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| President Dallin H. Oaks (right) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints stands near the Carillon Bell Tower on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, by a new plaque with a quote from him that will be placed at the tower’s base. He is joined by BYU President C. Shane Reese. |
PROVO, UT — The echoes of the Carillon Bell Tower at Brigham Young University now carry a renewed sense of prophetic destiny. On Tuesday, February 10, 2026, following a powerful devotional address, a new plaque was unveiled at the base of the iconic landmark, enshrining the vision of President Dallin H. Oaks for the future of the university.
The inscription captures a pivotal moment in BYU’s history, emphasizing its unique identity in the global academic landscape.
A Destiny Defined
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| A new plaque with a quote from President Dallin H. Oaks of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be placed at the Carillon Bell Tower. Photo taken Tuesday, February 10, 2026. |
The plaque features a poignant quote from President Oaks, First Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, regarding the school’s spiritual and academic trajectory:
“I firmly believe that it is the destiny of Brigham Young University to become what past and present prophets knew it could become. With the consecration and leadership of this community, BYU will become the great university of the Lord — not in the world’s way but in the Lord’s way.”
This installation marks a full-circle moment for President Oaks, who served as the President of BYU when the bell tower was first constructed and dedicated in 1975.
Bridging Two Centuries of Faith
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| plaque with a quote from former President Spencer W. Kimball of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the Carillon Bell Tower on Tuesday, February 10, 2026. |
The new plaque will sit alongside the original words of President Spencer W. Kimball, who dedicated the tower during the university’s centennial year. While President Kimball spoke of the "music of hope" provided by the morality of BYU graduates, President Oaks’ addition focuses on the institution's continued evolution toward its divine potential.
The Carillon Bell Tower: By the Numbers
Originally a centennial gift from students, faculty, and alumni, the tower remains a centerpiece of campus life.
Height: 97 feet.
Total Bells: 53 (all cast in Holland).
Largest Bell: 3 tons (6,000 lbs).
Smallest Bell: 21.5 lbs.
Daily Tradition: A carillonneur performs a 30-minute recital at noon on weekdays, and the "Come, Come, Ye Saints" theme chimes automatically every hour.
A Landmark of Consecration
President Dallin H. Oaks of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and his wife, Kristen (far right), stand near the Carillon Bell Tower by a new plaque with a quote from President Oaks that will be placed at the tower’s base. They are joined by BYU President C. Shane Reese and his wife, Wendy (middle), and Elder Clark C. Gilbert and his wife, Christine (far left). Photo taken February 10, 2026,
The unveiling ceremony included BYU President C. Shane Reese and Elder Clark C. Gilbert, Commissioner of Church Education. President Oaks was accompanied by his wife, Kristen, as they stood by the tower that he once described as a "landmark to signal the completion of our first century."
More than five decades since those bells first rang, this new addition serves as a permanent reminder to the BYU community that their mission is not merely to compete with the world’s elite institutions, but to surpass them by adhering to a higher, consecrated standard.
As the bells continue to toll across the Provo valley, they now carry the weight of a dual promise: a century of excellence behind them and a prophetic destiny ahead.
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