I love BYU football. At the beginning of the 2010 season, I had the opportunity to go to a BYU fireside and listen to Bronco Mendenhall and a couple of the players talk. They have these firesides often throughout the season. I love how Bronco uses his beliefs and the church to help organize the team.
This “football fireside” tradition, Mendenhall said, is “really the only reason to have a football program.”
"The firesides have been a way for us to make a very clear statement of what our priorities are, or should be," Mendenhall says.
"Football is simply the vehicle we use to help others come to a knowledge of what really brings joy and happiness to our lives. Football is not the priority. Some people don't understand that. He pointed out that many recruits and parents are surprised, even shocked, when he tells them that football is the fourth priority for his nationally ranked Cougars behind church, family and academics.
"These firesides are a way for all of us to help consider our priorities through understanding the purpose of life." He explained that the football players voluntarily sign up to give the prayers, talks and provide musical numbers to share their testimonies of Jesus Christ.
Mendenhall has taught his players the importance of using sports to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.
“I think that if we can be good role models as far as representing not only the Church, but the team as well, I think that can go a long way for kids who might not have their mind made up with what they want to do in life,” said senior running back Bryan Kariya. “They can have a good role model and something to aspire to.”
I think that this whole meaning behind BYU football is a great way to do missionary work. I remember the fireside that I went to, Bronco said that they want to show who they are and what they stand for by the way they play, and that if they win then the team they played will walk away thinking about who they just played.
One of my favorite parts of the fireside was when the whole team got up and sang a musical number: We'll Bring the World his Truth.
I absolutely love this song. Here are the lyrics:
We have been born, as Nephi of old,
To goodly parents who love the Lord.
We have been taught, and we understand,
That we must do as the Lord commands.
We are as the Army of Helaman.
We have been taught in our youth.
And we will be the Lord's missionaries
To bring the world his truth.
We have been saved for these latter-days
To build the kingdom in righteous ways.
We hear the words our prophet declares:
"Let each who's worthy go forth and share."
Chorus
We know his plan, and we will prepare,
Increase our knowledge through study and prayer.
Daily we'll learn until we are called
To take the gospel to all the world.
Chorus
I think this is so cool. If the team goes out and plays every game thinking that they are the "Army of Helaman," then they will be able to win; maybe not the game, but as missionaries, they will be on the right track.
The firesides are a great way to go and see the football players. I was so excited to see them all on the stand in white shirts and ties. I was able to get Jake Heaps autograph afterwards also.
Here is another quote from one of the firesides: “At the end of our lives, the outward exterior, the muscles, the height, how far you can kick a ball, how hard you can block an inside linebacker or make a tackle — none of that will be measured,” Mendenhall said. “What will be measured is the strength of our testimonies, the service we have given, and our obedience to the commandments which have been given.”
One person in the audience at a fireside said, “I wish I had the opportunity to hear the testimonies of football players when I was a kid. That would be like my dream, it would have probably strengthened my testimony a ton as a kid, hearing my heroes talk about the gospel.”
BYU football players are heroes. Little kids and youth and sometimes even adults look up to them.
One of these heroes, BYU running back David Foote, said he enjoys meeting fans and church members just as much. “It’s my favorite part, to meet everyone after [the fireside], and seeing the faces in the crowd that’s cheering us on,” Foote said.
Bryan Kariya
This year, 2011, the theme for the football team is Rise Up. I love this theme. I think it is a great reminder for the team rise up to the next level and really think about why they are playing and how they can do better. I look up to the BYU football players and Bronco Mendenhall. I respect him a lot for making service and Christ a higher priority than football.
sources:
http://universe2.byu.edu/node/12269
http://byu.scout.com/2/784808.html
http://universe.byu.edu/index.php/2011/09/02/byu-fans-pack-tupelo-meetinghouse-for-fireside/
http://byucougars.com/m-football/2011-football-fireside-schedule
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