LDSSA hosts spring lecture series

Students looking to hear a short motivational message before grabbing lunch and rushing back to class will soon have the opportunity. Boise State’s Latter-day Saints Student Association will host a spring lecture series featuring 15 different guest speakers. These guests will address the role that religion has played in their decisions about education, marriage, career and community service. The lectures will take place every Thursday at 12:15 p.m. in the LDS Institute of Religion building, located across from the Administration Building at 1929 University Drive. Each lecture will range from 35 to 40 minutes with refreshments served afterward. The series is open to the public and admission is free.

Joel Flake, advisor for the LDSSA, said that the association schedules speakers from diverse backgrounds.

“In the past we have had President Kustra speak, Chuck Skoro [a Catholic priest at the Newman Center], the Idaho Mother of the Year, humanitarian leaders, coaches, judges, legislators, mothers, etc.,” Flake said. He added that last year’s lecture series attracted an average audience of about 50 students.

“With such a variety in background of the presenters, we get a diverse perspective of experience that makes it very interesting,” Flake said.

This year’s lineup of speakers includes Werner Hoeger, a BSU kinesiology professor and Olympic competitor; Nancy Merrill, a former mayor of Eagle; and Dawn Craner, a retired BSU communications professor.

Hoeger’s theme will be “The power of discipline, persistence and spirituality in the achievement of lifetime goals.” He will share how these factors have helped him in his

family life, career and Olympic goals. Hoeger, an award-winning gymnast, professor and author, was the oldest male Olympic competitor in the sport of luge when he competed in the 2006 Winter Olympics.

“There needs to be a constant and deliberate effort on the part of the individual to stay healthy and achieve the highest potential for well being,” Hoeger said. “People need a balance in life that includes the physical, intellectual and spiritual dimensions of wellness.”

Merrill will discuss her responsibilities and experiences in the public sector.

She has been involved in local government for many years, and served as mayor of Eagle for six years. Merrill plans to relate how spiritual experiences and dependence on God can help bring success in community service.

Craner, who retired this summer, said that she will address the concept of agency, or the ability that people have to make their

own decisions.

“Every person needs to have a clear purpose in life, and to have that, they need to have a clear sense of deity,” Craner said. She believes that people are put on this earth in order to help others.

As the first presenter of the series, local businessman Martin Walker wants his message to be inspiring.

“I hope it gives some encouragement that life’s not easy, but it’s worth it,” he said. “There’s a lot of young people who look at people who are successful in business. We’ve gone through hard times ourselves, and rose above it.” He added that he has held to “some true principles that helped me through it all,” and that when times were tough, he never felt abandoned by God.

Among the other invited speakers are businessmen, a diplomat, a choir director, a secretary of the Boise LDS temple and a mother of 12.

LDSSA president Seren Horton attended last year’s lectures.

“[T]hey were great!” Horton said.ˇ “The speakers were very inspiring.ˇThis semester’s lecture series will be wonderful as well.”

For more information on the lecture series or the Latter-day Saints Student Association, contact the LDS Institute of Religion at 344-8549.

Speakers, LDSSA lecture series

January 24

Martin Walker, business owner

January 31

Jeff Erekson, manager of Beneficial Life Insurance, Boise

February 7

Nina Callister, mother of 12 children, wife of a former U.S. District judge

February 14

James McCauley, founder and owner of Container Packaging Supply Co.

February 21

David Miller, MBA, has worked at Hewlett-Packard for 20 years

February 28

Werner Hoeger, BSU professor of kinesiology, Olympic luge competitor

March 6

Douglas Rose, retired diplomat to India

March 13

Afton Dahlquist, octogenarian musician and choir director

March 20

Ronald Loveland, retired regional physical facilities director

April 3

Nancy Merrill, former mayor of Eagle, Idaho

April 10

John McCune, MBA from UCLA, in investment business for 20 years

April 17

Dawn Craner, M.A. from Purdue University, retired BSU professor of communication

April 24

Judy Garner, secretary to the president of the Boise Idaho Temple

May 1

Ellie McKinnon, BSU Extended Studies Program

May 8

Steven Hanks, CEO of Washington Group International

JENNIFER SAWMILLER
SENIOR NEWS WRITER

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