The Brigham Young University Air Force and Army ROTC programs celebrated the history and service of the ROTC programs with a tribute event featuring keynote speaker Ken Alford, a retired US army colonel and BYU church history and doctrine professor. To a crowd of military cadets, leaders, and veterans, Alford and other speakers shared how the light of Christ impacts military service—both in the past and present.
“The gospel of Jesus Christ and service in uniform are not incompatible,” Alford said. “When done with humility and purpose, military service can be a sacred expression of discipleship.”
But what does integrated faith and military service look like? Alford noted the importance of the Light of Christ, which he explained as a positive influence people can feel from God through Jesus Christ and His followers. “Isn’t that what we each want? Don't we want to be an influence for good in the lives of others?” Alford asked.
To further illustrate integrated faith and service, Alford shared examples of BYU graduates who aimed to influence others for good through their military service. During his deployment to Afghanistan in the early 2000s, BYU alumnus Jon Petty formed a Book of Mormon study group with fellow soldiers. Alford quoted Petty describing it as a unique experience studying the sacred text in a combat zone. “Our motto was, ‘Put on your sacred garments, put on your body armor, say a prayer and go.’ We learned to trust in the Lord.”
Alford also shared a personal example of how friends and family can foster faith-filled military service. When Alford attended Army ROTC Advanced Camp at Fort Lewis in Washington, his girlfriend—who later became his wife— prepared a “goodies box” for him that included inspiring quotes from church leaders, one quote for each Sunday of the six-week camp.
His platoon heard about “the notes from Alford’s girlfriend,” and they gathered each week to listen to the quotes. As Alford read the quotes, he answered questions and discussed gospel topics with his platoon. “Sometimes acts of kindness are small, but they can have a big impact,” Alford shared.
Small acts of love also impacted Air Force cadet Laesgaw K’Chawtee’s. K’Chawtee, an ethnic Karen born in a Thailand refugee camp, shared how growing his relationship with Jesus Christ helps him overcome a lifetime of anger toward those who harm the Karen people. K’Chawtee believes the Savior opens up his heart to better serve both in the military and as the executive director of the Karen Community of Utah. “I’ve learned that it’s not that we’re qualified before we go and do, but that we’re willing,” K’Chawtee explained. “As we seek the Lord, He qualifies us in our service.”
Recently commissioned Army lieutenant and BYU graduate Michael Pope highlighted similar lessons about the impact of a willing heart. Pope, who grew up in Lehi, Utah, returned home from his church mission six months earlier than anticipated due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “I felt I had been robbed of the last six months of my mission,” Pope explained. Feeling lost without a sense of structure and purpose, he joined the army and enrolled in basic training
The next six months were grueling, described Pope, but as he tried to live his values, he said his fellow soldiers noticed and were even inspired to learn about the gospel. “Not only did I feel I completed the last six months of my mission, but I also found a missionary purpose and goal that extended much further than the two-year mission calling,” Pope said. “It’s the calling to represent Jesus Christ at all times and in all places.”
Listening to the experiences shared during the Saints at War tribute inspired listeners like Luke Allen, an Air Force cadet from Draper, Utah, to integrate faith in the Savior into his military service. “A lot of times it’s not physically laying down our lives, but truly living for something,” Allen said, “Living our lives in a way to give it to other people and to become like our Savior, Jesus Christ.”