Honesty, hard work, individual growth and family values were cited Thursday evening as the keys to success in the workplace by Elder Dallin H. Oaks, a member of the Council of the Twelve of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
In delivering the commencement address to 186 graduates of LDS Business College in Assembly Hall on Temple Square, Elder Oaks said the above mentioned goals are achieved by "preparation, self-discipline and work, which are the ingredients of achievement in any field.""But as we progress from goal to goal, the importance of these ingredients of preparation, self-discipline and work transcends the importance of the achievements we have made along the way. We realize that we meet successively harder requirements not so much by pushing upward on a foundation of past achievements as by the renewed application of the skills by which we achieved them," he said.
"Keep those truths and those values uppermost in your mind as you go forth to use the education and accomplishments we salute on this commencement day," Elder Oaks said.
Encouraging the graduates to use common sense, Elder Oaks presented these statements: What people are, contributes far more to happiness than what they possess. No one can enjoy rights unless someone else fulfills responsibilities. Our society is held together by personal integrity, personal responsibility and unselfish service to others. This nation was not built by government programs, but built by private efforts and private initiatives.
The distinguished alumni award went to Laurie Rae Barnes, who graduated from LDS Business College in 1981, worked for Utah Power for several years and two years ago started her own company, BOSS Temporaries.