momentum is a powerful concept.” He said, “We have seen examples of both positive and negative momentum. We know followers of Jesus Christ who became converted and grew in their faith. But we also know of once-committed believers who fell away. Momentum can swing either way. We have never needed positive spiritual momentum more than we do now.” [1]
Today, as you drive through the gate to the next stage of your lives, may I invite you to do all you can to maintain the spiritual momentum you have right now by remembering what you have learned here at BYU-Idaho?
While you’ve been here, we hope you have learned to put the Lord first in your lives. President Nelson also taught, “I have learned that the most crucial question we each must answer is this: To whom or to what will I give my life? My decision to follow Jesus Christ is the most important decision I have ever made.” [2] I can’t imagine better advice for a graduate, about to go out into the world, than to make the decision today to give your life to Jesus Christ.
We also hope you’ve recognized the Lord’s willingness to help you with your education. That is true in all aspects of your life. Take with you the conviction that the Lord loves you and wants to help you. Don’t leave that idea behind when you drive out of your apartment parking lot for the last time.
More important than the discipline you have learned is the discipleship you have learned. Be willing to be distinct in good ways and don’t make your faith difficult to detect. Faithful disciples of Jesus Christ can have a remarkable impact in the world. To help you do that, remember what Brad Wilcox taught: “Don’t let the world change you when you were born to change the world.” [3]
I have a friend who grew up in Los Angeles. One morning, he went into the kitchen and saw that his dad was visibly upset by an article in the newspaper. The article reported that a person had died. And while no one knew the identity of the person, an autopsy had concluded that the man had lived in Los Angeles his entire life, as evidenced by the lung damage caused by a lifetime of breathing polluted air. My friend’s dad thought it was incredibly unfair that, although he was trying to live a healthy lifestyle, his environment was putting him at risk for lung disease because of the air he was breathing.
I wonder if sometimes we allow that to happen to us spiritually. If an autopsy were carried out on our spirits, would it reflect the attitudes and beliefs of the places and times we live in? Are we allowing ourselves, even imperceptibly, to breathe the “air” of today’s cultural narratives and biases? Or do we trust the Lord and hold fast to His teachings, even when they may not be popular? Though we cannot always choose the air we breathe, we can choose to protect ourselves against worldly philosophies by “[letting] God prevail in our lives.” [4] By choosing to give your life to Jesus Christ, you can keep the spiritual momentum you have gained.
A second thing we hope you have experienced and will take with you is the Spirit of Ricks. As a descendant of Thomas E. Ricks, I’m grateful that his name has been preserved and for what it represents. (I’m trying to have only righteous pride in that fact.) The Spirit of Ricks is hard to define but you know what it is by experience. It’s the way you see and treat people. It is a desire to lift and help others, knowing that when one succeeds, everyone succeeds. It’s a supportive community that is hopeful and optimistic. It’s the spirit of spiritual growth and intellectual development that allows you to better serve others. Ultimately, it is the Spirit of “the Holy Ghost and its attendant gifts.” [5]
When my younger sister Kim was diagnosed with cancer, she went through a series of treatments, including chemotherapy. She lost her hair, and her physical appearance made it easy for people to surmise that she had cancer. During that time, she told me that people were incredibly kind to her. People she had never met would randomly step in line to buy her groceries. Others would pay for her dinner at a restaurant without even letting her know who had been so thoughtful. People would mow their lawn, offer to help with their children, bring meals to their home, and perform countless random acts of kindness and service. She once asked me, “Can you imagine if everyone in the world treated everyone else like people are treating me? What a remarkable world that would be.” Wherever you go, take with you the Spirit of Ricks. Lift people, build community, be a helper. As you live as a grateful and joyful disciple of Jesus Christ, you will make the world a better place.
The third type of momentum you have gained here at BYU-Idaho is intellectual momentum. While here, you have learned the importance of being lifelong learners. This is not the end of your education; it is the beginning. Some elementary school teachers use the phrase, “You first learn to read, then you read to learn.” I love that idea. At BYU-Idaho, you have learned how to learn. With effort, you can learn and grow throughout your life. You are becoming who Heavenly Father knows you can become. Take with you the desire to learn and to become the best version of yourself. In your study here, you have learned how to explore ideas and validate truth. You have learned secular truth in a spiritual setting, which has helped you to see things as they really are. You have participated in wonderful devotionals and have felt the power of the teachings of modern prophets. Take that with you as well. As part of your discipleship, stay close to the Lord’s prophets and measure secular information and claims against their teachings, and not the other way around.
A lifetime of learning includes daily scripture study and prayer. President Russell M. Nelson has also urged us to “devote time each week-for the rest of your life-to increase your understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.” [6] President Nelson, at age 100, is an amazing example of his phrase “for the rest of your life.” He has shown us what it means to be a lifelong learner and lifelong disciple.
Now, I would share one last lesson from my ride through the cattle fields. I’m glad my dad came running and stopped me before I did any damage to his pickup, the cows, or myself. His voice of warning came a little out of desperation but mostly out of love. As you keep your spiritual, social, and intellectual momentum, surround yourself with people who love you, who want what’s best for you, and who will tell you the truth.
You have also been blessed with the gift of the Holy Ghost, who will guide you in making decisions that will bring you happiness in this life and will lead you to eternal life in the world to come. There are plenty of negative voices in the world, and those voices are more accessible than ever in the history of the world. Be careful not to spend your time with those who diminish faith, discourage you, or tell you that you are not capable or good enough.
I’m inspired by a verse in the book of Revelation that says, “I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ. For the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the lamb.” [7]
From the beginning, there have been two competing voices. One is a voice of hope, of salvation, strength, and power. The other is the voice of the accuser; that’s an interesting title for Satan. It is his voice that tells us we have made too many mistakes, we don’t measure up, and that we will never be good enough.
Elder Karl D. Hirst said, “Maybe there is a chorus of voices of discouragement and darkness that weighs into your thoughts, messages telling you that you are too wounded and confused, too weak and overlooked, too different or disoriented to warrant heavenly love in any real way. If you hear those ideas, then please hear this: those voices are just wrong.” [8]
Please remember the other voice mentioned in that verse, the voice of hope, salvation, and power, the voice of the One who loves you most. Those who hearkened to that voice overcame the accuser. I testify that because Jesus Christ overcame the world, you can too.
On this day of your commencement, as you drive through the gate and scatter the cows, please keep your foot on the gas pedal. Take with you all the wonderful experiences, relationships, and lessons you have learned. Keep your spiritual, social, and intellectual momentum. As you do, Heavenly Father will help you to have a successful and meaningful life. Heavenly Father loves you. He will help you. Of this I testify.
Notes
- Russell M. Nelson, “The Power of Spiritual Momentum,” Liahona, May 2022.
- Russell M. Nelson, “The Lord Jesus Christ Will Come Again,” Liahona, Nov. 2024.
- Bradley R. Wilcox, “O Youth of the Noble Birthright,” Liahona, Nov. 2024.
- Russell M. Nelson, “Let God Prevail,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2020.
- David A. Bednar, “Ricks Building & Gardens Dedication Remarks,” BYU-Idaho Speeches, Feb. 18, 2005.
- Russell M. Nelson, “The Lord Jesus Christ Will Come Again.”
- Revelation 12:10-11.
- Karl D. Hirst, “God’s Favourite,” Liahona, Nov.
About Brother Chad H. Webb
Brother Chad H Webb was sustained as First Counselor in the Sunday School General Presidency on April 6, 2024. He began serving on August 1, 2024.
Brother Webb has served in a number of Church callings, including full-time missionary in the Mexico Veracruz Mission, elders quorum president, high councilor, bishop, and stake president.
Brother Webb graduated from Brigham Young University with a bachelor of arts degree in 1990, and a master’s degree in educational leadership and foundations in 1997. He has worked in Seminaries and Institutes of Religion throughout his career. Since 2008, he has been the administrator of Seminaries and Institutes of Religion and Church Primary and Secondary Schools.
Chad H Webb was born in Rexburg, Idaho, on December 18, 1964. He married Kristi Bronson in August 1990.
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