November 16, 2011
The Message of 26 Letters
The bright pink folder held 26 letters. They were filled with stories—some charming, some tragic. Brigham Young University students had written the letters to thank donors for their scholarships.
In one letter student Tu Minh Tran wrote: “This scholarship brightens my future. Upon completion of a bachelor’s degree in biology, I plan to attend medical school. I was born and raised in Ho Chi Min City, Vietnam, and in Vietnam we need more doctors. I am grateful for your generosity, and I promise your investment will make me a better person and the world a better place.”
And in another letter student Josie Nielson (pictured) wrote: “I have played the violin for 13 years even though I am legally blind. I refuse to let my impairment dictate what I accomplish. I may have to work harder and longer to master a piece of music, but I believe this makes me a better musician. Music brings me joy, and through music I am able to bring joy to others. Thank you for my scholarship. I will work hard to make your efforts worthwhile.”
I edit BYU President’s Report—a newsletter sent to university donors—and my objective in reading the letters was to select for the newsletter a representative handful to demonstrate students’ gratitude. I read all the letters—a few twice. Reading was bittersweet because the students’ needs were expressed so starkly and their gratitude was so sincere. When I finished I was sobered and felt more gratitude for unmerited blessings in my life.
In the end I chose six of the letters and contacted the selected students to explain my plans of including their letters in President’s Report and to schedule photographs. Again their gratitude heightened mine.
Each student welcomed the opportunity to thank those who had made their scholarship possible, and each said how grateful they were for their BYU education. Excerpts from the students’ letters and photographs of each holding a slate on which they’d written “thank you” were published in the winter 2009–2010 President's Report.
President Joseph F. Smith taught: “The spirit of gratitude is always pleasant and satisfying because it carries with it a sense of helpfulness to others; it begets love and friendship, and engenders divine influence. Gratitude is said to be the memory of the heart.” 1
My purpose in publishing the letters was to demonstrate students’ gratitude, and I think the printed page did that. The students’ gratitude also affected me; I am more aware of my blessings and more grateful to Heavenly Father because I read 26 letters in a bright pink folder.
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1 Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed. (Salt Lake City, Deseret Book Company, 1939), 262
