Utah Valley University Hosts Vigil for Unity Following Charlie Kirk Tragedy on Campus

[00:00] Heat. Heat.

[00:25] Are you

[00:43] [Applause] heat?

[01:08] Heat. Heat.

[01:21] Welcome to Utah Valley University. We invite you to take your seats as we

[01:27] prepare to begin. Thank you for being here in a spirit of unity and respect.

[01:33] We kindly ask that all join in creating a peaceful and reverent atmosphere,

[01:38] honoring both this occasion and one another. As you find your place, we

[01:43] invite you to move toward the center and sit together as one community. UVU is a

[01:49] place for everyone and only by coming together can we create the harmony this occasion deserves.

[02:59] Heat. Heat.

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[03:59] [Music]

[04:08] There's [Music]

[04:22] no [Music]

[05:47] Heat. Heat. [Applause]

[06:06] Welcome to Utah Valley University. Our program will begin shortly. Please take

[06:12] your seats moving in toward the center where possible so that we may gather

[06:17] more closely as a community of unity, peace, and respect.

[06:26] [Music]

[07:57] Heat. Heat.

[08:24] [Music]

[08:42] Our

[09:03] program will begin in just a few moments. We ask that you take your seats

[09:09] filling in toward the center as you do and help us maintain an atmosphere of peace, respect, and unity.

[09:18] [Music]

[09:31] Heat. Heat.

[09:42] [Music]

[10:20] Heat. Heat.

[11:02] Good afternoon. On behalf of Utah Valley University, thank you for joining us for

[11:08] the vigil for unity. Today we gathered to come together to heal, to reaffirm our shared values, and

[11:17] to remember the life of Charlie Kirk as a public figure, a husband, a father,

[11:23] and a friend. We ask that all present join in maintaining an atmosphere of

[11:28] peace, respect, and unity throughout today's program. This is a time for

[11:34] healing, for hope, and for strength. Together, as students, as a community, and as a

[11:42] nation, let us move forward with resilience and care.

[11:50] Please rise for the presentation of the colors by the ROC. The ceremonial rifles used in the

[11:58] posting of the colors are non-functioning firearms.

[12:05] Mark time marked color guard hold

[12:12] center face. Our national anthem will be performed by

[12:18] UVU student Olivia Blackwell.

[12:32] Oh, say can you see

[12:37] by the dawn early light

[12:42] what so proudly we held

[12:48] at the twilight last gleaming

[12:53] who brought stripes and bright stars

[12:58] through the peril fight.

[13:04] Or the ramp parts we watched

[13:09] were so gallently streaming.

[13:15] And the rockets red glare. The bombs bursting

[13:22] in air gave proof through the night

[13:29] that our flag was still there.

[13:35] Oh, say does that star spangled

[13:42] b

[13:47] or the land of the free

[13:53] [Applause] and the home

[13:59] of the Prayer.

[14:07] [Music] [Applause]

[14:51] I have to say this without getting emotional, but I'm very proud of my husband and I know many of you are too.

[15:00] you have worked so hard and I know a lot of you have seen obviously his videos on

[15:05] Tik Tok and all the stuff he does on campus but no one gets to see him from

[15:11] my angle except for myself and our children

[15:22] that's the best and the sacrifices that he made this here.

[15:28] He's amazing. I'm very blessed and I I would not have been able to do any of it without Erica. And that's the

[15:33] real truth. I'll tell you what, if everything completely goes away, how do you want to

[15:38] be remembered? I want to be I want to be remembered for for courage, for my faith. That that would be the most

[15:44] important thing. Most important thing is my faith in my life.

[16:01] [Music] We now invite you to join us in a brief

[16:06] moment of silence.

[16:24] Thank you.

[16:30] We welcome the Utah Valley Institute Choir.

[16:45] [Music]

[17:11] Oh love. Oh love.

[17:17] Oh love that will not let me go.

[17:27] Oh, I rest my way.

[17:37] I give thee of my own and in my Oh sh

[17:51] [Music]

[18:13] that seeks me through the pain.

[18:22] I cannot close my heart to thee.

[18:30] I trace the rainbow through the rain and

[18:37] the proise is not made.

[18:44] Morn shall [Music]

[18:52] tearless

[18:57] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause]

[19:08] [Music] will not Bless me all

[19:18] love. I bless my weary

[19:26] soul in thee.

[19:32] I give thee back. [Music]

[19:39] I give thee back the life I own.

[19:45] Give thee back the life I own. And in

[19:52] the ocean that says

[20:03] shall richer full be.

[20:10] [Music]

[20:20] Oh, for

[20:27] all [Music]

[20:42] [Music]

[20:51] Oh love that will

[20:57] not let me go.

[21:16] We invite Caleb Chilcott, UVU student and part of the Turning Point USA

[21:22] chapter to the podium.

[21:34] Good afternoon. It is a privilege to share a few words with you today as we remember and honor Charlie Kirk. Charlie

[21:41] often spoke about the importance of unity. He once said, "We are strongest when we put aside what divides us and

[21:49] focus on what makes us one." Those words feel especially meaningful right now. In

[21:55] times of loss and hardship, it can be easy to focus on differences. But

[22:00] Charlie reminded us that our true strength is found in what brings us together.

[22:07] He also reminds us about courage. Charlie said, "If you believe in

[22:12] something, you need to have the courage to fight for those ideas. Not run away

[22:17] from them or try to silence them." I think courage in this moment doesn't

[22:23] just mean standing up for what we believe in, but also finding the bravery

[22:28] to reach across differences, to listen to each other, and to extend kindness

[22:34] even when it isn't easy. As I reflect on those words, I find comfort in the promise of scripture.

[22:41] Psalm 34:18 tells us, "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who

[22:48] are crushed in spirit." That verse reminds us that God sees us in our pain

[22:54] and that he draws near when we feel at our lowest. Even in grief, we are not alone. We have

[23:02] one another and we have our faith and we have the strength that comes from unity.

[23:10] So tonight as we gather in this vigil, I hope we can take Charlie's words and the

[23:15] scripture to heart. Let us remember that our strength is found when we stand

[23:21] shouldertosh shoulder. Let us choose courage. Courage to listen, courage to

[23:27] love, and courage to heal together. My prayer is that tonight as we leave,

[23:33] we carry forward a renewed commitment to peace, to respect, and to unity because those

[23:41] values are what will help us move forward together. Thank you.

[23:47] We welcome Dr. Juliana Boreo Goats, Professor Ammerida of chemistry at

[23:53] Brigham Y Young University and commission Catholic lay ecclesial minister.

[24:02] I'm very honored to speak to you today. My words are offered in support of the

[24:08] visual's goal of unity, peace, respect, and healing.

[24:14] I tend to think of healing as the first step. one that enables unity and then

[24:21] unity gives rise to peace both within all of us individually and with our

[24:27] relationships with others. Thus broken by the trauma of last week,

[24:34] the brokenness in our communities, our country and the world, healing seems

[24:40] essential to achieve unity and peace and respect.

[24:45] The world's major faiths, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism,

[24:51] and Mormonism, of course, all recognize that an essential step to healing

[24:58] is forgiveness of those whom we have perceived to wrong us.

[25:04] A common theme across the faith traditions is also that forgiveness flows from the divine, however we see or

[25:13] name that figure. But each tradition also views forgiving

[25:19] our transgressors as reflecting divine mercy.

[25:24] We are called to act toward others as the divine acts with us.

[25:31] In the Old Testament, we see Joseph, he of the amazing technicolor dream coat,

[25:38] forgiving his brothers and making a home for them in Egypt when their homeland is

[25:44] beset by drought and famine. In Luke's gospel in the New Testament,

[25:50] Jesus says from the cross, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they

[25:56] do." Jesus not only forgives his crucifiers,

[26:01] he asks the father for mercy for them. Forgiveness.

[26:08] UVU is a diverse campus, not only a community of divi, excuse me, diverse

[26:15] faith believers. It also includes those who have been hurt by faith communities,

[26:22] those who have walked away as well as those who have never belonged.

[26:28] To speak to them, let me speak for a moment from the domain of science,

[26:33] specifically modern psychology. A recent article June 2025 in Psychology

[26:40] Today looks at forgiveness outside the realm of faith.

[26:46] It reports beneficial physiological and neural responses to forgiving, letting

[26:53] go of hurt. When we hold grudges or nurse angry

[26:58] emotions, we are likely to experience depression and PTSD.

[27:06] Those who practice forgiveness reduce physiological levels of cortisol, a

[27:12] stress hormone. Functional MRI studies show the neuron

[27:19] neuroanatomy of forgiveness, mental pathways associated with empathy and the

[27:25] perception of others. There's more to the health value of forgiveness. So I encourage you to read

[27:31] the article. I am a person both of science and faith.

[27:38] And I'm going to return to the Philippians passage which you will hear uh a bit later. I believe that it offers

[27:46] a process to begin to forgive, to begin to see the them in a different light.

[27:53] And so I encourage you to listen when this student recites that Philippians,

[28:00] but I'm just going to give you a little snippet of it right now. Could each of us going forth make conscience,

[28:08] conscious, intentional efforts to look for whatever is true, honorable, just,

[28:15] gracious in those who have wounded us. It can start by recognizing things we

[28:23] share like an allegiance to the same sports team or interests in books,

[28:30] music, movies, outdoor activities. Begin there and maybe we can move toward

[28:38] the more substantive issues of personhood and politics that divide us.

[28:43] Now, I'm going to close with some words from my beloved St. Francis of Aisi.

[28:50] Lord, make us channels of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us, oh love,

[28:58] and where there is injury, let us offer forgiveness. Thank you. And may God bless you and

[29:06] grant you peace and healing. [Applause]

[29:15] We welcome Elder Matthew S. Holland, former UVU president, author on civic

[29:21] charity and general authority 70 for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

[29:32] Dear friends, we gather today in the shadow of profound sorrow and the light

[29:39] of shared hope. In this solemn moment, my wife Paige and my children join me in

[29:46] noting that our deep love for this institution developed through nine glorious years of

[29:53] living on this campus has never left our hearts. In fact, that love beats today

[29:59] strong as ever. The firing of a single bullet on this

[30:05] campus last week left wounds seen and unseen in every direction. The first and

[30:12] foremost casualty was Charlie Kirk. His life precious as is all human life was

[30:20] cut short and a young family is left to grieve. Our earnest prayers continue for the

[30:27] Kirk family. Additionally, this lone act of violence

[30:33] pierced hearts and minds everywhere, as well as the soul of this institution and

[30:39] that of the nation and even the world in which we live. In response, it's natural

[30:44] and fitting for UVU to ask, can we possibly heal? Can we bridge the chasms

[30:51] of the disagreement among us? Can we reclaim some semblance of peace ruptured

[30:57] by this one despicable act? I am only one voice, but the answer for

[31:04] me is yes. The first harbinger or signal of my hope for peace and unity is UVU

[31:12] itself. This remarkable institution was created to provide space for anybody who needed

[31:20] access to higher education in some form. Since then, this school has always

[31:25] opened its doors widely to students from any economic, political, religious,

[31:32] cultural, and academic background. In every phase of its development, it has

[31:38] by vision, policies, and practice remained a place for all.

[31:44] Thus, UVU seems not just equipped to survive this moment, it's built for this

[31:49] moment. It's a place where students across a wide range of viewpoints and backgrounds can be equipped to explore,

[31:57] debate, and defend different ideas, but with a common commitment to fairness,

[32:04] dignity, and respect for all. What happened last week was an

[32:09] unimaginable violation of everything UVU has stood for and become.

[32:16] What I know about this incredible school is that such a moment is likely to

[32:22] elevate rather than derail its historic core commitments.

[32:28] Another harbinger of hope is that while this nation is reeling from a level of

[32:33] division not seen in recent times, America has a solid history of facing

[32:39] even worse and coming through such even stronger. Current animosities may appear that they

[32:46] will only further fester and expand, but our past should help us see, perhaps

[32:51] even expect, that things can change for the better. From some of the most

[32:57] precarious moments of our national origins and founding to a civil war and

[33:02] the violent days of the civil rights era, leaders and movements have emerged

[33:08] to couple the strength of our ingenious constitutional order with civic appeals

[33:14] to a rich stock of religiously grounded ideals, especially that of Christian

[33:20] love to show us a better way forward in arguably the moment moment of our

[33:26] deepest divide, Abraham Lincoln stepped forward and declared to the North and

[33:32] South alike that while we must be firm in the defense of that which is right,

[33:38] we must always do so with malice toward none, with charity for all.

[33:46] It's been wisely observed that hope is being able to see that there is light

[33:51] despite all of the darkness. To those tempted to see only darkness now, I

[33:56] invite you to look carefully at the light of our past and gather hope for

[34:02] the future. It's a future you can help create by rejecting the boiling acids of

[34:07] hatred and revenge. In the spirit of Lincoln and other greats, you can hold

[34:12] that while passionate disagreement may have strained, it must not break our

[34:17] bonds of affection and with classmates and fellow citizens who hold views and

[34:23] values other than our own. A timely and prophetic reminder of this point came

[34:29] just this month in a Time magazine article by President Russell M. Nelson, who urged that anger never persuades,

[34:37] hostility never heals, and contention never leads to lasting solutions.

[34:43] My final harbinger of hope is actually all the tears that I've seen shed. After

[34:50] the 9/11 attacks, Queen Elizabeth famously said, "Grief is the price we

[34:55] pay for love." The recent emotions on this campus are in many respects a healthy sign that you

[35:03] do love. You do care for your neighbor. The shortest verse in scripture is John

[35:10] 11:35, which simply reads, "Jesus wept." The

[35:15] setting was Jesus's encounter with two sisters grieving over the loss of their brother Lazarus. From a Christian

[35:22] perspective, he who held power of life and death and was about to exercise that

[35:27] power to raise Lazarus from the dead still could not hold back his tears when those close to him were hurting.

[35:35] Mourning is not a weakness. It is the loving gesture of a soul that has

[35:41] witnessed pain and chosen not to turn away. In the Latter-day Saint faith, the Book

[35:48] of Mormon teaches that one of the ultimate signs of Christian disciplehip

[35:53] is a willingness to mourn with those that mourn. Yay. And comfort those that

[35:58] stand in need of comfort. Whatever your belief or tradition, my

[36:04] hope for all of us is that we will not wait for grief to come knocking on our door before we actively respond with

[36:11] compassion to those who are hurting. This is a time for shared burdens and

[36:17] collective healing. The old English poet John Dunn taught that no man is an

[36:23] island entire of itself. Each is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.

[36:29] When one student suffers, we all do. And when another is comforted, we are all

[36:35] lifted. Evidence that you are already responding this way is everywhere.

[36:41] What an inspiration you are to me and what a signal you are. Uh what a signal

[36:47] you are sending to the world about what it means to be part of the UVU community.

[36:53] When we mourn together, when we show forth love despite our differences, when

[36:59] we create spaces for all to come and learn and discuss and debate with

[37:04] honesty and civility, we are making room for something sacred. We are making room

[37:10] for peace. Jesus Christ promised, "Peace I leave

[37:16] with you. My peace I give unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let

[37:24] it be afraid." Peace in its most fundamental sense is

[37:29] not the complete absence of hostility or conflict, though it aims for that. It is

[37:35] the calming presence of goodness and God in our lives despite surrounding

[37:42] challenges. In this sense, the fearless resolve of UVU to move forward seeking

[37:49] unity and overcoming evil with good is a signal that in very real ways peace is

[37:57] already here. In a world currently torn by too much malice and division, God

[38:04] bless you for coming today. Determined to be peacemakers, determined to rise

[38:10] above the darkness of the moment with consistent acts of courage and

[38:16] compassion. You are already the hands and hearts by which peace rather than

[38:22] hate will prevail on this campus. May heaven help you in your every effort to

[38:28] do so is my prayer offered in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

[38:40] We invite UVU student Whitney Willardson to the podium to read Philippians

[38:46] 4:8.

[38:52] Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are

[38:58] just, and whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever

[39:04] things are of good report. If there be any virtue, and if there be any praise,

[39:09] think on these things.

[39:15] [Applause] We welcome the president of Utah Valley University, Astrades Tuminez.

[39:31] [Applause]

[39:42] Hello. Can you Good afternoon. Thank you to all the

[39:48] speakers and singers and every individual who made this vigil for unity

[39:53] possible today. Thank you to this beloved community and

[39:59] I am looking at all of you for your presence as we mourn.

[40:05] Thank you for your service and kindness in the last nine days.

[40:10] Thank you for believing in hope and unity.

[40:16] Psalm 22 opens with one of the most heartbreaking verses in scripture.

[40:22] My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Why art thou so far from helping me

[40:30] and from the words of my roaring? Shock, grief, abandonment, fear, and

[40:37] hurt have filled our hearts since September 10.

[40:43] A father and husband was killed on our campus. A wife and children were left

[40:48] bereff. And thousands in our own UVU family experienced trauma.

[40:55] I express again my deep condolences and prayers for peace to the widow of

[41:01] Charlie Kirk, Erica, her children, and all of Charlie Kirk's family and

[41:06] friends. I express again my love for the UVU

[41:11] family that has been hurt. As I read my scriptures, I am astonished

[41:17] that the despair in Psalm 22 is immediately followed by the hope of

[41:24] Psalm 23. The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not

[41:30] want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.

[41:36] He leadth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul. Yay, though I walk

[41:43] in the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.

[41:50] Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the

[41:57] presence of mine enemies. Thou anointest my head with oil. My cup runth over.

[42:05] Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.

[42:12] My beloved UVU community, surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all

[42:19] the days of our lives. I have seen goodness and mercy.

[42:27] Our community, though wounded, showed up to serve one another. We hugged each

[42:33] other. We offered trauma and mental health support. We restored belongings.

[42:41] Our law enforcement partners helped us feel safe again.

[42:47] Hundreds, if not thousands, offered prayers for peace, clarity, and resilience.

[42:53] We listened and gave each other patience and grace. Our friends, neighbors, and visitors

[43:01] organically created memorials, doing so peacefully and reverently.

[43:09] I have seen goodness and mercy. Our faculty, staff, and students

[43:15] returned to campus. Our students described their return

[43:21] using words like scared, violated,

[43:26] devastated, sorrowful, hearts hurting.

[43:32] At the same time they also said my dream of an education is still strong.

[43:40] We will get through it. My professors have supported me. I am thankful for my

[43:46] friends most of whom I met here at UVU. Here president have a green heart

[43:52] sticker. I have seen goodness and mercy.

[43:59] UVU materialized suddenly on the world stage because of a grievous act of violence.

[44:06] But media everywhere have also told stories about the beauty of community on

[44:12] this campus. They have featured our hard-working and resilient students.

[44:19] They have narrated ordinary acts of kindness that underline the extraordinary nature of human

[44:26] connection. Now the world is beginning to see a university community that is not afraid

[44:33] of differences where people imperfect as we all are

[44:39] willing to believe in and practice exceptional care for one another.

[44:48] The prophet Isaiah said, "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him

[44:55] that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace."

[45:00] And I will repeat, St. Francis of Aissi, friend of brother sun and sister moon

[45:08] and of all God's creation. And this is his prayer.

[45:14] Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

[45:21] Where there is hatred, let me so love. Where there is injury, pardon.

[45:30] Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope.

[45:36] Where there is darkness, light. Where there is sadness, joy.

[45:44] Let me end with a call to action. First,

[45:50] let us be grateful for our broken hearts.

[45:56] They may be broken for different reasons, but the pain is the same.

[46:03] The poet Roomie said, "These pains you feel are messengers.

[46:11] Listen to them. Our broken hearts soften us to connect with

[46:16] one another as humans, as citizens and residents of Utah and America, and as

[46:22] children of the divine. In prayer, let us openly say, "Thank

[46:28] you, God, for my broken heart."

[46:33] Second, in the coming days, weeks, and months, let us pause and slow down when

[46:40] anger rises in our hearts towards those we think might be our enemy. Let's ask

[46:48] ourselves, what do I have in common with them? Is there a family member, a colleague,

[46:55] classmate, or neighbor I need to get to know better and forgive?

[47:02] What small step can I take to mend what is broken?

[47:08] And third, and finally, I ask you to support UVU and be patient with us as we

[47:15] recover from this tragedy. We will help every student succeed. We

[47:21] will offer opportunities for skills building in dialogue, peacemaking, and

[47:27] hard conversations. We have a long and difficult road ahead

[47:34] and we can only succeed if we unite. I am honored to be a part of this

[47:41] beloved community and I urge each of us to remember

[47:47] that love can be stronger than fear. May peace, love, and grace

[47:55] heal us in all the parts that we are broken.

[48:01] Thank you so much with all my heart. Thank you.

[48:11] We welcome the Utah Valley Interfaith Choir.

[48:20] [Music]

[49:33] Let there be peace

[49:39] on earth and let it begin

[49:45] with me.

[49:51] Let there be peace

[49:56] on earth. The peace that was meant

[50:03] to be with

[50:10] our creative

[50:16] [Music]

[50:28] each other in

[50:40] [Music] this

[50:47] with me. Let this be a moment

[50:54] now. With

[51:00] every step I take,

[51:06] let this be my sorrow

[51:13] to take each moment and live each moment in

[51:22] peace eternal.

[51:30] Let me peace on earth

[51:37] and let it begin with me.

[51:45] [Music]

[51:59] Peace on earth and let it be

[52:07] with me. [Applause] Let

[52:13] there be peace on earth.

[52:18] The peace that was meant to be.

[52:26] We are creating.

[52:34] [Music]

[52:52] [Applause] [Music]

[53:01] Let me begin

[53:06] with me. Let this be the moment

[53:12] now. [Music]

[53:19] Every step I take, let this be my soul

[53:31] to [Applause] [Music]

[53:48] Let there be peace on earth

[53:54] and let it be with me.

[54:04] [Music]

[54:10] Have peace on earth

[54:16] [Music] and let it begin

[54:29] with me.

[54:36] [Music]

[54:59] We welcome UVU student body president Kyle Cullymore.

[55:21] Thank you so much for the beautiful music, the words we just heard. Let peace begin

[55:28] with me. Let this be the moment now. What a powerful phrase and what a much

[55:34] needed plea in this moment. But let's be honest, peace feels so hard to talk about right

[55:42] now. How do we talk about peace when our hearts are heavy?

[55:47] How do we talk about peace when fear, hurt, and pain still feel so close?

[55:54] I believe peace begins with something simple yet so powerful. Hope.

[56:02] I don't mean a shallow or a surface level kind of hope that ignores the reality of the tragedy that happened on

[56:08] our campus or the kind that just tells us to move on. I mean the kind of hope

[56:14] that we can find only when we willingly search the very depths of our souls. The

[56:21] kind of hope that tells us that even though we've all been through something

[56:26] dark, we know the sun will rise again. The kind of hope that doesn't erase our

[56:32] pain, but helps us carry it and turn it into something beautiful.

[56:38] That hope is what allows us to keep going. To reach out,

[56:43] to look beyond ourselves and see one another, not just in these easy, not

[56:49] just in the easy times, but especially in these harder, darker times.

[56:55] This past week and a half has reminded me of how fragile life can be. And a

[57:01] couple of seconds, countless lives were changed. The tragedy on our campus has

[57:07] reminded me that violence doesn't just happen out there in the world somewhere.

[57:13] Doesn't touch me, but it can touch so much closer than we've even imagined.

[57:20] It has touched our campus. It has touched our classrooms, our friends, and

[57:26] our families. It has reminded us how deeply in times

[57:31] of need, we utterly and desperately need each other.

[57:36] As many of us here, students, faculty, staff, community members learned so

[57:42] unfortunately is that when you're running for your life, scared and not knowing what's

[57:50] going to happen, those differences between us that used to seem so big turn

[57:56] into something so small. Why? Why does it take a tragedy for us to

[58:04] look and see that at the end of the day, we're all human? Why do we wait for a wife and a children

[58:11] to lose their husband and father to say enough?

[58:17] And how in a time of tragedy, instead of coming together, do we continue to attack and isolate one another?

[58:26] In moments like this, it can be tempting to close ourselves off,

[58:32] to build walls around our pain, to put blame on one person or on one opinion,

[58:38] or sometimes on a whole group of people. We as a community need to stop

[58:45] villainizing those we may not understand, we may not dis we may disagree with, or

[58:52] may have been hurt from. We must stop putting labels on one another. All these labels do is divide

[58:59] us and limit how we see one another. When we treat each other based on these

[59:05] labels we give, that divide continues to grow and grow and grow. It becomes

[59:11] easier to dehumanize each other because we don't remember the basic truth that

[59:17] we are all humans endowed with the inherent right to life,

[59:23] liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Peace,

[59:30] real peace, is never found in isolation or in blame or most importantly in

[59:38] violence. It's found in community.

[59:43] One of the things to me that makes UVU so special that I've devastated for our

[59:49] students and our community here is that we live by a promise that this is a

[59:55] place for you, for each of us. No matter where we come from,

[00:01] what we believe, or how we see the world, this was a place where we all

[00:07] belonged. And this is still a place where we all

[00:12] belong. We need to ensure that the phrase a place for you does not just stay a cute

[00:19] promise or the saying that we have on the wall, but we make it more than just

[00:25] these words. It must become something that we live.

[00:30] Living it means choosing to see one another not as enemies, not as these stereotypes, and most importantly, not

[00:38] less than someone deserving of life, but as people, as fellow human beings, a

[00:45] person with stories, a person with families, a person with struggles, but

[00:51] most importantly, a person with dreams. Too often we fall into this trap that

[00:57] convinces us that we're divided into sides. That we're enemies because we

[01:02] disagree or because we see the world differently. But here in this community here at UVU,

[01:12] we have the chance to be something different. We can show the world what it means to

[01:18] listen. We can be the kind of place where disagreement doesn't erase our

[01:23] dignity. where differences don't erase our humanity.

[01:29] We can be an example to a hurt community and an even more broken nation.

[01:38] My invitation tonight is simple. Let's not let this tragedy define us and

[01:43] this university and this community that we love, but let's define this moment by

[01:49] how we will respond. myself as well as countless others have

[01:56] been deeply deeply impacted from this experience. If it feels too much or too

[02:02] heavy, know that you're not alone. And please make sure you reach out for a professional for a health to a

[02:09] professional for help. But I wish to share one feeling I've had

[02:15] and it's this feeling of being shaken up. For those that were on campus that

[02:21] day, you probably are felt that same shaken up. Since we're a university, I

[02:28] feel like it's appropriate to share some insights from physics and psychology that I've had. In physics, there's a law

[02:36] called the law of conservation of energy. Right? This law states that energy isn't created or destroyed, but

[02:43] instead it transforms. In psychology, Sigman Freud, a

[02:49] significant figure in psychology, shares an example of an emotional hydraulics,

[02:55] stating that our instincts or emotions can build up, creating a sense of pressure and energy

[03:02] waiting to be released. And we must learn how we can revert that

[03:09] emotion into action instead of allowing it to eventually become too much to control.

[03:16] I realized maybe these feelings aren't fully bad. To be shaken up, to be

[03:23] confused, to be conflicted, to be in fear. Maybe it's in this moment where we feel

[03:30] shaken, where we feel unsure or we don't know what to do that we have

[03:36] to make the most important decision. I have to be proactive and redirect

[03:42] these feelings of pain, these feelings of guilt, the feelings of fear, everything in between and turn it into

[03:49] action which I commit to you that I will be doing.

[03:55] The question I would ask everyone here is, are we going to shake ourselves into

[04:01] action? Are we going to allow these feelings to shut us down and continue to

[04:06] further this divide? Like I said, I'm choosing to be shaken into action,

[04:13] to build relationships instead of hostility, to strive for understanding instead of

[04:20] judgment, and to give grace instead of punishment.

[04:25] I'm also choosing to have hope. Hope in you.

[04:32] hope that everyone here tonight that we move forward together and show the

[04:37] nation what it means to love your neighbor. Let's show the community, the nation,

[04:44] and the world what our core principle of exceptional care looks like. By how we

[04:49] show compassion before casting judgment. By how we decide to listen instead of

[04:55] assume. by how we embody resilience even when we feel our hope is lost.

[05:03] We have a new responsibility whether you were ready for it or not. When someone

[05:08] in our community feels invisible, let's be the one who notices.

[05:15] When someone feels overwhelmed, let's be the one who sits and listens.

[05:21] When someone feels alone, let's be the one who sits besides them because in

[05:27] those small and those simple and those ordinary actions is where we will find

[05:33] extraordinary peace. And I can promise you that because the past couple of days

[05:41] when I've seen myself, my fellow students, and every single stranger on

[05:46] our campus lean into their humanity and decide to love first. I've seen spirits

[05:53] rise, bringing our whole community with them. But it takes each of us.

[06:00] I hope one day when we look back on this time, we don't only remember the fear and the loss. I hope we also remember

[06:08] the moments of kindness, the moments of courage,

[06:13] the moments when we chose to see each other as human and chose to walk forward

[06:19] together despite our differences. That is how peace begins.

[06:25] That is how hope grows and that is how healing will truly happen. So tonight,

[06:31] let's make this our moment. Let peace begin with me.

[06:38] Let peace begin with us, with you. Let peace begin with us. And let this be the

[06:45] moment. Now, as we come to the close of this vigil, I

[06:52] want to acknowledge the individuals that will be joining me on the stage.

[06:58] We have students from around our university who will be taking position on the choir stands in the back as well

[07:06] as the student body presidents from all around our state. Utah State University,

[07:13] Weaver State University, the University of Utah, Westminster University, Salt

[07:20] Lake Community College, Brigham Young University, Snow College, Southern Utah

[07:27] University, and Utah Tech University.

[07:33] I also want to take the time to acknowledge each one of you who gathered here tonight with us or those that are

[07:40] watching from afar. Your being here is a reminder that even

[07:45] in the hardest times and in these hardest moments, we do not face them

[07:50] alone. We are all here to join in this movement.

[07:57] A moment where we together commit to unity. A moment where we together commit to

[08:05] healing. A moment where we together commit to humanity.

[08:12] Together we have grieved. But we have also remembered what

[08:18] humanity can look like. And we have chosen to stand as a community that

[08:24] believes in peace, in dignity, and in the power of hope.

[08:30] In your hands, please take out your candle. And if you

[08:35] haven't, so join us in lighting our candle.

[08:40] And as we light them together, let these flames represent more than

[08:46] this simple night. Let them be a promise that we will carry

[08:52] this light into the places where darkness lingers.

[08:57] That we will keep choosing compassion even when it is hard.

[09:03] That we will see each other as humans first. As you light, lift your candle high. And

[09:11] if you're able, please stand with us. words of unity,

[09:17] of peace, of respect. Be sure to not let them only stay on

[09:23] this screen above us, but allow them to find a place in your hearts and in our

[09:29] daily lives. And as we leave tonight, may these small

[09:34] lights remind us of a greater truth that peace can begin here with us. And let

[09:44] this truly be the moment now where hope rises, where healing begins, and where we walk

[09:52] forward together. Thank you.

[09:59] [Applause]

[10:05] [Music] [Applause] More darling. More.

[10:13] [Applause] [Music]

[11:02] On behalf of Utah Valley University, thank you for being with us this afternoon. As we conclude the vigil for

[11:09] unity, we remember Charlie Kirk and we hold his family, our students, and our

[11:16] community in our hearts. May we carry forward the spirit of peace, respect,

[11:22] and unity into the days ahead. Please exit peacefully and take care of one

[11:28] another. Heat. Heat.

[11:44] [Music]

[12:19] It's a Heat.

[12:32] Heat.

[12:37] [Music]

[13:52] Everyone's like, "Oh my gosh, you got so

[14:02] [Music]

[14:20] You're beautiful.